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VX-8R Programming cable diagram/G4HFQ

T

tahrens

Member
Jun 13, 2009
29
0
11
Hi folks,

Was wondering if anyone has seen a schematic for one of the programming cables of the VX8.

Since it's a USB cable, I figure they just bring all the lines into the
mic connector. Wouldn't be difficult to jury-rig a cable to program
the box with some pogo pins, etc.

Also, has anyone compared the G4HFQ software vs the RTsystems?

You probably see where I'm going with this... I don't need to program
the radio all that often, and can't justify the price of the RTsystems/cable.

The G4HFQ software looks pretty good, price wise, and seems to have good reviews.

Maybe if somebody has a cable, they could ohm out the usb end vs the mic connector.

Thanks to all & all the best for the new year.

Tim W5FN
 

I don't have a schematic of a USB-VX-8 cable, but I do have a pinout of the mic connector. I could be wrong, but I believe the programming / cloning is just done via the speaker/mic pins using a serial connnection. The easiest way to figure out the necessary impedence would be to get the cloning cable and measure the impedence on each end once you know the pinout. I'll start a new thread concerning the mic connector pinout, with a diagram.
 
it definately is serial...shouldn't be difficult to make a cable if you have a serial/usb converter
 
Hi guys,

Got it figured out.

The G4HFQ software lets you use a standard RS-232 connection (not sure
about the RTsystems stuff).

Built up a simple converter part (MAX3232), used some pins from a scavenged
DB-9 Female connector (they plug onto the mic connector pins very easily).

Got the software from G4HFQ ($15 & very painless to get). Had it up and running in a very short while.

Mic pins 4 = data to PC
5 = data to radio
6 = ground

all data lines are 3.3v


I've attached a .pdf of the schematic.

No guarantees, but mine works very nicely.

tim W5FN
 

Attachments

  • VX8 PROGRAMMING CABLE.pdf
    11.3 KB · Views: 470
What exactly is that MAX3232? Did you build the whole thing into the DB-9 housing? Also, where did you get a 7 pin connector for the radio side? Care to post a few pics of the end result?
 
Hi M, long time no talk!

Actually, I had designed a small board some years ago in my
past, and just used it. It basically had a DB9 connector, the
RS-232 converter chip, and a small micro. For this project, I
just took off most of the other chips & left the connector &
converter.

The MAX3232 is a chip which takes RS-232 data, and converts
it to 3.3v, and also does the opposite. 3.3v data to RS-232
levels. The VX8 needs the 3.3v conversion. There are a lot
of other converters out there that are only 5volts, and that's
too much for the VX8.

I've just given that schematic because I did it here. For most
folks, I'd recommend using a different chip that is available in
a standard plastic DIP package (much easier to work with).

I got the idea of the connections for the mic connector from the
G4HFQ site - it certainly is not as elegant as the 'right' connector,
but it didn't cost me anything either. They have pictures there.

I did notice in the software that no provision is made for separate
PL tones for receive and transmit! (I first posted my observations
many months ago about it). Oh well! Hey, maybe the new revision
of the VX8 will 'fix' that!

thanks,

Tim
 
The MAX3232 is not a USB chip, its an RS232 +/-9v chip.

Would be alot more simple to use a direct USB->3.3v UART converter.
One such device is the FTDI FT232, no charge pump shenanigans for +/-9v.
FTDI has drivers for your computer to appear as a serial port to your PC software.
 
Hi DM,

The USB solution is a good one, if you have one of their boards..
it's a bit tough for most folks to handle a 32 pin SMT device on a
proto/bread board. I had one of the USB-Serial converters, and it
does have one of the FTDI chips on it, but it is a 5v chip, so I would
have had to put a level converter between the chip & the radio.

I used what I had on hand, and I think that the RS-232 solution
is a simpler one... only one chip, no crystals, etc. Guess it's
a tradeoff.

Of course, if your desktop or laptop doesn't have a serial connector
in the back, then it's a no-brainer!

Anyhow, just wanted to show folks what my solution did.

As always, YMMV.

73's

Tim W5FN
 
moleculo said:
... Also, where did you get a 7 pin connector for the radio side?
Click to expand...

I have the same question, where can I buy such a 7 pin connector? What is the "name" of this connector ? Is it a known generic connector or is it Yaesu-specific? Thank you for answers !

DF5FH
Henning
 
Hi Henning/Mole,

Sorry for the late response, but I don't get by here very often.

I did not get a 'yaesu' connector, but used some pins from a
DB-9F connector. They are the right size to push down over
the connections on the top of the radio. Of course, you need
to make sure you attach the pins to the right ones on the connector!!

I put some small heatshrink over my pins, and it makes it very
tight, but still works ok.

I have seen some of the yaesu connectors on the web somewhere,
but not sure where. Maybe go to the G4HFQ web site... maybe that
is where I saw it.

Tim
 
Nevermind. I went ahead and picked up the cable, made a pigtail for it out of an 1/8" extention cable and some pins from a DB9F connector. It works with Chirp and the G4HFQ software (reading only so far, still need to buy full version)
 

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