[1000mp] Connector Alert

[Tod - ID]

In previous communications to this reflector it was noted by some folks that
The RF Connection (www.therfc.com) stocks the 8 pin DIN connector that fits
the Band Data jack at the rear of the FT1000MP. That is correct and I
ordered a couple of the connectors a few months ago.

Yesterday and today I spent many hours trying to figure out why I could not
get the proper band data signals from my FT1000MP. I had wired the plug
using the Yaesu schematic to tell me which pins had which signals. Lines A,
B and C had exactly the signals I expected -- line D had no signal at all. I
checked the schematic diagrams in the service manual and laboriously tried
to trace the desired signals from their creation on the CONTROL Board
through a 20 conductor cable to the RF board and then to the Band Data jack
itself. To check out the path to the Band Data jack required that I remove
the RF board. For those folks who installed the key click mod you know what
it is like to remove the RF board  --- something you would prefer to leave
to the next owner of the radio.

I finally solved the problem. The desired signal (Band Data line D) is found
on pin 7 of the jack according to the schematic and, in fact, that is
exactly where it is. However, the pin numbers on the connector sold me by
The RF Connection say that the signal is on pin 8, not pin 7. It appears
that the manufacturer of the DIN plug has numbered two of the pins
differently than the layout of the jack as far as Yaesu's schematics are
concerned. 

If you are going to use one of these DIN plugs I suggest that you look at
the Band Data pinout diagrams on page 4 of the FT1000MP manual (or the
manual for your FT1000XX). That will show you that line D is the lower left
side pin. On the RFC connector that is numbered "8" , but in fact it is pin
"7" in the Yaesu Universe. Similarly, the pin that is numbered "7" in RFC
space is actually pin "8" in Yaesu space. All of the other pins are
correctly numbered. 

I am not sure if there is a moral to this story  --- only relief that I
finally solved the mystery and did not screw up the radio in the process.
Trying to trace signals with a scope on these boards is challenging -- one
needs to hold a magnifying glass in one hand to be certain you are putting
probe tip on the correct IC pin and then carefully touch the tip and keep it
from sliding to the next door pin some 0.1 inch away. While you concentrate
on that you need to somehow see what the trace is doing. It is worrisome to
think that these are the old, large, surface mount components. The new stuff
is 1/2 or 1/4 the size of this stuff. 

Tod, KØTO