[ICOM] Warning about W1GEE interface cables

[Dave Bernstein]

Since the transceiver side of the interface is a simple TTL
open-collector bus, it is indeed challenging to guess what the W1GEE
circuit must be doing to reliably fail with two specific transceiver
models. Anyone have a W1GEE schematic?

Sorry to hear about the lightening damage, Floyd...

   73,

       Dave, AA6YQ
    

-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Ed Parish K1EP
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 20:57
To: ICOM Reflector
Subject: Re: [ICOM] Warning about W1GEE interface cables


At 6/1/2004 08:45 PM, you wrote:
>Today I received a new W1GEE Interface cable (model LCU3-I) to replace 
>one that got zapped in a recent lightning strike.  I first tested it 
>with my 765 and then with the 781 and it worked with neither.  After 
>querying the manufacturer, I was told that they were aware that their 9

>pin cables would not work with the 781.  This in spite of the fact that

>the paperwork that comes with the interface clearly pictures the 9 pine

>cable and states that it will work with the 765 and 781.  A reasonable 
>person might wonder which of the other dozens of Icoms listed also will

>not work with the cable.

I know nothing of W1GEE or his interfaces.  However, I have built a
number of interfaces of different types.  The radio end of the
interface, the CI-V interface, should be identical for any Icom radio.
That is the CI-V standard.  The interface, whether it is a CT-17 or one
you build, is a just level translator.  It takes the positive voltage
swing of the open collector CI-V line and translates it to the bipolar
swing of an RS-232 serial line.  Some are self powered, in that they
derive power from the computer RS-232 port.  Although there is an RS-232
standard, no two serial ports are identical.  We won't go down that
engineering road, but sometimes your computer won't supply the necessary
voltage to self power the interface or it requires a full +/-12 or more
volt swing on the signals.  I don't understand how the 781 or 765 CI-V
interface is different than other Icom CI-V interfaces.

>While I've been satisfied with the W1GEE cables in the past, I strongly

>recommend that anyone looking for a PC interface for their Icom look 
>elsewhere - there are plenty of alternatives on the market.
>
>73, Floyd - K8AC
>
>
>----
>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom 
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----
Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net Icom
Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/