[ICOM] Radio Shack USB - CIV control adapter

[AD5PE]

You all might want to check out Don Starr's website (www.starrsoft.com)-
especially the links to building cables - one guy did a write-up on the
differences between the various designs and the pro and con of each.

Here's the background (from memory).

A few years back, GRE (maker of some of the Radio Shack scanners) came out
with some computer programmable models (now including Pro-92, 93, 95, 96, 97
and base/mobile equivalents).  When the -92 came out, RS sold the 20-289
cable, and a software package.  The cable was expensive, and the software
was terrible, so Don and some others designed cables, reverse engineered the
data tx protocol, wrote software, etc.

During this time, it was discovered that the cables for certain digital
cameras (Sony or Casio, I think) and radios (Icom) worked with the -92 out
of the box.

It was also discovered that the 20-289 serial port cable was actually a poor
design - a false assumption means it may not work with certain computers -
especially laptops - and also is iffy when using a serial to USB adapter.

There are several "homebrew" designs that can be built for a few bucks, as
well as a couple of aftermarket commercial suppliers.

Now, the reason I bring all this up is that this makes sense, to a point -
if an Icom C-IV cable works to program an RS scanner, then a (different) RS
scanner cable might work as a C-IV cable for Icom (as well as working with
the above mentioned cameras) BUT - the minor differences (the RS scanners
use a mono plug - some devices used stereo, and thus needed an adapter to
work with the scanner - therefore any design that uses a mono plug WON'T
work on a device that expects stereo - 2 wires instead of 3!) MAY make some
designs totally useless for some applications.

I have a homebrew, a "purple computing" commercial version, and just
purchased (but not yet tested) 20-247 (the USB version is a later
"replacement" for the 20-289).  The purple computing one will NOT work on
devices requiring 3 connections (mono plug, only two wires on the output).
The homebrew (from a design on Don Starr's site) WILL, since I used a stereo
plug and 3 wires (anticipating that it might work for other devices like my
digicam) - for that one I used a stereo to mono adapter for the scanners.  I
would NOT attempt to use a 20-289 on my $1000 radio, though - too much risk
considering the investment!  

ALL of these designs are TTL level converters, since that's what all of
these devices require - BUT - not all TTL converters are created equal.
According to the reviews on Don's site, the 20-289 is okay in some cases,
other designs are much improved, and the 20-247 is wonderful, especially for
those of us that now have computers w/o serial (comm) ports.

So, now for my question.  Do I need the stereo to mono adapter for my 756?
I can't find any specs for the C-IV - is it a mono or stereo jack?  (The
20-247 comes with a stereo plug and a stereo to mono adapter).

73,
Jay
AD5PE

-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of k0ewu9 at juno.com
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 20:48
To: icom at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [ICOM] Radio Shack USB - CIV control adapter

I got one today, $4.97 but it is a serial port connector , not usb.
jack

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:59:58 EDT ValErwin at aol.com writes:
> Guys:
> 
> I went to Rat Shack yesterday...........purchased the 20-289 for $5.
> 
> The bubble-pack container states in part: "Built-in up/download 
> control circuitry".
> 
> It is indeed more than just a cable.........
> 
> Val
> W5PUT
> 
> 
> **************************************
>  See what's free at
> http://www.aol.com.
> ----
> 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/
> 
> 
 
----
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