[ICOM] Radio Shack 20-049 Programming Cable

[Gary]

Jay hit the nail on the head. Many radios & scanners require TTL level serial
data so a converter is needed. Many converters are available to buy or build,
some may work better than others or work on a wider variety of gear but the
20-049 cable is simply a RS-232 straight through, one-way (transmit only)
cable. Here's a direct link to the page Jay wrote about;
 http://www.starrsoft.com/software/Win96/Cables/cables.html##buildityourselfcables

At many hamventions I visit I find a deal on some sort of programming cable
with a built in RS232-to-TTL converter. Many that I have found are virtually
the same inside except for the device cable so all I need to do is carefully
open up the DB-9 backshell, unsolder the original cable, identify the
communication connections (usually a common or ground and a data line), then
install my own cable be it a phone plug, modular telecom plug, or other
connector. This has worked for me many times. Since this is an Icom reflector
I'll share one other tip I've found, most of the Icom serial programming cables
I've found have the same board in the backshell but a different device cable.
If I find a deal on any Icom programming cable I usually get it regardless of
what cable may be on it because I can easily change it out.
Gary

AD5PE wrote:

> It's a TTL converter, but of an inferior design.  Go to www.starrsoft.com
> and look for the link to "cables" - links to several commercials, a couple
> of good home brew designs, and a detailed explanation of why this one
> sometimes doesn't work (hint - whoever designed it made some assumptions
> about comm port voltage levels that are common (on desktops) but not
> "standard" (so it won't work with most laptops, some desktops and the vast
> majority of USB-serial converters.
>
> Jay
> AD5PE