[ICOM] Radio Shack 20-049 Programming Cable

[Larry Winslow]

For those who want to it the Icom way, I have the 
schematic for the CT-17 which I can send to those 
who are interested. The last time I built it, the 
cost was $11 - using all new parts.

I can't believe the price that Icom wants for such a simple device.

73 - Larry WØNFU
larry_w at comcast.net

At 09:37 PM 6/1/2007, you wrote:

>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
>
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