[R-390] Fun stuff

[Scott, Barry (Clyde B)]

This doesn't apply to BA gear, but I thought it interesting.

I have a Kenwood TS440S/AT (yeah, yeah, it's not tube gear...).  These radios are capable of remote control via a serial port.  It's not a true RS232 port in that it operates at TTL levels requiring some extra circuitry to adapt its remote port to a RS232 logic levels.  Additionally, from the factory, these did not come equipped with some internal chips that enable the communications (a UART and some memory...I think).

A couple of years ago, a guy in Spain advertised he had some of the internal chips for sale and I bought some from him with the intention of eventually hooking the radio up to the PC.

Recently I wanted to revive this project.  In the mid-'80s, I built a simple interface to handle TTL to RS232 level translations so my VIC-20 could print to an RS232 printer and I figured I could adapt it.  It turns out the Kenwood requires an active low interface and this project did not accommodate that.  After a failed attempt on my part to adapt an optoisolator, I came across a very simple interface diagram from a fellow in Italy.  I decided I would give his circuit at try.

Last night, I put the new circuit together and, using some shareware I found, I fired it up and it worked.  I was elated!

I relate this for the following reason: this project came together with the help of people from the other side of the earth.  Technology has shrunk my world such that these kind of things are possible.  I would never have thought these things possible when I was a youngster.

This list is very much like the above experience.  People from all over the world come together to help a member when they need it.  I know I've benefited from the members of this list and hope I've helped someone in some small way.  I guess this is just my way of saying thanks again to all on this list who have helped me in this hobby.

Thanks and 73,

Barry(III) - N4BUQ