Yaesu CAT cable

In order to be able to control the device with a computer and use all the advantages that such a configuration offers, a CAT interface is required. It is a simple voltage converter that takes care of the conversion of voltage levels between RS-232 (serial port, COM) and the device.

Interface with MAX232

I decided to try the MAX232 IC converter. After experience with a simple transistor converter for the IC-706, I was wondering if the MAX232 is better. The transmitter works on first plug-in, but care must be taken to correctly wire the pins in the 8-pin minidin connector that connects to the device - applying the wrong voltages to RxD and TxD could damage the transceiver!

Connection

The connection of the CAT cable is based on the MAX232 catalog connection. Since they didn't have it in the local store SMD version of this IO, it was not possible to build the converter into the plastic cover of the 9-pin Canon connector. So I used a cover from a 25-pin connector and the 9-pin connector is mounted in a plate that is the size of a 25-pin connector plate.

Surface connection

The dimensions of the circuit board are 20 x 30 mm. The connection is so simple that I implemented it on a single-sided printed circuit board.

MINIDIN connector

There are some problems with the 8-pin minidin connector that connects to the device. Yaesu FT-857D has this connector located in the hole of the cast heatsink. However, the hole is not large enough to fit a connector with a rubber sleeve. Therefore, only a plastic case with insulating tape is used. The outside is still in the heat-shrinkable tube.

Evaluation

The CAT cable works for the first connection without a single error. Since my laptop is not equipped with a COM port, I use a USB to COM converter to which I have a CAT cable connected.