Radio Software

Any 1 used the "Ham radio Deluxe software" to control/operate a FT897D. Or anyother softare?.

Hows it work, is it any good?
thks

I use it on a FT847 and its brilliant with all the available features like the digi modes mapper logbook etc.
i know thats not your question but cant see it would be much different on a FT897

Yes I agree it is excellent!

I use it on my FT-950 & I am looking for a CAT lead so I can run my FT-847 on it too!!

Previously I have used HRD on Kenwood TS-2000, FT-857 & FT-1000MkV and had excellent results on all of them!!:D

HRD on FT897

The program works very well on FT897 FT857 FT817. You will not regret setting it up All The best. Ben

thanks for the replies.

Do i need any fancy interface boards, or do i just plug it into a Sound card in my PC? from the Data Plug on the back.

thks

If you look on Ebay, you will find the apprpriate lead for sale for your radio!

It will have the type of plug to connect to your radio at one end and a com port socket at the other! If your computer does not have a com port, I beleive you can get these leads with a USB termination, however, I would say the com port is the preference!

Com port1 seems to be the usual one to use!;)

I run my 857 on HRD, with a home brew CAT interface... and its more or less the same radio as yours, HRD drives it a dream !

can you tell what HB Cat interface use use,
can you give me a web address for a diagram
thks

Its homebrew !!!! I used a MAX232 chip.....

Hi all i made a cat cable to go on my icom radio and i used an old nokia mobile phone cable.

It works very well a little fiddle with what wire goes were but it worked.

Mark 2w0jmk

I am not familiar with the FT897D so I have just looked up the manual. I am an HRD enthusiast with the old TS570D.

You need two cables:

1) To control the rig you need a cable from a RS232 com port on a PC to the 8pin mini DIN CAT/LIN connector. The com port could be built in on an older PC or one of those USB to serial converters for a new PC. Make sure you match the bps (baud) setting in HRD and the rig.

2) To use the Digital Master 780 data / sstv software, you need to connect the 6 pin Data Jack to the sound card. On most rigs it is necessary to do this through isolating (audio) transformers (or opto isolators) to avoid hum earth loops otherwise you will radiate a very poor broad signal.

It is also usual to use the PTT line on the Data Jack to control the transmitter from one of the control lines on a PC com port (though it is possible to use Vox).

This means that cable 1 and cable 2 are not totally separate and cable 2 has transformers and a level converter in it! It just got more complex than a few wires and plugs.

So you end up making or buying an interface unit. It is not particularly complex but I would let someone else make those 6 and 8pin DIN cables

Names like G4ZLP, Rig Blaster, Tigertronics come to mind with varying prices and sophistication. TINAR.

Hope that helps.

Jim G3VDB

Plus G0TSG.... ;)

Thanks for the info, what abt the PSK31 Interface Project that is in the PW Mag. (have put a post in Constructor Corner).
Obviously this will work with individual software programs like Digipan. But what abt HRD

FYI the 6 pin Mini Din is the same as found on the old pS2 mouse or keyboard leads, have 1 spare, yes i know it,s bl**dy imposible to solder them.

thks

YES it will work with HRD.... all you are doing is feeding "sound" into, and from the sound card... not seen the project in PW (not seen PW for years TBH)
But as long as it connects to the speaker/line in on the soundcard, then it cannot NOT work !

PTT is the "sticking point" in interfacing, most use a COM port, and a lot of computers made in the past few year do NOT have one fitted anymore :confused: neither do laptops...
This is why I developed my own version - it needs neither :rolleyes:

I have not seen this Interface Project, but there is nothing special about HRD / DM780 - if you can get a clean audio signal of a suitable level to/from a sound card and the radio, DM780 will work. (as Paul says I see!) (DM780 is the digital program within HRD).

I saw the reference to the mouse connector in another posting - that is a neat trick and a very useful piece of info if I ever have to tackle one of those connectors - for which many thanks!

As said in previous posts.

I managed to make a CAT cable (6 pin mini Din) using the din plug from a Computer Keyboard and Keyboard lead and a 3.5mm jack plug..works a treat!

Only soldering 3 wires, RX, TX and Ground.

This is for a FT-890.