Cables for Yaesu FT-890 & Yaesu FT-900

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Some interesting connectivity choices were made on these models, none of which are the standard connections. :thinking:

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The audio in and out (but without PTT) can be found on 3.5mm TRS labeled “DATA IN/OUT”, the serial CAT as well as PTT is on the MiniDin6 socket labeled “CAT”. The serial port appears to be using logic levels (5V).

The Digirig cable looks like this:

3.5mm TRS tip (MIC) → 3.5mm TRRS audio ring1 RIG_AFIN
3.5mm TRS ring (SPK) → 3.5mm TRRS audio tip RIG_AFOUT
3.5mm TRS sleeve (GND) → 3.5mm TRRS audio sleeve RIG_AFOUT
3.5mm TRS sleeve (GND) → 3.5mm TRRS audio sleeve GND
MiniDin6-M pin4 (PTT) → 3.5mm TRRS audio (!) ring2 (PTT)
MiniDin6-M pin1 (GND) → 3.5mm TRRS serial sleeve (RIG_AFOUT)
MiniDin6-M pin2 (SER OUT) → 3.5mm TRRS serial ring1 (RIG_TXD)
MiniDin6-M pin3 (SER IN) → 3.5mm TRRS serial tip (RIG_RXD)

Please share the results if you end up building this cable.

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The FT-890 and FT-900 are very close relatives.

You could try something like this that I did for the FT-900.

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I have tried to make the cables as described above. So far I haven’t succeeded with the serial MiniDin6 cable, but still work on it. The audio cable with one modification has worked for me. I connected the 3.5mm TRRS audio ring2 (PTT) with a separate wire and a phonoplug/RCA plug to the PTT jack. This works for me, (but of course it doesn’t control the frequency).

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Re. serial cable: could be TX/RX swapped or levels issue.
With nothing connected, can you measure if there is any voltage on pin2 and pin3 of MiniDin6?

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After further checking I have now made both cables (Audio and Serial) work as described above at the beginning. Initially I didn’t see that the two cables had to be interconnected. When that was done it worked using settings from a FT-920 as described under “Cable for Yaesu FT-900”. In addition I also found it important to use Baud rate 4800 under Radio Control Port.
Thanks for something that now works perfect.

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