I just ordered a Yaesu FT-3185RASP because the FT-2980R is no longer available. Will I be able to use it with my Digirig? Unlike the FT-2980R manual, the FT-3185RASP manual does not include a pinout for the microphone jack but it looks like both rigs might use the same 6-pin modular RJ-11 and both manuals list a common Yaesu microphone as compatible. Will the Digirig cable for the FT-2980 work with the FT-3185R?
Thanks,
Cal (AD8Q)
I just searched ebay for yaesu 2980, there are plenty available.
I myself only use yaesu 2900R. I have 7 or 8 of them. I like standardization 
Very likely, yes, it will work. Yaesu not likely to change pinout.
Could you reach out to Yaesu and ask? You will not be the only one. Plus the pinout for the data port on the back for programming.
Thanks for the replies, everyone. There is no dedicated (pure digital) data port on the back. Perhaps the speaker port multiplexes as one. Yaesu has never had love the CHIRP, thatās for sure.
Hereās my inquiry. Iāll let you know the answers I receive from Yaesu tech support. The manuals for these two models are on the Yaesu website, if anyone is interested.
I recently purchased an FT-3185R after ordering an FT-2980R from my dealer, which I was informed is no longer available, so my new FT-3185R is on its way to my QTH for delivery!
I downloaded both the FT-3185R and FT-2980R Operating Manuals. Unfortunately, the FT-3185R manual does not include the pinout for the mic jack, as illustrated on page 5 of the FT-2980R.
1. Is the mic jack pinout on the FT-3185R the same as the FT-2980R?
I was also disappointed to not find the Packet Operation section on page 52 of the FT-2980R Operating Manual in my new radioās manual.
2. Has support for NICs/modems been deleted from the FT-2980R or can I make connections per the FT-2980R and use a packet NIC/soft modem?
The FT-3185R actually cost me 50% more money than the FT-2980R that I first ordered and I am not going to be happy with my purchase, if I cannot connect digital modems to this analog radio!
73,
Cal (AD8Q)
iām sure yaesu will give you a better answer but thought iād chime in.
the fm only, no packet jack, radios will all do 1200baud packet via TNC (not a NIC) via microphone input and speaker level output.
so a soundcard and soundcard mode software will as well.
for higher speed/wider audio bandwidth modes, you would need access to the discriminator and modulator found on a āpacketā jack.
(referred to as 9600baud, but thatās from back in the TNC/ax.25 standards)
i guess what iām getting at is:
if you could do 1200baud packet/vara stuff with a 2980 through spk/mic connections, you would be able to with a next gen radio.
granted, knowing the mic pinout is crucial
lastly, the programming port/capability, called DATA sometimes, is not the same thing as a packet jack for connecting a TNC (or soundcard) for digital mode transmissions/reception.
as you surmised
(the jack isnāt routed to the audio path of tx/rx)
iāve wired up countless maxon 4150/4450 radios that have only a speaker jack and a 6 pin mic jack for packet, then aprs, then vara-fm.
iām sure the radio will work fine for you
good luck
kb0wlf
Iām not so sure that Yaesu will give me a better (honest) answer, webmonkey, so thanks for your post. Sometimes manufacturers simply donāt want us to connect to our rigs in ways they donāt wish to āsupportā, it seems. For example, obviously one can make analog audio connections as long as safe and operational signal levels can obtained within impedance ranges, etc., but the manufacturers sometimes donāt trust use with anything but their ācannedā solutionsāor other times they wish to sell us their solutions.
RR and understood. Iāve run my Mobilinkd Nucleo TNC with a cheap Baofeng radio and my Pinephone (running Debian-based Mobian and Pat Winlink). However, I consider that āTNCā to be a software TNC/modem (or call it firmware, if you wishā¦same thing) and it connects to analog audio I/O. I prefer Direwolf and either a built-in soundcard within the computer/Pinephone or, more reliably in my experience, my Digirig for this setupāespecially when the rig lacks CAT (cheap Baofeng or my soon to arrive Yaesu FT-3185R).
I would think Yaesu would be embarrassed if their new $250 mobile 2m rig could not do something that a $15 Baofeng (Black Friday pricing) can do! Oh yeahāthe Baofeng works with CHIRP, but Yaesu seems to me to be more arrogant than embarrassed when that topic comes up!
Yes-fingers crossed!
Thanks again for your post, kb0wlf