A while back I purchased a Digirig Mobile for various uses and projects. It’s been working fine (as best I can tell) since purchase.
I recently purchased an FT-897D and wanted to be able to use the Digirig with it for CAT Control/Digital modes. With that, I purchased the FT-8XX Cables made by Digirig for the Digirig Mobile, and received them today.
However, as soon as I attempted to use them, my 897D powered down.
I’m using a switching power supply, that I regularly use for my FT-710 with no issues. I’ve checked the in-line fuses on the 897D’s power cable, neither of which are blown. I’ve set the baud rate of the 897D to 4800 (the lowest it will go). I insured the Mic Selection on the 897D was set to normal, and using the back CAT port.
Plugging in the DATA port causes no issues, however, as soon as I plug in the CAT/Serial cable, my 897D drops to 12V and then powers down.
I’ve tried several different USB-C cables, as well as two different computers, both of which are running Windows 11 builds.
I’m running out of ideas as to what it could be that is causing the issue, and would welcome any insight and suggestions.
Does this happen while USB connector is unplugged? What about the USB connector plugged, but the computer powered down? Then powered down computer and unplugged from power outlet.
I have now done a full factory reset of the memory, as well as checked on the condition of the EEPROM that is on the board. The EEPROM appears to me, to be in working condition. I am also not experiencing some of the other symptoms that I’ve read about when an EEPROM is faulty.
And just to call it out… it’s never a good practice to plug/unplug axial connectors while devices are powered unless you know for certain that no ill effects will occur.
The Digirig does have 3v on the data jack. When you plug the trrs jack in, the tip crosses this pin, putting 3v on the rxd pin of the radio. Likely, this 3v level, present when the Digirig is powered, is causing your issue.
I understand it’s not great practice to plug/unplug while devices are powered. This was done specifically for demonstrative purposes.
I’ve tried every combination that I could think of trying to diagnose what’s happening, and when I could not figure it out came here and used the most obvious one, and the jack that is seemingly causing issues, as the demonstration.
First, I tried connecting the digirig to a computer while it was already plugged into the radio. The radio immediately powered down as it did in the video.
Second, I tried having the radio off and plugging it into a powered-on computer. The radio at that point would never turn on.
Third, I tried having the computer off and the radio on. Same as scenario one, where as soon as the computer started to boot the radio would immediately power down.
I think I may have found the culprit… And it was me.
Something made me take a look at which version of the DigiRig Mobile I ordered back in December vs. which version I need for the FT-897D. Turns out, you need a different version… The DigiRig Mobile that I ordered back then was the RS-232 version, which is the version I needed at the time, for the use case I had at the time. However, as it turns out, I need the Logic Levels version for the FT-8XX series of radios.
Here’s hoping I didn’t fry the RS-232 version while trying to use it with the 897. Time to place an order for the Logic Levels version and cross my fingers that, that one works.
Between the two devices, the Digirig at 232 is “impervious” to ttl signalling. Hopefully, the 897 is ok, as it could have challenges dealing with 232 on its ttl inputs.
