# Kenwood TM-D710 Serial Programing
**URL:** https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Tags:** serial-rs232
**Created:** [March 17, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393 "2026-03-17T22:57:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@KW7IBE](https://forum.digirig.net/u/KW7IBE)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/1 "2026-03-17T22:57:13Z")
I have had my Digirig for a while, and have been mainly using it for VARAFM.
I needed to do some programming on my TM-D710A and G. I cannot seem to figure this out when the software tries to read the radio (both have the same problem) the radio starts to transmit. I tried this a few times.
I ended up digging out my other serial adapter. It would be great to have the Digirig work to program the radio.
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### Author:  [@webmonkey](https://forum.digirig.net/u/webmonkey)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/2 "2026-03-18T00:22:03Z")
sounds like the programming software utilizes the RTS/DTR flow control lines.
the digirig mobile uses the RTS line for PTT
so every time the programming software tickles the ‘ready to send’ for serial data transfer, PTT is asserted instead.
sticking with a serial adapter that keeps RTS/DTR lines for flow control might be your only option depending on the programming software settings options.
good luck
🙂
kb0wlf
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### Author:  [@KW7IBE](https://forum.digirig.net/u/KW7IBE)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/3 "2026-03-18T00:36:04Z")
Thanks for the info, it kinda sucks since it one more thing to keep track of
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### Author:  [@AG7GN](https://forum.digirig.net/u/AG7GN)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/4 "2026-03-18T01:01:30Z")
If you use [this cable](https://digirig.net/product/kenwood-tm-v71a-cables/) which ties the radio’s serial port RTS to CTS (or build your own cable using the schematic on that web page), it’ll work the way you want.
For more information, see [this thread](https://forum.digirig.net/t/cables-for-kenwood-tm-d710/136).
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### Author:  [@webmonkey](https://forum.digirig.net/u/webmonkey)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/5 "2026-03-18T12:58:05Z")
you’ll still have to unplug the audio + PTT cable to keep the radio from keying up if the programming software requires the use of RTS/DTR
🙂
kb0wlf
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### Author:  [@TheDustyKey](https://forum.digirig.net/u/TheDustyKey)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/6 "2026-03-19T21:53:03Z")
I don’t think the use of the cables is clear…to me.
I have the V71. I tried the green cable with both the Kenwood MCP software and chirp. Neither could connect with the V71. I have the recent cable with CTS=RTS.
I use a Kenwood V71 and 2 HTs (F6, D72) with the black cable, using VARA and fldigi.
I have not tried flrig and CAT commands, using the digirig green cable, not having a need for it with the way I use fldigi.
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### Author:  [@KW7IBE](https://forum.digirig.net/u/KW7IBE)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/7 "2026-03-24T16:37:21Z")
That’s the cable I’ve been using
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### Author:  [@AG7GN](https://forum.digirig.net/u/AG7GN)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/8 "2026-03-24T17:34:36Z")
As @kb0wlf mentions, if your software does not allow you to disable RTS/CTS, you’ll still key the radio when you don’t want to. Flrig allows you to disable RTS/CTS. I’m pretty sure MCP and Chirp don’t have the ability to disable RTS/CTS.
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### Author:  [@AG7GN](https://forum.digirig.net/u/AG7GN)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/9 "2026-03-24T17:50:54Z")
It is possible to modify a Digirig Mobile so that it uses GPIO to trigger PTT (like the Digirig Lite) instead of RTS while retaining the CAT capability (including PTT via CAT). I’ve done [this mod](https://forum.digirig.net/t/uz7ho-soundmodem-and-ext-ptt/2941/7) on a couple of Digirig Mobiles and it works well.
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### Author:  [@K0TX](https://forum.digirig.net/u/K0TX)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.digirig.net/t/kenwood-tm-d710-serial-programing/10393/10 "2026-03-24T18:02:20Z")
You can use Digirig Lite - it natively supports PTT by GPIO