VK Logger Ham Radio Forum Archive

Can i make one from a old usb cable and a plug ?

Make E...Bay your friend. Usually you can find them for a few bucks on there....GL

yep thats a great idea but if i can make it myself it cost me nothing then

Most of these Icom cables run a Prolific chipset style USB>serial converter integral in the USB cable plug housing, and a mono or stereo 3.5mm plug on the end. You'd just need to figure out what lines do what, and give it a go.

Personally, I'd rather spend $5 bucks and get something that is meant to work, than experimenting and possibly getting it wrong and damaging the radio's data port components.

Perhaps someone has managed it before and there is a web page about hacking a cable? Some exhaustive Googling might find something?

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

This what the RS232 version looks like. If you have a usb to rs232 converter already then try this, otherwise it might give you some idea of what to try. Personally, the eBay suggestions already seem to me to be the way to go.

I don't think you will find it is just a matter of taking the connections from the USB and feeding them directly into the IC208. Some sort of interface electronics is going to be required.