Convert programming cable?

[DJ11DLN]

Hello, I have lurked on here for quite awhile but recently registered because I have a specific question. I did a search and came up empty. I do the radio programming for my department. I recently acquired a Kenwood TK-7180 from an estate sale. It calls for a KPG-46 cable and I do not have one. The only name-brand ones I can find are USB and expensive; I have no problem using a serial version. I do have a couple of KPG-22's, which from schematics I find seem to be basically the same thing...but they only use 3 wires, whereas the -46 uses 4. They are older ones, and are serial, so no problem there. Making up an adapter would be simple if I knew where the 4th conductor should be clipped on the board in the LPT connector. Has anyone done this, and if so, would you be good enough to share? Thanks.
Dennis

 

[WX9EMS]

My two bits...

What it boils down to is how the Max232 IC is powered. In the case of the KPG-46, power is sent to the interface through the 4th wire that you mention (there must be a regulator, it is battery voltage on pin 7). the other three are TXD, RXD, and GND, which are the three that you mention. You can make your cable work rather effortlessly, it is just getting everything to connect. Could make a breakout box so to say.

On the other hand, you could just buy something already made, shipped to your door for $17... KAWAMALL Programming Cable for Kenwood KPG 46 TK 7180 TK 8180 TK780 TK 880 Radio | eBay and don't bang your head off the wall. This cable is cheap vs. the Kenwood branded cable, but mine has been alive for 4 years now and is still working like it should.

You can also use a KPG-4 cable too, just pay attention to get it plugged in straight (pins 1 & 8 aren't used for programming), I am not a big fan of this method. As far as "clipping" anything on the LPT, not so sure what you mean by that.

 

[DJ11DLN]

Thanks for your reply. I'd about given up on it. The "clipping" I was referring to meant to attach a lead to the circuit board. My fault, I should have made that clearer. I'm now looking for one of those KPG-4s, because I can simply install a Cat. 6 ethernet plug (8 pin). In fact I did this for someone just last week, in exchange for the use of his KPG-4, which had a broken tab on the 8-pin plug someone else had already installed. The cable was flat and I had no trouble guiding the ends into the 2-6 slots in the RJ45 and getting it crimped. But I also got a look inside of the LPT connector and this one used a totally different circuit board and components. I am not good enough at electronics to figure things out; what I was looking for here was a shortcut.

I had been leery of the Kawamall cables; I was told by a couple of folks that they were a waste of money, but if you are having good luck I might give one a try. Providing I don't come across a KPG-4; my obvious major motivater here has been to avoid paying Kenwood over $100 for their KPG-46. I have computers with serial ports and one USB-to-serial cord that works very well; I can't see paying them for this circuitry permanently joined to a programming cable that was once under $30 at the local LMRS-Kenwood dealer. On the other hand, my breadboarding skills being as thin and ancient as they are, I'll probably at least try the Kawamall cable before I try to build the circuit I found, if a KPG-4 doesn't surface. I appreciate your taking time for this, have a great day.

Dennis

 

[dgruver911]

I have bought several cables (serial and USB both) from Kawamall for Motorola, Kenwood and Icom and have never had any trouble with them. One thing you do have to watch is if you order multiple similar cables at the same time (i.e. mobile cables for all 3 brands with 8-pin connectors), they don't mark them so you have to figure out which cable is which.

 

[mikewayde]

I have also used the cheap cables with great luck, I have been using the double KPG-36 and KPG-46 Kawamall or other cheap ebay cable with the serial port. I programmed 75 TK-5220 portables for Fire/EMS without a problem and have written firmware in 5210's, nx210's-200's, and used for 7180's 5720's and NX-700 mobiles. I have used the same one probably 3 years or more. I may order another one tonight just to have a spare and for around $20 I couldn't go wrong. I am really particular with the storage of my cables and treatment of the connectors but I have been impressed with them so far.
On a negative side I did have a KPG-22 and 4 double cable that if the Kpg-4 was plugged in while the radio was on it would TX. I just had have the radio off when plugged in.


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[DJ11DLN]

I have also used the cheap cables with great luck, I have been using the double KPG-36 and KPG-46 Kawamall or other cheap ebay cable with the serial port. I programmed 75 TK-5220 portables for Fire/EMS without a problem and have written firmware in 5210's, nx210's-200's, and used for 7180's 5720's and NX-700 mobiles. I have used the same one probably 3 years or more. I may order another one tonight just to have a spare and for around $20 I couldn't go wrong. I am really particular with the storage of my cables and treatment of the connectors but I have been impressed with them so far.
On a negative side I did have a KPG-22 and 4 double cable that if the Kpg-4 was plugged in while the radio was on it would TX. I just had have the radio off when plugged in.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Great info, thanks. I am in the same boat with department-wide reprogramming, smaller department but the local Kenwood LMRS guy sees it as a chance to get rich quick ($10/radio!). We're a rural VFD with a limited budget and only 1 model of HT and 1 model of mobile department-wide. Cheaper in the long run to get the correct FPU's and cables. The county has 5 Shared Fireground Ops channels, but they keep rearranging them or reassigning some from other uses to us and taking some of ours so getting stuff reprogrammed has become a way of life and a problem for the mobiles.

I'll get a cable ordered from Kawamall and see how it works. I agree 100% about taking care of cables. I'm a little anal about that myself but I have cables I've owned for a very long time that still work like new, and I'll take care of this one too. Thanks and have a good one.

Dennis

 

[car5le]

Just my two cents, but I use Kawamall cables on Kenwood, Motorola and Vertex programming well over 1500 radios and they worked just fine. Only one cable failed (XTS2500 one of the pins on the radio connection broke - my fault) but after programming over 350 radios with it I didn't feel too bad paying another $20 for one...

 

[cabletech]

$10.00 a radio is dirt cheap. Most shops start at $30.00 each and go up.

How ever, if you plan to do a lot of programing get a cable for the likes of kawamall or affordableradio or
empire_wireless.

I have bought cables from all of them and have not had any problems.

 

[DJ11DLN]

$10.00 a radio is dirt cheap. Most shops start at $30.00 each and go up.

How ever, if you plan to do a lot of programing get a cable for the likes of kawamall or affordableradio or
empire_wireless.

I have bought cables from all of them and have not had any problems.

Well, I am an old geezer and a tightwad, so maybe it's just me...also, he used to do 'em for free, so long as we bought from him and used him for repairs/service. But with several endorsements for the Kawamall stuff I went ahead and ordered one. They keep fiddling with stuff here at the County level...it is getting to be an issue, we have had to reprogram 3 times since Oct. of 2012 and they say they're still not done changing things around. So having the various Countywide Fireground Ops and other Mut-Aid stuff right is getting to be a pain. Also, getting him out to do the apparatus, finding somebody able to let him in (rural VFD, unmanned house), and getting the Chief/Officer POV's together for their update at the same time is often a problem. Hopefully that'll be a non-issue by this time next week.

Thanks everyone for the input. I have browsed through this site for years before ever having a question I couldn't dig out the answer for. I won't hesitate to post questions in the future. Have a good one all.