Now to see if I can export my channels from the UV-5R (CHIRP) and import them direct into the ICOM (CS-F100) 
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IC-F121 Prgm Cable Pinouts?
- Thread starter Soundy
- Start date
- Status
Soundy, can you give us the actual pinout or a diagram of
how you got this to work? I have an F420 I'd like to program
myself rather than paying $50+ to get someone to do it for me.
how you got this to work? I have an F420 I'd like to program
myself rather than paying $50+ to get someone to do it for me.
Hmmm my picture is missing from the previous page... you're in luck though, my ghetto cable is right here beside me.
I started with the programming cable for my UV-5R, which plugs into the mic port on that HT... then rigged the wires off a network cable onto small alligator clips, and clip them to the TRS plugs on the UV-5R cable.
The RJ-45 plug for the F121 is just standard T568-B wiring; on the other end I have clips on the orange, brown, and white/brown wires (if you use a T568-A cable, use green instead of orange).
The RX (pin 2) clip only needs to contact the ring on the micro-TRS, but it's easier to have it touching the tip as well.
I started with the programming cable for my UV-5R, which plugs into the mic port on that HT... then rigged the wires off a network cable onto small alligator clips, and clip them to the TRS plugs on the UV-5R cable.
The RJ-45 plug for the F121 is just standard T568-B wiring; on the other end I have clips on the orange, brown, and white/brown wires (if you use a T568-A cable, use green instead of orange).
The RX (pin 2) clip only needs to contact the ring on the micro-TRS, but it's easier to have it touching the tip as well.
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Of course, you can order a cable specifically made for your radio on fleaBay for probably under $20.... but I like to tinker.
I'm a "tinkerer experimenter" too. I get a lot of satisfaction out of
making "it" work on my own.
Here's a question for you. I don't know if you can answer this or not,
but I'm trying to program my Icom IC-F420,Im using CSF300_v1 software.
I have the serial / com port hooked to the mic jack on the radio (directly).
Here is my actual pinout:
Radio pin 2 (Clone) to COM port 2 (RX)
Radio pin 7 (Ground) to COM port 5 (Ground)
Radio pin 8 (Hangar) to COM port 3 (TX)
I select the RS232c port 1 in the software. When I try to "Read"
from the radio I get "No Answer From Transceiver"
I've tried to swap Pin2 and Pin8 and I still cannot connect.
Do you have any suggestions? I ask you because, although a different
radio model, you've managed to get yours working.
Thank you
JimN
making "it" work on my own.
Here's a question for you. I don't know if you can answer this or not,
but I'm trying to program my Icom IC-F420,Im using CSF300_v1 software.
I have the serial / com port hooked to the mic jack on the radio (directly).
Here is my actual pinout:
Radio pin 2 (Clone) to COM port 2 (RX)
Radio pin 7 (Ground) to COM port 5 (Ground)
Radio pin 8 (Hangar) to COM port 3 (TX)
I select the RS232c port 1 in the software. When I try to "Read"
from the radio I get "No Answer From Transceiver"
I've tried to swap Pin2 and Pin8 and I still cannot connect.
Do you have any suggestions? I ask you because, although a different
radio model, you've managed to get yours working.
Thank you
JimN
What serial adapter are you using? I tried a basic USB-to-DB9 adapter at first but found the voltages were all wrong (I think I covered that earlier in the thread). The Baofeng one has the proper output.
I tried the Baofeng USB adapter that you showed in the pics.
I went into my Device Manager and changed the COM port from
Port 11 (on the Prolific USB) to Port 1. Then I used the same
alligator ghetto setup that you used and kep getting the error
"Cannot open RS232c Serial Port". So, from there, I hooked up
a regular Serial Port card to my Windows XP computer, configured
it to port 2 and tried that. The error message changed to "No Answer
from Transceiver" I've really been banging my head on this for 2 days now.
The voltage out of the computer's Serial port is about 11v
I went into my Device Manager and changed the COM port from
Port 11 (on the Prolific USB) to Port 1. Then I used the same
alligator ghetto setup that you used and kep getting the error
"Cannot open RS232c Serial Port". So, from there, I hooked up
a regular Serial Port card to my Windows XP computer, configured
it to port 2 and tried that. The error message changed to "No Answer
from Transceiver" I've really been banging my head on this for 2 days now.
The voltage out of the computer's Serial port is about 11v
Also, the one thing I haven't tried is changing the port
settings for the COM port. 9600 baud, data bits, parity,
stop bits, etc. I have no idea what parameters the the radio
wants.
I have looked at the cables available on ebay but I'm real confused.
It says I need 2 cables. OFC-592 and OFC-478. They're 2 completely
different cables and I see no way to connect the 2 together since they both
have different ends on them. One is a USB to RJ45 the other is USB (or DB9) to
3.5" Jack. How are they supposed to connect together? Naturally, NO information
on the Icom website.
settings for the COM port. 9600 baud, data bits, parity,
stop bits, etc. I have no idea what parameters the the radio
wants.
I have looked at the cables available on ebay but I'm real confused.
It says I need 2 cables. OFC-592 and OFC-478. They're 2 completely
different cables and I see no way to connect the 2 together since they both
have different ends on them. One is a USB to RJ45 the other is USB (or DB9) to
3.5" Jack. How are they supposed to connect together? Naturally, NO information
on the Icom website.
Do you have the Baofeng as well, and the cable works for that? I know I had to do some fiddling with getting the right drivers installed for mine to work.
Yes. Have Baofeng BF-F9 radios and the Baofeng cable for CHIRP. The cable
works fine with Chirp and the radios. I'm using the Prolific Drivers for the cable.
Problem is CHIRP doesn't support the Icom F420. So, I'm back to the CS-F300 software.
Just can't get this damn radio to talk to the computer and getting ready to
toss it out the door.
works fine with Chirp and the radios. I'm using the Prolific Drivers for the cable.
Problem is CHIRP doesn't support the Icom F420. So, I'm back to the CS-F300 software.
Just can't get this damn radio to talk to the computer and getting ready to
toss it out the door.
I think I found your problem: the F420 has different pinouts than the F121. According to A Universal Programming Cable for Radios the F420 uses layout "ICO-1" while the F121 uses "ICO-3":
Odd thing is, this seems to have the RJ45 numbering reversed... in any case, you may need to tie the mini-shield and submini-ring connections together and send to pin 7 on the RJ45.
I found this older post that states an F121 cable won't work with an F420: http://forums.radioreference.com/icom-land-mobile-radio/319256-icom-ic-f420-programming.html
This lists a different cable for the F420 as well: Icom Programming Software & Leads Information IC-F(xxx) radios.
Odd thing is, this seems to have the RJ45 numbering reversed... in any case, you may need to tie the mini-shield and submini-ring connections together and send to pin 7 on the RJ45.
I found this older post that states an F121 cable won't work with an F420: http://forums.radioreference.com/icom-land-mobile-radio/319256-icom-ic-f420-programming.html
This lists a different cable for the F420 as well: Icom Programming Software & Leads Information IC-F(xxx) radios.
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
I think I found your problem: the F420 has different pinouts than the F121. According to A Universal Programming Cable for Radios the F420 uses layout "ICO-1" while the F121 uses "ICO-3":
Odd thing is, this seems to have the RJ45 numbering reversed... in any case, you may need to tie the mini-shield and submini-ring connections together and send to pin 7 on the RJ45.
I found this older post that states an F121 cable won't work with an F420: http://forums.radioreference.com/icom-land-mobile-radio/319256-icom-ic-f420-programming.html
This lists a different cable for the F420 as well: Icom Programming Software & Leads Information IC-F(xxx) radios.
I completely discovered by accident the cable used with the F300 line (OPC-478/OPC-597) can be substituted with a RLN4008B (Motorola RIB) and a Radius/Maxtrac/GM300/SM50/1225 programming cable or just a ribless variant.
Chiefwilnel
Member
I have a f521 I hope to replicate this myself.
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