IC-R6 and cloned 478 cable

[EddP]

Hi all,

I've got a IC-r6 and have just had a cable delivered from ebay, It isn't an icom cable due to the price of them. It won't download the data off of the radio. Has anyone else had problem or any success. I'm trying to use arc6.

Here is a video of the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yV0jAIy3TM Any help would be appreciated.

 

[KK6BCU]

You can find the original cable under clearance items at Universal for $24.98 withn driver.

 

[oregontreehugger]

One thing I ran into when I had my R6 is that I needed to switch the COM port setting. I was using a Radio Shack USB->Serial adapter, with the OPC-478 cable attached to that. Also, the headphone/cloning jack on the radio can be a little finicky. You might try adjusting the plug up/down while trying to upload/download from the radio. Assuming the Fleabay cable is wired properly, it *should* be working with your R6.

 

[joneil2000]

I bought one of those fleabay cables too, and it never worked. You need a cable with the proper chipset (prolific?) installed in the cable, and that is what puts the cost up. You also may need to install the prolific driver set, depending on your computer and OS.

For what it is worth however, the same proper cable works fine on the R6, the R5 and even the Alinco DJ-X7. In the long run, worth the money.

 

[Comint]

I've got a IC-r6 and have just had a cable delivered from ebay, It isn't an icom cable due to the price of them. It won't download the data off of the radio. Has anyone else had problem or any success. I'm trying to use arc6.

Here is a video of the problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yV0jAIy3TM Any help would be appreciated.

OK, it seems from your video, that the cable at least partially works, otherwise the radio wouldn't be trying to send data to the PC.
Certain "handshaking" has to have satisfactorily taken place, before that can happen.

Check that the CI-V Baudrate of the R6 is set to AUTO, or is the same baudrate as the Cloning software. You might also try lowering the Baudrate to 9600 (I think the default is 19200).

It may also help if you indicate what Operating System is on your PC.

--
Comint

 

[joneil2000]

What happened in the youtube video was almost exactly what happened to me and my R5. However, i still had/have my old serial port cable, and when I used it, the program and the radio worked perfectly. Went back to that usb cable- nothing but problems.

My Alinco DJ-X7 is programmed through the headphone jack just like the IC-R5 and R6. Different software, but otherwise almost the same thing. Tried that cheap fleabay usb cable - exact same problem.

But again, repeating myself, I got the proper (and expensive - $60 ) usb cable from Alinco, and it works instantly on my desktop and laptop, and with my Alinco and my Icom., and both the Butel and the Alinco software on the respective radios.

Bottom line is this - I don't know why, but those fleabay cables are garbage, junk, crapola, and a complete waste of time. The ad on fleabay said specifically that it worked ith the Icom, but it does not. Get the good cable, save yourself the headache.
good luck

 

[KK6BCU]

How do you select the com port ??

 

[RAD909]

Here are instructions on selecting a Com port.

The Icom programming software will need you to tell it what Com Port the device (in this case the Icom programming cable) is attached to. To do this:

1. Plug the USB cable into the computer.
2. Start the Icom Programming Software.
3. Go to your Device Manager in Windows (find it under 'Computer Management' > 'System Tools').
4. You will see a list of devices. Look for either 'Icom' or 'Silicon Labs CP10X' (the programming cable must be plugged into the computer for this to appear in the list).
5. There will be a Com Port # associated with the Icom or Silicon Labs entry (this is the Com Port number you will use in the programming software).
6. Go to the Icom programming software, click on Com Port and enter the number.


[Moderator edit: we do not permit comercial advertising. Link removed.]

 

[KK6BCU]

Icom R-6

Thanks for the reply. I'll try your instructions.
KK6BCU

 

[jonny290]

I purchased a $5 TTL serial cable meant for programming Arduinos off Amazon and it both CI-V controls my base radios *and* programs my IC-208h flawlessly. Just connect RX and TX together, connect those to the data line, ground to ground. Dirt cheap solution imo! PL2303 chipset, make sure you get it.