PRO-97 Programming Cable Question

[KN6LHP]

Is there anything stopping me from just wiring a TRS connector to a DB9 cable? I'm reading in other posts on this forum that TX and RX both use the tip, while another website says that the original GRE/RadioShack cable made/sold for this radio comes with a mono adapter, however it does not have to be used with GRE produced scanners.

What gives? I don't want to buy another programming cable. I already have an FTDI cable on hand, would that blow it up?

 

[dalmation61]

Is there anything stopping me from just wiring a TRS connector to a DB9 cable? I'm reading in other posts on this forum that TX and RX both use the tip, while another website says that the original GRE/RadioShack cable made/sold for this radio comes with a mono adapter, however it does not have to be used with GRE produced scanners.

What gives? I don't want to buy another programming cable. I already have an FTDI cable on hand, would that blow it up?

The pro-97 is very easy to program by hand. I had one but it was stolen years ago.

 

[dalmation61]

I program all of my scanners by hand. I learned by hand because computers are not dependable.

 

[tvengr]

What gives? I don't want to buy another programming cable. I already have an FTDI cable on hand, would that blow it up?

Which cable do you have?

 

[KN6LHP]

Which cable do you have?

I've actually two usb-to-serial type cables. A kenwood/baofeng style connector FTDI cable, and a USB-to-DB9 Prolific serial converter that's currently running as remote control/programming for my BCT15X.

 

[tvengr]

Courtesy of member gmclam:

USB/RS-232 to PRO-97/PRO-164 etc

While the PRO-97 may use the stereo jack, the ring connection would not be used. The sleeve is ground and that's the only direct connection to the DB9 (RS-232). The tip of the jack is BOTH transmit and receive. However, the signal level to/from the PRO-97 is ~3.3v while RS-232 on the DB-9 is anywhere from +/- 5 volts to +/- 15 volts.

You need a circuit to convert from RS-232 levels to TTL levels. But remember after the voltage conversion, connect receive and transmit together to the scanner.

The newer scanners (PRO-164, PSR-300) also use the stereo connector, but the receive and transmit signals are separate to/from the scanner. The voltage conversion circuit is still needed.

The reason the 20-047 USB cable works with both scanners is because it transmits on both tip and ring. The ring goes nowhere when connected to a '97.

I built my own cable and was considering selling them, however it was not cost effective to make any reasonable profit.