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Where to find KPG 46 Cable?

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KN4HTC

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I've got a TK 7160 and a TK 981 and the programming software for both radios.

Doing my research, it looks like both radios take a KPG 46 cable. Is there a good source for them that's not $100? That seems a bit high for a programming cable.
 

a417

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The KPG-46 is a serial port programmer for those radios, and the magic behind it is a RS232 to TTL level converter chip that allows the radio to talk to the computer. I built mine on a breadboard and it cost about $11. It was a MAX232, 7 caps and a 78L05. Dirt simple level conversion. I only had to program the radio once (and could rebuild it again if needed) and it worked just fine. The $100+ I see around are ones that have a USB to SERIAL converter built in, and consequently some scumbag markup involved as well.

As the Antenna Farm has a good reputation around these parts, I'd start here and try theirs for $40 ish.
 

MTS2000des

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a417

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Good to know @MTS2000des , I'm always leery of ebay cables as they are misrepresented in perpetuity (and I frequently use them for parts.) I recommended the AntennaFarm as their customer service has to be better than ebay sellers. I just went the ebay route for an ICOM programming cable, and was told that the reason it didn't work was because I didn't install the correct Prolific driver....

...for the serial port.

No refund, days of emails to be told all sales are final. As I "refused their customer service request to install their prolific driver" I ended up going to ebay for dispute.

Cracked it open to find the DE-9 pins shorted by a solder blob.
 

KN4HTC

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The KPG-46 is a serial port programmer for those radios, and the magic behind it is a RS232 to TTL level converter chip that allows the radio to talk to the computer. I built mine on a breadboard and it cost about $11. It was a MAX232, 7 caps and a 78L05. Dirt simple level conversion. I only had to program the radio once (and could rebuild it again if needed) and it worked just fine. The $100+ I see around are ones that have a USB to SERIAL converter built in, and consequently some scumbag markup involved as well.

As the Antenna Farm has a good reputation around these parts, I'd start here and try theirs for $40 ish.


You have got to be kidding me. Considering the fact that I have ordered multiple things from there, you would've thought I would have checked there. Ha ha ha. Thanks!
 

AK9R

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I usually go to Valley Enterprises for radio programming cables. They have models for most popular models and they have cables with FTDI RS-232 to USB chipsets. I feel safer buying from Valley than from an unknown eBay seller. $21.49.

 

Vern

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Look at KPG-46z on ebay by seller BlueMax49ers for $28. I use it on my Kenwood NX-3700 series. It surpasses my old TTL cables which took 4 minutes for a read/write and this one takes 28 seconds. Seller is a ham and I have several of his products.
Vern
 

a417

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You have got to be kidding me. Considering the fact that I have ordered multiple things from there, you would've thought I would have checked there. Ha ha ha. Thanks!

86942

...this is where it started, deteriorated over time.
 

KN4HTC

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View attachment 86942

...this is where it started, deteriorated over time.

Wow. Yeah I'll stick with the Antenna Farm then.

My last conversation with them went like this:

Them: The NMO mount you ordered is actually out of stock but we've got this one that actually a little better we can substitute.
Me: OK. Thanks.
Them: We'll get it shipped out today!
 

a417

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Yeah, that's not saying that all ebayers aren't scumbags...but this one was. @vagrant & @W9BU both posted a seller they have had personal experience with, so that's better than just some rando. YMMV.
 
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