Yaesu: Wires X PDN

[mr10pt]

I'm in a club that has an HRI 200 connected to their repeater. The old guys complain about different rooms I listen to because they are scanning. Bought, and sent back an HRI 200 because I did not know it needed a dedicated radio to operate. Now I hear of the SCU 19, 20, 39, 40. I want to plug my FTM300 or FT2 into my laptop, PTT operatioin, for my connection, totally bypassing the club repeater. There are currently 3 rooms Id like connect to. Which SCU do I need? Got confused with instructions.

 

[ko6jw_2]

In most cases all you need is the SCU 19. It connects between a USB port and the data port on your radio. The rest of the cables Yaesu sold were needed for using the sound card on a computer. However, running Wires-X and the SCU 19 should be all you need. Wires-X is free but you have to register it. In effect an FT2 just becomes and analog to digital and digital to analog device. No RF involved. As you correctly surmise this will allow you to explore Fusion Rooms and Nodes without using your repeater. Like a hotspot but better.

I have been doing this for quite a while when traveling. I can reach our local repeater even if I'm not in range of a Fusion repeater at my location. It works very well.

By the way FT2's need the latest firmware to be used in this mode. Not sure about the FTM300 as I don't have one.

I have found that non-digital users are put off by hearing the digital signals. However, there is no PL on digital and they can set PL decode on their receivers and they will stay quiet. The main issues is that digital users linked into your repeater won't hear analog users and can talk over them. For that reason, I have resisted permanent connection to other nodes even though we have been invited to do so.

Have fun.

 

[n9upc]

I would like to provide some clarity as using the wrong cables can really upset users in the room.

First the break down:
PDN has two system types of operation - PDN or HRI these will determine the cable kits you need to use.
PDN then has two modes of operation - DIRECT or ACCESS POINT these will further determine the cables in the kits that need to be used.

PDN - Personal Digital Node -allows connections only to other digital nodes or rooms
HRI - Hardware Radio Interface - allows connections to mixed mode rooms (Digital & FM)

Cable break down:
You have kits and then you have cables within the kits and soon different cables/kits if you are suing W10 or earlier vs. using W11 or earlier.

W10 and earlier kits/cables:
SCU-39 kit - for handhelds and includes the SCU-19 cable. The SCU-19 is what goes between the handheld (FT-2D, FT-3D, & FT5D) for PDN and HRI modes. The other cables in the kit are for HRI operation purposes. With those HRI cables you will either use the one audio cable for DIRECT operation or both for ACCESS POINT operation.

SCU-40 kit - for mobiles and includes the SCU-20 cable. The SCU-20 is what goes between the mobile (FTM-100D, FTM-200D, FTM-300D, and FTM-400 series) for PDN and HRI modes. The other cables in the kit are for HRI operation purposes. With those HRI cables you will either use the one audio cable for DIRECT operation or both for ACCESS POINT operation.

W11 and earlier kits/cables:
SCU-57 kit - REPLACES THE SCU-39 KIT - Does the same functions as listed under the SCU-39 but is compatible with W11
SCU-58 kit - REPLACES THE SCU-40 KIT - Does the same functions as listed under the SCU-40 but is compatible with W11

SCU-55 cable - replacement for the SCU-19 cable and is included in the SCU-57 kit (cable cannot be sold separately)
SCU-56 cable - replacement for the SCU-20 cable and is included in the SCU-58 kit (cable cannot be sold separately)

I stressed using the right cables because if you are in HRI mode and into a mixed mode room and ONLY using the SCU-19, SCU-20, SCU-55, or SCU-56 cable that is rude operation. Why? Because analog users will have their radio key-up and will only have a dead carrier and no audio. That kind of operation helps to insert wedges when you have users who do not want digital.

 

[mr10pt]

I would like to provide some clarity as using the wrong cables can really upset users in the room.

First the break down:
PDN has two system types of operation - PDN or HRI these will determine the cable kits you need to use.
PDN then has two modes of operation - DIRECT or ACCESS POINT these will further determine the cables in the kits that need to be used.

PDN - Personal Digital Node -allows connections only to other digital nodes or rooms
HRI - Hardware Radio Interface - allows connections to mixed mode rooms (Digital & FM)

Cable break down:
You have kits and then you have cables within the kits and soon different cables/kits if you are suing W10 or earlier vs. using W11 or earlier.

W10 and earlier kits/cables:
SCU-39 kit - for handhelds and includes the SCU-19 cable. The SCU-19 is what goes between the handheld (FT-2D, FT-3D, & FT5D) for PDN and HRI modes. The other cables in the kit are for HRI operation purposes. With those HRI cables you will either use the one audio cable for DIRECT operation or both for ACCESS POINT operation.

SCU-40 kit - for mobiles and includes the SCU-20 cable. The SCU-20 is what goes between the mobile (FTM-100D, FTM-200D, FTM-300D, and FTM-400 series) for PDN and HRI modes. The other cables in the kit are for HRI operation purposes. With those HRI cables you will either use the one audio cable for DIRECT operation or both for ACCESS POINT operation.

W11 and earlier kits/cables:
SCU-57 kit - REPLACES THE SCU-39 KIT - Does the same functions as listed under the SCU-39 but is compatible with W11
SCU-58 kit - REPLACES THE SCU-40 KIT - Does the same functions as listed under the SCU-40 but is compatible with W11

SCU-55 cable - replacement for the SCU-19 cable and is included in the SCU-57 kit (cable cannot be sold separately)
SCU-56 cable - replacement for the SCU-20 cable and is included in the SCU-58 kit (cable cannot be sold separately)

I stressed using the right cables because if you are in HRI mode and into a mixed mode room and ONLY using the SCU-19, SCU-20, SCU-55, or SCU-56 cable that is rude operation. Why? Because analog users will have their radio key-up and will only have a dead carrier and no audio. That kind of operation helps to insert wedges when you have users who do not want digital.

Thanks for the explanation. I was going to ask you directly in July at the ARANCI meeting. Could not get an explanation or advise from HRO Milwaukee. Hope to see you in July.

 

[N4DJC]

@n9upc

Thanks for a very informative post…

I’d like to try my FTM-200DR in PDN mode via my computer with the new SC-58 cable, it works with Win 10 as well?

 

[n9upc]

Yes the new cables SCU-55 & 56 along with the kits SCU-57 & 58 are all Windows 11, 10, and 8 compatible.