[TenTec] COmputer hook up to Omni VI+
Frank A. Ellis
w3uhf.frank at gmail.com
Fri May 16 11:09:20 EDT 2014
Hi Jim,
There are two separate issues regarding interfacing. First, the ICOM CI-V data (present at the 1/8" jack on ICOM radios, as well as the Ten-Tec Omni VI) has a different data voltage level than is required by the computer. Therefore, a "level converter" is needed to convert the CI-V voltage levels to ones appropriate for the computer. The ICOM CT-17 Level Converter was a popular "box in the middle" between the radio and computer that accomplished this function. The CT-17 interface port to the computer was serial, not USB. If you wanted to use the CT-17 and connect to a USB port on the computer, a serial to USB adapter cable would be required. That is the second interface issue.
Fortunately, there are single-cable interfaces today that accomplish both the voltage level conversion from RS-232 to serial level, as well as the physical transformation from the 1/8" CI-V jack to a USB plug, all in one simple cable. As TJ stated, the necessary electronics to do this are packaged inside the cable-end boot, typically at the USB end. They are powered from USB power available from the computer's USB port, and unless you knew there was a small PCB inside the connector end, you would swear that it was nothing more than a simple cable, with a 1/8 jack on one end, and a USB connector on the other.
I bought several of these cables from a seller on eBay named "Kawamall" and they work very well. Since the Omni VI uses the ICOM CI-V protocol at the rear 1/8" jack, any cable such as this may be used for a simple USB computer interface to the Omni VI.
Hope this helps.
73, Frank W3UHF
On May 16, 2014, at 10:39 AM, Timothy Johnston wrote:
> Jim, most USB to serial "adapters/converters/cables" are made in a
> all-in-one solution now. I have two of them, both have USB on one end, a
> few inches of cable and a 9 pin serial connect on the other end. There is
> no "black box" anymore. With SMT devices, they are literally built-in to
> the connector housing and you don't see them.
>
> Whether you have USB ports or 9/25-pin serial ports, in order to use CIV,
> the signal levels (voltages) must be converted to match the CIV levels.
> Again, the converter might be too small to be seen and built into the
> housing.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> 73 de Tj, K4TFJ ...
>
>
> On Fri, May 16, 2014 at 10:25 AM, Jim Allen <jim.allen at longhornband.net>wrote:
>
>> By "converter" do you mean merely a cable with the appropriate connectors
>> or is there a "black box" device somewhere?
>>
>> The terminology is confusing to me, I guess. On the 706 the Icom CIV cable
>> used for HRD was just a cable. Will that work here?
>>
>> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 9:17 PM, n5bi <n5bi at juno.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Yes, I also, have a usb to civ converter..works great on omy Omni VI+.
>>>
>>> Gary Branch, N5BI
>>> Macon, GA
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carl Moreschi" <n4py3 at earthlink.net>
>>> To: <Undisclosed-recipients:>
>>> Cc: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 9:59 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] COmputer hook up to Omni VI+
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes it can if you have a USB to CIV converter. The bottom line is you
>>>> still connect to a USB port on the computer.
>>>>
>>>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
>>>> 58 Hogwood Rd
>>>> Louisburg, NC 27549
>>>> www.n4py.com
>>>>
>>>> On 5/15/2014 9:44 PM, Jim Allen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Can the Icom CIV be used instead of the serial port and routed to a USB
>>>>> port directly?
>>>>>
>>>>> TIA
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 8:10 PM, Carl Moreschi <n4py3 at earthlink.net
>>>>> <mailto:n4py3 at earthlink.net>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> USB to serial converters are what is used now. They are available
>>>>> for $10 to $40. They take a serial port DB9 and converter it to
>>>>> connect to a USB port on the computer. Then windows even assigns a
>>>>> comport number to it so you can use it as a normal serial port.
>> For
>>>>> a DB25, you need a DB9 to DB25 adapter on the end of the USB to
>>>>> serial converter.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Omni VI also had a 1/8 inch CIV jack which is the Icom method
>> of
>>>>> connection. This is because the Omni VI uses the Icom command
>>>>> protocol.
>>>>>
>>>>> Carl Moreschi N4PY
>>>>> 58 Hogwood Rd
>>>>> Louisburg, NC 27549
>>>>> www.n4py.com <http://www.n4py.com>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/15/2014 8:42 PM, Jim Allen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I see that the Omni VI+ has a connection called a "serial port"
>>>>> in the
>>>>> back, as well as an "Interface Port" which resembles a serial
>>>>> port DB
>>>>> connector..
>>>>>
>>>>> The description in the manual leads me to believe the Interface
>>>>> Port is to
>>>>> be used to connect to a computer. Today's computers seldom
>> have
>>>>> serial
>>>>> ports, and I see that cables are offered on eBay for these
>>>>> radios that are
>>>>> 1/8th" to USB, similar to the Icom cable.
>>>>>
>>>>> What's the story? What should one use? What should one do
>> with
>>>>> a computer
>>>>> having no serial ports?
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 de W6OGC Jim Allen
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73, Frank A. Ellis, W3UHF
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