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Connecting to a FT-2600 via the 9-pin data port

Joel - K5RFO
 

Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.
Mark Griffith
 

You'll need to get a TNC of some sort, like the TNC-Pi for 1200 baud or TNC-Pi9k6 for 1200/9600 baud.? OR, you can get a sound card device like a SignaLink USB and use Direwolf as a virtual TNC.? Either way, you'll have to make a data cable or browse around to find a ready made cable like at

There are obviously more details, but that is the general picture.

If you like, take a look at on how to make a Pi into a Winlink email client.

Mark
KD0QYN



On Monday, May 23, 2022, 09:07:54 AM CDT, Joel - K5RFO <joel@...> wrote:


Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.
 

Hammade parts has a cable to connect the FT2600 to the standard 6 pin mini-din:

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You can interface?a Raspberry PI running?Dire Wolf to the 6 pin mini-din using a DINAH sound card with?PTT control:

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There are two DINAH configurations.? The standalone?DINAH described in the link, in which case you must cut the JP3 jumper or a DINAH-Z PI Zero W stackable?configuration which has a physical jumper,

Several designs interfacing Raspberry PI through a DINAH to a variety?of radios can be found at:

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These have been replicated by a number of people and appear to be readily replicable by others.

There is a Raspberry OS image which one may use to start testing at:

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Instructions to build the image from scratch can be found at:

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If I can help further, please feel free to contact me.



On Mon, May 23, 2022 at 10:07 AM Joel - K5RFO <joel@...> wrote:

Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.





--

73,
AB1PH
Don Rolph
 

Yes. You'll probably need a USB/Serial dongle thingy? if your computer doesn't have a genuine serial port.

On 23/05/2022 09:48 Joel - K5RFO <joel@...> wrote:


Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.




Nigel A. Gunn, ///shoulders.outwards.resolutions? ?tel +1-937-971-0366
Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF and GMRS WRBV701, e-mail nigel@... www http://www.ngunn.net

 

I have 2 of these radios and use one as my VHF Winlink gateway (KO4CTF-10) and the other as a cold spare. I am running mine via Signalink to a Windows machine currently, but bought the Pi TNC hat to use with one in the future. My only Winlink reservation with using it with the Pi is that VARA is not widely supported yet and that is the preferred Winlink protocol here locally versus 1200 packet. Once Linux and VARA gets sorted out, I will be looking to connect one up to my Pi and possibly use it as my gateway. There have been a few claiming ways to run it either through WINE or an ARM version of Windows on a Pi, but it hasn't been widely reported as stable and I need a guaranteed to run and stay up before I use it as my gateway.

73,
Corey - KO4CTF

PS: My FT-2600M is a workhorse, but if using it for digital, keep the power down to low or middle power. It is cooled by heat sink only and high on digital can be pretty hard on it. I have read they are known for shutting off on high power transmit and wiping out presets. Mine has cutoff on high power during initial testing, but I keep mine on 10w output since it is a gateway.
 

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You might check out the DigiRig. It is quite simple to use. The seller may even have a cable for that radio.

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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joel - K5RFO
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2022 9:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [RaspberryPi-4-HamRadio] Connecting to a FT-2600 via the 9-pin data port

?

Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.





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¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

By the way, the DigiPi image (for Raspberry Pi) is equally as easy.

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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Fred Hillhouse
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2022 10:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [RaspberryPi-4-HamRadio] Connecting to a FT-2600 via the 9-pin data port

?

You might check out the DigiRig. It is quite simple to use. The seller may even have a cable for that radio.

?

?

?

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joel - K5RFO
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2022 9:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [RaspberryPi-4-HamRadio] Connecting to a FT-2600 via the 9-pin data port

?

Is it possible to connect a Yaesu FT-2600 to the pi via the 9-pin data port? I'd like to turn this old radio into an APRS and/or winlink radio.



?

This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.



 

I'd also recommend a USB-Radio Interface (converts radio audio to/from USB and controls radio PTT), plus a soundcard modem (software-based modulator/demodulator acting as the TNC) running on RaspPi4 to perform packet radio and APRS.? The combination of the USB interface and software modem replaces the TNC in the diagram provide from the manual.? I use such a configuration for APRS I-gate and Winlink with a similar Kenwood TM-261A.??

  • My recommendation for USB-Radio Interface is the Masters Communications DRA-30,?
    Available as build-it-yourself easy PCB assembly, or fully assembled, and the owner Kevin is a very responsive and helpful with any questions.? Lots of good documentation on his website too.?
  • Build your own DB-9 male to DB-9 male cable with using?just reference the pinout of the (needs a male cable end) and your radio manual above.? I typically repurpose a piece of 4-pair ethernet cable and assign one twisted pair for Mic(Tx) & Gnd, another pair for Data Out (Rx) & Gnd, and a single wire from a third pair for the PTT signal.?
  • My recommendation for?RaspberryPi4 soundcard modem software is Direwolf, which has great built-in APRS gateway and/or digipeater.? Direwolf also supports connected mode AX.25 operation, by emulating TNC with KISS or AGWPE over TCP/IP, thus allowing connection with other client applications such as for BBS and WinLink messaging.? The user guide is very extensive and well written, modem performance is great, and there is clear manual for compiling code from source on RaspPi ().? ?There is also section in the manuals describing other client software to use with Direwolf for non-APRS packet radio (such as Winlink)?
  • My recommendation for a and BBS messaging client is Outpost Packet Message Manager (Outpost PMM) client running on a Windows PC (full email-style GUI).? You simplly start Direwolf on the RaspPi and then you configure the Outpost software to use AGWPE mode over your LAN to connect to the Direwolf Modem.? ?Again, great manual and explanations how to configure with a networked AGWPE modem interface.?

With this configuration, you get the ability to setup the RaspPi as "headless" box on a fixed LAN address in your shack near the radio and have it running as APRS I-gate or Digipeater 24/7.? When you want to do some other packet radio action, just temporarily change the freq on the radio radio to match a local BBS or Winlink node, grab your laptop, fire up the Outpost PMM (or Winlink Express) software, and the client will connect to the modem on the RaspPi from anywhere on your LAN without any special setup other than fixed IP address for the Pi (since Pi is used as local server, the client is configured with fixed IP address of the Pi).? When you're done, just close the client software app on the PC and switch the radio back to APRS 144.390MHz.? You don't have to do any changes to the RaspPi Direwolf software at all during the entire process, as it automatically works in both APRS and connected mode over LAN automatically.

Cheers, Will

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