It depends on when your '847 was built.
Some of the early radios were "one way", and later ones had full "two way" communications on the serial port.
The following is from the "Supercontrol" FT-847 FAQ page:
Yaesu appears to use the following format for serial numbers on their amateur products:
Year of manufacture-Month of manufacture-Production Run-Individual Unit number, where the month of manufacture is offset by 2, so "C" means January, "D" means February, "E" means March, and so forth.
Example: 8G051234 = 1998, May (fifth month, or "G"), Production Run 05, unit #1234 in this run.
One key serial number range is 8G05. This seems to be the point at which Yaesu had corrected the bi-directional CAT issue http://www.supercontrol.de/cat/ft847faq/page4.htm#catcontrol and made some other improvements. This version was made in May 1998. Later serial numbers (e.g., 8L09nnnn) all seem to have incorporated the earlier improvements plus new ones.
Thanks to Barry W4WB who wrote in with the correct information.
Yes, the serial port on the FT-847 requires a null modem adapter, per page 91 of the operating manual. A null modem gender changer will work just fine. I use a Keysapn 4-port USB to serial converter to eliminate having so many "dongles" floating around on the desk, and I purchased 9-pin null modem cables with the correct sex connectors on them to eliminate having gender changers.
The SatPC32 "changelogs" will tell you exactly what changes were made between the various versions if you're interested. Upgrading to 12.8c is completely painless as long as you follow the instructions.
73, Jim KQ6EA
On 07/16/2016 10:03 PM, Cruzio Email wrote:
I am setting up my registered Satpc32 Ver. 12.8a with a desktop with Win 10, with only USB ports.
My radio is an FT 847 with a DB9 com port. I have a Shaxon RS232 Serial to USB adapter cable.
The FT 847 CAT and the adapter both have male DB9 connectors. Therefore I need a gender changer. I was confronted with Null Modem gender changers which got me to thinking.
I believe the communication to the FT 847 CAT port is one way, but since it is a serial Com port, I need a null modem interface somewhere in the computer to FT 847 CAT port cable.
So would someone confirm my thinking, should I use a Null Modem gender changer?
Another thought while I have such a great panel of experts, since my Satpc32 program version is 12.8a should I upgrade to 12.8c?
By the way, I am also using a LVB Tracker box. I have removed the MAX232CPE IC and I am connecting to the USB input without any consideration as to Rx to Tx wiring changes.
I could figure all of this out with trial and error, plus some expense, but I'm sure others have had these same questions.
Thanks, Allen WB6RWU
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