Apr 13, 2019 Yaesu FT-891, FT8, USB-C Mac, PS/2 cable There was a lot involved in getting this working so I thought I would write a post about getting the Yaesu FT-891 to work digital modes (FT8 in this case) with a new Mac the only has USB-C ports. The Yaesu FT-891 is a great HF radio. It's one of few HF two way radios that comes with some great advanced features while still being very easy to use. But if you want to get high-end functionality out of it and make your Ham experience easier and more convenient, then you need to get a few accessories specifically designed for it. Yaesu FT-DX1200 HF/50 MHz Amateur Radio Base Transceiver, 100 Watts. Yaesu Original FT-891 HF/50 MHz All Mode Analog Ultra Compact Mobile / Base Transceiver - 100 Watts - 3 Year Warranty. Yaesu FT-857D Amateur Radio Transceiver - HF, VHF, UHF All-Mode 100W Remote Head Capability.
Go to 1 2 Freeware page
- Interface Cable Tester 1.0
This is a small utility I wrote to test the interface cables used to program Yaesu and Icom radios (it will not work with cables for other radios). If the cable won't pass this test, then it definitely won't work with any of the Commander software.Freeware - 2FTBVX3J 1.0
A memory management program for the Yaesu VX-3 Japanese model handheld transceiver. Main features: - backup/restore the cloneable memory - modify memory definitions - add and delete memory definitions - manage which memories are in which banks - sort ..$15.72 - 3FTBCAT 2.0
A CAT control program for Yaesu FT-450, FT-817/ND, FT-847, FT-857/D, FT-897/D, FT-920, FT-1000MP Mark V transceivers, VR-5000 and FRG-100 receivers. This program does not perform management of any memory that is present in the hardware of the supported ..Freeware - FTB8800 1.5
FTB8800 is a memory management program for the Yaesu FT-8800 transceiver. It enables you to: backup/restore the cloneable memory, modify memory definitions, add and delete memory definitions, manage which memories are in which banks, sort memories by ..$15.00 - 5CQLog 1.3
The program also offers a 'contest-mode'; supports CAT systems for YAESU, ICOM, KENWOOD, Ten-Tec. Prints QSL cards, QSL labels, addresses envelopes and much more. CQLog is fully compatible with the CQ Callbook program. - 6VX-7 Commander 1.3
If you own the VX-7R transceiver, which is the first amateur handheld to be submersible, you may wish to modify it to enable transmission on MARS and CAPS frequencies. You can do this in two ways, using a hardware method or a software method. Using the ..Freeware - 7FT-60 Commander 1.0
The dual band FT-60 handheld transceiver for amateur radio enthusiasts, first released in 2004, is still very popular because of its wide-coverage receiver, 2-meter VHF band and 70-centimeter UHF band. This handheld transceiver features 1000 memories ..Freeware - 8VX-6 Commander 0.2
VX-6 Commander features: - Read/Write to the radio - Edit/Move/Cut/Copy/Paste main memory channels, scan edge memories - Edit Direct Recall Memories, Home Memories, VFOs - Edit Memory Banks - Edit Set Mode Settings - Import/Export CSVs - Sort memories ..Freeware - 9nGenLog 1.0
nGenLog is the next generation logging software for radio amateurs which is designed to work in the future. A living project that utilizes the latest programming technics to supply a stable, functional and easy to use program for your logging experience.$99.00 - 10POWER-trak 3.0
POWER-trak™ is a professional, real-time fleet management software system utilizing some of today’s most advanced technology. This innovative solution gives you the power to do everything from vehicle tracking, two-way messaging, ..$1,899.00 - 11Swisslog 5.8
Most Important SWISSLOG Functions - Add QSO's - Edit and Delete QSO's - Print Logbook - Transceiver Control - Rotor-Control (ARS from EA4TX, Hy-Gain, Yaesu, Sartek) - Integrated Telnet and Internet Support - DX-Cluster Support -- Interfaces ..Freeware - 12PstRotator 6.9
PstRotator is a program for antenna rotators control. It works with a wide variety of rotators, supports a lot of loggers, DX cluster clients, satellites and moon trackers, and supports multiuser remote operation over the Internet. The user interface ..$21.60 - 13PstRotatorAz 6.6
The PstRotatorAz program can control a Yagi and a bi-directional rotary dipole on the same rotator, with the dipole in line with the Yagi's boom (90° offset from Yagi heading). This mode is BD-90. A second bidirectional mode (BD-0) supports .. - 14CN8HB's CAT-1000 1.1
CN8HB's CAT-1000 is a free software utility that allows you to control your FT-1000MP (also Mark-V) from your computer.This software application allows you to save and restore the memory bank to a file, adjust the EDSP features parameters, record ..Freeware - 15FCCLookup 5.1
Standard Features: -Look-up of US call signs -Wild card searches on US call signs -US zipcode database current as of Dec 2009 -Manual and automatic download of Master FCC Database -Mini Internet Callsign Server -Geographic coordinates computed based ..Freeware - 16FT920CAT 1.0
FT920CAT is a nice and easy to install utility. If you love listen to radio, this software is perfect for you. It has allot of features and an interesting interface which makes it more attractive. You can manipulate the beat frequency very easy and quick.Freeware - 17DStar Comms 1.1
Your premier software solution for communicating via the serial port on your ICOM D-Star enabled Amateur radios. Dstar Comms can be used for email deployment, GPS Tracking, reliable communication plus much more! Main features: - Send and Receive Text ..Freeware - 18Ham Radio Deluxe 5.1
It offers support to Yaesu, ICOM, Elecraft, Ten-Tec FlexRadio, and Kenwood along with more, and the complete list is available in the user community. Its salient features and benefits include built-in logbook, Favorites, Integrated DX cluster, Customizable .. - 19VX-2 Commander 1.1
Main features : - Edit/Move/Cut/Copy/Paste main memory channels and scan edge memories - Edit Memory Banks - Perform MARS/CAP and Freeband mods via software - Import/Export CSVs - Sort memories by tag or freq - Print memories - Import ARRL TravelPlus ..Freeware - 20PCConfigure 2.1
EFJohnson's PC Configure software is the most user-friendly programming software for public safety and service radio users. Program all of your EFJohnson mobile and portable radios quickly and easily with the same software package. Minimize your .. - 21CQ Callbook 2.5
CQ Callbook offers you instant access to current information on DXers, their QSL managers and addresses. Also gives you acces to DXCC lists, details of QSL bureaus, callsign prefixes, and a lot of other helpful HAM-information at your finger tips. The ..$19.95 - 22Sunrise Sunset 2.1
Sunrise Sunset is a program very easy to use.On the first run you will need to set your location on the configuration page. You can either input your latitude and longitude, or your Maidenhead Grid locator. One will compute the other. Select the unit ..Freeware - 23TRX-Manager 4.6
TRX-manager supports almost all the functions of up to 80 transceivers fully integrated in a comprehensive package for Radio Amateurs. TRX-Manager implements all these functions in conjunction with very fast monitoring and easier, more effective SW Listening, ..$79.00 - 24ARSVCOM 1.0
It also allows you to add a Virtual Com Port and emulate via this virtual com some other rotator models as Yaesu, Create, etc In this way, if your some program that supports some of those rotators, but are not supporting a Prosistel, will work with ..$25.49 - There's also WDH on the FUNCTION-1 menu, I am not sure that this effects DATA mode(I think 08-05 and 08-07 override it) but you can set this to max (3000Hz)
See the Yaesu FT-891 Advance Manual for information on these settings.
Next step is to get CAT control working. I would have an antenna or dummy load connected to the radio as if you don't have all the settings right there's the possibility of it going into transmit mode. The FT-891 has a USB-B port on the back, most commonly used on printers. I tried using an old USB printer cable and a USB-C adapter to the Mac but this didn't work. I've had issues with a couple of USB devices using the adapter so it may work for you. I ended up purchasing a USB-C printer cable(USB-B on one end and USB-C on the other). After obtaining the cable, OSX requires the Silicon Labs UART driver for the serial communication between the Mac and the radio to work. The driver can be found here:
https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
It's a fairly standard Mac driver install and may require security authorization and a reboot to get it fully working.
For logging software I'm using RumLogNG which is a free logging program for Mac. You can install it now and test the CAT control functionality. Here are the CAT settings for RumLogNG that I used:
While you're in the settings for RumLogNG, click on the UDP tab and setup the UDP server the WSJT-X will use for CAT control. Here's are the settings:
Now is a good time to create a new log file in RumLogNG, otherwise contacts from WSJT-X won't log due to not having a log file.
WSJT-X can be downloaded here. I'm not going to go into all the configuration options for this program, it's heavily documented on the Internet. To configured communication between RumLogNG and WSJT-X I used the following settings on the Radio tab:
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Permute 2 2.2.8 torrent. To pass the QSO's to the log, set the following setting the UDP Server section on the Reporting tab:
This completes the software configuration. The final part took me the longest which is getting the audio into WSJT-X. It took me the longest mostly due to being cheap. I first tried using an old PS/2 keyboard cable to plug into the data port of the FT-891. These cables only have 4 of the pins wired and of course missing the ones we want. The official CT-39A cable is almost $20 but it's the same connector used on old PS/2 mouse and keyboards. I purchased a 10ft PS/2 extensions cable (male to male, in case I screwed up I'd have 2) and cut it in half. The extension cables have all 6 pins. I cut in half an 3.5mm AUX audio cable and connected the red cable of one to the DATA Out Receive Audio, and the red of the other to the DATA In Transmit Audio and both the white and shield cables to the GND of the PS/2 connector. Here's the pinout of the male plug:
The female pinout can be found on page 64 of the FT-891 Advance Manual.
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Here's what my cable looked like, pluged into a USB-C Sound Card adapter for Mac:
In the Audio section of WSJT-X configure the send and recieve to USB Audio. I've seen some mention of going into Applications->Utilities and Audio MIDI Setup to configure the USB Audio to use 48kHz but mine was already set to that by default. Another post had mentioned setting it to 41000Hz if you had issues but I didn't need to do that.
The point of this project was to be able to get quick contacts from my car for Parks on the Air. I'm going to be hitting quite a few parks soon and for the less interesting ones I figured I would just work FT8 from the car and then move on to the next. For power I have wired some anderson power pole connectors to the power terminals I have setup for my car audio system. I bought a bunch of ham stick antennas at the club swap meet and then ordered a magmount for my car and adjusted the 20m hamstick to resonance at 14.074MHz. I could only get 1.9 SWR but that was good enough. I tested this setup from my driveway and found it works pretty well.
I'm heading out on a Parks on the Air adventure soon and I'll be posting on how this all works in practice.
