CAT Interface

May 1999

CAT (Computer Aided Tuning) connects computers with ham radio. For transceivers with a built in !" #$#C inter%ace a serial cable is enough %or the computer connection. For all other rigs& mostly with a proprietray inter%ace& you need a suitable circuit %or level shi%ting. 'ecause ( wrote so%tware %or controling transceivers& ( had to deal with the inter%ace circuits too. )ou can get suitable CAT inter%aces directly %rom the manu%acturer o% your e*uipment& or you can build it yoursel%. "ome circuit descriptions can also be %ound in the A!!+ handboo,. Yaesu ( wanted an inter%ace %or my FT -9.& that is isolated via opto couplers and powered %rom the serial line. "o the usual power supply could be avoided.

(t is important that the opto coupler has a high current trans%er ratio& otherwise the switching is not per%ect and a current %lows through both transistors T1 and T#. The C/)10 1 has about $..2 trans%er ratio. )ou should measure the output voltage at pin # o% the 3' .9 connector. (t should be under ..45 when applying 645 via a resistor o% 1, to 7in # ("8) o% the mini 3(/ connector and over #.45 with the input voltage removed. !1& !# and !$ should be ad9usted %or the used opto coupler.

:sing "M3 parts it even %its into a 3 "ub enclosure.

"M3 version o% the )A;": inter%ace. For increased trans%er ratio two opto couplers could be connected in series on the primary and parallel on the secondary side. Icom (C8M uses a two wire inter%ace& which carries both data %rom and to the transceiver.

CAT inter%ace %or (C8M shortwave transceivers.

CAT inter%ace %or (C8M (C <0 hand held transceiver built with "M3 parts that %its into a 3' .9 enclosure.