[amsat-bb] CAT Cable and Rotor Controller for FT-736R

[ok2gz]

Hi Laird Taylor N7RSR,

  with FT736R there is one more problem, not just how to gain suitable 
cable. CAT system in FT736R allows us to set Freq for RX and TX only. 
But no possibility  how to read RX freq!  And this causes us difficulty.

Frequency setting algorithm works with feedback. First set the frequency 
and then read it back. Verify that both frequencies are the same.If the 
verification fails, the control loop will stop working.

There exists some solutions to this problem. For example, insert a small 
8bit microcontroller between the PC and the TRX. Microcontrollerdecodes 
the command to set the RX frequency and remembers it.The read command 
returns the stored frequency from memory without reading it in the RX.
When working through satellites, it is necessary to tune the RX using 
the mouse wheel.
I do not know if the MacBook works as I have described.  But GPredict 
sat software works as described and stops the control loop after 5 
errors in the read command.

Mr. Google help us to find concrete solution.

73
     jarda ok2gz


//=================================
I have an FT-736R and have just purchased MacDoppler from AMSAT. It will 
be installed in a MacBook running OS 10.13.6. I’m shopping for a CAT 
cable to go between the two units. The guy at HRO said the original 
Yaesu cable to go with Macs has part# FIF-65A but I don’t see anything 
yet on Google by that moniker. He also said the Yaesu CAT cable for PCs 
is FIF-232C - which I DO see around. Then I see a caution that there are 
lots of cheap cables around that use terrible chips that are a nightmare 
to keep running. The only cable I’ve found so far (on eBay) is $35 and 
the vendor doesn’t seem to admit which chip set is used. Amazon in the 
UK has a cable for sale for 16 GBP, which could be one of the cheaper 
ones. Immediate questions: 1. What subset of the alleged plethora of 
available cables is MacDoppler compatible with CAT on the FT-736R? 2. 
Who sells such cables nowadays? So far I’ve found only eBay and Amazon; 
it’s not even clear they’re selling the same cable - never mind the one 
I must use... 73 Laird Taylor N7RSR




---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com