Blog Post: Cheap USB interface to connect Ham radios to the PC

[4Z7GAI]

Hi all,
I am new here and I thought you might like to see a recent post in by blog about how to build a cheap USB interface to radios which lets you connect a radio to the PC and control its push-to-talk button. Including schematics.
This interface is enough to connect a radio to Echolink (I am using it for Svxlink).

You can see it here:
http://guysoft.wordpress.com/radio-ptt-interface/

Would love to hear your options about it
Also, do you think I should publish it anywhere else so it would reach the right audience? I am not really sure where to post something so hams interested in this would find it.

[W9GB]

Yes,

You used the a Break-Out Board (BOB) that uses the Silicon Laboratories' CP2102 USB to Serial IC.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/198

Spark Fun Electronics, Boulder, CO offers this and other "BreakOut Boards" for the DIY Builder.
http://www.sparkfun.com/

BreakOut Board for FTDI FT232RL USB to UART (Serial)
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/718

FTDI and Silicon Labs are the PREFERRED CHIPSETS for USB,  GOOD OS Drivers (well supported).
==

BTW -- SparkFun accepts Application Notes and Articles -- some of these have been amateur radio related !

w9gb

[4Z7GAI]

The board you posted costs $22 (without shipping), the one I used costs $4 (with shipping) as in 5 times more.
Could you please clarify, why is your reply relevant to my cheap project?

[K5TR]

Also, do you think I should publish it anywhere else so it would reach the right audience? I am not really sure where to post something so hams interested in this would find it.

You could publish it here on eham.net - in our articles section.

[K9FV]

The board you posted costs $22 (without shipping), the one I used costs $4 (with shipping) as in 5 times more.

I just saw a CP2102 breakout board on ebay for $3 shipped!  I think I'll order one to play with - are the drivers easy available?  Does it show up as a COM port as does the much more expensive FT232RL chip?

Thanks for the thread.

73 de Ken H>

[4Z7GAI]

The board you posted costs $22 (without shipping), the one I used costs $4 (with shipping) as in 5 times more.

I just saw a CP2102 breakout board on ebay for $3 shipped!  I think I'll order one to play with - are the drivers easy available?  Does it show up as a COM port as does the much more expensive FT232RL chip?

Yes they show up as a COM port, and you can set which port you want it to be. The driver is available here. In Linux it gets detected automatically too.

[W9GB]

the one I used costs $4 (with shipping)

Great price.

Could you please clarify, why is your reply relevant to my cheap project?

Silicon Labs, Austin, TX (USA) is one
http://www.silabs.com/products/interface/usbtouart/Pages/default.aspx

of 2 well support and widely available USB to UART (TTL) or Serial (RS-232) chip manufacturers,
the other being FTDI, based in UK.
http://www.ftdichip.com/FTProducts.htm
==
Prolific USB chipsets (Taiwan) found in many inexpensive "big box" store bins ---
suffer from poorly support for COM/VCP drivers for various Operating Systems (OS).
In fact, the Prolific web site has been unavailable in recent weeks.

w9gb