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Reviews For: Icom USB CI-V Cat CT-17 Interface RPC-117-UF

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

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Review Summary For : Icom USB CI-V Cat CT-17 Interface RPC-117-UF
Reviews: 3MSRP: $29
Description:
New Version Icom USB CI-V Cat CT-17 Interface cable that is based on the FTDI Chipset instead of Prolific and works with Windows 7 64bit.
Product is in production
More Info: http://valley-ent.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0035
W9MT Rating: 2021-01-06
Icom CT-17 is a pain, USB to CT-17 plug cable is WAY better. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
You can read my 2021 review of trying to repair a dead Icom CT-17, but the lack of RS-232 interfaces on post-year 2000 computers still make a working Icom CT-17 a royal pain to do its job.

I also used a W1GEE RS-232 interface cable for years to remote control my two IC-706 series radios (Mk2 and Mk2G) along with my IC-746pro. But RS-232 cables are passe. Today, there are simpler methods that work better.

I recently bought a $20 USB to CT-17 output (3.5mm male plug) CAT cable from Amazon. Plug it in, and Win10's device manager "sees it" but cannot load a driver for it. Double click the Win10 driver exe file on the mysterious mini-CD simply labeled "USB" and a compatible driver installs seamlessly. Interrogating device manager again required my changing settings in HRD and WSJT-X to COM5 and everything worked like it should...full CAT capabilities.

I strongly recommend these newer solutions to any cables or a genuine CT-17 box from Icom needing RS-232. You'll enjoy doing your hamming rather than fighting interface problems.
KC8UIO Rating: 2011-04-03
Prolific PL-2303 and Chinese Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the Chinese equivalent of this cable for 6 bucks--shipping included. I did have some issues at first, but found that I had to fix the baud rate to 9600 bps.

This has the Prolific PL-2303 chipset, as others have been discusted about. I use it to interface an Icom 718 to my cheapy eMachine laptop.

Learn to tinker with this stuff and you can save a lot of money. The Icom CT-17 is $149 and REQUIRES an RS-232C port.

N2OGK Rating: 2010-12-22
Great product. Works with Windows 7 64bit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
USB CT-17 replacement for ICOM works great with WIndows 7 64bit or any version for that matter. It is based on the FTDI Chipset instead of Prolific which had caused problems with my IC-7700. This cable works like a dream. No glitches and instantly installed. Joe is a pleasure to deal with and communication was great. I got the product the next day!