Sunday, October 18, 2009
Re-programming an ICOM radio using a homebrewdata communication cable
(OPC-478 replacement)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLc5ICT_McTt67p9orvDnoPtmyE-oND6oOs4oO9NDCYeRxXdD3jYl_ve7UUXQpXY-Y9epZJ1eyl2FU1rPe6hblAJQH2cJCP4tLYsLsKwaFjwiOzXR8Nv15MU-6485Rr9hXgupRxvNtHsM/s320/ic2200h.jpg)
So I have this great ICOM radio - Wow! Now what? Only having three channels programmed into it on unknown frequencies makes it pretty useless. So . . . I wanted to be able to re-program this radio for my own use on PMR446, and also perhaps the 70cm Amateur Bands.These radios are not programmable using the buttons on the front - You must program them using a PC, with specific software and a suitable cable.
The correct data cable for this radio (and for the IC-F3 radios too) was the OPC-478. I didn't fancy buying this cable. Getting it shipped over from a seller in China would cost £20-£25 (and a lot more it I got it from an official Icom retailer!) so I thought I would have a go at making the link cable myself.
Here is the circuit I used, with connection notes for a DB9, 9 pin serial plug.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkTrhXMuJa6cFr3kd0ZDOax2IIXGyXCTTWvNN2Hc_ST7i44d2hZXOItQzgOYmYd5s593gUBpmykVnE-Q1OMFFjeDuhG9cQ47ex49adnxbhOzX_eh2kwVR1rILChtVJqy-V2Q7Dmi9_xQa/s320/opc478.gif)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4145qdSZFVw7ReZBI0KSIXNzvR3dImklDwI2WRwJEvGrrZdeF0IfiXHJkJTZL2FME6qqInhuCxc71PQ5smlJEguqSS5fbLeX9S-GNJemS3SXH0Mhiuuhdi0nMfpDZhatUKSwZ7s_Lj9P/s320/opc478-2.gif)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLljD5121qye3MNWZY_o9C9bnmy_luTTw_783z720EnDxtVDlDaryG56yIXuS14Itkj9zOlHBfb2EM1kQ9l83Vv8rji9m2fqYY8gpoqbG6vO_aUJPTf0a3hh3N151CKNlYhnnHpAi69PR/s320/opc478-1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJa1uaETVTLjde4niVB4i4jl1qvxRhIcPJP1MFCzsme__oqKYWgxfE8eZpLGRo8ezHeG0m0IajWby3zLSjvSE_WCitKj20-Jk7eneNE-zXzA9d0XuE2sRMX3dNXq1QlHYQkg5zwPG1g6u/s320/opc478-2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccicuk9tFaXURiks9ld4pLzAnvBbOn88Kc23fOdF_Fsg2peRn0RTCEqsvdET2E5D2NQnBvKDaLlqWcCRARe2vz7p87rHuMih_frPaduCsFRBYrM5zCRyDpkYLi2decBh5o50qHUZl4lR0/s320/opc478-3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDSPweja4jsNdLG7ox_o-RnK_h_exYq1C4N5PRf6_vOvVd98Ipkyr6_B_ZVrxsIAsm7UYJWiYgx7zjODI55-hMbPb4vG9R3hDPXHymdmuoAJGfaSE18M9j77xk519FvnQygI9NC6E7mDN/s320/opc478-4.jpg)
As for the software needed - The correct software to use is ICOM's CS-F3G program (CSF3G).Here is the screen display of the software with the 8 Standard PMR channels programmed in.Note that the software is copyright and the property of ICOM. It is, however, available in several locations on the Internet.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOf6N5wCK3yJY-yeybd9ChbBaScDsAjpdLnk81KB0vtAcB8pxvLWfQZeDCsf-2dZ92GJ9Pa4G8tzHV1Ms2V79tPbOiZCNBefuugbupxlaDGHzQYoUGd7T3tZvEj1ECirj-i7HtR7LCKFr/s320/csf3g.jpg)
Note - Using this Radio to TRANSMIT on the PMR446 frequencies is ILLEGAL (in the UK) as it transmits too high a power (This radio gives 1 or 5 Watts - The limit on the 446 band is 0.5W) - Couple with that, this radio is not 'Type Approved' for this band.As you can see, I have set the 8 PMR channels as 'Transmit inhibit' for receive only and the radio will only be used for my own test purposes. I intend to program the next bank or two in the set for 70cms Repeater channels.
I present this page for educational and informational purposes only. I make no guarantees regarding the accuracy of the information (although I have done my very best to make it accurate).The information presented here is of a project that I constructed and found working.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tanggal 10 Oktober 2009
9W2OYT telah menjemput rakan-rakan Ham
ke majlis jamuan raya di Basenya di Machang
Labels: MAJLIS RAYA OYT
Friday, October 9, 2009
Selamat mengisi borang permohonan kepada rakan baru
tarikh tutup: 16 Oktober 2009
peperiksaan : 16 Disember 2009
kelas RAE di ARECTMJ yang pertama bermula 24 Oktober 2009
diharap semua rakan yang memohon dapat hadir...WAJIB