Do it yourself Yaesu FT-450D Digital interface

Added a Yaesu FT-450D to the station and wanted to get it up on digital modes. So leveraging what I had learned in my earlier posting on USB Sound cards. I gathered up parts to build a cable to connect a USB sound card to the 6 pin mini din socket on the rear of the radio.

The wiring is very simple with only three wires, audio in, audio out and a ground needed. I used a couple of 3.5mm stereo plugs I had bought on eBay and wallah a dedicated digital interface for less than $30 and $20 of that was the USB Sound card dongle.

And as a I have a serial cable for normal CAT control I did not need to mess with the PTT line as I will use CAT commands to key the transmitter.

If you need a USB to serial cable I would recommend the Gearmo FTDI2-LED USB RS-232 Serial Adapter with LED Indicators the LED’s are a great aid.

As the gender of the USB to Serial cable is male, a straight DB9 to DB9 serial cable will also be needed.  I have been using the StarTech 6-Feet Straight Through Serial Cable – DB9 F/F (MXT100FF).

FT-450 Data plug to 3.5 schematic
FT-450 Data plug to 3.5 schematic
Picture of the finished cable next to the sound card dongle.
The Finished cable

73 Until next time, Jay

57 Comments

    • Jim,

      The devices which I have an have reviewed here on the site work fine under windows 10. When selecting an external sound card from your source of choice (ebay, Amazon, etc) just check if Windows 10 is not supported.

      73, Jay

    • My problem. My laptop does not have a in put , only out put . What do I need ? I have a 6 pin cable to connect to my Yeasu 450 d but I still can’t interface with my dell laptop.

        • then what is the wiring diagram if there’s PTT. I badly need the diagram so I can use the cable for APRS

      • input is microphone if no line in, if the mic is built int with a laptop camera, double check the software, u should have a way to have a headset with a mic and speaker, or set one up, i use linux and have had to do some work, but mic /spkr should work if you google enough

  1. Jay, I’d like to build one of these DIY FT-450 digital interface cables. Not sure which pins of the DIN connector go where, especially when you consider 3P stereo plugs at the sound card end. A wiring diagram, even a crude sketch, would be appreciated. You can post or email to me.

  2. Hello i am planning to build one i have 2 questions
    1. do you have to use a usb sound card or can you use a internal one
    2. how would i go about doing the pot could you give me an example and how are you doing it over the cat control.

    • Tom,

      The internal sound card can be used, be careful to disable all operating system sounds. In Windows this is rather straightforward setting the sound profile to none. In Ham radio deluxe, WSJT-X, Fldigi and others PTT via CAT is an option best to refer to the documentation specific to package you are using.

      73, Jay

  3. Does this simple cable take the place of a Signalink USB? I’m trying to install Fldigi on a Raspberry Pi but don’t know how to interface if with my 450D.

    • The cable in conjunction with a USB sound card provides the audio interface portion of what a signalink does. I use a 450D for portable operation running Fldigi and other apps using this setup. You will also need a USB to serial cable for the radio’s CAT port. Easy to do on a windows box, should not be too hard on a Pi, if you have the cables and a USB hub for fan out. I have a Pi and can give it a go are you using Raspbian?

      • Yes, it has Raspbian. I’m very new to Pi and Linux. I bought the Pi for my daughter’s science class but she never used it. I downloaded an install script from Indyham to get Fldigi on the Pi but a bad URL stopped the script. I e-mailed the author and he has resolved the script issue to I’ll give it another go tomorrow.

  4. Is there some kind of special setting required on the FT-450D to make this work? I tried to follow your diagram above, and think I wired it up properly, but I get no audio from the radio.

    • If I recall correctly the radio has to be in a “Data” mode such as Data USB. If I have time this evening I will test.

      Regards, Jay N0IAI

      • Jason,

        I hooked up the laptop this morning and confirmed that the having the radio in “data mode” is not needed to receive audio from the radio.The level out of the radio is not line level it is much lower. Will need to use the microphone input of you sound card.

        Regards, Jay

  5. Jay, due to some medical issues, I was unable to begin the wiring of this home brew interface for my FT-450D until today. Found some cat5 cable in the big storage shed and now looking at the diagram above, I have one question. Is the drawing shown from the radio side or the solder side. I am thinking solder side but not sure.

  6. Jay, I finally got around to wiring my FT-450D for the digital interface. First time out of the box, it worked flawlessly. Thanks for what you do.

  7. I am having a lot of hair pulling trying to set up my FT-450D with my SignaLink Interface to work JT65 and FT8 modes. I keep getting Rig failure and can’t for the life of me figure it out. If someone can send me the WSJT-X config settings and also the required menu changes in the FT-450D I would really appreciate the help. Thanking everyone in advance for your expertise. Using Windows 10.

    • John,

      Does it fail during operation or are you having trouble with the initial setup? Document your current config for us. Cable setup, does the PC have a serial port or are you using a USB to serial adapter?
      Radio serial speed setting
      PC Serial speed setting.
      Windows version

      I just took some screen shots of my setup and will post them after I get more coffee 😉
      Jay

        • Hi Jay,

          I am using a HP Laptop with Windows 10 software. From the Data Port on the back of the radio I go to the Signalink, then from the Signalink using USB cable to my computer.

          Radio menu settings are as follows:
          Catrate – 38400
          D Display – +2000
          D Type – User USB
          Dig Vox – Off
          My Mode – Data On
          RF Power – 35 Watts

          Mode on radio is set to USB Data.

          I am using WSJT-X version 1.8-rc2.

          Radio Settings in program:

          Rig – Yaesu FT-450
          Serial Port – USB ( there is no com ports shown on drop down)
          Baud Rate – 38400
          Data Bits – Eight, Two
          Handshake – None
          Force Control Lines – Nothing Shown
          PTT Method – Vox
          Mode – None
          Split Operation – None

          When I hit the Test Cat button it turns red and pop up screen reads:
          Rig Failure – Hamlib error: IO error while opening connection to rig.

          I can receive a little but the program doesn’t maintain my settings when I turn the program off.

          Audio Tab:
          Input: Microhone (2-USB Codec)
          Output: Speakers (2-USB Codec)

          Any suggestions on what to change will be greatly appreciated.

          Thanks again for your time and help.

          73
          John W9QP

          • I have no connection from the Cat Jack on the radio to my laptop. All I have is the Signalink going to the computer. So are you saying I need both a connection from the Cat Jack to my computer and also the Signalink connection? Or is the Signalink even needed? Sorry this is all new to me, I have been mainly a cw brass pounder for years.

          • John,

            The missing cable is the root cause of the error you are experiencing. It is indicating a failure while attempting to connect to the radio over the CAT port. From the Signalink manual (page 5) you should be able to operate without a CAT connection. You will need to manually change frequency on the radio, and on WSJT-X to keep everything in sync for logging and spot reporting as you change bands.

            I would recommend having a serial connection.

            Regards, Jay

          • Regarding the serial cable, I have no RS-232C com Port on my laptop, only USB Ports. Do I need some sort of an adapter for the laptop?

            Can I delete the Signalink Interface and just use the serial cable from the Cat Jack to my laptop and have Rig control and receive and transmit capability?

          • John,

            Per my earlier response a shopping list is available in this post everything you need plus I get a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you if you purchase via the links I provide. http://morsetutor.com/2017/09/ft-450d-wstj-x-config/

            Modes like FT8 are sound-card modes and require a sound-card to get sound to and from the radio so don’t get rid of the SignalLink.

            73, Jay

          • Ok Jay I just ordered both the Startech cable and the Gearmo adapter. Once I receive them from Amazon will contact if I have additional questions.

            Thanks for your help.
            73
            John

          • Hi Jay,

            I received the cables today. Regarding the Gearmo FTDI2 is it necessary to load the disk that came with the cable onto my laptop?

            Thank you.
            John

  8. Hi Jay,

    I am just getting started with digimodes and see a lot of information about interfaces. One topic I do not see discussed (sorry if I missed it) is about sound isolation. Is it necessary with this configuration? Just curious. Thanks for doing what you do.

    73,

    Walter W5WEO

    • Walter,

      When I first started with the sound card modes I was cautious as well and experimented with a 600:600 ohm isolation transformers I found on ebay. What I discovered was it was not needed with the setups I am using, no ground loops and associated 60hz hums and such. If your environment is different a simple problem to fix as the parts to add isolation are available on ebay for < $10. 73, Jay

      • Well, I just couldn’t make one so I got one from a guy in Greece for $27 including shipping. Works awesome. He direct connects to a USB sound card and it’s a done deal. Been making tons of contacts since I got it. Thanks for the info though. I wouldn’t have considered this simplified approach if it were not for you. 73!

  9. Thank you! I’m waiting on a couple parts from eBay. Once I get them in, I’ll let you know how it works. Thanks again. 73

  10. It’s all hooked up correctly. I’ve recently changed from a rs232 to serial that used 2 different cables to make the connection to the gearmo cable.

    Since that change, my mic input is apparently to low to decode. Waterfall falls, I can physically hear the Psk31, jt9, jt65 and FT8 warble and tones but my computer isn’t.

    I’ve checked levels, tried at 100 and down to 20. I’ve deleted the Signilink, usbcodecs etc. And restarted multiple times. Nothing is working and it was before the cable change… I threw the old cables away accidentally, on trash day nonetheless. So those aren’t an option anymore.

    Cat control works and so does ptt in wsjtx and FLDigi, the computer just can’t hear.

    Any help is appreciated

    • Mike,

      To clarify you are using a Signalink? I would check your audio cables, specifically ground as your change in serial cabling may have affected the ground path. If you have an Oscilloscope or A/C volt meter check the audio level out of the data port on the radio. It is not adjustable in the radio settings.

      Jay

  11. Jay,

    Yes, signal link. It’s the gearmo cable and has the little lights. The ground light is lit. The gearmo needed an adapter to plug in the radio, so the screws to keep it plugged in are not there. I had to remove them to get everything tight.

    • Mike,

      Have you checked the levels in the audio device (mic and speaker) properties in windows. Are you using purchased Signalink cables? I would focus on the radio to signalink cable and the device settings in windows. I do not use a Signalink so not a lot of experience. Perhaps a Signalink forum would be a better.

      73, Jay

  12. Yes, signalink cable.

    Ive been over the settings a dozen times. But I think you are right about it being a settings issue. But I can’t just sort it out. It was working 5 days ago, and then just quit. I’ve even rolled back to a day prior all the issues.

    Who knows. I appreciate the help.

    One last question, does yaesu make a cable to go from the 450d to USB and would that solve the issue? (Bypassing the signalink)

    • Mike,

      I am not familiar if Yaesu offers a solution, I chose to build my own which is the subject of the article. Checking the Signalink website they offer free telephone support that might be your best next step.

      73, Jay

  13. Jay,

    What sort of wire is this? I tried CAT5 cabling and only soldered up what I needed but I believe there’s too much loss.

    • I used a two conductor shielded audio cable I had on hand, I recommend to most folks to use a audio patch cable with 3.5mm mail connectors of both ends. Cut it in half and you have your two cables with factor made ends. Solder up to the the mini din plug and you are good to go.

      73, Jay

  14. then what is the wiring diagram if there’s PTT. I badly need the diagram so I can use the cable for APRS.

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