I realize there are electronics in the USB cable. I was just referring to any cable changes, criss crosses, or possible places for error.
I got the USB to VX-3 cable on e-bay. It was listed as being specifically for the VX-3, but as you say, anything is possible.
Thanks for the pin out info. I did not have that. From that diagram, it would look like the VX-3 might be trying to send data to the speaker, and that the data/clone connection is likely connected to the Mic/PTT, which might be lose enough to ground to not permit echo in hyperterminal when plugged in.
Looking at the USB/VX-3 cable from e-bay, it looks like the distance on each side of the center pin to the outside is almost the same as the diameter of the center pin. In the picture you sent, it looks like the distance on each side is less than half of the diameter of the center pin. It also appears to be somewhat cone shaped. My guess at this point is that is where the problem is. The cable simply is not going all of the way in. Obviously, that would account for all of the problems!
Looking at the "real serial cable" used with the VX-5 years ago, the insulation diameter is much less than the USB/VX-3 cable, but still much greater than shown in your example picture.
I hate to perform surgery on the VX-3, but I think I will try some sandpaper and/or file on the smaller connector, and see if I can make it even smaller, and then see what happens.
I really appreciate everyone's help, especially since it turns out not to be a chirp problem.
Thanks.
73,
Ken, W8EK
Dan Smith wrote, On 7/4/2011 6:47 PM:
The USB cable is a direct cable with a USB connection on one end, and the 3.5 mm 4 conductor plug that is normally speaker mic, but used to clone. Nothing in between. It was purchased specifically for the VX-3.
There *should* be something in between. The radio does not speak USB, which means you need a USB-to-serial chip in between. This is normally hidden inside the USB hood, since it's so small. If you didn't have anything, then you wouldn't see a new serial port show up when you plug it in.
Given the discussion below, I really think it's a combination of potentially one bad cable and maybe a not-fully-seated second cable. If you don't get the clone header in HyperTerminal, then something's just plain not connected.
The "real serial cable" comes from the 9 pin D connector to a 3.5 mm regular stereo connector (3 conductors including ground), that then goes thru an adapter to the 3.5 mm 4 conductor plug used for cloning. Years ago, this worked fine this way with a VX-5, so I doubt it has changed, unless the VX-3 and VX-5 have the TxD and RxD switched.
Yep, agreed, although I'd suspect any and all of that as being the problem, either preventing physical insertion, or not connecting the proper pins.
At this point, I am thinking that possibly the plastic around the jack on the VX-3s do not permit the cable to go all of the way in. It looks like it goes in all of the way, but it is really up against the plastic case, so it is hard to tell for sure. And no way to really test that. Of course if it was not in all of the way, the TxD and RxD connections would not be the right place, and it would not work.
Yep, this is why I asked about fully seating the connector. Sounds like there may still be some work to be done here.
Of course one would hope that a cable bought specifically for the VX-3 would fit the VX-3!
Where did you get it? There are tons of devices that use 3 and 4 conductor TRS connectors for cloning and I wouldn't put it past many of the ebayers to have sent you the wrong cable.
If you have the ability to check that the pins are properly connected, that might be a good next step. The pinout is: