Many thanks for all the responses. Let me try to hit them all.
John in his response below has a BINGO and nailed my misunderstanding. The in-the-box cable supplied with the FTD2R is apparently a USB cable with a configured PID/VID to allow for only firmware updates to the unit -- page 161 of the manual. This cable's configured PID/VID don't allow it to recognize either of the Windows or Linux pl2303 drivers.
Clearly from the information posted to Yeasu's website the in-the-box supplied cable is a Prolific chipset. However, Yeasu appears to have tweaked the PID/VID to 'cripple' the cable and limit its use.
Coming from ground zero, the radio and manual is daunting. There are a lot of nuances and frankly, the manual isn't well written, so I'm not surprised that I missed the difference between a 'data' cable and a 'programming' cable.
Late yesterday, I was able to figure out how to program it via uploading to the microSD card. But pulling the card out, loading the data to it, then putting the microSD card back into the FT2DR is extremely time consuming and inefficient. (And if not careful you can fat finger the microSD card and break it or the slot. I've had to use tweezers to pull the card out -- I can't get my fingers in grab the card.) The Yeasu ADMS-8 software appears to have limited functionality.
Programming via the radio UI is also possible, but slow and inefficient. But, I did 6 or 7 local repeaters yesterday.
So my next question is does the list have a recommendation on a 'programming' cable that I should get?
Has anyone updated the firmware for either the FT1D or FT2D with the supplied cable? Any failures?
And yes, I was mistaken but I'm trying to figure this all out!
Bob FC1FAC
On 11/14/2016 12:29 AM, John Rice wrote:
People,
If you look at the HRO FT2 page http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-013899
You will find this:
*_Supplied Accessories: _* SAD-14B charger YHA-72 antenna SBR-14Li battery USB cable - for data transfer only, programming cable is optional Belt clip, and manual
Carefully note the USB cable supplied in the box and note that it's a DATA cable, not a programming cable.
This whole thread is based on a mistaken assumption that the cable is a programming cable.
IT's NOT...
John - K9IJ