Having trouble with KPG-46 USB Programming Cable

[WSGZ436]

Any ideas how I can solve my programming cable issue? Brand new win11 computer to a Kenwood TK-880. The computer says the cable is good, however when i try to load or receive data to or from the radio I get an alarm stating to check cable connection and/or com port settings. I'm at a loss.

[tweiss3]

open device manager, see what port the cable is. I can't remember if KPG-49 limited which com port you can use, you may have to reassign the cable to  a port 1 thru 4. You also have to set the com port in the software.

[WSGZ436]

33 minutes ago, tweiss3 said:

open device manager, see what port the cable is. I can't remember if KPG-49 limited which com port you can use, you may have to reassign the cable to  a port 1 thru 4. You also have to set the com port in the software.

Thank you. I do have the port settings the same. I even tried changing the port number. Still no success.

[tweiss3]

Have you tried running KPG as an administrator? I've also had issues at times that a reboot of the system was required to clear all com ports of previous use. 

[WSGZ436]

It's definatly worth trying. Thank you.

[WSHH887]

2 hours ago, WSGZ436 said:

Any ideas how I can solve my programming cable issue? Brand new win11 computer to a Kenwood TK-880. The computer says the cable is good, however when i try to load or receive data to or from the radio I get an alarm stating to check cable connection and/or com port settings. I'm at a loss.

Good heavens. Latest OS and we're assigning ports like it's the 80's. Next someone will bring up serial ports and IRQ's

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WSHH887 said:

Good heavens. Latest OS and we're assigning ports like it's the 80's. Next someone will bring up serial ports and IRQ's

Unfortunately, most of the computer software creates virtual serial ports and require the user to determine which ports are being used. 

[WSHH887]

I guess my biggest surprise is that they are USB.  You know "UNIVERSAL" Serial Bus".  That crazy idea that port and IRQ selection would be a thing of the past.

[tweiss3]

3 minutes ago, WSHH887 said:

I guess my biggest surprise is that they are USB.  You know "UNIVERSAL" Serial Bus".  That crazy idea that port and IRQ selection would be a thing of the past.

Not when the radios themselves are 20+ years old, and were first programmed with a true serial port.

 

I can't remember if the TK-880 needed booted up in a programming mode or not. I guess check the manual to see? That may only be for firmware updates though.

[SteveShannon]

2 minutes ago, WSHH887 said:

I guess my biggest surprise is that they are USB.  You know "UNIVERSAL" Serial Bus".  That crazy idea that port and IRQ selection would be a thing of the past.

Oh, I understand. But out of all the radios I have only one doesn’t create a virtual serial port. 
But I never have to do anything with IRQ. Sometimes I have to set baud rate. Usually, I have to set the port so the software knows, but not always. 
 

[WRYZ926]

The FTDI or Prolific chips that are in programming cables emulate serial connections. So yes when you plug in a USB programming cable it does create a virtual serial port. Windows likes to default to a baud rate of 9600 and some radios will use a different baud rate. 

I haven't had to mess with the IRQ settings but I did have to change the baud rates for a few different radios. Changing the baud rate is mostly for connecting HF radios to a computer though some mobile VHF/UHF radios do use a baud rate that is different from the default 9600. I have not had to mess with the baud rate when connecting any of my hand held radios to a computer.

[Nfranks97]

I also am having issues with the cable . I have a programming cable from a TM-481A and from what I understand is the same cable for the 880. But I’m also told that I need a cable driver for it to work ? I am running a mini computer can’t seem to get the software to read my 880 . Any and all help would be greatly appreciated 

[nokones]

Do you have the FTDI chip programming cable or the Prolific cable. You need to make sure that you have the appropriate driver for the type of cable you using. And you do need to select the correct port in the CPS. Usually, the correct port will have a white background and the others are grayed out. Select the port that is white

[Nfranks97]

4 minutes ago, nokones said:

Do you have the FTDI chip programming cable or the Prolific cable. You need to make sure that you have the appropriate driver for the type of cable you using. And you do need to select the correct port in the CPS. Usually, the correct port will have a white background and the others are grayed out. Select the port that is white

I did figure out the port part but as far as the cable goes I don’t know which one I have 

[WRYZ926]

Open up Device Manager and then click on Ports. FTDI chips will say Silicon Labs since that is who created the drivers for the FTDI chips

 

 

[Nfranks97]

5 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Open up Device Manager and then click on Ports. FTDI chips will say Silicon Labs since that is who created the drivers for the FTDI chips

 

 

Thanks for the help , when I get home from work tonight I’ll give that a try , greatly appreciated!!!

[nokones]

4 hours ago, Nfranks97 said:

Thanks for the help , when I get home from work tonight I’ll give that a try , greatly appreciated!!!

And make sure that you have Com Port 6 selected in the CPS.