FT-847 Hardware Emulator for the FT-736R

 

Chuck, N6BIL, has implemented a hardware version of the emulator project. All of the information needed to make your own is available here. The PCB is available from the Batch PCB company as shown below. The HEX file for programming the microcontroller is provided, but you will have to arrange for the programming of the device yourself.

 

The finished product works extremely well. Frequency corrections for Doppler shift can be made even while transmitting. Once configured properly, operation is quite seamless. To use the emulator, connect the emulator to a USB port and once it is recognized, it will appear as a serial port on the computer. Go into HRD and select a new connection to an FT-847 at the com port that corresponds to the emulator and at a port speed of 4800. Press the connect button, and that’s it!

 

Most of the modes of the ‘847 work with the FT-736. The 847 was also an HF radio, so obviously the 736 will not accommodate HF frequencies if you try that. The 736 can also support 220 MHz and 1.2 GHz, which the 847 could not. You can get 220 operation simply by moving HRD to 220 MHz. 1.2 GHz operation is just a little more tricky. The 1.2 GHz band is 1240-1299.995 MHz. Since HRD in the 847 mode does not display this range, a small trick has been incorporated. Drop the 1000 MHz digit and then go to the frequency you want. For example, to go to 1247.660, go to 247.660 in HRD.

 

Another item to look for while in satellite mode is outlined in the 736 manual. The radio cannot transmit and receive with the same band module. This may result in some confusing situations if you accidentally try this. If you need to listen on 144 MHz and transmit on 440 MHz and the radio is already setup in the opposite condition, you will run into the problem when you try to change one of the bands because you can only change one frequency at a time and the radio will reject your change because it seems like you want to have both transmit and receive on the same band. The way to fix this is simple. Get out of the CAT mode, and press the “REV” button and this reverses the bands associated with RX and TX. Then reconnect with HRD and everything will be fine.

 

Chuck has made some videos along the way for the project construction. They can be viewed on his youtube site at

http://www.youtube.com/user/zdz801

 

Here are a few pictures of the completed project

 

         

 

This is Chuck’s implementation (N6BIL)

 

   

 

  These two are my (KA6BFB) version using a DB9 connector.

 

 

Project Related Components

 

 

Schematic

 

 

Connection to DIN Plug

 

As shown in the schematic above, three wires are used to connect with the 736. One is ground and the other two are signals. These signals are already at TTL levels, so no inversion and level translation is required. A cable coming out of the box going directly to the 6 pin DIN plug, or a DB9 intermediate connector can be used. Either way, the following must ultimately happen

 

Pin 10 of the IC must connect to Pin 2 of the DIN Connector

Pin 12 of the IC must connect to Pin 4 of the DIN Connector

GND on the PCB must connect to Pin 1 of the DIN connector

 

The image below is taken from the 736 Manual and shows the pin out of the DIN connector.

 

 

 

Bill of Materials

 

Part

Value

Device

Package

Comment

C1

22 pF              

Cap

1206

 

C2

22 pF               

Cap

1206

 

C3

.47 uF                

Cap

1206

 

C4

.1 uF                 

Cap

1206

 

Q1

12 MHz

CRYSTAL

HC49               

Digikey P/N X1037-ND or equivalent

U$1     

PIC 18F14K50 

DIP IC                    

20 Pin DIP           

Digikey P/N PIC18F14K50-I/P-ND ***

X1

MINI B USB        

Connector

UX60-MB-5ST

Digikey P/N H2959DKR-ND 

 

 

connector

DIN 6 Pin

DigiKey P/NCP-1060-ND

BOX

1551GBK

Enclosure

Hammond 1551GBK

Digikey HM375-ND,  Mouser 546-1551GBK, All Electronics 1551-GBK

PCB

 

 

 

https://oshpark.com/profiles/Gar

 

 

 

N6BIL also has set up a project parts list at Mouser. The link is

https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=5f0043a1df

 

 

N6BILs file describing driver selection here

 

 

 

Drivers

ZIP file containing driver files here

 

 

 

PCB Files

Eagle PCB Files here in case you want to make your own PCB. Otherwise simply purchase the finished PCB from Batch PCB as described in the Bill of Materials above

 

 

Software

All that is required is the HEX file to program the microcontroller. The HEX file is available here. The HEX file is all that is required to program the microcontroller.

 

If you want to look at all the original source code, it is available here