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Connecting a Kenwood, Yaesu or Elecraft

Kenwood, Yaesu and Elecraft radios are controlled with their CAT commands. Most connect to the shack computer with one USB cable that carries both control and the radio's built-in sound card. The Kenwood TS-890S and TS-990S and the Elecraft K4 can instead take control over your network, but their audio still comes from the USB cable.

Check the supported radios list for the models.

Support for these makes is in beta. It's built from each maker's command reference but hasn't been run against the real radios yet, so expect rough edges. If something doesn't work, tell us which radio and what happened.

Set up the radio

  • Plug the radio's USB port into the shack computer. On Windows, install the maker's USB driver first (Kenwood's and Yaesu's use Silicon Labs' CP210x driver; Elecraft's use FTDI's), or the radio's serial port won't appear.
  • Send transmit audio from USB. RemoteMyShack sends your microphone, and CW and RTTY tones, through the radio's USB sound card.
    • Kenwood: set the audio source for data transmission to USB Audio. RemoteMyShack keys with the command that uses it (TX1).
    • Yaesu: set DATA MOD SOURCE to REAR and REAR SELECT to USB for the modes you use.
    • Elecraft K3S: set the LIN IN source to USB (menu LIN IN). On the K4, choose USB as the audio input for transmit.
  • Turn break-in on for CW. RemoteMyShack can't read or change break-in on these radios. With it off, the radio only plays the sidetone.
  • Note the CAT port's speed, if you changed it. RemoteMyShack assumes the radio's default: 115200 for Kenwood, 38400 for Yaesu and Elecraft.

On Yaesu radios with two serial ports (the FTDX10, FTDX101, FT-710 and FT-991A), the Enhanced port is the CAT port.

Add the radio

  1. On the shack computer, open the agent's setup page and choose + Add another radio (or Add your radio the first time).
  2. Under Radio, choose Kenwood, Yaesu or Elecraft, then the Make.
  3. For a radio on USB, choose its Serial port. Leave Sound card on Find the radio's automatically unless more than one radio is plugged in; the radio's usually shows up as USB Audio CODEC. Leave Baud rate on The radio's default unless you changed it.
  4. For a TS-890S, TS-990S or K4 controlled over the network, choose Network and type the radio's IP address. The port is 60000 on a Kenwood and 9200 on a K4 unless you changed it.
    • A Kenwood also needs its KNS administrator ID and password. On the radio, turn on KNS (Kenwood Network Command System) and allow it to be used over the LAN.
    • Keep its USB cable plugged in for audio, and choose its Sound card.
  5. Choose Save & connect.

In the console

These work as on any radio: tuning, band and mode (DATA mode included), the S-meter, RF gain, TX power, hold to talk, CW with the radio's keyer, and RTTY.

Not available yet on these radios:

  • The spectrum scope. The TS-890S, TS-990S and K4 have one; showing it is on the way.
  • The preamp, attenuator, AGC, noise blanker and noise reduction buttons, and the power and SWR meters while transmitting.
  • Filters: the radio keeps the width you set on it.

Turning it on and off

You can turn any of these radios off from the console. Turning one on depends on its connection:

  • A Kenwood TS-890S or TS-990S controlled over the network can be turned on from the console, if its LAN stays on while it's off.
  • Yaesu radios can be turned on over USB, because their USB port stays awake while the radio is off.
  • Other radios on USB have to be switched on at the shack.

See Turning the radio on and off.

Troubleshooting

  • The radio shows as off but it's on. It isn't answering CAT. Check the serial port and the baud rate, and on a Yaesu that you chose the Enhanced port.
  • "the radio refused the sign-in". Check the KNS administrator ID and password on the Kenwood.
  • "the radio didn't accept the connection". KNS is off on the Kenwood, or not set to allow control over the LAN.
  • You transmit but nothing goes out. The radio isn't taking transmit audio from USB; see Send transmit audio from USB above.
  • "No audio:" next to Connected. Control works but the sound card couldn't be opened. Plug in the radio's USB cable, or choose its sound card.