SCS PACTOR Modem Radio Cable & Compatibility Guide

SCS PACTOR Modem Radio Cable & Compatibility Guide

Notes
To order cables for your PACTOR modem and Radio combination, contact SeaTech Systems

SCS PACTOR modems can be interfaced with a wide range of marine and amateur HF radios. The required cables depend primarily on the radio model and the connectors provided by that radio.

A typical installation may use separate connections for:

  • Transmit and receive audio
  • PTT/keying
  • DC power to the modem, where supported
  • Computer-controlled radio frequency selection
  • USB or serial connection between the modem and computer

This guide identifies the radio interface cables historically supplied by DockSide Radio and SeaTech Systems for common PACTOR installations.

Icom M803

Audio / PTT / Power cable: 9098
Frequency-control cable: 8083

The 9098 connects through the M803/M802 AF/MOD DB9 interface and carries the primary modem/radio interconnection signals. The cable arrangement was designed to improve RFI rejection compared with some older interface methods.

For M803 installations, the traditional SeaTech/DockSide cable kit consisted of:

  • 9098 interconnecting cable
  • 8083 frequency-control cable
  • Type-31 ferrite RF chokes

The cables carry the signals required for transmit, receive and computerized frequency control.

For installations using the traditional ferrite configuration, ferrites were installed at both ends of the modem/computer and modem/radio cables, with an additional ferrite installed on the 9098 pigtail connecting to the M803 ACC connector.

Icom M802

Audio / PTT / Power cable: 9090

The 9090 is intended for Icom radios using the 8-pin DIN ACC-1 interface.

Frequency-control cable: 8083

The 8083 is approximately six feet long and carries computer-controlled frequency-selection data between the modem and radio.

Icom M700Pro, M710, M710RT and other Icom radios with an 8-pin ACC-1 connector

Interconnecting cable: 9090

The 9090 is intended for Icom radios using the 8-pin DIN ACC-1 interface.

Known applications include:

  • Icom M700Pro
  • Icom M710
  • Icom M710RT
  • Icom M802
  • Icom IC-725
  • Icom IC-735
  • Other compatible Icom HF radios using the 8-pin ACC-1 connector

The 9090 carries the key interconnection signals and, on compatible radios, +13.8 VDC power between the radio and PACTOR modem.

Important: The 9090 is not the appropriate cable for Icom radios using the 13-pin DIN accessory connector.

Icom Radios with 13-pin DIN Accessory Connector

Interconnecting cable: 9095
Frequency-control cable: 8081

This configuration was used with Icom radios having the 13-pin DIN accessory connector.

Examples include:

  • Icom IC-706 series
  • Icom IC-718
  • Icom IC-7000
  • Other compatible Icom HF radios using the 13-pin accessory connector

The older DockSide/SeaTech PACTOR kit configuration for these radios used a 9095 audio/power cable together with an 8081 frequency-control cable.

Icom M801 / European M710 GMDSS

Interconnecting cable: 8190

The 8190 was intended for:

  • Icom M801 / M801E GMDSS
  • European Icom M710 GMDSS

It uses an 8-pin DIN connector at the modem end and DB9 connector at the radio end.

The cable carries the required interconnection signals, but these radios do not supply operating power to the modem through the interface. The PACTOR modem therefore requires a separate DC power connection.

The 8190 is not intended for the standard U.S. Icom M710 or M802.

Kenwood TS-450 / TS-850

Frequency-control cable: 8097

The 8097 is approximately 1.5 meters long and carries frequency-control signals between compatible SCS PACTOR modems and:

  • Kenwood TS-450
  • Kenwood TS-850

A separate appropriate audio/PTT interface is also required.

Yaesu FT-840 / FT-1000 / FT-920

Frequency-control cable: 8080

The 8080 is approximately 1.5 meters long and was used for computer-controlled frequency selection with:

  • Yaesu FT-840
  • Yaesu FT-1000
  • Yaesu FT-920 with an appropriate gender changer

A separate appropriate audio/PTT interface is also required.

Yaesu FT-817 / FT-857 / FT-897 / FT-100

Interconnecting cable: 8120

The 8120 interconnecting cable was designed for:

  • Yaesu FT-817
  • Yaesu FT-857
  • Yaesu FT-897
  • Yaesu FT-100

It was specified for use with SCS PACTOR modems.

PACTOR Modem Compatibility

Many of these cable configurations were historically used with several generations of SCS modems, including:

  • SCS P4dragon DR-7400
  • SCS P4dragon DR-7800
  • PTC-IIusb / PTC-IIIusb
  • PTC-IIPro
  • PTC-II
  • PTC-IIe
  • PTC-IIex

Cable compatibility should be confirmed before connecting older radios or modem models, particularly when power is carried through the radio interface.

Note: The newer PXdragon DR-9400 series modems have different connectors vs the legacy modems.  There are new DR-9400 compatible cables for many radios, as well as adapters to allow the new modems to use the older cables.

RF Chokes and RFI Suppression

PACTOR installations operate in an HF RF environment, so proper suppression of common-mode RF on control and interface cables is important.

DockSide Radio historically specified Fair-Rite Type 31 snap-on ferrite chokes on modem interface and computer cables.

The general installation practice was to place a ferrite near each end of:

  • Radio/modem audio and control cables
  • Frequency-control cables
  • Computer USB/serial cables

The M803 installation additionally used a ferrite on the short ACC pigtail associated with the 9098 interface cable.

Exact ferrite requirements can vary with the cable set and installation.

Need Help Identifying the Correct Cable?

If you are installing a PACTOR modem on an existing radio, provide SeaTech Systems with:

  • Radio manufacturer and exact model
  • SCS modem model
  • Photos of the radio’s accessory/control connectors if the configuration is uncertain
  • Computer type and available USB/serial connections

SeaTech Systems can identify the appropriate interface configuration for both current and legacy PACTOR installations.