CatSnoutSoup
NES Member
Found out this past weekend that the Yaesu SCU-20 data cable (USB to 10 pin mini-din) used for programing my FTM-100D is not compatible with Windows 11.
First time I have tried to connect to the radio since moving to Windows 11 on my desktop PC, actually first time connecting to the radio in a few years.
Seems the SCU-20 uses a Prolific PL2303TA chip which Microsoft has blacklisted for Windows 11. I moved to Windows 11 within the last six months and this is the first compatibility issue I have run into since then. It is not a surprise to me it is with a Prolific chip, as they have been problematic on occasion long before Windows 11, and I always opt for devices with FTDI chips if given a choice.
So the SCU-20 will not be assigned a COM Port in Windows 11. In the case of the FTM-100D there is a work around for this if you are simply programing memory and setting as these can be written to Micro SD by the radio and then removed to USB adapter and edited in the ADMS-9 programing software. I believe this to likewise be true of the FTM-300D and FTM-400D which also use the SCU-20 cable.
However, the radio's Micro SD slot capability does not help you if you are trying to upgrade firmware. It seems I had missed a 2020 firmware release for the radio and in order to make it happen with the SCU-20 cable I had to dig out a Windows 10 laptop from storage. After waiting for the unused laptop to do about six months worth of Windows updates I was able to use it with the Yaesu cable to connect to the radio.
On the FTM-100D I updated the main firmware, the DSP firmware, and the firmware for the display panel in the remote head. Those are three distinct operations all requiring a data cable.
So if you own any of these three radios and are switching to Windows 11 be advised your SCU-20 cable is useless.
RT Systems sells a programing cable (USB-77) that they say will work with Windows 11. It should also work for firmware updating but I don't own one so I cannot say for sure.
First time I have tried to connect to the radio since moving to Windows 11 on my desktop PC, actually first time connecting to the radio in a few years.
Seems the SCU-20 uses a Prolific PL2303TA chip which Microsoft has blacklisted for Windows 11. I moved to Windows 11 within the last six months and this is the first compatibility issue I have run into since then. It is not a surprise to me it is with a Prolific chip, as they have been problematic on occasion long before Windows 11, and I always opt for devices with FTDI chips if given a choice.
So the SCU-20 will not be assigned a COM Port in Windows 11. In the case of the FTM-100D there is a work around for this if you are simply programing memory and setting as these can be written to Micro SD by the radio and then removed to USB adapter and edited in the ADMS-9 programing software. I believe this to likewise be true of the FTM-300D and FTM-400D which also use the SCU-20 cable.
However, the radio's Micro SD slot capability does not help you if you are trying to upgrade firmware. It seems I had missed a 2020 firmware release for the radio and in order to make it happen with the SCU-20 cable I had to dig out a Windows 10 laptop from storage. After waiting for the unused laptop to do about six months worth of Windows updates I was able to use it with the Yaesu cable to connect to the radio.
On the FTM-100D I updated the main firmware, the DSP firmware, and the firmware for the display panel in the remote head. Those are three distinct operations all requiring a data cable.
So if you own any of these three radios and are switching to Windows 11 be advised your SCU-20 cable is useless.
RT Systems sells a programing cable (USB-77) that they say will work with Windows 11. It should also work for firmware updating but I don't own one so I cannot say for sure.