Build your own Hytera cable

Hytera_MD785GWhen you own a Hytera DMR transceiver you need an optional cable costing 35 euro to program your transceiver and/or to upgrade the firmware.  In my opinion, programming cables should never be an option. You can spend the 35 euro to buy one, or spend about 5 euro to make one yourself.

The self-build version had one big advantage above the commercial one: it fits in the back of the transceiver so no need to change the microphone every time you want to program an extra channel.

German operator DJ8TM had created some nice drawings on how to build it. Keep in mind you can only buy the connector for the MD785(G) and the RD985(G), not the portable sets since these use some sort of Hytera made proprietary connector.  You also notice these cables don’t have a CPS/FW switch to change the cable from a programming cable to a firmware-update cable. Don’t worry, switching can be done with the default microphone and the default microphone hang clip (which has some sort of magnetic contact). The mentioned cables work in CPS mode (programming) by default. If you want to switch to firmware-update mode simply connect the microphone to the microphone (wall)clip and it’s in FW mode.

N.b.: This cable does not work in combination with the SM-19 DTMF microphone. The default mike is okay.

Hytera_cable

Shopping list (Conrad):

  • 741650-89 Assmann WSW A-HDS 26 LL/Z D-SUB male connector 180 °
  • 715980-89 Assmann WSW A-FT 15 D-SUB case
  • 502149-89 (Option: Ferrite, you should have some in the part-box)
  • USB cable (you should have some in the part-box)

Total cost: less than 5 euro (excluding shipping)

[important]Download the electronic circuit[/important]

34 comments

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    • Dom on 23/03/2015 at 18:22
    • Reply

    I made this cable. It works perfectly in CPS mode, but it does not work to update the firmware (MD785).
    Any idea why?
    73

    1. Put the microphone in the holder clip and power on the Hytera. Than it should work fine. There is a hidden switch in (the back of) the microphone.

        • Jan on 25/03/2015 at 15:57
        • Reply

        Do you have any supporting picture’s. I have been trying in al kind of way’s but still haven’t figured out how and where to hold the standard microfone against the md785. I don’t visual see a clip holder on de casing.

        73’s

          • Dom on 26/03/2015 at 09:38
          • Reply

          Hi,
          Thank you for the advise. It works fine now!
          Indeed, the process is : “Put the microphone in the holder clic and power the Hytera WHILE PUSHING THE PTT”
          From my side, the software wait for 1 mn before recognizing the Hytera USB port.

          73

      • Andrea on 12/12/2023 at 09:17
      • Reply

      Hello, i’m Andrea from itali, IZ4SVH, i’ve see some self-construction USB cable, but i find a pc69 Butera wiring diagram for made It.
      I’ve see, i think, this Is a pin-to-pin cable or not?
      Many thanks and best 73 de IZ4SVH.

    • johan on 31/03/2015 at 06:22
    • Reply

    Hi guys!
    thanks for nice information.
    I have a 655G. Do anyone know If this cable workshop fine to my station as well?
    br
    johan

      • DJ9LK on 21/10/2015 at 13:12
      • Reply

      @johan

      Have you found it out?

    • Gilles PA0GPE on 18/11/2015 at 21:14
    • Reply

    Could you please give me the connections for a MD655G. They should be the same as for the RD985, but I am not sure.
    Thanks in advance, Gilles PA0GPE.

    • Chris on 23/11/2015 at 10:29
    • Reply

    How it will fit? A 26pol connector into a 15pol cover ( OK, hammer – i know 🙂

    Assmann WSW A-HDS 26 LL/Z D-SUB male connector 180 °

    Assmann WSW A-FT 15 D-SUB case

      • G4KWT on 22/04/2016 at 14:05
      • Reply

      The 26-way D connector on the Hytera is the HD (high density) version
      which has the same shell size as the standard density 15-way D
      connector. It has three rows of pins instead of two.

        • Milan on 23/09/2016 at 16:06
        • Reply

        i just build this cable,
        for a USB cable its just fine, but if you want to populate (nearly) all 26 pins, it would get tight in the case 😛

        havent tested the cable yet, (im picking up the radio on sunday, after QRL)

        i like this way of cables more than factory ones, (+ i like to make stuff 🙂 )

        PD0HOF
        Milan Hofman

    • Kay on 01/12/2015 at 11:52
    • Reply

    Can anyone show me how to use hytera Dm785 and hytera rdm985 as a back to back analogue repeater, instead of usin an ip link between the two sites, I want to use rd785 to face each other as point to point so that what it’s been transmitted from repeater 1 will be heard in repeater B. Using same too

    • Davide on 22/01/2016 at 02:14
    • Reply

    Does not work on MD655

      • Don G0BJI on 26/11/2016 at 19:02
      • Reply

      For the 10 pin plug on the MD6**

      black pin 4 on usb plug to 5 on the radio plug and link to screen
      green pin 3 on usb plug to 8 on the radio plug
      white pin 2 on usb plug to 4 on the radio plug
      red +5v pin 1 on usb plug no connection

    • felipe on 31/01/2016 at 23:05
    • Reply

    goodnight I want to know if esta Cable already tested in the pd786g thanks

    • Sandy mm0cjt on 30/08/2016 at 09:42
    • Reply

    I am making this cable and would like to know what pin on the db26 the usb +5v wire from the usb pin 1 goes too.
    Many thanks.

    Ps it’s for the hytera 785g radio

    • brian on 19/09/2016 at 21:45
    • Reply

    does the cable need drivers

    • Ben AG6HG on 09/12/2016 at 01:34
    • Reply

    You don’t need the +5v. Leave it unconnected and it should work fine!!

    • Nils H on 14/01/2017 at 11:51
    • Reply

    This cable can be used with the RD625, however the microphone trick isn’t possible on that repeater and then it’s necessary to have the switch. Any ideas regarding this would be appreciated.

    • Nils H on 14/01/2017 at 19:33
    • Reply

    I got the information from another source, and the following connections need to be made in the D-Sub:

    Pin 13 to Pin 2
    Pin 16 to Pin 9

    Use a 2-pole switch so that you can use the cable both for CPS and Flashing.

    • Edyasia on 03/09/2017 at 23:56
    • Reply

    Hi guys. i need pinout and schematic cable for ptogramming a pt580 (tetra), is a usb to ttl cable or usb direct for radio???

    Thanks in advance

  1. Hi
    Can this cable be used with the MD785 in data mode with PC (Data Transfer application)?

    Thanks in advance, Andrew SQ9JDO

    • Abby on 25/10/2018 at 10:05
    • Reply

    Hi, thanks for the tip, it’s works for cps programming ( enough for me ).
    I had spare MD788G and want to build a mobile duplex repeater, do you have cable scheme for d-sub connector, or any recommendation for a repeater controller ??

    Thanks very much 🙂

    • Song on 12/11/2018 at 09:10
    • Reply

    I have question about Mic and head set schematic diagram
    and antenna part number

    • vr on 11/07/2019 at 09:47
    • Reply

    send me the pin configuration of Hytera MD 788 G DTMF microphone cable

    • Alberto on 16/08/2019 at 02:51
    • Reply

    Hi, How to make a USB programming cable, for Hytera PD562 Radio ? Thank you

    • DW7EUH on 18/03/2020 at 09:39
    • Reply

    does anyone here have the PC63 usb cable schematic

    • STEVE on 13/05/2020 at 15:26
    • Reply

    Finished building my own MD785 programming lead earlier today which works fine on reading and writing to radio, however I am unable to get radio to read the new firmware. Have followed your instructions and have mic clip attached to enable this procedure but firmware don`t recognize a com port.

    • Andy on 29/12/2020 at 17:11
    • Reply

    hi..where can i found MD785i and PD785 programming software? thanks

    1. https://www.hamdigitaal.nl/bestanden/

    • Jose on 12/10/2022 at 22:00
    • Reply

    Hi to all,

    Today i made one cable to my hytera MD625.
    I put the driver correctly on windows10.
    When i connect the cable and power up the transceiver i get an error about “device not recognized”.
    Any idea, please?
    Best regards, 73

    Jose

    • Zlatko on 17/02/2023 at 19:35
    • Reply

    Any idea about Hytera PC76 cable?

    • Leonardo on 16/05/2023 at 22:40
    • Reply

    Could you please give me the connections for a MD625

  1. […] Packet Radio Het nadruk van deze repeater komt te liggen op digitale data. Op Toonslot 1 kunnen (exclusief) data experimenten gedaan worden met 7k6 packet radio. Daarnaast wordt deze repeater gebruikt om GPS-koppelingen met APRS.fi te realiseren. Bezitters van een Hytera dienen zelf een datakabel te maken, zoals beschreven staat op de website van PH4X. […]

  2. […] Het nadruk van deze repeater komt te liggen op digitale data. Op Toonslot 1 kunnen (exclusief) data experimenten gedaan worden met 7k6 packet radio. Daarnaast wordt deze repeater gebruikt om GPS-koppelingen met APRS.fi te realiseren. Bezitters van een Hytera dienen zelf een datakabel te maken, zoals beschreven staat op de website van PH4X. […]

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