Unofficial compilation note: this library is unofficial material compiled and rewritten by BG7BAG Radio from public sources, for study reference only, and is not affiliated with the equipment manufacturers. For takedown requests, contact contact@bg7bag.com.
FT-65R Programming Cable: SCU-35 vs Third-Party
Right connector and chip — program on the first try.
Why a whole page on the programming cable
Programming the FT-65R (with CHIRP or Yaesu ADMS-11) needs a cable. The genuine Yaesu SCU-35 is pricey but reliable; third-party cables are cheap but uneven. This page helps you pick the right connector, dodge fake chips and avoid headaches.
First: confirm the connector
The FT-65R data/accessory port is a 4-pole 3.5 mm (TRRS) plug — shared with other Yaesu HTs like the FT-60R / FT-70DR / FT-4XR. Buy the “Yaesu 4-pole 3.5 mm” style; the common Kenwood/Baofeng 2-pin cable physically will not fit — do not buy the wrong one.
One diagram: the two connector types
Left: the Yaesu 4-pole 3.5 mm (TRRS) plug with four conductor segments; right: the Kenwood/Baofeng 2-pin (3.5 mm audio + 2.5 mm mic). The shapes are not interchangeable — match the cable to your radio.
Genuine Yaesu SCU-35
- Yaesu original: reliable chip and connector, plug-and-play once the driver is installed.
- Cross-model: works on many Yaesu HTs with the same port (FT-65R / FT-70DR / FT-60R / FT-25R / FT-4XR, etc.).
- Stable with both official ADMS-11 and free CHIRP.
- Downside: clearly higher price, and often shipped from overseas with slower delivery.
Choosing a third-party cable
- Make sure the connector is the Yaesu 4-pole 3.5 mm, not 2-pin.
- Prefer the CH340 chip: cheap, mostly driverless on Windows 10+/Linux/macOS, and stable.
- FTDI genuine is solid but costly; fake FTDI can be rejected by the official driver or even “bricked” — avoid suspiciously cheap FTDI-labelled cables.
- PL2303 (Prolific) clones are troublesome on some systems; skip if you can.
- Check reviews: pick a shop with shielding, snug plug and few returns.
Connection & driver steps
- Install the driver for the chip first (CH340 is usually auto-detected on Windows 10+).
- Plug USB into the PC and the 3.5 mm data plug into the FT-65R side jack.
- Turn the radio on (keep it on while programming).
- In Device Manager confirm the COM port that appeared (e.g. COM3).
- In CHIRP pick model Yaesu FT-65R + that port → read/write.
If CHIRP says “Radio not responding”, it is usually the wrong port, a missing driver, or a loose cable — switch ports, reinstall the driver, and reseat the cable.
Gotchas
- Do not buy the wrong connector: a 2-pin cable will not fit the FT-65R.
- Do not trust every FTDI label: ultra-cheap FTDI is likely fake; prefer CH340.
- Verify before writing: with a new cable, do one “read” first to confirm it connects, then edit and write — avoid a dropped connection mid-write.
- Back up the original: on first connect, “Export” the radio’s config so you can restore after a mistake.
Compliance note
⚠
The cable is only for configuring legal, authorised bands; using it to unlock the radio onto unauthorised frequencies is illegal in most places. Only program frequencies you are authorised to use.
Can I use a Baofeng-style 2-pin cable on the FT-65R?
No. The FT-65R uses the Yaesu 4-pole 3.5 mm port; Kenwood/Baofeng 2-pin cables are physically incompatible — you must get the Yaesu 4-pole type.
CH340 or FTDI — which is better?
For everyday use, CH340: cheap, driverless and stable. Genuine FTDI is more robust but pricier with fake-chip risk. Both appear as a COM port in CHIRP and work the same.