You are comparing apples and oranges. The "Data Port" on ham radios is a misnomer. It is a port for audio connections, just like the microphone jack. It typically has PTT, TX and RX audio (often from two locations in the radio for wide/narrow audio bandwidth), COS, and other signals. This is designed to use with some hardware interface (TNC, modem, etc.) or sound card (Signalink, etc.) device. Your USB connectors are for just that, USB connections for power and data transfer. Trying to use a mini-USB (4 pins) connector or micro-USB (5 pins) for an analog signal cable is a recipe for disaster.

When manufacturers first started interfacing with radios, they simply used the microphone connector. This often required the use of an external switch box go go between the TNC and the microphone so the radio could be used for dual purposes. Then, users wanted to hook both devices simultaneously, plus wanted added features (discriminator tap for UHF packet, COS, etc.) The mini-DIN 6 pin connector was an industry standard at the time, used for PS/2 connections to computers and other purposes. Readily available, inexpensive, smaller than Molex or DB connectors, it was a good choice and became somewhat a standard for the purpose.

So, hopefully, that may answer your "Why do so many of you want a DIN-6 port?" question.

Your other comments regarding the different HT/computer interfaces, compatibilities between adapter/OS, drivers, baud rates, etc. are a totally different issue. That is regarding purely data interfaces via USB and converted serial data. Completely irrelevant to the conversation at hand.

73,
Michael WA7SKG


Al Szymanski via Groups.Io wrote on 5/24/19 2:01 PM: