Advice on D-160 Control Extension Cables - Yes Its Still needed in 2025!!

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I've just grabbed a D-160 running O/S V2.0 and running x2 ADAT pipes into/out of a Korg 168RC mixer. All that was dead easy and everything worked first time.

Now I know my question has been asked a zillion times over the years and I've read at least x2 that many feeds on this subject, but I've never got an answer as to which extension cables for the remote/detachable control panel actually work?

Yes I've tried 6/8 cables so far, yes I'm trying to steer clear of anything labeled as VGA/SVGA, yes I getting "straight though/All pins connected" cables but so far all dead as a DoDo. There appears to be no power going to the control panel (because it doesn't come to life - Pin 9?) and there is no "hand-shake" between unit and control panel. Given that 15 pin D-sub moved to defacto monitor/TV connections over the years that don't require 15 data streams . . . . can anyone help as to what cable to look for or maybe just the pin out. Short of cutting the existing 4" of cable and splicing in a length of cable I've no idea where to start.

As the only plug is molded, I don't know how many cables are actually in the 4" of "space shuttle" cable or which pins they go to on either end. Any clues would be welcome.

You know its a crying shame that such an otherwise great and perfectly usable bit of tech is heading to the scrap heap because some cheap chiseling executive wanted an extra $20 by using bespoke cable pin out and not telling anyone.

Fingers Crossed
 
You need a VGA Cable with all the connectors connected - standard VGA cables use 14 of the 15 pins - Pin 9 is usually not connected - I seemed to remember you want a cable designated "DDC" or “EDID” - That said there is one cable on Monoprice that fits the bill - Its Fifty feet -but with a little skill you could crack on the cable ends and solder Pin 9 - it’s not very difficult.
 
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Hi Papanate and thanks for the info. I've now ordered a DDC specified cable with ALL 15 pins connected. I'll update when I've hooked it up. Cheers
 
OK . . . I admit I'm getting a bit irritated now. Yet another cable purchased . . . DDC specified and 15 pins wired . . . AND . . . Nada . .. Zilch. . . Nowt . . . Dead as a Parrot nailed to its perch. At only 3m . . . its shorter than the Fostex at 5m. Why are non of these cables working!!!

HAS ANYONE GOT A D-160 EXT CABLE THAT IS WORKING?
CAN ANYONE GIVE ME THE PIN OUT OF A WORKING CABLE?

Anything and everything could have changed over the last 25 years so there's only the actual pin out that absolutely defines what the cable is.

I've now paid 1/4 the cost of buying the D-160 in getting naff cables. I think I'm gonna try summat a bit easier . . . like finding the holy Grail!!
 
StokeMusicDud said:
OK . . . I admit I'm getting a bit irritated now. Yet another cable purchased . . . DDC specified and 15 pins wired . . . AND . . . Nada . .. Zilch. . . Nowt . . . Dead as a Parrot nailed to its perch. At only 3m . . . its shorter than the Fostex at 5m. Why are non of these cables working!!!

HAS ANYONE GOT A D-160 EXT CABLE THAT IS WORKING?
CAN ANYONE GIVE ME THE PIN OUT OF A WORKING CABLE?

Anything and everything could have changed over the last 25 years so there's only the actual pin out that absolutely defines what the cable is.

I've now paid 1/4 the cost of buying the D-160 in getting naff cables. I think I'm gonna try summat a bit easier . . . like finding the holy Grail!!
Click to expand...
My friend who has this exact setup used this cable Monoprice 50ft Super VGA M/M CL2 Rated (For In-Wall Installation) Cable with Ferrites (Gold Plated) - which is a the 15 pins connected cable - could it be your connector on the Fostex or remote is whonky?
 
Hi Papanate. Thanks for your input. it is useful to know. To my basic math, there are some 437,893,890,380,859,375 combinations of 15 pin to 15 pin connections. After every try (and failure) of each cable (easily 7 up to now) I reconnect the controller via its 4" cable and she springs into life no problems.
The only two ways I can think to proceed are:-

1 - Physically cut the short cable and insert my own bespoke cable of however many data cables are present
2 - Dismantle both the control panel AND the D-160 unit to physically see which pis have which wires connected at each end (socket and plug).

I bet that the Fostex is configured with some bespoke crossover wiring to force people to by only their cables. Such a shame as its a lovely simple and still useful bit of tech . . . except for this issue.

/- To be continued
 
Hi again all.

I know that in theory, if I insert a single extension to one end only (i.e. between the unit and the plug of the detachable keypad) and all 15 pins run through the extension cable in parallel to the same pin destination, then the pins on the female socket end of the extension cable should be an exact "copy" of the female socket on the unit itself. I get it . . . but it ain't happening. I'm going to examine the actual pins themselves as closely as I can. If they are shorter, even by a mm it could be why no signal is passing. Does anyone know if the technical specification of the 15 pin D-sub connectors was changed anytime in last 25 years?

I'm also going to check with a multi-meter that the phrase "all 15 pins connected" means what we are all assuming it means.

/- To be continued
 
Check to make sure that pins 5 6 7 8 and 10 are not all connected. The VGA pinout has multiple ground lines and those 5 are often connected together. Several other lines weren't used in the normal VGA signal.

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Hi TalismanRich.

I was just going to update this thread after a chat with the cable supplier at my end (UK) who has explained that it is probably the use of multiple negative grounds on the "all pins connected" description of the cables I've tried up to now that is causing the failures. He has also agreed to send me the tech/spec pin-out of the cable I purchased which will probably confirm what you suggest could be the problem.

Can I just be clear then, are you saying that any extension cable on the D-160 needs all 15 data cables to be pass-through connected (whilst also ensuring that pins 5,6,7,8 and 10 are NOT common ground connected) . . . or . . . that only 7 pins (1,2,3,12,13,14 and 15) are needed to achieve a fully functioning D-160 detachable control panel?

I'm assuming that some other pin(s) (to the 7 you identify) would be need if only because (unlike a VGA with its own power supply) the D-160 cable also needs to at least supply power (+3v or +5V) to the control panel too surely?

We're getting there I'd like to think . . . . slowly but surely.
 
ecc83 said:
I would also ask this question over at www.soundonsound.com Those guys have had EVERYTHING over DECADES!

Dave.
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Hi Dave

Thanks for the heads up . . I will do what you suggest. I started here as there are a few threads on aspects of the Fostex D-160 and I thought there would be a quick "this is how to do it" guide . . . their isn't. If I finally arrive at an answer, I might post up a "guide" on how to go about it.

Depending what the SoS guys say, my plan at present is to get some D15 male plugs and female sockets, cut off the molded plugs from the cables I've already purchased and make my own extension cables.

I've discovered that fully wired 15 pin VGA spec cables were only around for a short period and the full 15 pin spec would only have been used for specialist equipment (hand held scanners/large plan plotters etc). Add in the progress of 25 years, the confusion and germination of 3 letter acronyms, the eternal drive for cheaper costs and the chances of getting the correctly manufactured able now is vanishingly small. So unless the SoS guys know of a little old guy in Leeds with stocks of old cables . . I'm going DIY. Cheers
 
If the D160 using all 15 lines independently, then a VGA cable that gangs the grounds together won't satisfy that goal. If you check continuity of pin 5 with 6 7 8 and 10, it should tell you instantly if they are connected. It's easy to do on just one end of the cable. You don't need to check each line through the cable.

Also, if they used a common ground, you might not have a 15 wire cable. It could be 10 lines with a single ground.

You can get 15 conductor cable on Amazon.
 
I would find it very odd for any "proper" electronics engineer to mess with the grouped grounds in a cableform? They would surely know that IF you are using a ubiquitous connector there is always the possibility of 'it'appening!

In other words I doubt they would utilize those grounds for another purpose. An example is the HDMI connector ESI used to go from the PCIe board to the outboard interface? The book says it is NOT a standard TV cable...Bloody is !

Dave.
 
Hiya All. The cable supplier I used (CableDepot in UK) has sent the schematic of the "15 pin straight through" cable they supplied to me. As you can see from the PDF, data cables 6, 7 and 8 are common grounded. They also confirmed that they could not supply what I needed. It least I'm much clearer now as to what I need . . . if not how to source it.

Papanate . . . I think its sheer good luck that the cable supplied by Monoprice works, as it must have (whenever it was made) had the relevant cables individually earthed as per the original 15 pin VGA spec's.

-/ To be continued
 

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You'll also notice that Pin 9 is not connected, which is common for VGA video cables. I don't know if #9 is used by Fostex, but if it is, that's another fail.

I looked at the documents I could find for the D160 on HiFiEngine, but didn't see anything related to a pinout for the control unit. They did specify the Fostex 8551 extension cables but I can't find any documentation re that cable.
 
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