Part of our FT-891: The Complete Guide.
The FT-891’s single-USB CAT connection is a little quirky compared to radios with a dedicated CAT port, and getting Ham Radio Deluxe talking to it cleanly through the Digirig DR-891 took some trial and error. Here’s the setup that’s been solid for me.
Why the Digirig DR-891 is the right call here
The FT-891 doesn’t have a built-in sound card, and its single USB connection has to be shared correctly between CAT and audio depending on how you’ve got the interface wired. The DR-891 is Digirig’s radio-specific module for the 891, and it handles that split cleanly, audio and PTT go one way, CAT goes the other, without fighting over the single USB port on the radio.
Driver and port setup
Plug in the DR-891 and confirm your computer enumerates it as both a sound device and a serial port in Device Manager. Note which COM port the CAT side lands on, you’ll need it in HRD’s rig control setup.
Configuring the rig in HRD
Add a new radio in Ham Radio Deluxe and select the FT-891 from Yaesu’s model list. Set the COM port to match the DR-891’s CAT port, and match the baud rate to what’s set in the radio’s CAT menu, I run mine at 38400 baud. Once connected, HRD’s rig panel should show live frequency and mode, and changing bands on the radio should update instantly on screen.
Confirming it’s actually working
Test both directions, change frequency on the radio and confirm HRD follows, then click a frequency in HRD and confirm the 891 tunes there. If it connects but reads frozen or zero, it’s almost always a baud rate mismatch or the wrong COM port assignment, not a deeper problem, especially since a USB port change can shift which COM port the DR-891 lands on.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm the DR-891’s CAT COM port in Device Manager matches what’s set in HRD.
- Match baud rate exactly on both ends.
- Close any other software that might be holding the COM port before starting HRD.
- If a USB port change breaks the connection, recheck Device Manager, the COM port assignment likely shifted.
Once it’s dialed in, CAT control through the DR-891 has been reliable, and it means my logs get accurate frequency and mode automatically instead of me typing it in by hand on every contact. It’s the same connection I rely on when contesting with the FT-891.