LDG YT-1200 User Manual

LDG YT-1200 TUNER

For Yaesu

FT-450, FT-450D, FT-950,

FT-991, FT-991A

FTdx1200, FTdx3000,

HF Transceivers

LDG Electronics

1445 Parran Road

St. Leonard MD 20685-2903 USA

[e-mail]

www.ldgelectronics.com

YT-1200 Operations Manual Version 1.1

Table of Contents

Quickstart Guide 3

Introduction 4

Specifications 5

Getting to know your YT-1200 5
Front Panel 6
Rear Panel 7

Installation 8

Overview 8
Radio Configurations 10

Operation 11

Power-Up 11
Basic Tuning Operation 11
Toggle Bypass Mode: 12
Memory Tuning Cycle 13
Full Tuning Cycle 14
Status LED 15
Tune Button Press Summary 15

Application Notes 16

Mobile Operation 16
Tuning On The US 60 Meter Band 16
MARS/CAP Coverage 16
Operation with a PC / CAT 17

Using Both Antenna Ports 17
A Word About Tuning Etiquette 19
Care and Maintenance 19
Technical Support 19
Two-Year Transferrable Warranty 19
Out of Warranty Service 20
Returning Your Product For Service 20
Product Feedback 20

2

YT-1200 Operations Manual Version 1.1

You should really
read the whole
manual, but this
summary will get
you started.

Keep antennas,
supports and
transmission lines
well away from
overhead power
lines.

Quickstart Guide

1. Turn off the radio, and the radio’s power supply.

2. Connect the antenna jack on the transceiver to the Tx jack on the YT-1200, using

a 50 ohm coax cable.

3. Connect a 50 ohm coax antenna feedline to the Ant jack on the YT-1200.

4. Connect the 8-pin mini-DIN plug on the supplied radio interface cable to the

TUNER port on the back of your transceiver. The YT-1200 draws 12V power
from the radio via this jack

5. Connect the DB-9 plug on that same end of the radio interface cable to the CAT

port on the back of your radio.

6. Connect the DC coax plug on the other end of the radio interface cable to the

Power jack on the rear of the YT-1200.

7. Connect the remaining DB-9 plug to the DB-9 jack marked Radio on the rear of

the YT-1200.

8. Turn on the radio’s power supply and then turn on the radio.

9. The tuner will automatically detect the radio’s communications settings and may

take up to 10 seconds. See the section on Radio Configurations.

10. Select the desired operating frequency.

11. Push and hold the Tune button on the front of the YT-1200 for one second (until

the Tuning LED comes on), then release. The transceiver automatically switches
modes, keys up with a minimal amount of power, and the YT-1200 begins a
tuning cycle. At the end of the tuning cycle, the original mode and power level is
restored.

12. Wait for the tuning cycle to end; you are now ready to operate!

Never install antennas or transmission lines over or near power lines. You can be
seriously injured or killed if any part of the antenna, support or transmission line
touches a power line. Always follow this antenna safety rule: the distance to the
nearest power line should be at least twice the length of the longest antenna,
transmission line or support dimension.

3

Important Safety Warning

The YT-1200 is
custom made for
Yaesu transceivers,
and exchanges data
and control signals
with the radio.

YT-1200 Operations Manual Version 1.1

Introduction

LDG pioneered the automatic, wide-range switched-L tuner in 1995. From its
laboratories in St. Leonard, Maryland LDG continues to define the state of the art in
this field with innovative automatic tuners and related products for every amateur
need.

Congratulations on selecting the YT-1200 automatic tuner for Yaesu HF transceivers.
The YT-1200 integrates seamlessly with your Yaesu transceiver, providing semi­automatic antenna tuning across the entire HF spectrum, at power levels up to 125
watts. It exchanges data with your transceiver, allowing you to control all tuning
operations with the tuner’s Tune button. The YT-1200 will tune dipoles, verticals,
Yagis, or virtually any coax-fed antenna. It will match an amazing range of antennas
and impedances, far greater than some other tuners you may have considered,
including the built-in tuners on many radios. The YT-1200 is similar to previous LDG
tuners, but is specially engineered to integrate with these Yaesu HF radios:

FT-450 and 450D

•

FT-950

•

• FT-991 and 991A

FTdx1200

•

FTdx3000

•

The YT-1200 connects to the Cat port on the back of the radio. There is a pass­through data port to connect to your PC for computer control of the transceiver.
Tuning is greatly simplified; use the Tune button on the tuner to start an automatic
tuning cycle.

4

Always operate
within these limits.

You’ll be using
your YT-1200 for a
long time; take a
few minutes to get
to know it.

YT-1200 Operations Manual Version 1.1

Specifications

1 to 125 watts SSB and CW peak power, 100 watts on 6 meters, and 30 watts on

•

PSK and digital modes.
Latching relays for ultra-low power operation.

•

2,000 memories for near-instant frequency and band changing.

•

Power: 12VDC, supplied by the transceiver. 500mA max. Power jack is 2.5x5.5mm

•

center positive.
Designed specifically for the Yaesu FT-450, FT-450D, FT-950, FT-991, FT-991A,

•

FTdx1200, and FTdx3000 HF transceivers.
Pass-thru CAT port allows the YT-1200 to control the transceiver over the CAT

•

bus while still allowing a host PC to also control the radio. Use any baud rate.

1.8 to 54.0 MHz coverage. Frequency for memory storage is read from the radio via

•

the CAT interface.
Tunes 4 to 800 ohm loads (16 to 150 on 6M), 16 to 3200 ohms with optional 4:1

•

Balun.
For Dipoles, Verticals, Vees, Beams or any Coax Fed Antenna.

•

Optional external Balun allows tuning of random length, long wire or ladder line

•

fed antennas.
Radio interface cable included. LDG IC-450.

•

Dimensions: 7.25”L x 7.75”W x 2.25”H.

•

Weight: 1 pound 8 ounces

•

Getting to know your YT-1200

Your YT-1200 is a quality, precision instrument that will give you many years of
outstanding service; take a few minutes to get to know it.

The YT-1200 is designed for integrated use with Yaesu HF radios. Tuning is
performed by pressing the Tune button on the front of the tuner. The tuner
automatically communicates with your Yaesu transceiver, sets the proper mode and
power level for tuning, and keys the transceiver. The tuner can be placed in bypass
mode by pressing the Tune button on the tuner momentarily. Latching relays hold the
tuned configuration indefinitely, even when DC power is completely removed.
Tuning memories are stored indefinitely in flash memory. The transceiver provides
DC power to the tuner; no separate power supply is needed.

The YT-1200 has 2,000 frequency memories. When tuning on or near a previously
tuned frequency, the YT-1200 uses “Memory Tune” to recall the previous tuning
parameters in a fraction of a second. If no memorized settings are available the tuner
runs a full tuning cycle, storing the parameters for memory recall on subsequent
tuning cycles on that frequency. In this manner, the YT-1200 “learns” as you use it,
adapting to your bands, frequencies and antenna characteristics as it goes.

5

YT-1200 Operations Manual Version 1.1

The Tune button
and Status LED
have many
functions.

Front Panel

On the front panel there is one pushbutton and one LED indicator light.

• Tune button: Initiates either a memory tune or a full tune, and also toggles the

tuner between “active” and “bypass” modes.

• Status LED: Lights to give feedback on button presses, lights during tuning, and

gives tune status at the end of a tuning cycle.

6