YAESU FT-920 Operating Manual

Page 1
FT-920
OPERATING
MANUAL
YAESU MUSEN CO., LTD.
1-20-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-Ku, Tokyo 146-8649, Japan
YAESU U.S.A.
17210 Edwards Rd., Cerritos, CA 90703, U.S.A.
YAESU EUROPE B.V.
YAESU UK LTD.
Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Trading Estate Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.
YAESU GERMANY GmbH
Am Kronberger Hang 2, D-65824 Schwalbach, Germany
YAESU HK LTD.
11th Floor Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Page 2
Table of Contents
General Description ......................................................... 1
Specifications ................................................................... 2
Accessories & Options ................................................... 4
Plug Pinout ...................................................................... 5
Installation ........................................................................ 6
Preliminary Inspection ................................................. 6
DC Power Connections ............................................... 6
Transceiver Location ................................................... 8
Grounding .................................................................... 8
Antenna Considerations .............................................. 9
Memory Backup .......................................................... 9
Adjusting the Front Feet ................................................10
Safety Precautions............................................................ 11
1. Power Connections ................................................ 11
2. Ground Connections .............................................. 11
3. Electrical Shock Prevention ................................... 11
4. Antenna Precautions ................................................11
5. RF Field Exposure Advisory
and Electromagnetic Compatibility .................. 12
Accessory Installation ..................................................... 13
1. Lineae Amplifier Interfacing ................................... 13
2. Digital Modem Interfacing (TNC, WeatherFax, etc.)...16
3. Other Digital/Recording Device Interfacing ...............17
4. CW Key/Paddle and Computer Keying
Interface Suggestions .................................... 18
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks ..................... 20
Display Panel Indicators and Icons ............................... 28
Rear Panel Connectors and Switches ........................... 32
Bottom Panel ................................................................... 34
Operation .......................................................................... 35
Before You Start ......................................................... 35
Receiving ..................................................................... 35
Antenna Selection ................................................. 35
Bandwidth Selection .............................................. 37
Amateur Band Selection ....................................... 37
Direct Keypad Frequency Entry ............................ 38
Stacked VFO System ........................................... 38
Frequency Navigation ............................................ 38
VFO Tuning Dial ............................................. 39
Shuttle Jog (VFO-A) ....................................... 39
Front Panel Up/Down Switches ...................... 39
MH-31B8 Hand MicUP/DWN/FST Switches ...... 39
MD-100A8X Desk Microphone
Rotary Scanning Switch ............................ 39
LOCK Switches ................................................. 39
Operating Convenience Features ...........................40
Display Brightness Control .............................. 40
Keypad Beep Frequency/Level ....................... 40
Receiver Accessories ............................................ 41
Clarifier (Offset Tuning) ................................... 41
CW Center Tuning (Enhanced Tuning Scale) ...41
CW SPOT ......................................................... 41
RF Preamplifier Selections ............................. 41
AGC Selection ................................................ 42
Squelch ........................................................... 42
General Coverage Reception .......................... 42
Dealing with Interference ...................................... 43
SHIFT Control ................................................... 43
HIGH CUT/LOW CUT Controls (DSP) .................. 43
NOTCH Filter (DSP) .......................................... 44
RF GAIN Control .............................................. 44
IF Noise Blanker (NB) .................................... 44
DSP Noise Reduction (NR) ............................ 44
Tools for Strong-Signal
andLow-Frequency Operation .................. 45
IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) .................. 45
ATT (Front End Attenuator) ............................ 46
Digital Voice Recorder Operation (DVR) ........ 46
Transmitting ................................................................. 47
Automatic Antenna Matching ................................ 47
SSB Transmission ................................................. 49
Basic Operation ............................................... 49
VOX Operation ................................................ 49
Digital Speech Processor Operation ............... 49
DSP Voice Pattern Contours ......................... 50
Voice Monitor Operation ................................. 50
Digital Voice Recorder Operation (Transmit) .. 50
Linear Amplifier Tuning ............................................... 51
CW Transmission .................................................. 51
Straight Key Operation .................................... 51
Electronic Keyer Operation ............................. 52
Memory Keyer Operation ................................ 52
Tips for Successful CW Memory Keyer Operation ..... 53
Split Frequency Operation .................................... 54
TX CLARifier Operation .................................... 53
Split VFO Operation ........................................ 54
Quick Split Feature ......................................... 54
Mode K Satellite Operation ............................. 55
Digital Mode Operation ......................................... 55
AFSK RTTY or Packet Operation .................. 56
FSK RTTY Operation ...................................... 56
AM Transmission .................................................. 57
Basic Operation ............................................... 57
FM Operation ........................................................ 58
Simplex (Non-Repeater) Operation ................. 58
Repeater Operation ......................................... 58
Memory Operation ........................................................... 59
QMB Channel Programming/Recall ............................. 59
Memory Operation on “Regular” Memory Channels
(Channel #1-01 to 1-99) ........................................ 60
Memory Operation on Split-Frequency Channels
(Channel #d-01 to d-10) ........................................ 62
Memory Operation on “CALL” Channels
(Channel #C-01 to C-11) ...................................... 63
Adding Alpha-Numeric Labels to Memory Channels .. 64
Memory Mode Accessories ......................................... 65
Moving Memory Data to VFO-A ........................... 65
Deleting Data from a Memory Channel ................ 65
Scanning Operation ......................................................... 66
Scanning Operation ..................................................... 66
Scan Skip Programming (Memory Mode Only) .......... 66
Programmable Memory Scan (PMS) Operation ......... 66
Scan-Resume Choices ................................................ 67
Dual Watch Operation ..................................................... 68
Menu Operation ............................................................... 69
Normal Menu Operation .............................................. 69
Panel Menu Operation ................................................ 70
Quick Menu Operation ................................................ 70
Menu Mode Selections and Settings .......................... 73
VHF/UHF Transverter Operation ..................................... 84
Phone Pacth Operation ................................................... 85
Computer-Aided Transceiver
(
CAT
Memory Backup ............................................................... 91
Microprocessor Resetting ............................................... 92
Installation of Optional Accessories .............................. 93
Data Protocol .................................................... 88
CAT
Constructing Sending CAT Commands ...................... 88
Downloading FT-920 Data ........................................... 89
14-Byte Frequency Data Record Structure ................. 90
Bottom Case Removal ................................................ 93
Installation of Optional Filters YF-116C/YF-116A ....... 94
Installation of High-Stability Oscillator TCXO-7 ........... 94
Installation of FM Unit FM-1 ....................................... 94
) System Protocol ......... 86
Page 3
General Description
Congratulations on the purchase of your Yaesu FT-920! Whether this is your first rig, or if Yaesu equipment is already the backbone of your amateur radio station, it is our sincere hope that you will derive many years of operating enjoyment from your new transceiver.
The FT-920 is a state-of-the-art amateur transceiver incorporating a multitude of advanced features to give you the competitive edge in a wide variety of operating applications. The FT-920 offers up to 100 Watts of adjustable power output on all amateur bands between 160 meters and 6 meters (25 Watts carrier in the AM mode), utilizing rugged, low-distortion MOS FET final amplifier transistors. Operation in the SSB, CW, AM, AFSK, and FSK modes is built in, and an FM module is available as an option.
Yaesu’ s renowned Omni-Glow™ LCD display provides a wealth of information regarding transceiver status, and it includes enhanced tuning aids for many operating applications.
The built-in high-speed automatic antenna tuner may be utilized both on receive and transmit, providing im­proved impedance matching for the transmitter and protection from out-of-band signals on receive. A built-in Digital Voice Recorder allows storage and playback of incoming signals, and also allows you to store up to four repetitive messages (such as “CQ Contest. . .”) of up to 16 seconds each. And the Electronic Memory Keyer also provides storage of CW messages, including incremented, imbedded contest numbers, to reduce operator fatigue in contests. Independent KEY jacks on the front and rear panels allow connection of keyer paddles to one jack and a computer or straight key to the other, for optimum contest work. A CW Pitch control and Spot tone provide efficiency in operating, and both full QSK and semi-break-in CW (VOX switching) are provided.
The receiver section is highlighted by the high-performance Digital Signal Processing filters, which provide razor-sharp selectivity, an automatic seeking Notch filter, and Noise Reduction. The high-intercept front end circuitry includes ten input bandpass filters with PIN diode switching, optimized RF preamplifiers for both high and low bands, and Intercept Point Optimization (IPO) for high-signal, high-noise environments. A separate receive-only antenna jack is provided, in addition to the two main TX/RX jacks, for connection of a Beverage or other low-noise receiving antenna.
Yaesu’s exclusive Shuttle Jog tuning dial provides simple yet quick frequency excursions around the band. Independent tuning knobs for the two VFOs join direct keyboard frequency entry, one-touch band change, and extensive scanning capabilities to make the FT-920 a joy to use. And the FT-920’s extensive memory system, sporting 99 regular memories, ten split-frequency memories, five QMB (Quick Memory Bank) channels, and an easy-access “CALL” channel for each band, provides the utmost in operating ease. Each of the memories (ex­cept the QMB channels) can be assigned an alpha-numeric label of up to seven characters, to aid in memory channel identification.
A host of convenience features is provided, including a Digital Speech Processor, SSB monitor circuit, all-mode Squelch, VOX, and a continuously-variable RF power control. Yaesu’s CAT System for external computer con­trol includes a built-in RS-232C level converter and DB-9 serial port on the rear panel, for easy connection to your home computer. And the extensive Menu system allow the owner to configure literally dozens of transceiver performance characteristics, such as voice audio response patterns, keyer weight, tuning steps, and power output to be applied to each antenna jack. The FT-920 clearly is the cost-performance leader in the Amateur Radio industry today!
Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the many features available in the FT-920, as described in the pages to follow. At Yaesu, we appreciate your investment in this fine transceiver, and we hope that you will take the time to read this manual thoroughly so as to get the most out of your new FT-920!
FT-920 Operating Manual
1
Page 4
Specifications
General
Receiving Frequency Range: 100 kHz ~ 30 MHz, 48 ~ 56 MHz Transmitting Frequency Range: 160 ~ 6 Meter Amateur Bands Operating Temperature Range: -10º ~ +50º C Frequency Stability: ±10 ppm; ±2 ppm w/TCXO-7 Frequency Accuracy: < ±7 ppm (FM within ± 500 Hz)
w/TCXO-7: < ±3.5 ppm (FM within ± 460 Hz)
Emission Modes: USB/LSB, CW, AM, FM, FSK, AFSK Frequency Steps: 1 Hz/10 Hz/100 Hz for SSB/CW/FSK/AFSK
10 Hz/100 Hz/1000 Hz for AM/FM
Antenna Impedance: 50 , unbalanced Antenna Tuner Matching Range: 16.5 ~ 150 Power Consumption: Input Rx (no signal) Rx (Signal present) Tx (100W)
13.5 VDC 2.0A 2.5A 22A
Supply Voltage: 13.5 VDC (±10%), negative ground Dimensions: 410(W) x 135(H) x 316(D) mm
Transmitter
Power Output: 160 m ~ 10 m amateur bands
Adjustable up to 100 Watts (25 Watts AM carrier)
6 m amateur band
Adjustable up to 100/10 Watts (25/2.5 Watts AM carrier)
Modulation Types: SSB: J3E Balanced, filtered carrier
AM: A3E Low-level (early stage), (w/optional YF-116A AM Filter) FM: F3E Variable reactance PM FSK: J1D/J2D Audio-Frequency-Shifted Keying
Maximum FM Deviation: ±2.5 kHz (narrow), ±5.0 kHz (wide) FSK Shift Frequencies: 170, 425, and 850 Hz Packet Shift Frequency: 200 Hz Harmonic Radiation: At least 50 dB below peak output (HF)
At least 60 dB below peak output (VHF)
SSB Carrier Suppression: At least 40 dB below peak output Undesired Sideband Suppression: At least 50 dB below peak output Audio Response (SSB, DSP Off): Not more than -6 dB from 400 to 2600 Hz SSB 3rd-order IMD: -31 dB or better @ 100 Watts PEP (14 MHz) Microphone Impedance: 500 ~ 600
2
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 5
Specifications
Receiver
Circuit Type: Double-conversion Superheterodyne (FM: Triple-conversion) Intermediate Frequencies: 68.985 MHz
8.215 MHz 455 kHz (FM)
Sensitivity: Frequency
150 ~ 250 kHz 5 µV 40 µV — 250 ~ 500 kHz 4 µV 32 µV
0.5 ~ 1.8 MHz 2 µV 16 µV
1.8 ~ 24.5 MHz 0.20 µV 2 µV 0.5 µV
24.5 ~ 54 MHz 0.13 µV 1.3 µV 0.25 µV
IF Selectivity (-6/-60 dB): SSB, CW, FSK, AFSK 2.4 kHz/5.0 kHz
CW 500 Hz/1.8 kHz (w/optional YF-116C CW Filter) AM 6 kHz/14 kHz (w/optional YF-116A AM Filter) FM 12 kHz/25 kHz (w/optional FM-1 FM Unit)
Squelch Sensitivity (IPO Off): SSB/CW/Digital/AM: <2.0 µV
FM (28-56 MHz): <0.32 µV
IF Rejection: >70 dB (HF)
>50 dB (VHF)
Image Rejection: >70 dB (1.8 ~ 56 MHz) IF Shift Range: ±1.2 kHz DSP Notch Depth: >35 dB Audio Output: 1.5 W into 4 with <10% THD (Speaker)
100 mV @ 600 (Digital, fixed level)
Audio Output Impedance (SPKR): 4 ~ 8
SSB/CW/Dig.(2.4 kHz) AM (6 kHz) FM (28 MHz +)
(With Preamp On, for 10 dB S+N/N or 12 dB FM SINAD)
Automatic Antenna Tuner
Impedance Range: 16.7 ~ 150 (1.8 ~ 30 MHz)
25.0 ~ 100 (50 ~ 54 MHz)
Frequency Range: 160 m ~ 6 m amateur bands Matching Time: <30 seconds Matched SWR: <1.4:1
Specifications are subject to change, in the interest of technical improvement, without notice or obligation. Specifications are guaranteed only within Amateur bands.
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Page 6
Accessories & Options
Supplied Accessories
Item Quantity
MH-31B8 Hand Microphone.................................. 1
DC Cable fused for 25 Amps................................ 1
Spare 25 Amp Fuse.............................................. 1
Available Options
MD-100 FM-1 FM Unit YF-116C 500 Hz CW Filter YF-116A 6 kHz AM Filter TCXO-7 High-Stability Reference Oscillator Unit (2 ppm) FP-1025A AC Power Supply, Switching Regulator Type (25A) (USA only) FP-1030A AC Power Supply, Linear Type (25A) YH-77STA Stereo Headphones SP-8 External Speaker w/Audio Filters FL-7000 500 Watt Solid State HF Linear Amplifier VL-1000 1000 Watt Solid State HF+50 MHz Linear Amplifier E-767 Band Data + T/R Switching Cable for FL-7000 RCA Connector (P/N P0090544) 2 Pin Miniature Plug (P/N P0090034) 3 Pin Phone Plug (P/N P0090008)
5 Pin DIN Plug (P/N P0091006)
A8X
Desk-Top Microphone
4
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 7
Plug Pinout
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Page 8
Installation
Preliminary Inspection
Inspect the transceiver upon opening the packing carton. Check that all controls and switches work freely , and inspect the cabinet for any cosmetic dam­age. Ensure that the accessory cable and fuses are included.
If any damage is found, document it completely, and contact the shipping company (or Dealer, if you pur­chased it over-the-counter) right away . Save the pack­ing materials in case you need to return the set for service.
DC Power Connections
The FT-920 Transceiver is designed for operation from 13.5 Volts DC, negative ground, with the DC source being capable of providing 20 Amperes of continuous current. For base station installations, we recommend the matching Y aesu FP-1030A AC power supply, which was specifically designed for compat­ibility with your FT-920. You can, of course, use an­other DC source, so long as it is well regulated and meets the above voltage/current specifications. In any case, be extremely careful to avoid reversed polarity connections when installing your FT-920. See the
Caution
box below.
If you are connecting the FP-1030A to the FT-920, before connecting power, check the label on the rear of the power supply which indicates the AC line volt­age range for which the power supply is currently set. If your AC line voltage is outside this range, the input voltage range will need to be re-configured. If you have any questions about the voltage setting for your power supply, consult with your dealer before pro­ceeding, as improper connections could cause seri­ous damage not covered by your warranty. See the documentation accompanying your power supply for details on the exact procedure required for power supply AC voltage re-configuration.
Connection of the DC line must be made according to the instructions below:
The RED DC power lead connects to the Positive (+) DC terminal; and The BLACK DC power lead connects to the Negative (-) DC terminal.
Make sure the FT-920’s POWER switch is off, and plug the DC cable into the 6-pin Molex jack on the rear panel of the transceiver.
6
Caution
Serious damage can result if improper supply voltage is applied to this transceiver. Your Limited Warranty does not cover damage caused by the application of AC, reversed polarity DC, or DC outside the speci­fied range of 13.5 V ±10%.
If you wish to use a power supply other than one of Yaesu manufacture, you must make certain that any DC supply connector to the transceiver matches the FT-920 requirements. See the DC connector pinout on the previous page. Other manufacturers have power supplies with a physically matched con- nector that is wired differently; this may cause serious damage to the FT-920.
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 9
Installation
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Page 10
Installation
Transceiver Location
To ensure long life of the transceiver’s components, be certain to provide adequate ventilation around the cabinet of the FT-920. The cooling system of the transceiver must be free to draw cool air in from the side of the transceiver and expel warm air from the rear exhaust port.
Do not install this transceiver on top of another heat­generating device (such as a linear amplifier), and do not place equipment, books, or papers on top of the transceiver. Place the radio on a hard, flat, stable surface. Avoid heating vents and window locations that could expose the transceiver to excessive direct sunlight, especially in hot climates.
Grounding
The FT-920 HF transceiver, like any other HF com­munications apparatus, requires an effective ground system for maximum electrical safety and best com­munications effectiveness. A good ground system can contribute to station efficiency in a number of ways:
r It can minimize the possibility of electrical shock
to the operator.
r It can minimize RF currents flowing on the
shield of the coaxial cable and the chassis of the transceiver; such currents may lead to ra­diation which can cause interference to home entertainment devices or laboratory test equip­ment.
r It can minimize the possibility of erratic trans-
ceiver/accessory operation caused by RF feed­back and/or improper current flow through logic devices.
An effective earth ground system make take several forms; for a more complete discussion, see an ap­propriate RF engineering text. The information be­low is intended only as a guideline.
Typically, the ground connection consists of one or more copper-clad steel rods, driven into the ground. If multiple ground rods are used, they should be po­sitioned in a “V” configuration, and bonded together at the apex of the “V” which is nearest the station location. Use a heavy, braided cable (such as the discarded shield from type RG-213 coaxial cable) and strong cable clamps to secure the braided cable(s) to the ground rods. Be sure to weatherproof the con-
nections to ensure many years of reliable service. Use the same type of heavy, braided cable for the connections to the station ground bus (described below).
Inside the station, a common ground bus consisting of a copper pipe of at least 25 mm (1”) diameter should be used. An alternative station ground bus may consist of a wide copper plate (single-sided cir­cuit board material is ideal) secured to the bottom of the operating desk. Grounding connections from in­dividual devices such as transceivers, power supplies, and data communications devices (TNCs, etc.) should be made directly to the ground bus using a heavy, braided cable.
Please note that some types of external power sup­plies (not of Yaesu manufacture), while otherwise being suitable for use with the FT-920, may be de­signed such that the Negative (black) DC output ter­minal is “floating” (not connected directly to ground). This may cause erratic operation, especially when transmitting, due to the potential for ground loops to form between your antenna system, your station ground, and your power supply. This potential sus­ceptibility is not unique to the FT-920, and the prob­lem can usually be solved by directly grounding the Negative DC terminal to the power supply chassis, which can then be bonded to earth ground; check first with the power supply manufacturer, though, to be certain that this grounding technique is accept­able to them.
Do not make ground connections from one electrical device to another, and thence to the ground bus. This so-called “Daisy-Chain” grounding technique may nullify any attempt at effective radio frequency ground­ing.
Inspect the ground system — inside the station as well as outside — on a regular basis so as to ensure maximum performance and safety.
8
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 11
Installation
Antenna Considerations
The FT-920 is designed for use with any antenna system providing a 50 resistive impedance at the desired operating frequency . While minor excursions from the 50 specification are of no consequence, the transceiver’s Automatic Antenna Tuner may not be able to reduce the impedance mismatch to an acceptable value if the Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) present at the Antenna jack is greater than 3:1. Among the undesirable consequences that high SWR may produce are:
r The transceiver’s power amplifier protection
circuitry will reduce power if the Automatic Antenna Tuner is unsuccessful in reducing the SWR.
r Even if the Automatic Antenna Tuner success-
fully normalizes the impedance presented to the radio, feedline losses will escalate rapidly with high SWR at the higher operating frequen­cies, especially 28 MHz and 50 MHz.
r Although high SWR itself does not cause
feedline radiation, the sudden onset of high SWR may well indicate a mechanical failure in a matching device, leading to an electrical con­dition which diation, which can cause interference to nearby home-entertainment devices.
Every effort should, therefore, be made to ensure that the impedance of the antenna system utilized with the FT-920 be as close as possible to the specified 50 value.
may
cause excessive feedline ra-
Any antenna to be used with the FT-920 must, ulti­mately, be fed with 50 Ω coaxial cable. Therefore, when using a “balanced” antenna such as a dipole, remember that a balun or other matching/balancing device must be used so as to ensure proper antenna performance.
Use high-quality 50 coaxial cable for the lead-in to your FT-920 transceiver. All efforts at providing an efficient antenna system will be wasted if poor qual­ity , lossy coaxial cable is used. Losses in coaxial lines increase as the frequency increases, so a coaxial line with only 0.5 dB of loss at 7 MHz may have 2 dB of loss at 28 MHz. For reference, the chart below shows approximate loss figures for typically-available coaxial cables frequently used in amateur radio in­stallations.
Memory Backup
The lithium memory BACKUP switch on the rear panel is turned on at the factory, allowing VFO, memory, and menu data to be retained while power is off. Backup current is minuscule, so it is not necessary to turn the BACKUP switch off unless the transceiver is to be stored for an extended period.
After five or more years of operation, the transceiver may fail to retain memories. At this point, the lithium battery should be replaced. Contact your dealer for procurement of the battery, and follow the instruc­tions on page 91 for replacement of the battery.
Before completing installation of your FT-920 trans­ceiver, please take the time to review the following safety guidelines.
Loss in dB per 30m (100 feet) for
Selected 50
(Assumes 50 Input/Output Terminations)
Cable Ty pe Loss: 2 MHz Loss: 15 MHz Loss: 28 MHz
RG-58A a
RG- 58 Foama
RG-8Xa
RG-8A, RG-213a
RG-8 Foama
Belden® 991 3a
RG-17Aa
Loss figures are approximate; consult cable manufacturers’ cata­logs for complete specifications. Loss figures can increase significantly if high SWR is present on the transmission line.
ΩΩ
Coaxial Cables
ΩΩ
0.55 1.75 2.60
0.54 1.50 2.00
0.39 1.07 1.85
0.27 0.85 1.25
0.22 0.65 0.88
0.18 0.50 0.69
0.08 0.30 0.46
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Page 12
Installation
Adjusting the Front Feet
The two front feet of the FT-920 can be set in either of two positions. By turning the knurled ring around a (retracted) foot clockwise, the middle of the foot will extend about one centimeter. Turn the ring as far as it will go (about ¼ turn) to lock the extended foot in place. To retract an extended foot, turn the knurled ring counter-clockwise ¼ turn while pressing on the center of the foot.
10
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 13
Safety Precautions
1. Power Connections
Be certain to follow the guidelines on page 6 care­fully so as to ensure that your AC power supply is configured for the AC line voltage used in your area.
When making DC connections, be absolutely certain to observe proper polarity in your wiring. Note that other manufacturers may use the same type of DC power connector as does Yaesu, but the wiring con­figuration of the other manufacturer’s plug may be different from that specified for your transceiver. Ac­cordingly, you should verify the pin configuration of the plug before attempting to use a non-Yaesu DC cable of any kind.
2. Ground Connections
Besides following the guidelines presented on page 8 carefully, note that household or industrial gas lines must
never
be used in an attempt to establish an electrical ground. Cold water pipes may, in some in­stances, help in the grounding effort, but gas lines represent a significant explosion hazard, and should never be used.
3. Electrical Shock Prevention
Be certain that all station wiring is properly insulated so as to prevent short-circuits which could damage this transceiver and/or accessories connected to it. Be sure to protect power cables from damage due to abrasion by ensuring that they cannot be walked upon nor crushed under rolling chairs, etc. Never route power cables near sharp metallic edges which might cut through protective insulation.
Never spill liquids into this transceiver, and do not drop sharp metallic objects into the transceiver en­closure. Electrical shock may result when you attempt to remove the object.
4. Antenna Precautions
Always install antennas such that they can come in contact with outdoor power lines in the event of a catastrophic antenna support or power line sup­port structure failure. An adequate safety margin is
usually
antenna and its support structure [1.5 times the height of the support] wires attached to the support] power line support pole].
Ground the antenna support structure adequately , so as to dissipate energy absorbed during a lightning strike. Install appropriate lightning arrestors in the antenna lead-in and rotator cable (if used) according to the arrestor’s instructions.
In the event of an approaching electrical storm, dis­connect all antenna lead-in, rotator control, and power cables storm is not immediately in your area. Do not al­low disconnected cables to touch the case of your FT-920 transceiver or accessories, as lightning can easily jump from the cable to the circuitry of your trans­ceiver via the case, causing irreparable damage. If a lightning storm is in progress in your immediate area,
do not
be killed instantly should lightning strike your antenna structure or a nearby power line.
If a vertical antenna is used, be certain that humans and/or pets or farm animals are kept away both from the radiating element (to prevent electrical shock and RF exposure danger) event of an electrical storm). The buried radials of a ground-mounted vertical antenna can carry lethal voltages outward from the center of the antenna in the event of a direct lightning strike.
provided by separating power lines from the
plus
[the length of any antenna or guy
plus
[the height of the
completely
attempt to disconnect the cables, as you could
from the station, but only if the
and
the ground system (in the
never
Unsupervised children should be kept away from any electrical apparatus such as the FT-920 transceiver and its accessories.
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Page 14
Safety Precautions
5. RF Field Exposure Advisory and
Electromagnetic Compatibility
This transceiver is capable of power output in ex­cess of 50 Watts, so customers in the United States may be required to demonstrate compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regu­lations concerning maximum permissible exposure to radio frequency energy. Compliance is based on the actual power output used, feedline loss, antenna type and height, and other factors which can only be evaluated as a system. Information regarding these regulations may be available from your Dealer, your local radio club, from the FCC directly (press releases and other information can be found on the FCC’s site on the World Wide Web at < http://www.fcc.gov >), or from the American Radio Relay League, Inc. (225 Main St., Newington CT 06111 or < http:// www.arrl.org>).
Remember to re-evaluate your station’ s compliance with these regulations during portable operations such as Field Day or special-event stations. Note, also, that power output may be programmed to 50 Watts (maximum) via Menu Items U-49 and U-50; see page 79 for details.
Regarding electromagnetic compatibility: if this trans­ceiver is used with, or in the vicinity of, a computer or computer-driven accessories, you may need to ex­periment with grounding and/or Radio Frequency In­terference (RFI) suppression devices (such as fer­rite cores) to minimize interference to nications caused by energy from the computer . Com­puter-generated RFI is usually a result of inadequate shielding of the computer’s cabinet or I/O and pe­ripheral connections. While computer equipment may “comply” with RF emission standards, this does ensure that sensitive amateur radio receivers will not experience interference from the device!
Be certain to use only shielded cables for TNC-to­Transceiver connections. You may need to install AC line filters on the power cord(s) of the suspected equipment, and decoupling ferrite toroidal chokes may be required on interconnecting patch/data cables. As a last resort, you can try installing additional shield­ing within the computer’s case, using appropriate conductive mesh or conductive shielding tape. Es­pecially check “RF holes” where plastic is used for cabinet front panels.
For further information, consult amateur radio refer­ence guides and publications relating to RFI suppres­sion techniques.
your
commu-
not
12
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 15
Accessory Installation
1. Linear Amplifier Interfacing
The FT-920 can be used with the (optional) Yaesu FL-7000 Linear Amplifier, which provides automatic band switching through the use of digital data sent via the BAND jack on the rear panel of the transceiver . Most other commonly-used linear amplifiers may also be used with the FT-920, so long as the Tx/Rx switch­ing voltages and timing (sequencing) for the amplifier’s control relay(s) are not extraordinary.
Tx/Rx Control Devices
for Linear Amplifier Switching
Two control devices are provided in the FT-920 for Tx/Rx control of an linear amplifier’s relay(s).
An open-collector transistor switch provides a
solid-state, fast-acting closure to ground for low-voltage/low-current situations; maximum ratings are +50 V DC at 500 mA (maximum dissipation of 25W), and relays using negative DC voltages or AC of any kind must not be used with the transistor switch.
The transistor switch’s “hot” lead is identified as TX GND (since it closes to “GND” on “TX”), and is provided on Pin 2 of the BAND (DIN) con­nector on the rear panel of the FT-920. It is also provided via the rear-panel TX GND jack when the TR-RY switch is set to the TR posi­tion.
A mechanical relay is provided for high volt-
age/high-current applications, although the relay will not be fast enough for QSK (full break­in) CW operation; maximum ratings for the re­lay contacts are 220 V DC (maximum) at 270 mA, 30V DC at 2 A, or 125 V AC (maximum AC voltage) at 500 mA (60 Watts total maxi­mum dissipation).
The relay’s contacts may be accessed by con­necting a shielded cable to the rear-panel TX GND jack.
If the relay is being used, the TR-RY switch ad­jacent to the TX GND RCA jack must be set to the RY position; conversely, if you are using the transistor switch, leave the TR-RY switch in the TR position, so as to eliminate the clicking of the relay.
The relay provides a mechanical closure to Ground on Transmit, while the (NPN) transistor switch sinks its (open) collector to Ground on Transmit. Check with the vice) to confirm the amplifier switching voltage and current, if they are not clearly stipulated in the docu­mentation for your equipment. þ Be absolutely certain to check the position of the
manufacturer
TR-RY switch prior to connecting any external de­vice to the TX GND jack. Never connect an AC voltage, or a negative DC voltage, to the TX GND jack if the TR-RY switch is set to TR. The Limited Warranty on this product does not cover damage caused by improper connections (excessive or im­proper voltage) to the rear panel jacks of the FT-
920.
of your amplifier (or other de-
About ALC
The FT-920 provides an external ALC jack on the rear panel (RCA-type jack) for input of Automatic Level Control voltage from a linear amplifier.
ALC voltage is used to provide dynamic control of the output of the transceiver, so as not to provide more drive than is needed for full amplifier output. The ALC control voltage range is 0 to -4 V DC, with the voltage going more negative as the amplifier’s drive requirements are approaching fulfillment.
The FT-920’s ALC system is very typical of designs in the amateur radio industry, and consequently is compatible with many manufactured and home-built amplifiers. However, ALC voltage may be generated by an amplifier in a manner incompatible with effi­cient ALC operation in the FT-920, and it is important that you recognize the differences in amplifier ALC circuits before proceeding with ALC line connection.
r ALC circuits which detect
the amplifier, and generate negative-going ALC control voltage when maximum output power has been realized, will generally work properly with the FT-920. The exact amount of ALC volt­age fed to the FT-920 can usually be adjusted via a potentiometer on the rear panel of the amplifier.
r ALC circuits which detect
Current
cessive grid current is present, may not work well with the FT-920 and other similar trans-
, and generate ALC voltage when ex-
Power Output
Amplifier Tube Grid
from
FT-920 Operating Manual
13
Page 16
Accessory Installation
ceivers, as the ALC voltage may be generated because of amplifier mis-tuning not related to an excessive-drive condition. With amplifiers deriving their ALC voltage in this manner, we recommend that you and rather let the amplifier’s protection circuitry manage its ALC requirements internally.
One useful alternative to ALC interconnection may be considered: by entering Menu Item(s) U-49 and/ or U-50, you may define the maximum power output for the FT-920. So if your amplifier never requires more than 50 Watts of drive, just set the maximum power output to “50” via the menu system, and you will not have to worry about over-driving your ampli­fier. And since the power output may be set indepen­dently for each antenna port (use Menu Item U-49 for Antenna A, and U-50 for Antenna B), you may lower the power output on a port connected to your amplifier while retaining the full 100 Watts on the other antenna port.
not
connect the ALC line,
Interconnection with QSK Amplifiers
If using a Yaesu FL-7000 amplifier, connect the (op­tional) cable CT-11 from the transceiver BAND jack to the amplifier’s ACC-2 jack. This provides automatic band selection for the linear, as well as QSK Tx/Rx switching control and sequencing. Also connect an RCA-to-RCA patch cord (Yaesu Part #T9101296 -
supplied with the FL-7000) from the amplifier’s ALC jack to the transceiver’s EXT ALC jack, and connect an RF coaxial jumper (Yaesu Part #T9100980 - also supplied with the FL-7000) from the transceiver’s antenna jack (A or B ) to the amplifier’s RF INPUT jack.
If using another manufacturer’s QSK amplifier, and if it meets the 15 VDC/100 mA limitation for transistor switching described previously, connect the Tx/Rx switching line for the linear to Pin 2 of the BAND jack, and use Pin 3 for the shield of the cable. If the ampli­fier provides a closure to ground to confirm that its relays are properly seated, this “exciter-enable” line may be connected to Pin 8 of the BAND jack.
The BAND jack is a specialized, interlocked 8-pin DIN connector. When a suitable plug (Yaesu Part #P0090160) is inserted into the BAND jack, it opens the interlock which, in the case of the FT-920, grounds Pin 8. If no exciter-enable line is provided by your amplifier, connect a jumper between Pin 8 and Pin 3 (Ground); if you do not, the FT-920 will not allow it­self to transmit.
If your QSK amplifier requires the exciter’s control circuits to switch more than 100 mA, or uses more than 15 VDC for Tx/Rx relay switching, you will have to provide a suitable external interface transistor, con­trolled by Pin 2 of the BAND jack.
14
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 17
Accessory Installation
Interconnection with non-QSK Amplifiers
(Yaesu FL-2100 Series or others)
The TX GND jack on the rear panel of the transceiver provides for Tx/Rx switching of non-QSK amplifiers. A schematic diagram of the FT-920’s internal relay circuit is shown below.
As the FT-920 is supplied from the factory, the inter­nal relay is disabled, and a high-dissipation NPN transistor’s (open) collector is connected to the TX GND jack. To enable the relay for use with amplifiers requiring it, move the rear panel TR-RY switch, lo­cated in the hole near the center of the rear panel, to the RY position. Use a thin, insulated object like a toothpick to move the switch. Then connect the cen-
ter contact of the TX GND RCA jack to the amplifier’s relay control line, using the outer contact of the TX GND jack for the shield. Connect the RF coaxial cable and, if compatible, the ALC cable as described in the QSK amplifier interconnection section above. Refer to the drawing below for details.
With the relay enabled, the FT-920 can support
QSK
linear Tx/Rx switching voltages of up to 220 VDC (maximum permissible DC voltage) at 270 mA, 30 VDC at 2 A, or 125 VAC (maximum permissible AC voltage) at 500 mA.
non-
Caution!
Do not exceed the maximum ratings of the switching circuitry (transistor or relay) of the FT-920 made available via the BAND or TX GND jacks. Your warranty does not cover damage caused by improper interconnections to linear amplifiers. When in doubt, it is always safest to utilize the TX GND jack with the TR-RY switch set to TR, as this configuration should handle the switching requirements of most all com­monly-available amplifiers.
FT-920 Operating Manual
15
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Accessory Installation
2. Digital Modem Interfacing (TNC, WeatherFax, etc.)
The FT-920 provides several convenient interconnec­tion points, as well as dedicated operating modes, for digital operation. While interfacing to commonly­available modems is simple and straightforward, it is important that you read the instructions below so as to understand the facilities that are provided on the FT-920.
DATA Jack
This five-pin DIN connector is the primary interface port for most digital-mode operation. It provides the following connection points which may be required in your installation: Pin 1 (AFSK Input):
Connect this pin to your TNC’s “AFSK Out” or “Mic Audio” output line. The optimum input level is 30 mV rms, and the input impedance is 3 k. Your TNC’s audio output level potentiometer will allow you to set the level to the optimum value. This pin may be used either for 300 baud SSB-mode digi­tal operation or for 1200-baud FM packet. The bandwidth and frequency response are not, how­ever, suitable for 9600 baud operation. Be sure the AFSK-FSK switch on the rear panel is in the AFSK position.
For FSK operation (whereby the TNC closes a line to ground to accomplish teletype keying), set the AFSK-FSK switch to FSK, and connect your TNC’s FSK keying line to Pin 1.
Pin 2 (Ground):
Connect this to the shield(s) of the cable(s) used for connections between the TNC and the FT-920.
Pin 3 (PTT):
Connect this pin to the PTT line from the TNC. This pin, when grounded by the TNC, places the FT-920 into the Transmit condition.
Pin 4 (Audio Out):
Connect this pin to your TNC’s “RX Audio” input line. This is a constant-level (100 mV rms @ 600 ) audio output line which is position of the front-panel AF GAIN control.
Pin 5 (BUSY):
This is a “Squelch Status” pin not generally re­quired for digital mode operation. This pin is held at +5V when the squelch is open, and is grounded when the receiver is muted by the squelch (“no­signal” condition).
not
affected by the
KEY Jack (Rear Panel)
If you wish to send CW using your TNC and com­puter keyboard, the CW Key output line from your TNC may be connected to the rear-panel KEY jack, according to the connection information provided on page 5.
Since a TNC’s keying output is electrically similar to that of a Straight Key, set the rear panel’s PDL-KEY switch to the PDL (Manual Key) position, and connect the TNC’s key line there. You can still connect your keyer paddle to the FT-920’s built-in electronic keyer , for those situations where you wish to send using the paddle; there is no need to switch the internal keyer on and off.
front panel
KEY jack, and use the
16
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 19
Accessory Installation
3. Other Digital/Recording
Device Interfacing
AF OUT Jack
This is a 3.5 mm miniature phone jack which pro­vides constant-level (100 mV @ 600 ) for connec­tion to a WeatherFax decoder, tape recorder, or other accessory. The audio output level is not affected by the setting of the front panel AF GAIN control, so you can turn the volume down, if you like, without affect­ing the audio level being presented to your decoding device.
The connection to the AF OUT jack is at the same level as the connection to Pin 4 of the DATA jack. How­ever, the two output ports use independent output buffer amplifiers, so you can freely connect and dis­connect devices to/from these ports without concern over the impedances and levels.
PTT Jack
This RCA jack is wired in parallel with the DAT A jack’s Pin 3, and may be used in conjunction with a com­puter or TNC’s PTT line, if desired.
P
ATCH
Jack
For transmit audio input for SSTV (Slow-Scan Tele­vision) operation, you may connect the SSTV terminal’s TX AUDIO line to the PATCH jack. You will need to disconnect the microphone, however , during transmission, as the PATCH jack is connected in a “Y” configuration along with the microphone input (from pin 8 of the MIC jack).
FT-920 Operating Manual
17
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Accessory Installation
4. CW Key/Paddle and Computer
Keying Interface Suggestions
Features
The FT-920 includes a host of features for the CW operator, the functions of which will be detailed in the “Operation” section later. These include:
A built-in electronic keyer with message
memory;
A front-panel KEY jack for connection of a keyer
paddle; and
A rear-panel KEY jack which may be connected
to another keyer paddle or a straight key , TNC, or computer CW keying interface (for use with contest software, etc.).
Both KEY jacks on the FT-920 utilize “positive” key­ing voltage. Key-up voltage is approximately +5V DC, and key-down current is approximately 0.5 mA. When connecting a key or other device to the KEY jacks, use
only
a 3-pin (“stereo”) ¼” phone plug; a 2-pin plug will place a short between the ring and (grounded) shaft of the plug, resulting in a constant “key-down” condition in some circumstances.
Configuration Suggestions
For everyday operation using the internal elec-
tronic memory keyer, connect your paddle to the
front panel
KEYER switch. If you wish to keep the keyer paddle’s cable out of the way, connect the plug, instead, to the rear panel K EY jack, and set the rear-panel PDL-KEY switch to PDL.
If two operators are using the FT-920 simulta-
neously (for a contest, Field Day, etc.), a second keyer paddle may be connected to the KEY jack. Be sure that the rear panel’s PDL-KEY switch is set to PDL so that both operators have access to the internal electronic memory keyer, and switch the front panel KEYER switch on.
If two operators are using the FT-920 simulta-
neously, but both wish to use a straight key, “bug,” or an outboard electronic keyer, the key plugs may be inserted into the front and rear panel KEY jacks; now turn the front panel’s KEYER switch off. Irre­spective of the setting of the PDL-KEY switch, the tip connections on both Key plugs will serve as “Straight Key” lines for accommodating this appli­cation.
If you are using a computer-driven CW keying in-
terface (with contest software), but want to be able to send occasional “repeat” messages quickly using the FT-920’s
keyer paddle keying interface
key) to the tion, set the rear panel’s PDL-KEY switch to the KEY position, which re-configures panel’s KEY jack to accept a “Manual” keying line.
KEY jack, and activate the front panel
rear panel
internal
to the
rear panel
front panel
line (which emulates a straight
keyer, connect your
KEY jack, and the
KEY jack. In this configura-
only
the rear
18
Note that the rear-panel KEY jack carries the capabil­ity to support an external PTT line, if provided by your external keyer, TNC, or computer keying interface.
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 21
Accessory Installation
5. Antenna Connections
The FT-920’s three antenna connectors, plus inno­vative microprocessor-based memory and switching circuits, provide excellent flexibility in setting up your antenna connections.
Typical antenna configurations are shown below . Re­member that Antenna A and Antenna B (which are “SO-239” or “M” connectors) may be used for trans­mission and reception, while the RX Antenna port (which is an “RCA” type connector) may only be used for reception.
Note
Regarding Large Receive Antennas
Although surge suppression is provided on all antenna ports, you may wish to consider build­ing a simple external circuit which will discon­nect, on TX, any antenna connected to the RX
ANT IN jack, particularly if you are using a very
long wire antenna such as a Beverage. Very long antennas can build up very high RF and static voltages on them, and the circuit below may provide better protection for your receiver’s input circuitry .
6. Personal Computer Interfacing for Contest Software, etc.
The FT-920 features a built-in level converter, allow­ing direct connection from the rear-panel CAT jack to the serial port of your computer, without the need for any external converter box.
When your software requests serial port configura­tion information, set it for “4800,N,8,2” (4800 baud, No Parity , 8 Data Bits, and 2 Stop Bits). Be certain to configure and activate any required “TSR” (T erminate­and-Stay-Resident) utilities before beginning com­puter-controlled transceiver operation (your software’s instruction manual will describe any such require­ment).
FT-920 Operating Manual
19
Page 22
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(1) POWER Switch This latching-type switch turns the FT-920 on and off. Push it once to turn the transceiver on, and press it again to turn the power off.
(2) MOX Switch This also is a latching-type switch, used to switch the FT-920 manually into the transmit mode (instead of using the microphone Push-T o-Talk (PTT) switch, for example). Press [MOX] once to activate the transmit mode, and press it again to release the FT-920 back into the receive mode.
Be sure to have an antenna or dummy load connected to the transceiver when
this switch is pushed. Failure to do so may cause damage to the transmitter’s final amplifier stage.
(3) VOX Switch This switch enables automatic voice-actuated trans­mitter switching in the SSB, AM, and FM modes, as well as “semi-break-in” CW. Press the [VOX] switch once to activate VOX, and again to disable VOX (and return to PTT operation).
(4) PHONES Jack This ¼” 3-pin jack is used for connection of head­phones. When a plug is inserted into this jack, the internal/external speaker will be cut off. This jack is optimized for use with 16 to 32 headphones, and will accept either monaural or stereo headphone types.
(5) KEY Jack
This ¼” 3-pin jack is used for connection of a CW keyer paddle or a straight key. Use only a 3-pin ( “ste­reo”) plug in this jack; if you attempt to use a 2-pin plug, a constant CW carrier will be sent out. The pinout is shown on page 5.
(6) MIC Jack This 8-pin connector accepts microphone input, as well as providing PTT, ground, and scanning control access. Proper microphone impedance is 500 ~ 600 .
20
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 23
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(7) METER SELECT Switch This switch is used to select the display function of the transmission multimeter, with the selections be­ing provided in the following sequence:
ALC: ALC Voltage. SWR: SWR as observed by the transmitter P A. COMP: Speech Processor Compression level. VOLT: Final amplifier transistor supply voltag
(also displayed on receive).
AMP: Final amplifier transistor drain current. ALC: ALC Voltage
(return to beginning of loop).
(8) IPO Switch The Intercept Point Optimization button switches the receiver RF preamplifier on and off. When the switch is pressed, the “IPO” icon appears on the display panel, and the receiver RF preamplifier is bypassed. When this switch is pressed again, “IPO” will disap­pear, and the RF preamplifier returns to operation.
Best receiver sensitivity occurs when “IPO” is off. However, the RF preamplifier may not be necessary in noisy locations or on the lower frequencies, in which case the IPO feature will provide improved immunity from intermodulation.
(9) ATT Switch This switch may be used to reduce the input receive signal in one S-Unit steps, starting at 0 dB (no at­tenuation), and sequencing through [6 dB] Þ [12 dB] Þ [18 dB] Þ [0 dB]. . .
The attenuation level is shown on the display panel. Best sensitivity will, of course, occur when no attenu­ation is used.
(10) AGC Switch This switch selects the recovery time for the receiver AGC (Automatic Gain Control) system. The selec­tions available are, in order:
AGC FAST: Fast receiver recovery time. AGC SLOW: Slow receiver recovery time. AGC OFF: AGC system disabled. AGC FAST: Fast receiver recovery time
(return to beginning of loop).
The current receiver recovery time constant is shown on the display panel. ? If “AGC OFF” is selected, the S-meter (which moni-
tors AGC voltage) will cease to function.
(11) MIC GAIN Control This control adjusts the microphone input level in the SSB and AM modes. Clockwise rotation increases the microphone gain level.
(12) RF PWR Control This control adjusts the transmitter’s power output, with a range of 10 ~ 100 Watts, and adjustment is available in all modes. Clockwise rotation increases the power output.
(13) AF GAIN Control This control adjusts the receiver volume level pre­sented to the speaker or headphones. Clockwise ro­tation increases the volume level. ? Note that this control does not affect the audio
level presented to the rear-panel AF OUT and DATA jacks.
(14) RF GAIN Control This control adjusts the gain of the receiver’s RF and IF stages. Clockwise rotation increases the RF Gain level for best sensitivity, and the normal operating position for this control is fully clockwise. ? Counter-clockwise rotation of the RF GAIN con-
trol, besides lowering the receiver gain level, will cause the S-meter to deflect upward, as though a strong signal were present.
(15) NARROW Switch This switch is used to activate optional narrow filters, for improved interference rejection. Press this switch to select the narrow filter; the “NAR” indicator will ap­pear on the display panel.
(16) MODE Switches Pressing one of these switches selects the operating mode. Per the chart below, repeated presses of a particular switch may cause the precise mode to be selected from within a mode group (for example, pressing [SSB] repeatedly toggles between [USB] and [LSB].
Mode
Sw itch
SSB CW AM
FM
DATA
LSB Ö USB CW (LS B) Ö CW (USB) AM FM DATA L SB Õ DATA USB Õ DATA FM
(RTTY/FSK) (PKT/AFSK) (PK T/AFSK) (RTTY/FSK)
Available Mode Selections
Õ
DATA LSB
Õ
FT-920 Operating Manual
21
Page 24
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(17), (18) Antenna Switches (A/B, RX) These switches allow selection of antennas, per the information and illustration below.
(17) A/B Press this switch to toggle between an­tennas connected to the “A” and “B” connectors on the rear panel. The indicator “ ANT[A] ” orANT[B]” will appear on the display panel to indi- cate which antenna is in use. The antenna selec­tion will be maintained in the VFO or Memory reg­ister in use.
(18) RX When this switch is pressed, the receiver’s input is connected to the receive-only “RX IN” RCA connector on the rear panel of the FT-920. This feature allows connection of a low­noise receiving antenna or a VHF/UHF receive converter. When the RX button is pushed, the “RX ANT” indicator will appear on the display panel.See the drawing on the next page for details.
(19) SQL (Squelch) Control This control, active in all modes, may be used to si­lence background noise when no signal is present. Most frequently used during FM operation, this con­trol must be rotated fully counter-clockwise for most SSB, CW, or AM operation.
(20) PROC COMPression Level Control This control is used to adjust the compression level of the digital speech processor during SSB opera­tion. Clockwise rotation increases the compression level.
(21) PROC Switch Pressing this switch activates the digital SSB speech processor, for enhanced “talk power” under difficult conditions. The “PROC” indicator will appear on the display panel when the speech processor is activated. Press this switch again to turn the speech processor off.
(22) MONI GAIN Control This control is used to adjust the audio level of the voice monitor. Clockwise rotation increases the au­dio level.
(23) MONI Switch Pressing this switch activates the voice monitor , which allows the operator to monitor voice characteristics during adjustments. When the monitor is activated, the “MONI” indicator appears on the display panel. Press this switch again to turn off the monitor.
22
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 25
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(24) NB LEVEL Control This control adjusts the blanking level for the IF Noise Blanker. Clockwise rotation increases the degree of blanking.
(25) NB Switch Pressing this switch activates the IF Noise Blanker. When the Noise Blanker is activated, the ‘NB” indi­cator will appear in the display panel. Press this switch again to switch the Noise Blanker off. ? The IF Noise Blanker may be used or alone or in
conjunction with the DSP Noise Reduction fea­ture.
(26) RX - (VFO-A) Indicator/Switch This combination LED/Switch indicates the operat­ing status of VFO-A in the receive mode. The LED appears green when the receiver is set up for the use of VFO-A.
This LED is also a switch; when the receiver is using VFO-A, pressing the green LED will cause the re­ceiver to be muted (the LED will now blink). Press the LED again to cancel the mute function.
(27) TX - (VFO-A) Indicator/Switch This combination LED/Switch indicates whether or not VFO-A is being used to determine the transmit frequency. The LED appears orange when the trans­mitter is being controlled by VFO-A (this is the situation for transceive operation using VFO-A).
When the corresponding LED near the tuning dial for VFO-B is pushed, the VFO-A [TX] LED will go out, showing that VFO-A has relinquished transmit fre­quency control. Pushing the VFO-A [TX] LED again will restore transmit frequency control to VFO-A.
typical
If this LED is pushed while it is already illuminated, the FT-920 will be placed in the (reduced-power: Approx. 10 W) “TX MUTE” mode. In this mode, the Orange LED will
(28) VFO-A Tuning Dial This large knob is the main tuning dial for the trans­ceiver, controlling the frequency of the (main) VFO­A. Clockwise rotation of the knob increases the fre­quency, while counter-clockwise rotation decreases the frequency . The tuning steps of the rotary encoder coupled to the VFO-A Tuning Dial are shown below.
Operating
Mode
SSB, CW, DATA(SS B) AM, FM, DATA(FM)
(29) STEP Switch Use the [STEP] switch to enable fine or coarse tuning when using the VFO-A or VFO-B tuning dials, as well as the [UPs] or [Downt] switches. The [step] switch toggles the tuning steps through the following se­quence:
Fast Õ Fine Õ Normal Õ Fast Õ . . .
The current setting will be indicated on the display panel.
(30) Shuttle Jog Control The outer, concentric “Shuttle Jog” control behind the VFO-A Tuning Dial allows fine or rapid frequency ex­cursions with just a slight turn of your hand. Rotating the Jog ring slightly to the left or right initiates slow tuning in a downward or upward direction, respec­tively . The more you rotate the spring-loaded Jog dial, the faster the VFO will tune. The tuning rate of the Shuttle Jog may be programmed via the Menu sys­tem.
blink
.
STEP
No rmal Fast Fine
10Hz 100Hz 1Hz
100Hz 1kHz 10 H z
FT-920 Operating Manual
23
Page 26
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(31) LOCK Switch (A) The [LOCK] switch locks the settings of the VFO-A Tuning Dial and/or the Shuttle Jog. Press this switch momentarily to lock the Tuning Dial; press and hold it in for ½ second to lock the Shuttle Jog.
When either control is locked, the “LOCK” indicator below the “ VFO-A” indicator on the display panel will be illuminated.
(32) DISPLAY Switch This switch changes the function of the VFO-B read­out area of the display panel. In the normal mode, the VFO-B frequency is displayed. When this button is pushed, and you are operating in the MR (Memory Recall) mode, any alphanumeric memos (“Alpha­Tags”) you have programmed will be substituted in place of the frequency display on the VFO-B side. Press this switch again to return to the frequency dis­play mode.
(33) (VFO) A u B Switch Pressing and holding this switch in for ½ second causes the contents of VFO-A to be copied into VFO­B, so that the two VFOs’ contents will be identical.
(34) (VFO) A B Switch Pressing this switch momentarily to swap the con­tents of VFO-A with those of VFO-B.
(35) VFO/MEM Switch Pressing this switch changes frequency control be­tween the VFO and Memory systems.
Repeatedly pushing this switch causes frequency control to toggle between the two systems.
(36) RPT Switch Pressing this switch, while on 28 MHz in the FM op­erating mode, causes a standard repeater shift (de­fault: 100 kHz) to be applied to the operating fre­quency during transmission; additionally, a (subaudible) CTCSS encode tone (default: 88.5 Hz) will be superimposed on your transmitted signal, for accessing repeaters requiring it.
Both the CTCSS tone frequency and repeater shift may be changed via the Menu system.
(37) DW Switch Pressing this switch activates the Dual Watch fea­ture.
24
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 27
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(38) V u M Switch Pressing this switch for ½ second transfers the con­tents of VFO-A into a memory register.
(39) V u M Switch Pressing this switch for ½ second transfers the con­tents of the currently-selected memory channel into VFO-A.
(40) Keypad
The keypad is used for one-touch band selection, as well as direct frequency entry, during VFO operation.
During FM transmission, the Keypad also serves as a DTMF Encoding Keypad for Autopatch operation.
(41) QMB RCL Switch This switch is used for one-touch recall of Quick Memory Bank memories. Pressing this switch causes the QMB memories to be recalled sequentially.
(42) QMB STO Switch This switch is used for storing VFO-A frequencies into the QMB memory registers.
(43) REC Switch Pressing this switch causes the built-in Digital Re­corder to start recording the contents of the receiver’s incoming audio. Pressing the REC switch for ½ sec­ond, followed by the [1], [2], [3], or [4] key on the Key­pad, causes the Digital Voice Message recorder to start recording.
(44) PLAY Switch Pressing this switch initiates playback of the receiver’s Digital Recorder.
(45) UP (p ) / DOWN (q ) Keys Pressing these keys allows quick frequency jumps (during VFO operation) or memory channel selec­tion (during Memory Recall operation). Pressing ei­ther of these switches once (momentarily) causes the frequency or memory channel number to move upward or downward by one increment; pressing and holding a switch in causes continuous frequency or channel number change.
The increments for frequency change during VFO operation, using these switches, are shown below.
STEP SWITCH POSI TION
NORM AL FAST FINE
100k H z 1MHz 10k H z
(46) RX - (VFO-B) Indicator/Switch This combination LED/Switch indicates the operat­ing status of VFO-B in the receive mode. The LED appears green when the receiver is set up for the use of VFO-B.
This LED is also a switch; when the receiver is using VFO-B, pressing the green LED will cause the re­ceiver to be muted (the LED will now blink). Press the LED again to cancel the mute function.
(47) TX - (VFO-B) Indicator/Switch This combination LED/Switch indicates whether or not VFO-B is being used to determine the transmit frequency. The LED appears orange when the trans­mitter is being controlled by VFO-B (this is a typical situation for “Split” operation using VFO-B for trans­mission while receiving on VFO-A).
When the corresponding LED near the tuning dial for VFO-A is pushed, the VFO-B [TX] LED will go out, showing that VFO-B has relinquished transmit fre­quency control. Pushing the VFO-B [TX] LED again will restore transmit frequency control to VFO-B.
If this LED is pushed while it is already illuminated, the FT-920 will be placed in the (reduced-power: Approx. 10W) “TX MUTE” mode. In this mode, the Orange LED will
(48) VFO-B Tuning Dial This knob is the tuning dial controlling the frequency of the (Sub) VFO-B. Clockwise rotation of the knob increases the frequency , while counter-clockwise ro­tation decreases the frequency. The tuning steps of the rotary encoder coupled to the VFO-B Tuning Dial are shown below.
Operating
Mode
SSB, CW, DATA(SS B) AM, FM, DATA(FM)
(49) MEM CH Switch Pressing this switch changes the operating configu­ration for the VFO-B Tuning Dial.
If this switch is pressed, the VFO-B Tuning Dial will switch from VFO operation to Memory Channel se­lection. Press the switch again to return to VFO op­eration.
blink
.
STEP
No rmal Fast Fine
10Hz 100Hz 1Hz
100Hz 1kHz 10 H z
FT-920 Operating Manual
25
Page 28
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(50) LOCK Switch (B) This switch locks the settings of the VFO-B knob and/ or the front panel keys.
Pressing this switch momentarily locks the settings of the VFO-B Tuning Dial. Pressing and holding in this switch for ½ second causes all the keys on the front panel of the transceiver (except for the [LOCK] switches!) to be locked. When the LOCK function is engaged, the “LOCK” indicator will be shown on the display panel.
(51) MENU Switch Pressing this switch momentarily activates the “Menu” mode, which allows customization of many aspects of transceiver configuration.
(52) RX CLAR Switch Pressing this switch activates the RX Clarifier (Off­set T uning from VFO-A frequency) feature. When this feature is activated, the VFO-B Tuning Knob is used for Clarifier tuning up to an offset of ±9.99 kHz.
(53) TX CLAR Switch Pressing this switch activates the TX Clarifier fea­ture, allowing the transmit frequency to be offset from the VFO-A frequency up to ±9.99 kHz. The TX Clari­fier may be used in conjunction with the RX Clarifier, or the chosen offset may be applied either to the RX or TX frequency singly.
(54) CLEAR CLAR Switch Pressing this switch clears any offset that has been established for the Clarifier, returning it to a “Zero Offset” condition. Pressing this switch only cancels the
offset
; it does
(55) SPOT Switch In the CW mode, this switch activates a spotting tone, used for precise zeroing in onto an incoming (RX) signal. By matching the pitch of the incoming signal exactly to the pitch of the Spot tone, your transmitter’s signal will be precisely aligned to a “Zero Beat” posi­tion relative to the other station’s signal.
not
turn the Clarifier itself off.
26
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 29
Front Panel Controls, Switches, & Jacks
(56) BK-IN Switch Pressing this switch, in the CW mode, places the transceiver in the “Full Break-In” (“QSK”) mode.
(57) KEYER Switch This is the On/Off switch for the built-in Electronic Keyer.
(58) SPEED Control This is the Speed control for the built-in Electronic Keyer. Clockwise rotation increased the sending speed.
(59) PITCH Control This control adjusts the pitch of (A) the SPOT tone, (B) the corresponding pitch of your FT-920’s trans­mitted carrier, and (C) the center frequency of the receive passband. The available range of frequen­cies is 300 ~ 1050 Hz, in 50 Hz steps.
(60) SIDE TONE Control This control adjusts the level of the CW monitor sidetone. Clockwise rotation increases the monitor level.
(61) MEM GROUP Switch This switch is used to select the “Memory Group Recall” mode of Memory operation. In this mode, only those memory channels within the designated group will be available for recall; this is useful in reducing channel selection time if you only are interested in watching a few particular channels.
(62) TUNER Switch This is the On/Off switch for the FT-920’s Automatic Antenna Tuner.
(63) SHIFT Control This control adjusts the receiver’s IF Shift feature, which adjusts the 8.2 MHz IF position relative to the center frequency of the selected IF filter (in all modes except FM). The default position for this control is at 12 o’clock, and an adjustment range of ±1.26 kHz is provided (the pitch of the incoming signals will not change).
(64) NR Control This control adjusts the level of the DSP-based Noise Reduction feature. Clockwise rotation of this control increased the degree of noise reduction.
(65) DSP Switch This is the On/Off switch for the Digital Signal Pro- cessing circuitry.
(66) LOW CUT/HIGH CUT Controls These controls adjust the passband cutoff frequen­cies of the receiver’s High-Cut and Low-Cut DSP fil­ters. The inner control adjusts the Low-Cut charac­teristics, with a physical adjustment range over the left hemisphere. The outer control adjusts the High­Cut characteristics, and its adjustment range is over the right hemisphere.
Do not attempt to adjust either of these controls past the 12 o’clock position.
(67) NOTCH Switch This is the On/Off switch for the beat-canceling DSP Notch filter.
Pressing this switch Tuner in line.
Pressing and holding in this switch for ½ second ac­tivates the Automatic Matching mode, in which a car­rier is generated and the tuner ’s microprocessor­based circuitry selects values of inductance and ca­pacitance so as to present a low SWR to the transmitter’s output port. þ Be certain to have an antenna or dummy load con-
nected to the antenna jack on the rear of the trans­ceiver before initiating Automatic Antenna Tuner matching procedures.
momentarily
places the Antenna
FT-920 Operating Manual
27
Page 30
Display Panel Indicators and Icons
(1) S/PO Meter
This meter scale indicates signal strength on receive, and power output on transmit. The characteristics may be changed between Instantaneous and Peak­Hold by making the appropriate selection via Menu Item U-07.
(2) Transmit Multimeter
In accordance with the corresponding setting of the Meter Select switch, these meter scales provide dis­play of the following transmitter performance param­eters:
ALC: ALC Voltage. SWR: SWR as observed by the transmitter PA. COMP: Speech Processor Compression level. VOLT: Final amplifier transistor supply voltage
(also displayed on receive).
AMP: Final amplifier transistor drain current.
(3) [PROC]
This icon indicates that the Digital Speech Proces­sor is On.
(4) [IPO]
This icon indicates that the Intercept Point Optimiza­tion condition for the receiver is active, with the input preamplifier being bypassed.
(5) [ATT 6 12 18]
This icon is illuminated when the receiver input pream­plifier is On, and it displays the number of dB of at­tenuation.
(6) [AGC F S] [AGC OFF]
These icons indicate the current operating mode for the Automatic Gain C ontrol circuitry.
(7) [TRANSMIT]
This icon becomes illuminated during transmission. If you attempt to transmit outside of an authorized transmit range, this icon will disappear, and “ERROR” will appear on the main frequency display area.
(8) [BUSY]
This icon is illuminated during reception so long as the receiver is unsquelched. By keeping the SQUELCH control fully counter-clockwise, receiver audio will al­ways be present and the [BUSY] icon will stay lit.
(9) [SPLIT]
This icon is illuminated during “Split” operation using VFO-A for reception and VFO-B for transmission, or vice-versa.
(10) [FAST]
This icon is illuminated when “Fast” synthesizer steps have been selected, for more rapid frequency navi­gation using the VFO-A and VFO-B Tuning Knobs, or the U P(p)/(q)DOWN switches. In the “Fast” mode, the frequency change is multiplied by a factor of 10.
(11) [NAR]
This icon is illuminated when a Narrow filter (in those modes where one is available) has been selected.
28
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 31
Display Panel Indicators and Icons
(12) [GEN]
This icon is illuminated when the transceiver is tuned to a frequency outside one of the 500 kHz segments containing an Amateur band. Transmission will be inhibited when the [GEN] icon is lit.
(13) [FINE]
This icon is illuminated when “Fine” synthesizer steps have been selected, for fine tuning using the VFO-A and VFO-B Tuning Knobs, or the UP(p)/(q)DOWN switches. The tuning rate, in the “Fine” mode, is 1/ 10th the “Normal” rate.
(14) [NB]
This icon is illuminated when the IF Noise Blanker is turned on.
(15) VFO-A Mode
These icons display the operating mode in use on VFO-A.
(16) [MONI]
This icon is illuminated when the voice monitor is ac­tivated.
(17) Enhanced Tuning Scale
This meter scale provides a wide variety of informa­tion regarding the operation of the transceiver, de­pending on its configuration (via Menu Item U-10).
(18) VFO-A Frequency Display
This is the main frequency display for the transceiver’s primary (A) VFO. Display resolution to 10 Hz is pro­vided.
(19) [LOCK]
This icon is illuminated when the VFO-A “ Lock” func­tion is activated so as to prevent inadvertent frequency changes.
(20) [QMB]
This icon is illuminated when frequency data is re­called from the Quick Memory Bank.
(21) [VFO]
This icon is illuminated when frequency data is pro­vided by the VFO system.
(22) [MEM]
This icon is illuminated when frequency data is re­called from the Memory system.
(23) [MEM TUNE]
This icon is illuminated when transceiver frequency control is in a pseudo-VFO mode known as “Memory Tune,” whereby a memory channel is used as a start­ing point for tuning using the VFO-A Tuning Dial.
At the factory, the Enhanced Tuning Scale is set up so as to provide a visual representation of the DSP system’s bandwidth. Other configurations allow de­piction of the Clarifier offset direction and magnitude, as well as tuning accuracy. See the discussion on page 74 for details.
FT-920 Operating Manual
29
Page 32
Display Panel Indicators and Icons
(24) [ANT] [A] [B] [RX ANT]
These icons indicate which antenna is currently in use.
(25) [TX] [CLAR] [RX]
These icons indicate the operating status of the Clar i­fier function. When the Receive Clarifier is on, [CLAR] [RX] will be displayed; when the Transmit Clarifier is on, [TX] [CLAR] will be displayed.
(26) Multi-Panel
This panel of the display area provides quantitative data regarding transceiver operating status.
At the factory , this panel is set up to display the amount of Clarifier system frequency offset from the main VFO frequency . Other available functions include dis­play of CW Pitch and VFO-A/VFO-B Offset, utilizing Menu Item U-09. See page 74 for details.
(27) [-] [RPT] [+]
These icons are illuminated during “Repeater” F M operation, typically on 29 MHz. When the repeater shift direction is negative, the [-] [RPT] icons are illu­minated; when the repeater shift direction is positive, the [RPT] [+] icons are lit.
(28) [T]
This icon is illuminated when the CTCSS Tone En­coder is activated during FM Repeater operation.
(29) [SQL]
This icon is illuminated when the CTCSS Tone De­coder is activate during FM repeater operation.
(30) [WAIT]
This icon will be briefly illuminated during antenna tuning, before a satisfactory match has been achieved by the Automatic Antenna Tuner.
(31) [HI SWR]
If the Automatic Antenna Tuner is unable to achieve a satisfactory match, this icon will become illuminated. Transmitter power output will be significantly reduced when the [HI SWR] icon is lit. You should check your antenna system, connectors, and cables to determine and repair the cause of the fault.
(32) [M CK]
This icon is illuminated when the “scratchpad” Memory Check mode is activated. In this mode, you may inspect and select the memory channel to be used
if and when
lected.
(33) [GROUP]
This icon is illuminated when the Memory system is restricted to the Memory Group mode. See page 61 for details.
the Memory Recall mode is se-
30
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 33
Display Panel Indicators and Icons
(34) Memory Channel Display Field
This area of the display indicates the Memory Chan­nel number.
(35) [OFFSET]
This icon is illuminated when the Multi-Display Panel is displaying the frequency offset of the Clarifier.
(36) VFO-B Mode
These icons display the operating mode in use on VFO-B.
(37) [SCAN]
This icon will be illuminated, during Memory opera­tion, when the currently-selected Memory Channel has been tagged for inclusion among the channels to be scanned.
(38) [RX] [TUNER] [TX]
These icons light up to indicate whether the Auto­matic Antenna Tuner is connected to the Receiver or Transmitter stage, respectively.
(39) [CAT]
This icon will be illuminated when data is being passed to or from the transceiver’s (serial) DATA port. Dur­ing operation using software which “polls” the radio’s status frequently, this icon may appear to be blink­ing.
(40) VFO-B Frequency Display
This is the main frequency display for the transceiver’s secondary (B) VFO. Display resolution to 10 Hz is provided.
(41) [LOCK]
This icon is illuminated when the VFO-B “ Lock” func­tion is activated so as to prevent inadvertent frequency changes.
(42) [BK-IN]
During CW operation, this icon will be illuminated if Full Break-In (QSK) operation is selected.
(43) [KEYER]
This icon is illuminated, in the CW mode, when the built-in Electronic Keyer is turned on.
(44) [TRACK]
This icon will be illuminated during “VFO Tracking” operation, whereby VFO-A and VFO-B are “slaved” under control by the VFO-A Tuning Knob (press and hold in the VFO-A [LOCK] key while rotating the tun­ing dial to engage VFO Tracking).
(45) [NR]
This icon is illuminated when the DSP Noise Reduc- tion circuitry is active.
FT-920 Operating Manual
31
Page 34
Rear Panel Connectors and Switches
(1) BAND Connector This 8-pin interlocked DIN connector includes Tx/Rx switching and bandswitching control lines for use with the Yaesu Model FL-7000 Linear Amplifier.
(2) CAT Port This DB-9 connector is used for interconnection to a personal computer’s serial port to enable computer­assisted operation. Use a standard (not “null modem”) RS-232C serial data cable.
(3) KEY Jack This jack may be used for connection to a straight key, an external electronic keyer, a computer-driven CW keying interface, or a keyer paddle.
(4) PDL-KEY Switch This switch changes the function of the
rear-panel
KEY jack. When the “PDL-KEY” switch is set to the “PDL” posi-
tion, the rear-panel KEY jack will be connected in par­allel with the front-panel KEY jack; when the “ PDL-KEY” switch is set to “KEY,” the
rear-panel
Key jack will be changed so as to accept a straight key , external elec­tronic keyer , or computer-driven keying interface
while simultaneously allowing the front panel KEY jack to be connected to a keyer paddle for utilization of the built-in Electronic Keyer.
See page 18 for configura-
tion details and operating tips.
(5) PTT jack This “RCA” female connector is used for connection of a footswitch or other external switch for Tx/Rx com­mand control of the FT-920. This jack is wired in par­allel with the front-panel MOX switch; shorting the PTT jack to ground causes the FT-920 to be placed in the Transmit mode, while opening the connection to the PTT jack returns the radio to the Receive mode. Open-circuit voltage is 13.5V DC, and short-circuit current is 15 mA.
(6) TR-RY switch This switch selects the switching device to be con­nected to the (adjacent) TX GND jack, used for Tx/Rx control of peripheral devices such as linear amplifi­ers, etc. With the switch set to the RY position, the TX GND jack is connected to a mechanical relay; if the switch is set to TR, the TX GND jack is connected to a switching transistor. The specifications for these de­vices are shown in the next section.
(7) TX GND Jack This RCA connector is connected to the switching device described above, for control of external de­vices. Please note the specifications for the two de­vices available via this jack:
The relay provides a me­chanical closure to Ground on Transmit, while the (NPN) transis­tor switch sinks its (open) collector to ground on
(AC 125V max. at 500 mA,
DC 220V max. at 270 mA)
(
Positive DC Voltage Only
RY
60 Wa tt s max im um
TR
25 Wa tt s max im um
, 50 V
max. at 500 mA)
32
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 35
Rear Panel Connectors and Switches
transmit. Check with the fier (or other device) to confirm the switching voltage and current, if it is not clearly stipulated in the docu­mentation for your equipment. þ Be absolutely certain to check the position of the
TR-RY switch prior to connecting any external de­vice to the TX GND jack. Never connect an AC voltage, or a negative DC voltage, to the TX GND jack if the TR-RY switch is set to TR. The Limited Warranty on this product does not cover damage caused by improper connections (excessive or im­proper voltage) to the rear panel jacks of the FT-
920.
(8) 13.5V Jack This jack provides +13.5V DC at up to 200 mA for use with low-power peripheral devices. The jack is fused, and the current is limited by the size of the copper foil on the internal circuit boards; do not ex­ceed the 200 mA current limitation.
(9) EXT SP Jack This 3.5 mm, 2-pin jack provides speaker audio out­put for an external speaker. The audio output im­pedance at this jack is 4 ~ 16 , and the level varies according to the setting of the front panel’s AF GAIN control.
(10) AF OUT Jack This is a fixed-level audio output jack for connection to a peripheral device such as a TNC, Morse code reader, or WeatherFax decoder. The audio output level provided is 100 mV at 600 , and the front-panel AF GAIN control has no effect upon the audio level present at the AF OUT jack.
(11) PATCH Jack This RCA jack is wired in parallel with the front panel’s microphone input jack, providing a convenient input port for connection of a phone patch or other audio input. The audio input impedance is 600 , and the signal applied to the PATCH jack is affected by the setting of the front panel’s MIC GAIN control.
(12) AFSK-FSK Switch This switch determines the method of (transmit) Data input to Pin 1 of the DATA jack (described below). If AFSK is selected, then Pin 1 should be connected to the “TX Audio” line from the TNC. If FSK is selected, then Pin 1 should be connected to the “FSK Out” line from the TNC or TU.
manufacturer
of your ampli-
FT-920 Operating Manual
(13) DATA Jack This five-pin DIN jack accepts AFSK input or FSK (closure to ground) input from a Terminal Node Con­troller (TNC) or Terminal Unit (TU); it also provides fixed-level Audio Output, PTT, and Ground lines. The optimum AFSK Input level is 30 mV at 3 k, while the Audio Output level provided is fixed at 100 mV at 600 .
(14) EXT ALC Jack This RCA type connector may be used for connec­tion to a linear amplifier’s ALC cable. The specified control voltage range is 0V ~ -4V DC, with -4V corre­sponding to the maximum degree of power reduc­tion being applied to the FT-920.
(15) RX ANT Jacks These RCA connectors provide convenient access to the receiver input line for a number of applications. They are active only when the front-panel [RX ANT] key is pressed.
The OUT jack is connected to the “RX” lead from the main T/R relay for the transceiver.
The IN jack is connected to the input port of the FT­920 receiver section.
Accordingly, a separate receive-only antenna, or a VHF receive converter’s 28 MHz output, may be con­nected to the IN jack. Alternatively, a receive preamplifier’s Input jack may be connected to the OUT jack, and the preamp’s Output jack may be connected to the IN jack. See page 35 for interface instructions and ideas.
(16) ANT Jacks (A - B) These SO-239 (“M”) jacks should be connected to an appropriate coaxial connector for the antenna or a 50 dummy load. Antenna selection is made via the front-panel [ANTENNA A/B] switch.
(17) DC 13.5V Jack This is the main DC input jack for the transceiver. The specified voltage is 13.5V DC (negative ground) at 20 Amps.
(18) GND Lug For best performance and safety, this Ground Lug should be connected to a good earth ground, using a short, heavy, braided cable.
33
Page 36
Bottom Panel
The small adjustment hole, shown in the drawing, is used for adjustment of the “Beep” tone associated with front panel keystrokes.
34
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 37
Operation
Before You Start
Before you begin operation for the first time, preset the front panel controls and switches to the following positions:
POWER, VOX, MOX: all off MIC GAIN: 9 o’clock AF GAIN: 9 o’clock RF POWER: fully clockwise RF GAIN: fully clockwise SHIFT: 12 o’clock NR: 12 o’clock LOW CUT: fully counter-clockwise
(approximately 7 o’clock)
HIGH CUT: fully clockwise
(approximately 5 o’clock)
SQL: fully counter-clockwise PROC LEVEL: fully counter-clockwise MONI LEVEL: fully counter-clockwise NB LEVEL: fully counter-clockwise SPEED: 12 o’clock PITCH: 12 o’clock SIDE TONE: 12 o’clock
These represent typical starting points for operation; optimum setting procedures will be discussed later. Note that a wide variety of transceiver characteris­tics may be optimized or adjusted using the Menu System, discussed in detail beginning on page 69.
Connect your microphone and CW key/paddle to the appropriate jacks, then turn on your 13.5 Volt DC power supply.
Receiving
Press the POWER switch to turn the transceiver on. As­suming that this is the first time you have used the FT­920, the display should look like this:
Inspection of the display will show you that both VFO­A and VFO-B are set to 7.000.00 MHz in the LSB mode. The (Green) [RX] and (Orange) [TX] LEDs associated with VFO-A should both be illuminated, indicating that all frequency control is being exercised by that VFO.
You should now be hearing background noise. Ad­just the AF GAIN control for a comfortable listening level on the incoming background noise.
We will now discuss antenna selection, frequency navigation, and other aspects of FT-920 operation.
Antenna Selection
Two main antenna jacks are provided on the rear panel of the FT-920, allow­ing you to connect, for ex­ample, a triband Y agi to one jack and a multiband dipole or vertical to the other. These “SO-239” or “M” type jacks, labeled A and B, may be selected by pressing the ANTENNA A/B switch on the left side of the transceiver’s front panel. This switch toggles between the two available main an­tenna ports.
FT-920 Operating Manual
Note that the maximum power output for each an­tenna jack may be set independently via Menu Items U-49 (Antenna A) and U-50 (Antenna B). See page 79 for details.
An additional receive-only antenna jack (RCA type) may also be found on the rear panel of the trans­ceiver, labeled RX IN. This jack may be connected to a specialized antenna, such as a loop or Beverage, for use in the receive mode; transmission will remain on the previously-selected A or B antenna if a re­ceive-only antenna is used.
35
Page 38
Operation
To engage the receive-only antenna, press the RX ANTENNA switch, located immediately under the A/B
switch just described. Press the RX ANTENNA switch a second time to return receive operation to the main (transmit) antenna (A or B). þ The antenna selection (A, B, and/or R X) will be
maintained in the VFO or memory register in use. Therefore, once you have set the transceiver up on each band of interest, you will not have to se­lect the antenna manually (unless you change it) when you change bands or memories; the most recent setting will be retained.
want
to
Mode Selection
Press one of the Mode switches, located immedi­ately to the left of the VFO­A Tuning Dial, to select the operating mode. The avail­able choices are SSB, CW, AM, FM, and DATA.
The SSB switch is a toggle function which allows the op­erator to choose between USB (used, by convention, above 10 MHz) and LSB (used below 10 MHz). Press the SSB switch, as nec­essary, to choose the appropriate SSB mode as we proceed with exploration of different bands.
The CW switch uses a toggle function to select be­tween USB- and LSB-side injection (a.k.a. “CW-Re­verse”). Although the default USB-side injection is typically used, you may wish to elect LSB-side injec­tion below 10 MHz, particularly if you anticipate switch­ing between LSB (voice) and CW frequently.
Special Note for CW Mode
Reverse CW Sideband
When you switch modes between CW and USB, you will observe that the frequency of the re­ceived signal stays the same (even though the
displayed
will also observe that the pitch of the received signal decreases as you increase the frequency by rotating the Tuning Dial.
However, switching from CW to retuning the desired station. This can be par­ticularly inconvenient when working a station in the 75-meter voice band (LSB) and you ask him to move to CW on the same frequency.
To eliminate the need for retuning in this situa­tion, you may switch the receiver CW carrier injection point to the “reverse” (LSB) side. When you press [CW ], you should notice that the “USB” indicator (just above “ CW” on the main display) will blink for a couple of seconds, while the “CW” indicator glows steadily . This indicates that USB­side injection is currently in use. If you press[CW ] once more, the “LSB” indicator will now blink, informing you that LSB-side injection is now in use.
When using LSB-side injection, you can freely switch between CW and LSB without having to retune the other station. Note that, in the LSB and CW/LSB modes, the received signal pitch now you increase the VFO frequency.
To return the re­ceiver to the (de­fault) USB-side in­jection method, just push [CW] again.
frequency may change slightly).You
LSB
increases
as
requires
36
Operating Hint
ture is the potential to eliminate interference. If you are experiencing QRM from a CW station that the IF Shift and/or DSP are unable to elimi­nate, you should try switching to the reverse CW sideband, retuning the desired CW signal, and adjust the IF Shift and/or DSP again.
- An added benefit of this fea-
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 39
Operation
Bandwidth Selection
Optional filters are available from your Yaesu dealer for providing selectable IF bandwidths in the CW and AM modes. For CW, the optional YF-116C 500 Hz filter provides the narrow selectivity needed for today’s crowded bands, while on AM, the YF-116A filter pro­vides a 6 kHz bandwidth for improved listening fidel­ity.
Pressing the [NARROW] key on the front panel causes the narrower filter appropriate for that operating mode to be switched into the circuit. See the chart below for the bandwidths available in each mode:
NARROW
Switch
OFF
ON
r CW “Narrow” and AM “6 kHz bandwidth” opera-
tion requires installation of an optional filter.
r
In the AM mode,
installed, the default bandwidth will be 6 kHz; pressing the [NARROW] key engages the (SSB) 2.4 kHz filter.
r
In the FM mode,
affects only the
work
, be sure to press the [NARROW] switch so as to set a maximum deviation of ±2.5 kHz, the statu­tory deviation limit on the 10-meter band.
MHz
, however, you will probably want to use the “Wide” configuration, which provides ±5 kHz de­viation.
CW (RX ) AM (TX) FM
2.4kHz
0.5kHz
Through
or
¦
6. 0kH z
¦
2.4kHz
WIDE FM
(± 2.5 k Hz)
NARROW FM
(± 5 kHz)
when the optional AM filter is
the action of the [NARROW] switch
transmitter. For 29 MHz NBFM
For 50
Amateur Band Selection
VFO-A Band Selection
One-touch Amateur band selection is provided via the Keypad, located between the VFO-A and VFO-B Tuning Knobs.
Press the [14] key to change VFO-A to the 14 MHz band. Initially, the operating frequency will be
14.000.00 MHz; rotate the VFO-A Tuning Knob to move around in the band. Press the [CW] key to set the operating mode to CW. Now press the [10] key; observe that the frequency is set to 10.000.00 MHz, and the mode is set to AM. Now press the [7] key, and observe that the mode has changed to LSB, the mode originally chosen on the 7 MHz band.. Press the [14] key , and observe that the mode has similarly reverted to CW, the last mode used on the 14 MHz band.
VFO-B Band Selection
By pressing key for ½ second, frequency command control will be shifted from the VFO-A register to the VFO-B reg­ister.
For example, to set VFO-B to the 21 MHz band, press and hold in the [GEN/CE] key for ½ second; you will observe that the VFO-B frequency display area will
blink
. Within five seconds, press the Keypad’s [21] key. After pressing the [GEN/CE] key for ½ second, you may also change the mode of operation and/or the antenna to be used, if you like. ? Note that pressing the [GEN/CE] key for ½ second
does not, itself, ing (or transmitting) VFO register. This action acts as a “scratchpad” function which allows VFO-B to be set on the frequency , mode, and antenna
used when VFO-B is next activated
and holding in
choose
the Keypad’s [GEN/CE]
VFO-B to be the receiv-
to be
.
FT-920 Operating Manual
37
Page 40
Operation
Direct Keypad Frequency Entry
VFO-A Direct Frequency Entry
A starting point on a band may also be established using direct entry via the Keypad. This is accom­plished using the[ENT] key as well as the individual numeric keys on the Keypad. For the purposes of direct frequency entry, use the numerals located on the lower right-hand side of a particular key.
For example, to set 24.905.33 MHz on VFO-A, press:
[ENT]Þ[2]Þ[4]Þ[9]Þ[0]Þ[5]Þ[3]Þ[3]Þ[E NT].
Trailing digits which are identical (or acceptable for the new setting) need not be entered. Therefore in the above example (which began with the initial 12­meter band setting of 24.500 MHz), to set 24.900 MHz on the VFO-A register, one can simply press:
[ENT]Þ[2]Þ[4]Þ[9]Þ[ENT].
You can set the operating mode at the same time that you enter the frequency , if you need to make that change. To set VFO-A to 14.011.52 MHz CW, press:
[ENT]Þ[1]Þ[4]Þ[0]Þ[1]Þ
[1]Þ[5]Þ[2]Þ[CW]Þ[ENT].
Stacked VFO System
The FT-920 provides two VFO registers on each band for each Tuning Dial (“A” and “B”). These dual regis­ters are most often use to establish “favorite fre­quency” presets in each Amateur band.
In the previous VFO-A example of direct frequency entry, for example, we set up VFO-A on 7.255 MHz. Now press the [7] key momentarily. You will observe that “7.255.00” has disappeared, and another 7 MHz frequency (probably 7.000.00 MHz) is now displayed.
You may now retune this VFO register to any desired frequency. It may be desirable, for example, to set the new VFO register to 7.025 MHz CW, so you have one CW frequency and one SSB frequency in each band.
All settings of the frequency, mode, bandwidth, an­tenna selection, and antenna tuner adjustment are totally independent between the two registers on each band, so changing one VFO register’s bandwidth, for example, will have no effect on the alternate register’s settings.
? When entering a frequency below 10.000.0 MHz,
you must enter the leading Zero of the desired frequency. That is, to enter 7.255.00 MHz, press:
[ENT]Þ[0]Þ[7]Þ[2]Þ[5]Þ[5]Þ[0]Þ[0]Þ[ENT].
VFO-B Direct Frequency Entry
Direct VFO-B frequency entry using the Keypad again requires that the [GEN/CE] key be pressed and held in for ½ second, as described previously. Then enter the desired frequency while the VFO-B display area is blinking.
For example, to set VFO-B to 18.095.20 MHz, CW mode, press:
[GEN/CE]( [1]Þ[8]Þ[0]Þ[9]Þ [5]Þ[2]Þ[0]Þ[CW]Þ[ENT].
? If you attempt to enter a frequency outside the
operating range of the transceiver, the attempt will be ignored, and the transceiver will revert to the last frequency you were on before the attempted frequency entry.
hold for ½ sec.)
Þ[ENT]Þ
Two VFO registers per band are also provided for VFO-B. Just remember to push and hold in the [GEN/ CE] key for ½ second before pushing the [7] key to inspect and/or adjust the settings for the alternate 7 MHz register for VFO-B.
Frequency Navigation
Once you have made an initial setting on a band (us­ing the one-touch band keys or direct frequency en­try), you may tune around the band in search of sig­nals.
Several tuning methods are available, depending on which VFO is in use.
r For VFO-A frequencies:
- VFO-A Tuning Dial
- Shuttle Jog
- Front Panel [UP/DOWN] Switches
- Microphone [UP/DOWN] Switches
r For VFO-B frequencies:
- VFO-B Tuning Dial
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FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 41
Operation
VFO Tuning Dial
Rotating either VFO Tuning Dial tunes the transceiver according to the selected tuning step size. Due to the extremely fine steps synthesized by the Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) circuitry, the tuning action is as smooth as though an analog tuning VFO were being used.
By pushing the [STEP] key, the tuning rate may be modified. The [STEP] key toggles between three set­tings: FINEÞ NORMALÞFASTÞ FINE. . .
The steps available in each mode are shown below.
MODE
SSB, CW, DATA(SSB) AM, FM, DATA(FM)
NORMAL FA ST FINE
100Hz 1kHz 10Hz
ST EP Switch
10Hz 100Hz 1Hz
? The [STEP] switch affects the action of the VFO-A
and VFO-B tuning dials, as well as the front panel and microphone [UP] and [DOWN] switches.
Finally, the number of tuning steps per revolution of the tuning dials may be changed via Menu Item U­01; see page 73 for details.
Shuttle Jog (VFO-A)
The Shuttle Jog is an efficient way to achieve large frequency excursions, avoiding the need to spin the VFO-A tuning dial to move quickly from one frequency to another.
Basically , the Shuttle Jog is a spring-loaded ring used for frequency change. Rotating the Shuttle Jog ring away from its center detent in either direction will ini­tiate tuning. The farther the Shuttle Jog ring is moved from the center, the larger and faster the amount of frequency change which results (minimum steps with slight rotation of the Shuttle Jog ring are 10 Hz).
Front Panel UP/D
OWN
Switches
These switches may also be used for quick frequency excursions from one end of a band to another. In the “Normal” position of the [STEP] switch, for example, one touch of the [UP] switch will cause the frequency to jump upward by 100 kHz.
The frequency jumps available are shown at the right.
STEP SW ITCH POSI TION
NORMAL FAST FINE
100k H z 1MH z 10kH z
MH-31B8 Hand Mic UP/DWN/FST Switches
Pushing the MH-31B8’s UP or D WN switch will initiate tuning in an upward or downward direction, in fre­quency steps set in accordance with the selection made via the [STEP] switch. Pushing the [FST] key will switch tuning into the “Fast” mode, as though the front panel [STEP] switch had been set to “Fast.” See the table below for a summary of the steps available in these modes of operation.
MODE UP DWN
SSB, CW, DATA(SSB)
AM , FM, DATA(FM)
{
10Hz
{
100Hz|100Hz{1kHz
FST
+
UP
|
10Hz{100Hz|100Hz
FST
+
DWN
|
1kHz
MD-100A8X Desk Microphone Rotary Scanning Switch
The (optional) MD-100A8X Desk Microphone fea­tures a Rotary Scanning Switch at the base of the microphone support stand. Rotating this switch to the left causes the frequency to scan lower, and rotating the switch to the right causes the frequency to scan higher. Rotating this switch
fully
to the left or right causes the scanning speed to switch to the “Fast” mode, as though you had pushed the [FST] switch on the MH-31B 8.
See the table below for a summary of the steps avail­able in these modes of operation.
MODE Right Left
SSB, CW, DATA(SSB)
AM , FM, DATA(FM)
L
OCK
Switches
{
10Hz
{
100Hz|100Hz{1kHz
Fully
Right
|
10Hz{100Hz|100Hz
Fully
Left
|
1kHz
To guard against accidental changes in the settings of the Tuning Dials and/or the Shuttle Jog dial, use the Lock functions provided on the front panel.
The LOCK switches to the lower right of the VFO-A and VFO-B Tuning Dials have slightly different ef­fects, depending on how each switch is pressed. These switches may be used in combination to pro­vide the desired locking control, as shown below.
L
< 0.5 sec
> 0.5 sec
(A) Sw itch L
OCK
VF O-A Tuning Dial
and Shuttle Jog
None
exp. POW ER, MOX, V OX
(B) Sw itch
OCK
VF O-B Tuning Dial
Al l Switc h es
Switches
FT-920 Operating Manual
39
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Operation
Operating Convenience Features
Display Brightness Control
The FT-920 is shipped from the factory with the dis­play illumination set to its maximum level. Should you wish to reduce the illumination level of the display, use the following procedure.
Press the [MENU] key to enter the Menu mode
of operation.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu
Item U-08 (“DIMMER”).
Press the [ENT] key to enter the “Menu Com-
mand” mode.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to change the
setting indicated in the main display window from “OFF” to “ON.”
Press the [MENU] key once more to exit the
Menu mode and resume normal transceiver operation.
Keypad Beep Frequency/Level
The “Beep” tone which is heard when you press a key on the front panel may be adjusted, if you like.
To adjust the Beep Frequency:
Press the [MENU] key to enter the Menu mode
of operation.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu
Item U-06 (“BEEP-F”).
Press the [ENT] key to enter the “Menu Com-
mand” mode. At this point, the current beep tone frequency will be heard.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to set the tone
that you prefer. Just for your information, the exact tone frequency will be shown on the main display window.
Once you have found a satisfactory tone, press
[ENT] to exit the Menu mode and resume nor-
mal operation. T o set the Beep Level, you may adjust the Beep level potentiometer, which is accessible through a small adjustment hole on the bottom of the transceiver. Use a small insulated flat-blade alignment tool to set the level to the best amplitude for your operating needs.
40
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Operation
Receiver Accessories
Noise, interference, changing signal characteristics, and changing propagation can all present difficult challenges to today’s operator . The FT-920, however , provides a wealth of features designed to enhance reception on our crowded bands. These features are described below.
Clarifier (Offset Tuning)
The Clarifier feature allows offset tuning from the current VFO frequency. The Clarifier provides sev­eral important capabilities:
r If the incoming signal begins to drift, the [RX
CLAR] may be activated so as to allow you to
continue receiving the other station requiring you to adjust both your transmit and receive frequencies (possibly causing interfer­ence to other nearby operators).
r For DX pileup operation, the [TX CLAR] may
be used to establish a split TX/RX frequency relationship, and the [RX CLAR] may be used to establish an optimum calling frequency.
r If you frequently need to move a fixed amount
of frequency excursion (such as “five up”), the [TX/RX CLAR] control allows you to program this amount for instant recall and QSY to that frequency.
Press the [RX CLAR] key to activate the Receive Clari­fier. The RX CLAR indicator will appear on the display, and the VFO-B Tuning Dial may now be used to move your receive frequency up to ±9.99 kHz. If you want the transmit programmed offset, also push the [TX CLAR] key.
The amount of offset from the VFO frequency will be displayed in the Multi-Function Window of the dis­play, and a graphical representation of the magni­tude and direction of the offset can be provided in the Enhanced Tuning Scale, with proper setup of Menu Item U-10 (see page 74).
To turn the Clarifier off, push the [RX CLAR] (and/or [TX CLAR]) again. The transceiver will revert to the original VFO frequency; however, the offset will not be wiped clean, but rather maintained at the current value on the assumption that you may want to hop back to the offset frequency again.
and
receive frequencies to follow the
without
CW Center Tuning (Enhanced Tuning Scale)
The Enhanced Tuning Scale may be used to provide a visual indication of precise frequency adjustment in the CW mode. Configuration of the Enhanced Tun­ing Scale is performed via Menu Item U-10 (page
74). When CW Center Tuning has been selected, the CW
passband center frequency (as determined by the setting of the PITCH control) becomes the center point of the Enhanced Tuning Scale. Per the illustration below , when proper alignment of the incoming signal’s pitch is accomplished, your cisely aligned in a “zero beat” with the frequency of the incoming signal.
CW S
POT
The CW Spot feature provides an aligning your FT-920’s transmitter to the frequency of an incoming signal (as opposed to the method provided by the Enhanced Tuning Scale).
By pressing the SPOT key , you will activate a constant audio “sidetone” which is set to the pitch which matches (precisely) the pitch of your transmitted sig­nal. The sidetone pitch frequency also corresponds to the center frequency of the receiver filter pass­band (with the IF SHIFT control centered in its default position). By aligning the CW Spot tone to match the pitch of an your signal and the other station’s signal to be ex­actly on the same frequency.
The Spot tone’s center frequency may be adjusted to any value between 300 Hz and 1050 Hz (in 50 Hz steps) by rotation of the PITCH control.
RF Preamplifier Selections
Two RF preamplifier circuits are provided on the FT­920, each yielding particular benefits for the varying requirements throughout the operational range of this transceiver:
r A Junction FET (JFET) preamplifier includes
r A Dual-Gate MOSFET preamplifier provides
incoming
high-Q selectivity for excellent protection from
out-of-band energy.
high gain and low noise figure, particular ben-
eficial on the higher bands.
transmitter
station’s signal, you will cause
signal will pre-
audible
method of
visual
To set the Clarifier offset to CLEAR] key .
FT-920 Operating Manual
Zero
, press the [CLAR
Via Menu Item U-47, you may assign these pream­plifiers on a band-by-band basis; the default selec-
41
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Operation
tions are the JFET preamp on the 1.8 ~ 21 MHz bands, and the MOSFET preamp on the 24 ~ 50 MHz bands. We recommend that you use these settings initially , and only change them later if you have a par­ticular need to do so. ? Although the MOSFET preamplifier provides
higher gain, the JFET preamplifier yields higher dynamic range with respect to out-of-band signals. Switching to the MOSFET preamp on 40 meters will, undoubtedly, provide a higher S-meter read­ing. However, the not change. On the other hand, when using a Beverage or small loop antenna for receiving on the low bands, the MOSFET preamp may be the better choice.
Remember: if you can hear background “band noise” appear when you connect your antenna, you already have adequate sensitivity. Any in­crease in front end gain beyond this point will not improve the signal-to-noise ratio on the incoming signal.
The preamplifier chosen will always be on, unless the [IPO] key is pushed. See the discussion of IPO operation below in the section regarding “
Strong-Signal and Low-Frequency Operation AGC (Automatic Gain Control) Selection
The AGC system of the FT-920’s receiver prevents potential ear damage and/or overload of receiver components by establishing an “AGC Threshold” of signal input. Once the AGC Threshold is reached, further increase in signal strength does not result in an increase in audio output.
The recovery time of the AGC system (the time re­quired for the receiver to recover to full sensitivity) is variable, and you may select the AGC recovery time which provides the most operator comfort.
To select the AGC recovery time, press the front panel’s [AGC] switch repeatedly. Y ou will observe the display icons cycling through the available selections:
AGC FAST Þ AGC SLOW Þ AGC OFF Þ AGC FAST Þ . . .
The AGC FAST position is usually preferable for CW and SSB contest work, while you may prefer AGC SLOW for more casual voice work. AGC OFF is most often used for precise measurement of signals (when evaluating antenna patterns, etc.), but strong signals
useful
sensitivity will probably
Tools for
.”
will sound very distorted with the AGC turned off. Rotating the RF GAIN control counter-clockwise will help reduce the distortion.
Squelch
If you wish to mute the FT-920’s receiver during no­signal conditions, rotate the SQL (Squelch) control clockwise until the background noise just disappears. This threshold point is the setting which produces the best sensitivity of the squelch to weak incoming sig­nals.
When a signal is received which exceeds the thresh­old set by the SQL control the muting function will be disabled and normal receiver audio will flow. When the signal disappears, the receiver will again be muted.
The Squelch circuitry is most often used during FM operation, but the FT-920’s Squelch system is op­erational in all modes. It may be particularly useful while monitoring a 6-meter calling frequency (such as 50.125 MHz), or when waiting for a Mode-A (29 MHz downlink) satellite to come within range.
To disable the Squelch system ’s muting capability, rotate the SQL control fully counter-clockwise.
General Coverage Reception
You may have noticed that, if you tune outside of one of the 500 kHz segments which contains an Amateur band, the [GEN] icon on the display becomes illumi­nated. This indicates that the transceiver is now re­ceiving in the “General Coverage” mode. On such frequencies, the transmitter is disabled. If you try to transmit, “ERROR” will appear on the display.
Since the FT-920 is chiefly an Amateur transceiver, the one-touch band keys do not recognize non-Ama­teur bands. However, you may use direct frequency entry to establish a starting point in, for example, a shortwave broadcast band; you may then use the tuning dial(s) and/or the UP/DWN switches to move around the band. You may also program a “favorite frequency” in each broadcast band into memory, then recall it quickly as a starting point for memory tuning. See the section on Memory operation, beginning on page 59, for details.
Otherwise, the FT-920’s receiver facilities completely support General Coverage reception, and you will
42
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 45
Operation
enjoy the many interesting aspects of shortwave lis­tening. Among the transmission often encountered are:
International Shortwave Broadcasts
(see table below)
Maritime and Aeronautical Communications
(transoceanic airliners, etc.)
News Services and Diplomatic/Embassy Traffic
Military Communications
WeatherFax Transmissions
(satellite images, charts, and forecasts)
Popular Shotwave Broadcast Bands
Meter Band
LW 0.150~0.285 31 9.35~9.90 MW 0.520~1.625 25 11.55~12.05 120 2.30~2.50 22 13.60~13.90
90 3.20 ~3.40 19 15. 10~15.70 75 3.90 ~4.00 16 17. 55~17.90 60 4.75 ~5.20 - 18.90~19.30 49 5.85 ~6.20 13 21. 45~21.85 41 7.10 ~7.50 11 25. 67~26.10
Frequency Range
(MHz)
Meter
Band
Frequency Range
(MHz)
Dealing with Interference
S
HIFT
Control
The front panel’s SHIFT control tunes the position of the IF passband relative to the frequency of the in­coming signal in all modes except FM. This allows the operator to sweep (in effect) the current IF filter back and forth across the desired signal, eliminating interference in the process, without changing the pitch of the incoming signal.
The control is detented in the center (12 o’clock) po­sition, which represents the “normal” passband cen­ter frequency. The SHIFT control is dedicated to the receive mode, and does not affect your transmitted signal characteristics (such adjustment of the trans­mitted signal is, however, provided via Menu Items U-59, U-60, U-62, and U-63).
Rotate the SHIFT control to the left or right to eliminate the interference. Careful adjustment of the SHIFT con- trol may also be useful in improving the recovered audio on excessively bassy SSB signals. Return the SHIFT control to the center detented position to return to the normal default passband setting.
H
IGH CUT/LOW CUT
Controls (DSP)
The DSP system’s chief interference-fighting circuitry is the passband tuning feature, which features the
HIGH CUT and LOW CUT controls. These controls may
be used to optimize the audio bandwidth so as to reduce interference and noise, and maximize signal­to-noise ratio.
To activate the DSP passband filter, press the [ DSP] key (located just below the SHIFT control). The [DSP] key contains an LED, which will glow green when the DSP is on. Now rotate the HIGH CUT and LOW CUT to roll off interference and/or noise, or to enhance the sound of the incoming signal. A graphical represen­tation of the relative width of the DSP passband can be displayed on the Enhanced Tuning Scale by mak­ing the appropriate configuration of Menu Item U-10. See page 74 for details.
Press the [DSP] switch again to turn the DSP pass­band filter off.
FT-920 Operating Manual
Note: Since the DSP passband filter operates in the audio section, after the AGC detector, very strong signals inside the IF passband but outside the DSP
43
Page 46
Operation
passband may cause interference to reception by “pumping” the AGC, causing the desired signal to fade in and out rapidly. Engage the Narrow CW filter, if installed, or use the SHIFT control, to roll off the of­fending signal before it reaches the DSP stage.
N
OTCH
Filter (DSP)
Unwanted beat notes inside the RX filter passband can be effectively removed by utilization of the DSP Notch function. The DSP system will detect the beat note, then automatically center a sharp notch filter to eliminate the beat note. If multiple beat notes are present the DSP will create multiple notch filters to eliminate them!
To activate the DSP Notch Filter, press the [NOTCH] key. To turn the filter off, press the [NOTCH] key once more.
Note: The DSP Notch filter should not be used in the CW mode! The DSP system will interpret a CW car­rier as being “interference,” and will notch out the in­coming signal. Therefore, as you tune the band with the Notch Filter on, CW signals will appear for a mo­ment, then disappear as they are notched out.
RF G
AIN
Control
The RF GAIN control is a highly useful interference­fighting control that is often overlooked.
When interference or background noise are severe, rotating the RF GAIN control counter-clockwise may, in some instances, improve reception. Counter-clock­wise rotation of the RF GAIN control reduces the gain in the RF and IF stages by applying an increasing amount of AGC voltage; this causes the background noise and signal levels to decrease, and it also causes the “no-signal” indication of the S-meter to rise. Sig­nals
weaker
may still be plainly audible, but they will no longer be affecting the AGC system.
This may be exploited by the skillful operator, par­ticularly with regard to the DSP system. Because the DSP operates in the audio section of the receiver, after AGC detection is accomplished, rotating the RF GAIN control counter-clockwise may reduce the detri­mental effects of strong noise and interfering signals, and may render the DSP more effective at eliminat­ing beat notes, adjacent-frequency interference, or noise. To do this, reduce the setting of the RF GAIN
than the minimum S-meter indication
control until the S-meter hangs up approximately at the peak signal level of the interfering signal; this places the incoming signals old (described on page 42). Now engage or adjust the necessary DSP features, and you will, in many circumstances, find that interference rejection is im­proved.
For maximum sensitivity, the RF GAIN control should be set fully clockwise.
below
the AGC Thresh-
IF Noise Blanker (NB)
When automotive ignition noise, power-line noise, or other impulse-type noise is present, the IF Noise Blanker feature may be engaged so as to minimize or eliminate the noise.
Press the [NB] switch so as to illuminate the NB icon on the display, then rotate the NB LEVEL control to the point of maximum noise elimination consistent with the maintenance of good signal quality. Press the [NB] switch again to turn off the IF Noise Blanker.
Note: Under extremely strong signal conditions on a crowded band, such as during a DX contest, etc., excessive advancement of the NB LEVEL control may cause somewhat degraded immunity from “splatter” from very strong nearby stations. This general ten­dency is typical of all IF noise blanker circuits, and the FT-920’s circuitry is carefully designed to mini­mize this characteristic. Try reducing the setting of the NB LEVEL control if this is observed, and try to utilize the DSP Noise Reduction to compensate (see below).
DSP Noise Reduction (NR)
The DSP system of your FT-920 includes a highly­effective Noise Reduction circuit. The DSP Noise Reduction is particularly helpful in enhancing signal­to-noise ratio by lowering the overall level of back­ground noise. The DSP Noise Reduction works to improve on the action of the IF Noise Blanker by elimi­nating lower-level, non-impulse-type noises that are difficult for the IF Noise Blanker to detect.
To activate the DSP Noise Reduction, rotate the NR control clockwise from its default position, which is fully to the left. Adjust the setting of the NR control until the best signal-to-noise ratio is achieved. Also try adjusting the setting of the RF GAIN, per the dis- cussion previously, to see if reducing the RF/IF gain
44
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 47
Operation
level will enhance the performance of the DSP Noise Reduction.
To turn the DSP Noise Reduction off, rotate the NR control fully counter-clockwise. ? As you tune around the band while using the NR
circuit, you may discover that the apparent “pitch ” of the background noise changes somewhat af­ter you encounter signals. The NR circuit is an adaptive filter which “form fits” around a signal, so this observation is completely normal.
Tools for Strong-Signal and
Low-Frequency Operation
Operation on the lower HF Amateur bands (160 through 30 meters) presents special challenges, in­cluding high atmospheric noise levels, strong local signals, and a lack of antenna directivity (compared with higher-frequency multielement beam antennas). The FT-920 is particularly well equipped to assist the operator in maintaining reliable communications un­der these difficult conditions.
The receiver section front end includes a high-inter­cept doubly-balanced mixer, which provides excel­lent immunity from intermodulation. For protection against the ingress of out-of-band signals which can cause intermodulation, the receiver front end is pro­tected by a bank of bandpass filters, including spe­cial high-Q filters for the 7, 14, 21, and 50 MHz bands. And the built-in Automatic Antenna Tuner may be engaged on receive, as well as transmit, providing extra protection against strong signals outside the current band of interest.
Other features of interest to the operator in strong­signal environments include:
IPO (Intercept Point Optimization)
The IPO feature reduces the receiver front-end gain by bypassing the RF preamplifier. When the extra gain of the preamp is not needed (typically below about 10 MHz), engaging the IPO feature will reduce the background noise level and improve the receiver’s immunity by reducing the signal level presented to the first mixer. So long as background “band noise” is still audible, the will not have been reduced by activating the IPO.
To turn this feature on, press the [IPO] key, located just to the right of the [METER SELECT] key on the left side of the front panel. The IPO icon on the display will become illuminated, and the background noise level should drop. If you have reduced the setting of the RF GAIN control previously, you may need to ro­tate it clockwise somewhat after turning on the IPO feature.
useful
sensitivity of the receiver
FT-920 Operating Manual
To re-activate the receiver front end’s preamplifier again, press the [IPO] key again.
45
Page 48
Operation
ATT (Front End Attenuator)
Under conditions of extremely high signal levels, the front end attenuator may be engaged, either singly or in conjunction with the IPO feature, to reduce re­ceiver sensitivity.
Pressing the front panel’s [ATT ] key repeatedly causes the attenuator to cycle through the various levels of attenuation provided (in 1 S-Unit steps of 6 dB each):
6 dB Þ 12 dB Þ 18 dB Þ 0 dB Þ 6 dB Þ . . .
The “0 dB” position, of course, represents the “At­tenuator Off” configuration.
Digital Voice Recorder Operation (DVR)
The FT-920 includes a built-in Digital Voice Recorder which you can use to record and then replay the in­coming signal (from the VFO-A path) for a period of up to 16 seconds. In addition, the DVR may be used for storage and replay of repetitive (“CQ” type) mes­sages in sion” (page 50) for details of the latter feature.
your
voice. See the section on ‘Transmis-
Recording and playback of incoming signals is straightforward. While receiving, press the [REC] switch, then [0]
(50 MHz), to start recording. The recording level is set automatically, so you may leave the listen­ing volume at a level which is comfortable for you. During recording, the Channel display field will blink.
T o stop recording, press the [R EC] switch momen-
tarily again. The last 16 seconds of incoming au­dio will now be stored. In this way , you can quickly confirm, for example, if a DX station correctly cop­ied your callsign through a pile-up.
To play back the stored audio, press [PLAY] then
[0] (50 MHz). For playback, the front panel’s [AF GAIN] control sets the volume level. Incoming sig­nals, however, will be cut off for the duration of the audio memory playback.
hyphen
in the Memory
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FT-920 Operating Manual
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Operation
Transmitting
Now that you are familiar with receiver operation, we shall explore the FT-920’s capabilities in the transmit mode.
Important Note!
Whenever you transmit, be certain to have a suitable antenna or 50 Ω dummy load con­nected to the antenna jack in use. Although the FT-920’s final amplifier protection circuitry will drastically reduce power if no load is present, there still is a slight chance of dam­age to your equipment in the unlikely event of a catastrophic protection-circuitry failure.
The transmitter can be activated within an amateur bands. When tuned to any other frequency , the trans­mitter will be disabled. You, as the station control operator, are responsible to restrict your transmis­sions to those frequencies on which you are autho­rized to operate.
Attempting to transmit outside of an amateur band segment will cause the “ERROR” diagnostic message to appear on the display.
Whenever the transmitter is activated, the FT-920’s built-in directional coupler detects any reflected power which appears at the final amplifier’s output port (due to antenna system impedance mismatch), and dis­ables the transmitter if too much reflected power is found (in which case the [HI SWR] icon will become illuminated). You should cease transmission imme­diately, and determine the cause of the antenna sys­tem fault.
? The upper limit of the transmitter’s power output
can be set via Menu Items U-49 (for Antenna A) and U-50 (for Antenna B) separately for each an­tenna port. See page 79 for details.
Automatic Antenna Matching
The built-in automatic antenna tuner unit is capable of matching antenna systems presenting impedances within the range 16.5~150 , which corresponds to a maximum SWR or approximately 3:1. If the antenna(s) you re using exceed this SWR as config­ured, you must make adjustments (electrical and/or mechanical) so as to present an impedance closer to 50 to the FT-920’s ANTENNA jack(s). Remember that the net SWR as detected by the FT-920 may be different than the SWR at the antenna feedpoint, depending on the degree of impedance transforma­tion which may occur in your feedline (if the feedpoint impedance is not very close to the coaxial cable’s 50 impedance).
Note that the FT-920’s automatic antenna tuner is not designed to cope with the wide variations in im­pedance presented by a random-length long wire antenna, unless you take specific steps to match the impedance at all frequencies of interest.
To use the FT-920’s automatic antenna tuner:
Turn the RF PWR control fully clockwise (the
transceiver will automatically reduce its power to a maximum of 50 Watts during antenna tun­ing).
Check to be certain that the frequency is clear
before initiating antenna tuning.
Press and hold in the TUNER switch for ½ sec-
ond to activate the tuner. The RX TUNER TX indicator will appear on the display.
A carrier will now be transmitted by the FT-
920. The automatic antenna tuner will now adjust itself so as to present a low SWR to the final amplifier stage. The “WAIT” indicator will appear on the display during tuning.
When tuning is completed, the “WAIT” indica-
tor will disappear, and the FT-920 will revert to the receive mode. At this point, if the tuner achieved an SWR of less than 1.5:1, the tuner settings will be stored by the tuner’s memory system; these settings will be used the next time operation takes place on this frequency. If the tuner was not able to achieve an SWR of
1.5:1 or lower (typically only when the “Tuner­Off” SWR is above 3:1), the tuner’s memory system will ignore these settings, and the tun­ing procedure should be repeated the next time
FT-920 Operating Manual
47
Page 50
Operation
you operate on this frequency; this feature pre­vents you from storing an undesirable setting (such as that produced when you accidentally select the wrong antenna on a particular band).
Should you wish to take the antenna tuner out
of line, press the TUNER switch momentarily. The RX TUNER TX indication will disappear from the display.
How the Automatic Antenna Tuner Works
When the TUNER switch is pressed and the RX TUNER TX indicator is displayed, the following operations take place:
A. The tuner’s microprocessor reviews the current the tuning conditions (if any) stored in memory, and
applies the settings for the frequency closest to the current frequency as a starting point for operation. Note that a change in tuning conditions is produced for every change in operating frequency of ap­proximately 10 kHz.
B. If transmission occurs (without the operator pressing the TUNER key), the tuner will begin adjustments
if the SWR is found to be 3:1 or greater. Tuner settings will not be recorded in this instance. If, however , the T UNER key is pushed and held in for ½ second, the tuner settings memory system.
C. If tuning is successfully accomplished, and the tuner settings stored into memory, the antenna system
characteristics as seen from the transmitter’ s perspective resemble curve (1) in the graph below. If you QSY to frequency (2) in the chart (where the SWR is above 3:1), the tuner will be automatically activated when you begin to transmit.
D. The automatic antenna tuner has 100 dedicated tuner memory registers, of which eleven are allocated
(one each) to the amateur bands covered by the FT-920. The other 89 record the most recent tuner settings, irrespective of the band in use, on a first-in, first-out basis.
E. The automatic antenna tuner is configured at the factory to be engaged both on receive
It is possible, however, to configure it so that the tuner is only active on transmit. See Menu Item U-48, described on page 79.
F. The automatic antenna tuner only adjusts the
adjustments made by the tuner can, of course, affect the SWR present on the coaxial feedline. There­fore, every effort should be made to minimize SWR so as to ensure efficient power transfer to the antenna feedpoint (since feedline losses may escalate rapidly as SWR increases).
G. Because the impedance of such antennas varies widely depending on the band in use, please note
that random-length long-wire and center-fed flat-top antenna systems generally will not be satisfactorily tuned by the FT-920’s automatic antenna tuner unless you make design provi­sions for ensuring that the impedance stays within the specified range of 16.5 ~ 150 .
apparent
SWR as presented to the transceiver. No
will
be stored in the tuner’s
and
transmit.
48
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 51
SSB Transmission
Basic Operation
Connect your microphone to the front panel MIC
jack.
Preset the front panel controls as follows:
MODE; LSB or USB (depending on band;
use USB on 14 MHz & higher bands)
METER SELECT; ALC MIC GAIN; 9 o’clock position RF PWR; Fully clockwise
Press the microphone’s PTT switch, and speak
into the microphone at a normal voice level. The TRANSMIT indicator in the display will be illuminated, and the ALC meter will deflect according to the peaks in your speech. Adjust the MIC GAIN control so that the ALC meter peak reading is along (but not beyond) the right edge of the ALC range on the meter.
Release the PTT switch to return to the receive
mode.
For operation at lower power levels, rotate the RF
PWR control counterclockwise while watching the PO scale on the meter so as to set the desired
power level.
? Counterclockwise rotation of the RF PWR control,
or operation using an antenna with an impedance greatly different from 50 , may result in a higher reading on the ALC meter. Therefore, it is helpful to make initial adjustment of the MIC GAIN control into a 50 dummy load or carefully-matched an­tenna, and with the RF PWR control fully clock­wise.
VOX Operation
When operating in the SSB, AM, or FM modes, you may use the VOX system to provide hands-free au­tomatic change-over from receive to transmit. When the speech input from the microphone is detected by the VOX circuitry, an internal “PTT” switch will be activated to begin transmission; when speech input ceases, the VOX circuitry will release the transceiver back to the receive mode. Operation is quite simple:
Press the VOX switch.
Without pressing the PTT switch on the micro-
Operation
phone
, speak into the microphone at a normal voice level. The FT-920 should automatically switch into the transmit mode, and should return to receive when you quit talking.
T o cancel VOX and return to PTT operation, press
the VOX switch once more.
The VOX system may require minor adjustment to optimize its parameters for your particular voice char­acteristics. These parameters are set via the Menu system as follows:
r If speaking in your normal voice level does not
activate the transmitter, or if background noise in the operating room trips the VOX, the VOX sensitivity (VOX GAIN) may be adjusted via Menu Item U-65, as described on page 81.
r If the delay in returning to the receive mode is
not suitable for your operating habits (too quick or too slow), the delay interval (VOX DELAY) may be adjusted via Menu Item U-64, as described on page 81.
r To prevent the speaker audio from activating
the VOX circuitry, you may need to adjust the VOX Antitrip setting. Use Menu Item U-66, described on page 82, to do this.
Digital Speech Processor Operation
The Digital Speech Processor provides two chief methods of enhancing your SSB “talk power:”
r Using digital audio compression methods, the
Digital Speech Processor increases your transceiver ’s
r Using specially-designed digital equalization
techniques, you may choose a DSP voice pat­tern contour which most closely matches your voice’s characteristics, so as to focus more of the
available transmitter power
sion of the most useful frequency components of your speech. Four different voice pattern contours are available.
Once you have correctly set the MIC GAIN control’s level, you may set up the Digital Speech Processor as follows: Press the METER SELECT switch so that the trans-
mitter selection is set to COMP.
Press the PROC switch once so that the PROC indi-
cator on the display becomes illuminated.
Press the PTT switch, and speak into the micro-
phone in a normal voice level. You will observe
average power output
into transmis-
; and
FT-920 Operating Manual
49
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Operation
the COMP meter indication fluctuating according to your speech input. Now adjust the front panel ’s PROC L EVEL control so that the reading on the COMP scale peaks at or below 10 dB.
T o deactivate the Digital Speech Processor, press
the PROC switch once more. The PROC indicator on the display will disappear.
? Raising the compression level generally raises talk
power; however, excessive advancement of the PROC LEVEL control will cause the signal-to-noise ratio on your speech signal to deteriorate, thus reducing the effectiveness of the speech proces­sor. Keeping the compression level below 10 dB will ensure that this does not occur.
DSP Voice Pattern Contours
If you wish to enhance the effectiveness of your speech processing system, you may choose from one of four voice pattern contours which are provided via Menu Item U-51. See page 80.
OFF: DSP microphone equalization is disable. 1: Mid- and high-frequency components are
enhanced .
2: A high-emphasis response is produced,
ideal for pile-up or contest work.
3: Both low- ang high-emphasis response are
produced.
4: A wide bandpass response is produced,
emulating a “Broadcast” microphone audio characteristic.
Once you have selected the desired voice pattern contour, press the DSP switch to activate the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) system. No further adjust­ment should be necessary. ? The Voice Pattern Contour feature may be used
alone, or in conjunction with the Digital Speech Processor. Experiment with these systems singly and in combination to determine which setting provides the best talk power and audio quality in relation to your voice’s characteristics.
Voice Monitor Operation
The Monitor function allows you to observe the char­acteristics of your speech signal so as to make ad­justments of the DSP, AM or FM modulation charac­teristics, etc. Press the MONI switch to activate the Voice Moni-
tor; the MONI indicator on the display will become illuminated. Now , when you speak, your voice will
be audible from the speaker or headphones.
Adjust the Monitor’s volume by rotating the MONI
LEVEL control. Clockwise rotation increases the
volume level from the Monitor.
Press the MONI switch again to turn the Monitor
off.
Digital Voice Recorder Operation (Transmit)
The FT-920’s Digital Voice Recorder can be used to store as many as four messages, in your own voice, of up to 16 seconds in length. Such messages may be used for repetitive “CQ” calling for contest work; you might also use the Digital Voice Recorder to store your callsign phonetically, then send it automatically in a pile-up situation late at night when you don’t wish to awaken other family members (you can also store “Roger, roger, five nine, fifty-nine” plus your callsign to complete the contact).
Operation is similar to that described for receive-mode recording (see page 46), except that the [REC] and [PLAY] keys are pressed accomplish the desired action (on receive, these switches are pressed
The four message locations are designated by the [1] ~ [4] BAND keys. Press and hold in the [REC] key for ½ second, then
press the [1] key on the keypad to begin record­ing in DVR memory #1.
Speak into the microphone in a steady voice level.
The recording volume level is set automatically, so the MIC GAIN control has no ef fect during DVR recording.
Press the [1] key again to stop recording, if you
elect not to use the full 16 seconds available.
Repeat this process for any of message locations
[2] ~ [4] into which you wish to store a message.
To review the message without transmitting it,
press and hold in the [MONI] key for ½ second. The replay volume may be adjusted using the AF GAIN control.
T o transmit the stored message over the air , press
and hold in the [PLAY] key for ½ second, followed immediately by the appropriate BAND key . The PTT circuitry will automatically engage, switching the FT-920 into the transmit mode, and the transceiver will return to receive at the completion of the mes­sage.
and held in for ½ second
momentarily
).
to
50
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 53
Operation
The input level of your voice signal to the Digital Voice Recorder may be adjusted by using the MIC GAIN con­trol. The optimum settings for the Recorder may, how­ever, be slightly different from those used in normal operation; this is normal.
CW Transmission
The FT-920’s versatile design allows the CW opera­tor unparalleled flexibility for operation using the in­ternal electronic keyer, an external keyer , a computer­driven keying interface, or a straight key.
The best selections for interconnections and switch positioning will depend critically on your application. See the configuration details beginning on page 18 for suggestions.
Straight Key Operation
Insert your key’s plug into either K EY jack. Set the
other controls as follows:
MODE; CW KEYER; Off (No icon should appear on display). RF POWER; Fully clockwise. SIDE TONE; 12 o’clock position. VOX; Off BK-IN; Off PDL-KEY; Confirm that
this rear panel switch is set to KEY.
FT-920 Operating Manual
If you close the key at this point, you will hear the CW side tone in the background, but you will not be transmitting. This mode allows you to adjust the S IDE TONE control for a comfortable volume level, and it is also useful if you wish to practice sending.
For “Semi-Break-In” operation, press the VOX
switch. Now , when you press on the key , the trans­mitter will automatically activated, and after you quit sending the FT-920 will return to the receive mode. The “Hang Time” for the CW “VOX” cir­cuitry is adjustable (separately for the CW mode as opposed to SSB) via Menu Item U-24. See page
76.
For “Full Break-In” (“QSK”) operation, turn the
VOX off and press the BK-IN switch. Now, press- ing and releasing the key will cause instantaneous TX/RX switching in tandem with your keying, al­lowing you to hear any incoming signals in the spaces between dots, dashes, and letters in your sending. This may be particularly helpful for mes­sage handling or contest operation. ? When the VOX is on, pressing the BK-IN switch
does
not
cause QSK operation to be activated,
as the
VOX
command will
In
command. When both switches are pressed
so these features are both on, the FT-920 will
override
the
Break-
51
Page 54
Operation
remain in the Semi-Break-In mode.
For low-power operation, rotate the RF PWR con-
trol counter-clockwise until the desired power out­put is observed on the transmitter meter.
Electronic Keyer Operation
The built-in Electronic Keyer may be used alone, or in combination with an external keying device such as a computer-driven keying interface. Connect your keyer paddle’s cable to the front
panel’s KEY jack. If you wish to use the KEY jack, connect the paddle’s cable to that jack, and set the rear panel’ s PDL-KEY switch to P DL.
Confirm that the controls and switches are set up
as they were originally for Straight Key operation on the previous page.
Press the KEYER switch to turn the electronic keyer
on. The KEYER indicator will appear on the dis­play.
Close the “Dot” contact on the paddle, and rotate
the KEYER SPEED control to set the electronic keyer’s speed to the desired level. Clockwise ro­tation increases the sending speed.
Adjust the sidetone to a comfortable level by ro-
tating the SIDE TONE control.
Select Semi-Break-In or Full Break-In, as desired,
as you did during Straight Key operation.
The weight (proportion of dots to dashes) may be
adjusted (each parameter individually) in the event you wish to modify the relationship from the de­fault 1:1:3 Dot:Space:Dash ratio. Use Menu Items U-21 and U-22 (see pages 75 and 76).
rear panel
A programmable delay in the keyer transmission
may be added, when using an amplifier, so as to allow the amplifier’s relays a few extra millisec­onds in order to become properly seated. This delay shifts the entire stream of dots and dashes without changing the weight. Use Menu Item U­23 (see page 76).
The function of the electronic keyer may be
changed from “Keyer Without Space ” to “Keyer With Auto-Space” to “Bug Keying” via Menu Item U-20 (see page 75).
Memory Keyer Operation
The FT-920 includes an easy-to-use CW Message memory system, which allows automated CW send­ing of repetitive messages (such as “CQ TEST” or “CQ DX” etc.). The following functions are available through the CW Message Memory system:
r Up to six messages may be stored (four may
contain up to 50 characters, while the other two may contain up to 20 characters).
r A sequential contest number (001, 002, . . .)
may be imbedded in a message, if desired.
r The stored messages may be reviewed
out transmission
checked for accuracy.
r The message(s) may be transmitted so as to
reduce operator fatigue during long operating sessions, such as in a contest.
Message Memory Storage
Press the [REC] switch, then one of the keypad
keys numbered [1] ~ [4], [8], or [9] to store a mes­sage in one of those slots. Memories [1] ~ [4] will accommodate messages of up to 50 characters in length, while Memories [8] and [9] will accom­modate messages of up to 20 characters in length. Additionally, Memory [9] can accommodate a mes­sage within which a sequential contest number may be imbedded.
After pressing one of the numbered keys, start
sending the desired message (e.g. “CQ TEST JA1YOE JA1YOE K”). The storage process will be terminated automatically.
To imbed a contest serial number in a message,
send three a message assigned to the [9] key. For example, to send “599001,” “599002,” and so forth, store “5NN???” into the special “Contest Number
Question Marks
so the contents may be
at the desired point in
with-
52
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 55
Operation
Memory Register (Key #[9]). If the number gets out of sequence during the contest, you may set the number to an arbitrary value via Menu Item U-
25.
Review of Stored Messages
To review messages previously stored
ing them over the air
switch for ½ second, then press the desired number key on the keypad. You will hear the message via the Sidetone circuit, so as to check it for accuracy.
Transmission of Stored Messages
Press the [PLAY] switch momentarily, then one of the number keys [1] ~ [4], [8], or [9] to play the message stored in that memory register. The transmitter will automatically be activated for message generation, after which the transceiver will automatically revert to the receive mode. ? The CW Message Memory, and electronic keyer,
only function in the CW mode. If you wish to prac­tice sending, or check message memory contents, be certain to select the CW mode of operation.
, press
and hold in
without send-
the [PLAY]
Split Frequency Operation
DX operators frequently have need for split frequency operation, whereby a DX-pedition station may trans­mit on one frequency while listening over a segment of the same band. The FT-920 provides several means of efficient split frequency operations for DX operation and even certain satellite operating situa­tions.
TX C
LAR
ifier Operation
For splits of up to ±9.99 kHz, the TX Clarifier pro­vides a simple means of split operation.
Example:
DX1DX is transmitting on 14.024.0 MHz, listening “Up 5” kHz:
With the Clarifier set to zero offset, tune in
DX1DX on 14.024.00 MHz using the Main VFO Tuning Dial.
Press the TX CLAR button, and rotate the Sub
VFO Tuning Dial so as to set up a Clarifier of f­set of -5.00 kHz.
Push the RX CLAR button, and you will now be
listening in the area of 14.029.0 MHz. You may hear a number of stations calling, and you hear this station currently being worked by DX1DX.
If you can hear the station being worked by
DX1DX, press the SPOT key, and adjust the VFO-B Tuning Dial so as to align the pitch of the station being worked by DX1DX with the pitch of your radio’s SPOT tone; this action will place you exactly on the frequency currently being received by DX1DX.
Now press the RX CLAR key again to turn off
the Receive Clarifier. You will now be back on
14.024.00 MHz, listening for DX1DX to send “QRZ?” When you transmit, you will be approxi­mately on 14.029 MHz, depending on how far you adjusted the offset so as to zero in on the station being worked by DX1DX.
If you don’t work DX1DX after one or two calls,
again press the RX CLAR key and look around for the station being worked by DX1DX; then press RX CLAR again to return to 14.024.00 MHz for receiving DX1DX.
may
FT-920 Operating Manual
53
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Operation
Split VFO Operation
Some pile-ups (especially on SSB) involve a split greater than ±9.99 kHz. In these cases, use the two VFOs on the FT-920 for split frequency operation.
Example:
DX1DX is on 7.095.0 MHz, listening “210 to 220 ” (7.210 ~ 7.220
With the Clarifier(s) off, and TX/RX control on
the Main Tuning Dial, tune in DX1DX on
7.095.0 MHz.
Press and hold in the [A B] key for ½ sec-
ond, then rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to set VFO-B somewhere between 7.210 and 7.220 MHz (pressing [A B] ensures that both VFOs are on the same operating mode).
Press the VFO-B [TX] indicator, which will glow
Orange after you press it. This indicates that VFO-A is in charge of the receive frequency, while VFO-B is controlling the transmit fre­quency.
In the same manner as you did in the TX CLAR
example previously, you may press the VFO­B [RX] indicator so as to listen to the pile-up. If you find the station being worked by DX1DX, tune quickly onto that station’s frequency , then press the VFO-A [RX] indicator to return re­ceive frequency control to VFO-A, so you can listen for DX1DX to say “QRZ?”
? When operating Split via any means, in pile-up
situations be absolutely certain not to press the VFO-A [TX] indicator accidentally, as this will make you transmit on the DX station’s frequency, caus­ing interference to others trying to work the DX.
Quick Split Feature
A user-programmed “Quick Split” may be utilized to provide a starting point for split operation. For ex­ample, if many of your DX pile-up operating situa­tions require you to transmit 5 kHz higher than you are receiving, this feature may be useful to you. Here is the procedure for activating Quick Split:
Press the [MENU] key to enter the Menu mode.Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial so as to select
Menu Item U-04.
Press the [ENT] key to enter the Menu Com-
mand mode.
Now rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select
5.0” (kHz) or whatever TX/RX split you desire.
MHz) for replies:
Press the [MENU] key once more to exit the
Menu mode.
While operating with both TX and RX control
from VFO-A, press the [AuB] key. You will observe that TX control has been shifted to VFO-B, and that VFO-B’s frequency is 5 kHz higher than VFO-A’s.
To
cancel
Quick Split, repeat the first four steps above; in step , rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to “OFF” then press [MENU] to exit the Menu mode and resume normal operation.
Mode K Satellite Operation
Although the FT-920 is not designed for full duplex satellite operation, Mode K satellite operation (uplink on 21.2 MHz, downlink on 29.4 MHz) is nonetheless possible, particularly on CW. Here is a generalized example of such an operating scenario; consult one of the many satellite operating journals for precise frequency information:
Set VFO-A to 29.430 MHz, CW mode, and dis-
able (temporarily, at least) the Narrow filter, if currently on. Be sure that the VFO-A [RX] indi­cator is illuminated.
Set VFO-B to 21.230 kHz, CW mode. Press
the VFO-B [TX] key so that the switch/LED glows Orange.
If you are using a typical triband or log-peri-
odic antenna which covers both 15 and 10 meters, set up the two VFOs for operation on the same antenna. If you are using separate antennas on the two bands, connect the 15 meter antenna to antenna port B, and select Antenna B for VFO-B; now connect the 10 meter antenna to antenna port A, and select antenna A for VFO-A.
Press the [BK-IN] switch to activate full CW
break-in operation.
If the appropriate satellite is above the hori-
zon, and the frequency is clear, you may now send a string of dots to allow you to find your downlink signal through the satellite. Because the break-in system allows you to listen be­tween dots, the propagation delay through the satellite should allow you to hear traces of your signal, and you may adjust the appropriate VFO for the exact pitch desired, a well as to follow Doppler shift.
Make a note of the TX/RX frequency differ-
54
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 57
Operation
ence by pressing the [ DSPL Y ] key. Y ou may use this display option to use the current offset as a starting point for setting the VFO-A/VFO-B relationship when tuning around the satellite transponder downlink segment. Remember, though, that Doppler shift will change during an operating session, so the initial offset will not be maintained indefinitely. ? The function of the [DSPLY] key must be set
to [OFFSET], via Menu Item U-09, for this function to work. See page 74.
For SSB operation, be certain that each VFO
is set to the correct sideband. Initially during a pass, it may be easier to establish the Uplink/ Downlink frequency offset on CW , then switch both VFOs back to SSB.
N When operating on Mode K, take particular care
to check your uplink frequency before transmit­ting, as your signal may be propagated over a long distance on the 21 MHz band, possibly causing harmful interference to other operators.
Digital Mode Operation
The FT-920 provides outstanding capabilities for digi­tal mode operation, such as RTTY, packet, etc.
It is important that you understand the differences between the two keying methods provided on the FT­920 for digital mode operation, so that the controls and switches may be set correctly.
r Most operation is accomplished using
Frequency-Shifted Keying
the T erminal Node Controller (TNC) generates
audio
tones to be transmitted as data by the FT-920. T o activate this mode of operation, the front panel Mode selection must be set to DATA-USB (even though “USB” may not be the actual sideband utilized in operation), and the rear panel AFSK-FSK switch must be set to AFSK.
r The FT-920 can also accept input from a TNC
or T erminal Unit (TU) operating in the FSK (
quency-Shifted Keying) sure to ground
the transmitted carrier to be shifted in fre­quency; no audio tones are produced by the TNC or TU.
of the FSK keying line causes
(AFSK), whereby
mode, whereby a
Audio
Fre-
clo-
AFSK RTTY or Packet Operation
The AFSK configuration environment may be the easiest for you to use, as the TNC then has total con­trol of the tone frequencies, Mark/Space relationship (normal/inverted), and other aspects of digital opera­tion which are critical to successful operation. Connect your TNC to the FT-920’s DATA jack per
the instructions on page 16. Pin 1 of the DAT A jack should be connected to the TNC’s “MIC AUDIO” or “TX AUDIO” line. Be sure to set the AFSK-FSK switch to AFSK.
For AFSK RTTY (Baudot) or 300 bps HF Packet
operation, press the [DATA] mode key until “DATA” and “USB” appear on the display. Now enter the Menu system, and select Menu # U-46; set this Menu Item for the frequency appropriate for your operating mode: r For typical RTTY operation, select
sets the carrier injection up for an offset of
2.125 kHz in a pseudo-LSB mode, so that the transceiver actually is operating in the “LSB” mode (even though the display still indicates
DATA-USB.
2125-L
; this
FT-920 Operating Manual
55
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Operation
r For Packet operation, you may leave Menu #
U-46 in its default mode), or set it to as required by the configuration of your TNC. See the documentation provided with your TNC’s communication software for details re­garding defining the transmitted tones.
The packet frequency display (offset) may also be
modified via Menu # U-45, allowing you to have the radio’s display indicate either Mark or Space fre­quency , or the center frequency of the two tones.
At this point, you are ready to utilize your TNC’s
software to begin operation. After loading the soft­ware, tune in an RTTY station so that it is properly decoded on your computer screen. When solid copy is obtained, you may press the appropriate key on your computer’s keyboard to activate the transmitter, and begin typing. See your TNC’s in­struction manual for further details regarding ac­tual operation.
The DSP High- and Low-Cut filter are particularly
beneficial in reducing interference in RTTY pile­up situations. A typical setting of the HIGH CUT con­trol is at approximately 1 o’clock, while the LOW CUT control may be set approximately to 11 o’clock.
The CW Narrow filter may also be used for AFSK
operation. Just press the [NARROW] switch, then rotate the SHIFT control to peak the signal in the narrowed IF passband.
Via Menu # U-10, the Enhanced T uning Scale may
be engaged so as to allow a visual representation of precise tuning pursuant to the tone frequency selected via Menu # U-46. However, since your TNC may also have such a facility, and because the TNC is ultimately in control of the tone gen­eration and decoding, you may wish to rely on the TNC’s tuning indicator, and use the Enhanced Tuning Scale of your FT-920 for other purposes.
For 1200 bps FM packet, press the DATA key until
DATA and FM appear on the display.
FSK RTTY Operation
This mode utilizes the tone generator in the FT-920 for production of the required Mark and Space tones used for RTTY operation. Follow the interconnection guidelines on page 17
for details on how to hook up your terminal equip­ment to the transceiver. Be certain to set the
AFSK-FSK switch on the rear panel of the trans-
2125-U
1700-U
(pseudo-USB
or some other value
ceiver to FSK. In this mode of operation, closing Pin 1 of the DATA jack to ground causes the car­rier to shift; the magnitude of the shift (170/425/ 850 Hz) is set via Menu # U-43, while the carrier’s offset from zero beat and its sideband (USB/LSB) can be set via Menu # U-42. Do not connect Pin 1 of the DATA jack to any TNC/TU line which carries “MIC AUDIO” or “TX AUDIO” as these lines are used for AFSK operation (see previous section).
Press the front panel [DATA] key to select the [DATA]
[LSB] mode, which corresponds to “FSK” opera­tion (remember, “DATA USB” is used for “AFSK” operation).
At this point, you are ready to utilize your TNC/
TU’s software to begin operation. After loading the software, tune in an RTTY station so that it is prop­erly decoded on your computer screen or TU dis­play. When solid copy is obtained, you may press the appropriate key on your computer’s keyboard to activate the transmitter, and begin typing. See your TNC/TU instruction manual for further de­tails regarding actual operation.
As with AFSK operation, the CW filter may be
engaged in the FSK mode by pressing the [NAR-
ROW] key, and the DSP filters may also be used to
reduce interference in crowded digital operating situations.
Operating Tips
r If you are hearing and decoding stations success-
fully in an AFSK environment, but stations cannot understand you, check to be certain that your TNC’s software has not set a shift other than 170 Hz, and be sure that the tones have not been “in­verted” in the software configuration.
r If you are getting no shift (only a steady carrier) in
RTTY FSK operation, be sure that you have not connected Pin 1 of the DATA jack to an AFSK out­put line from your TNC (use only the “FSK” line provided by your TNC). If the FSK line has been properly connected, check to be sure that you have the “FSK” mode properly enabled on your TNC, if the software requires you to do so.
r If you are having trouble decoding HF packet sta-
tions, be sure that you have set Menu # U-46 to one of the settings which ends with “U” (instead of “L”), and that you have chosen a tone frequency compatible with the tones for which your TNC is configured.
56
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 59
Operation
AM Transmission
(Optional YF-116A AM Filter Required)
The FT-920 utilizes low-level modulation on AM, and the DSP system may be used to enhance your trans­mitted audio quality.
Remember that AM consists of the carrier signal plus two sidebands. Because the available power output is 100 Watts (total), the ited to 25 Watts so as to have power available for the modulation sidebands, which carry your voice sig­nal.
Basic Operation
Connect your microphone to the MIC jack.Set the following controls as described below:
MODE: AM METER SELECT: ALC (The ALC indicator will appear on the display) MIC GAIN: Fully Counter-clockwise RF PWR: Fully Clockwise
Press the microphone’s PTT switch. The TRANS-
MIT indicator on the display will become illuminated.
Rotate the MIC GAIN control clockwise while speak-
ing into the microphone. When you reach the set­ting of the MIC GAIN control which causes the power output indication to increase slightly on voice peaks, reduce the setting of the MIC GAIN control slightly; this will be the point of best audio quality. ? The PO meter will fluctuate significantly for an
instant at the start of a transmission; this is not abnormal. However, if the ALC meter fluctu­ates significantly on voice peaks, the MIC GAIN control may be set too high, and your trans­mitted signal quality may be degraded. Reduce the setting of the MIC GAIN control if this is ob- served.
The DSP, VOX, and Monitor features are opera-
tional during AM transmission. See page 50 for a description of the DSP Voice Pattern Contours, and page 49 for details regarding VOX operation. Monitor operation is discussed on page 50.
For low-power operation, reduce the setting of the
RF PWR control.
carrier
power should be lim-
FM Operation (Optional FM-1 Unit Required)
FM operation is permitted only in the 29 and 50 MHz bands, due to bandwidth limitations. Be careful while operating in the 29 MHz band to operate only in the FM sub-band above 29.5 MHz, so as to avoid harm­ful interference to satellite operations below 29.5 MHz.
Simplex (Non-Repeater) Operation
Connect the microphone to the MIC jack. Set the
MODE switch to FM, and the RF PWR control fully
clockwise.
Close the microphone’s PTT switch to activate the
transmitter. Speak into the microphone in a nor­mal voice level. The microphone gain level is set automatically in the FM mode, and is not affected by the MIC GAIN control’s setting.
Release the PTT switch to return to the receive
mode.
The VOX, and Monitor features are operational
during FM transmission. See page 49 for details regarding VOX operation. Monitor operation is dis­cussed on page 50.
Repeater Operation
The FT-920 may also be used, in the FM mode, for repeater operation. Several convenient features make FM repeater operation simple and efficient. While operating in the FM mode on the 29 or 50
MHz bands, press the front panel [RPT] key to ac­tivate repeater operation. Pressing the [RPT] key causes two important functions to become activated: r The transmitter frequency will be shifted by a
default value (100 kHz on 29 MHz, 500 kHz on 50 MHz) so as to access the repeater input frequency;
r A repeater access tone will be superimposed
on your signal, as many repeaters on these bands use CTCSS to prevent false activation of the repeater by random noise. Both Subaudible (CTCSS) and Burst (1750 Hz) tones are available.
If the above repeater shifts and/or access tone are
not appropriate for your area, they may be set inde­pendently for each band. The Menu items which pertain to these functions are shown below . r T o set the 29 MHz CTCSS T one Mode (CTCSS/
Burst), use Menu Item U-35 (see page 77).
FT-920 Operating Manual
57
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Operation
r T o set the 50 MHz CTCSS Tone Mode (CTCSS/
Burst), use Menu Item U-36 (see page 77).
r T o set your FT-920’ s transmitted CTCSS tone
(Menu Item U-35/36 must be set to CONTI), use Menu Item U-37 (see page 78).
r T o set your FT-920’s CTCSS Decoder CTCSS
tone, use Menu Item U-38. The default value is “Off,” which means that Tone Squelch (CTCSS Decode) operation is not engaged. Set this Menu item to the appropriate tone so as to keep your receiver quiet until the match­ing tone is received from the repeater.
r To set the 29 MHz repeater shift, use Menu
Item U-39 (see page 78).
r To set the 50 MHz repeater shift, use Menu
Item U-40 (see page 78).
One press of the [RPT] key will have set the FT-
920 for “Minus Shift” operation. In this situation, you will observe both the “-” and “RPT” indicators on the display . If your repeater uses a (instead of negative), press the [RPT] key again; the “+” indicator will replace the “-” indicator on the display, while “RPT” will remain illuminated. ? The majority of repeaters on the 29 and 50
MHz bands use “-” shift.
Set the FT-920’s receiver to the repeater output
(downlink) frequency.
Close the [PTT] switch and speak into the micro-
phone. You will observe that the transmitted fre­quency has shifted according to the setting of the [RPT] key .
Release the [PTT] switch to return to the receive
mode.
Since FM is a continuous-duty mode, we recom-
mend you rotate the RF PWR control counter-clock­wise so as to use the minimum power necessary to gain access to the repeater. This will signifi­cantly reduce the amount of heat generated by the transmitter section.
? Since repeaters do not all use the same access
tone, we recommend that you load your favorite repeater frequencies into memory, to avoid the inconvenience of always having to reset the CTCSS tone frequency. When a repeater fre­quency is stored into memory, the receive fre­quency, shift direction, shift magnitude, and tone information are all stored into the memory regis­ter. See page 59 for details of memory operation.
positive
shift
Linear Amplifier Tuning
A special feature of the FT-920 allows you to do low­duty-cycle tune-up of your linear amplifier by trans­mitting a high-speed pulse, instead of a continuous carrier.
Here is how to do this:
Press [MENU] to enter the Menu mode.Select Menu Item U-55 by rotating the VFO-B
Tuning Dial, then press [ENT] and rotate the VFO- B Tuning Dial to select the amount of time you want the pulser to be active (the default time pe­riod is 10 seconds). Now press [ENT] again.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu Item
U-52 (“LI-TU-S”). When you press [ENT], the pulser will commence transmission. The number of sec­onds remaining in the transmission will appear on the main frequency display area.
Once the countdown is complete, the Menu dis-
play will say “OFF , ” and you may either repeat the tune-up pulse transmission by pressing [ENT ] again, or exit to normal operation by pressing [MENU].
The duration of the tune-up time may be adjusted via Menu Item U-55. The length of the transmitted pulses is adjusted via Menu Item U-57 (default: 100 ms.), while the interval via Menu Item U-56 (default: 100 ms.). Y ou therefore can adjust the duty cycle to your requirements. You may wish to reduce the interval time (via U-56) to a very low value, such as 10 ms., so as to make the transmitted pulses resemble a continuous carrier.
The power output used during this tune-up proce­dure can also be set independently for the Antenna­A port and the Antenna-B port. The power output used during this tune-up procedure (not during regular operation) may be set via Menu Item U-53 (Antenna­A) or U-54 (Antenna-B).
The FT-920 provides a wide variety of memory sys­tem resources. These include:
r 99 “standard” memory channels, numbered
“01” through “99.”
between
pulses may be adjusted
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FT-920 Operating Manual
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Memory Operation
r Five QMB (Quick Memory Bank) channels,
providing one-touch storage and recall of prime operating frequencies. The QMB channels are labeled “C-1” through “C-5.”
r Ten Split Frequency memory channels, used
for storing frequency settings when the trans­mitter and receiver frequency are different. The Split channels are labeled “d-01” through “ d -
10.”
r Eleven Call channels, for storage and quick
recall of one prime frequency on each ama­teur band. These channels are labeled “S-01” through “S-1 1.”
r One set of band-edge memories, also known
as “Programmable Memory Scan” channels, labeled “LO” and “HI.”
These memories do not just store away the operat­ing frequency; thanks to the enhanced memory space provided in the FT-920, the following data will be stored into each memory channel:
r Operating frequency r Operating mode (LSB, USB, CW, etc.) r Receiving filter bandwidth r Clarifier information (offset direction and mag-
nitude) except on PMS and CALL channels
r Antenna jack selection r Automatic Antenna Tuner status (On/Off) ex-
cept on QMB and CALL channels
r Repeater Shift information (except on QMB
and PMS channels)
r Repeater CTCSS tone information (except on
QMB channels)
r Alphanumeric Labels (except on QMB chan-
nels)
r LOCK switch status (except on QMB channels)
simple storage and recall procedures are desired.
QMB Channel Storage
While using VFO-A, tune in the desired frequency
on the Main Tuning Dial.
Press and hold in for ½ second the [QMB STO]
key until the double beep is heard. The double beep provides audible confirmation that the memory storage was successful.
As you dial up other frequencies in the VFO mode,
repeating the procedure in‚ above causes the QMB memory system to cycle through the QMB chan­nels in the following sequence:
C-1 Þ C-2 Þ C-3 Þ C-4 Þ C-5 Þ C-1 Þ C-2 Þ ....
Frequency data will be stored and purged on a first-in, first-out basis.
QMB Channel Recall
Press the [QMB RCL] key to recall the currently-
active QMB channel. The “QMB” indicator on the display will become illuminated.
Press the [QMB RCL] key repeatedly to cycle
ough the QMB channels, in the same sequence as shown for QMB Channel Storage.
While operating in the QMB Channel Recall mode,
you are not “fixed” on the QMB channel; you may tune away from the QMB channel frequency, us­ing the Main Tuning Dial, as though you were in the VFO mode. In this situation, the “QMB” indi­cator will be replaced by one which indicates “M TUNE.” To return to the originally-stored QMB channel, press the [QMB RCL] key once.M
Memory Operation on
“Regular” Memory Channels
Storage and recall of memory channels in the vari­ous memory systems is quite straightforward, thanks to the advanced ergonomic design of the FT-920. These procedures are detailed below.
QMB Channel Programming/Recall
The QMB (Quick Memory Bank) memories are de­signed for urgent operating situations where very
FT-920 Operating Manual
59
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Memory Operation
(Channel #1-01 to 1-99)
Memory Channel Storage
While using VFO-A, tune in the desired frequency
on the Main Tuning Dial. Set the operating mode, bandwidth, Clarifier mode and offset, and Antenna (A or B) as desired. If using the Automatic An­tenna Tuner, you may wish to touch up its align­ment by pushing and holding in the [TUNER] key for ½ second.
 Press the [V u M] switch momentarily to enter
the “Memory Check” mode, which is used to find an unused memory channel. The “M CK” indica­tor on the display panel will blink, and the frequency stored (if any) on the current memory channel will be shown in the VFO-B display area.
Note: The VFO-B Tuning Dial may also be used for the “M CK” mode. See “Memory Channel Se­lection using VFO-B Tuning Dial” at the right.
Use the [UPp ] or [DOWNq] key to increment
through the main channel bank. Frequency data stored previously in memory channels will be dis­played in the VFO-B display area. If you have re­stricted memory operation to one channel group (by pressing the [MEM GROUP] key), memory stor­age will similarly be limited to the currently-selected memory group; just press [MEM GROUP] again to allow unrestricted access to all memory channels for storage of your frequency data.
When you have selected the channel location into
which to store the frequency information, press and hold in the [V u M] key for ½ second, until you hear a double beep, which confirms that the frequency information was successfully stored.
Note: If information was previously stored on the channel into which you stored data in step above, the previous data will be overwritten and lost!
Memory Channel Recall
If you currently are in the VFO tuning mode, press
the[VFO/MEM] key once to enter the “Memory ”
mode (the “MEM” icon will appear below the main frequency display).
To select another memory channel, press either
the [UPp] or [DOWNq] key. Repeated pressing of one of these keys allows you to step through the memory channels one at a time, or you may hold in the [UPp] or [DOWNq ] key to step through the channels in a “manual scan” mode.
Note: The VFO-B Tuning Dial may also be used for Memory Channel selection. See “Memory Channel Selection using VFO-B Tuning Dial” be­low.
To restrict your memory channel selection just to
one memory group, press the [MEM GROUP] key once (the “G ROUP” icon will appear above the chan-
Memory Channel Selection
Using VFO-B Tuning Dial
You may find it more convenient to use the VFO-B Tuning Dial, instead of the [UPp] and [DOWNq] keys, for memory channel selection. Here’s how to do this: Press the [MEM CH] key (located below and
to the left of the VFO-B Tuning Dial) mo­mentarily. The brackets surrounding the memory channel number display will start to blink.
Now rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial. Y ou will
observe the channel numbers changing, and you may select the desired memory channel quickly in this manner.
To revert to normal operation of the VFO-B
Tuning Dial, press the [M EM CH] key once more.
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FT-920 Operating Manual
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Memory Operation
nel number). Now, only those channels within the current memory group (designated by the digit preceding the hyphen in the memory channel num­ber) will be available for recall via step ‚ above. To change memory groups, press the [MEM GROUP] key again (so that the “GROUP” icon disappears), then use the [UPp] or [DOWNq] key to step through the channels until you enter another group. You may now press the [GROUP] key again to re­strict memory channel access to the newly-se­lected group.
Once you are operating on a memory channel,
you may tune off of the original frequency (as though you were in the VFO mode). Just rotate the Main Tuning Dial; the “MEM” icon will be re­placed by one which indicates “MEM TUNE,” indi­cating that you have now shifted into the “Memory Tu n e” mode. When operating in the Memory Tune mode, if you find another frequency you wish to store into an­other memory channel, just press the [V u M] key momentarily (the channel number will blink), se­lect a new memory channel via the [UPp ] or [DOWNq] key , then press and hold in the [V u M] key for ½ second (until you hear the double beep). To exit the Memory Tune mode, press the [VFO/M EM] key as follows: r One touch of [VFO/MEM] returns you to the
original
indicator will be replaced by “MEM.”
memory frequency. The “MEM TUNE
r A second touch of [VFO/MEM] will cause you
to exit the Memory mode and return to the VFO mode (the “MEM” indicator will be replaced by “VFO”).
Note that repeater offsets (used on 29 MHz and
50 MHz FM) channels; there is no need to utilize the “Split ” memories described later for repeater operation. Moreover, Clarifier data is also stored into “regu­lar” memory locations, so small (<9.99 kHz) Tx/ Rx splits can be accommodated using the Clari­fier.
can
be stored into “regular” memory
Memory Operation on
Split-Frequency Channels
Memory Group Information
The FT-920’s main memory area may be divided into as many as four groups. These groups may, in some instances, provide more efficient or intuitive memory operation; for example you might wish to segregate memories according to operating objectives, such as:
r AM Broadcast Stations r Shortwave Broadcast Stations
r HF Amateur Stations r 50 MHz Amateur Stations
Once you have determined how many memories are to be designated in each group (see Menu Items U­11 ~ U-14), you may restrict memory operation just to one group, or you may allow the memory channels to be selected without regard to memory group boundaries.
The complete memory channel number is composed of two sets of numbers, separated by a hyphen. The single digit before the hyphen is the memory group number (1, 2, 3, or 4). The second, two digit number is the channel number itself (1 to 99). Therefore, if channel #34 is assigned to group #1, its channel number is “1-34.” If you have created four channel banks of 24~25 channels each, channel #34 would be designated “2-34” since it falls within channel group #2.
FT-920 Operating Manual
61
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Memory Operation
(Channel #d-01 to d-10)
Some operating circumstances require the receive and transmit frequencies to be separated by a fre­quency range in excess of that provided by the Clari­fier feature (>9.99 kHz). For example, international SSB operation on the 7 MHz band may require one station to transmit in the frequency range 7.040 ~
7.100 MHz, while the other station must transmit in the 7.150 ~ 7.300 MHz range. The FT-920 provides ten special memories for such operating instances. Storage and recall are similar to that described pre­viously.
Split Frequency Memory Channel Storage
Set VFO-A to the required receive frequency and
mode, and set VFO-B to the required transmit fre­quency and mode.
Press the (Orange) VFO-B “TX” LED/Switch to
activate the Split mode, previously discussed on page 54.
Note: It is also acceptable to store the transmit frequency on VFO-A and the receive frequency on VFO-B, if you prefer . In this case, in step‚ above, press the VFO-B “RX” LED/Switch to set up the appropriate Tx/Rx relationship between the two VFOs.
 Press the [V u M] switch momentarily to enter
the Memory Check mode (the “M CK” indicator will blink), then use the [UPp] or [DOWNq] key to select the memory channel you wish to use (from the special “Split” memories numbered “d-01 ” through “d-10”).
When you have chosen the desired memory chan-
nel, press and hold in the [V u M] key for ½ sec­ond to lock the split frequency data into the cho­sen memory location. As usual, a double beep will indicate when you have held in the [V u M] key long enough.
MEM” indicator will appear on the display, replac­ing the “VFO” indicator . It does not matter whether or not you are operating in the “Split” mode at this time.
Next, press either the [UPp] or [ DOWNq] key to
select the desired channel from within the d-01 ~ d-10 Split Memory bank. The (differing) transmit and receive frequencies will be indicated on the left and right sides of the frequency display, and the VFO-A and VFO-B Tx and Rx LED/Switches will be illuminated according to the relationship you programmed.
Particularly during 7 MHz pile-up situations, it may
be necessary to adjust your transmit frequency (which Memory Tune function is active with respect to
either
may adjust either dial freely , as desired, if you need to retune. The “M TUNE” indicator will appear, and you may, as described earlier, store the retuned frequency into another memory, if desired. Alter­natively, press the [VFO/MEM] key once to return to the original split frequency pair, and press it once more to exit the memory and return to VFO operation.
As a convenience during Memory operation, once
you have recalled a channel within the Split Memory Bank (channel #d-10 ~ d-10), you may press the [MEM GROUP] key to restrict memory access [MEM GROUP] key again to restore free memory channel access.
usually
the VFO-A or VFO-B Tuning Dial, so you
only
will be stored in VFO-B). The
to the Split Memory Bank. Press the
Memory Operation on
“C
ALL
” Channels
62
Split Frequency Memory Channel Recall
While operating in the VFO mode, press the [VFO/
MEM] key once to enter the Memory mode. The
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 65
(Channel #C-01 to C-11)
The “CALL” channels are easy-access memories which may serve as convenient starting points for operation. Many operators use them for quick recall of favorite frequencies in each band.
There is no quency per band. However, the CALL Channel fea­ture includes a simple method of recalling these spe­cial memories (described later) which involves the pressing of one of the [BAND] keys. Therefore, the procedure for storing memories band-by-band will be described below for illustrative purposes.
Storing Data in C
While operating on VFO-A, select the “favorite fre-
quency” you wish to have stored as your “CALL” frequency on the current band.
Press the [V u M] key once momentarily; the
M CK” indicator will blink, and the frequency store in the current memory channel will be shown in the VFO-B display area.
Now press either the [U Pp] or [DOWNq] key (or
use the VFO-B Tuning Dial by pressing the [MEM CH] key first) to select the CALL Channel memory assigned to the band currently in use. See the table below for a listing of the bands and their assigned memory locations for the CALL Channel function. The CALL Channels are as­signed memory locations “C-01” through “C-11.”
Next, press and hold in the [V u M] key for ½
second (until you hear the double beep) to lock the frequency into the chosen memory location.
You may now repeat this process for the other
CALL Channels, preferably assigning one such channel per band.
Note: Channel “C-10” already is programmed (at the factory) with the following frequency:
requirement
ALL
C-10: 51.000.00MHz (FM)
that you assign one fre-
Channels
Memory Operation
in
the [STEP] key (below and to the left of the VFO­A Tuning Dial) and press the [BAND] key (on the keypad) corresponding to the desired band.
For example
nel, press and hold in [STEP], then press the [7 MHz] key while you are holding in [STEP]. To recall the 12-meter CALL Channel, press and hold in [STEP] and press [24.5 MHz].
Note: If you are operating in the “Memory Tune” mode, activating the C cancel the Memory Tune function, and place the transceiver directly into the Memory mode.
Since the CALL Channels are not segregated into
an isolated memory band, like the QMB memo­ries, you also may access these memories via the [UPp] and [DOWNq] keys, or via the VFO-B Tun­ing Dial, as with “regular” memories.
When operating on a CALL Channel, it is possible
to utilize the Memory Tune mode in a manner simi­lar to that used on “regular” memories. Just ro­tate the VFO-A Tuning Dial, as desired, to tune off of the pre-programmed CALL Channel fre­quency. The new frequency may be stored in an­other memory, if desired, as described on page
60. To cancel Memory Tune operation, press the
[VFO/MEM] key once (or press and hold in [STEP] and press another [BAND] key for another CALL Channel).
Adding Alpha-Numeric Labels to
Each of the memory channels in the FT-920, except
, to recall the 40-meter CALL Chan-
ALL
Channel system will
Memory Channels
Recall of C
Whether in VFO or Memory operation, recall of
CALL Channels is very easy. Just press
ALL
Channel Memories
and hold
FT-920 Operating Manual
63
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Memory Operation
for the QMB channels, may be appended with a seven-digit Alpha-Numeric Label which may aid in memory channel recognition. Such Labels can be particularly useful for identifying Shortwave Broad­cast stations stored in memory, especially because identification can be difficult if they are broadcasting in a foreign language you do not understand. Alpha­Numeric Label programming is simple to accomplish using the front panel knobs and/or the keys. First recall the memory channel to which the La-
bel is to be appended.
Press the [DISPLAY] key (located immediately to
the right of the VFO-A [TX] LED/Switch); any pre­viously-stored Label will be displayed in place of the VFO-B frequency display.
Now press the [ENT] key on the keypad. The first
“dash” in the VFO-B display area will now blink, signaling you that Alpha-Numeric entry may be­gin.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select the letter
or number you wish to enter into the first Label slot. You may also use the [BAND] keys by press­ing repeatedly on a particular key until one of the letters or the number stamped on the key appears (for example, repeatedly pressing the [7 MHz] key toggles between D Þ E Þ F Þ 3). Rotating the VFO-B Tuning Dial is usually faster, however.
After you have chosen the first letter/digit for the
Label, press the [UPp] key . A blinking “dash” will appear to the right of the first digit. Choose the next letter/digit as in the previous step. Press the [UPp] key to advance the entry position as you fill up the Label register, up to a maximum of seven characters.
When entry is complete, press the [ENT] key. You
will hear a double beep, which confirms that the Label storage process was successful.
If you make a mistake during entry , you may use
the [DOWNq] key to step backward through the Label field. If you wish to leave a blank space, just press the [UPp] key without choosing a let­ter. To create a space where a letter/digit exists from a previous entry, the character one incre­ment counterclockwise from the “A” on the VFO­B Tuning Dial will inject a space; you may also use the third selection on the [50 MHz] key (“_”), if you prefer keyboard entry.
Press the [DISPLAY] key to revert to display of the
operating frequency , instead of the Alpha-Numeric Label. Press [DISPLAY] once more to return to dis­play of the Label.
Labels generally are not appended to Split Fre-
quency channels, as they are usually stored for 7 MHz SSB applications where one or both frequen­cies may change often. If you on a Split channel, the Label will, of course, ob­scure the display of the VFO-B frequency (usu­ally the Tx frequency). However, if you move the VFO-B Tuning Dial (thus entering the Memory Tune mode) so as to adjust your Tx frequency, the display will frequency , and will stay in that condition for about four seconds after tuning has stopped. Then the Label will return.
instantly
must
store a Label
revert to indication of the
Memory Mode Accessories
Moving Memory Data to VFO-A
Data stored on memory channels can easily be moved to VFO-A, if you like.
64
FT-920 Operating Manual
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Memory Operation
First use the [UPp] or [DOWNq] key (or the VFO-
B Tuning Dial, after pressing [MEM CH]) to select the memory channel containing the frequency data to be moved to VFO-A.
 Next, press and hold in the [M u V] key for ½
second until you hear a double beep. The data will now have been copied to VFO-A, although the original memory contents will remain intact on the previously-stored channel.
If a Split Frequency Memory Channel was trans-
ferred, the Rx/Tx frequency relationship will not be changed by the action in the previous step. That is, if the Tx frequency was originally stored via VFO-A and the Rx frequency stored via VFO­B, that relationship will remain unchanged after the Memory-to-VFOtransfer process.
Deleting Data from a Memory Channel
Frequency data stored on a memory channel can be deleted from a memory channel, if desired. The de-
letion process is not a “hard” erasure, so if you erase a channel by mistake using this procedure, the memory channel contents can be recovered. First use the [UPp] or [DOWNq] key (or the VFO-
B Tuning Dial), from the Memory mode, to select the memory channel containing the data to be deleted.
 Next, press and hold in the [V u M] key for ½
second until you hear the double beep. At this point, the memorized frequency and other data will disappear. The data is now “masked” and will not be available for operation.
To restore the masked frequency data, repeat
steps  and above. However, if you store new frequency information on a channel containing masked data, the masked data will be over-writ­ten and lost.
The FT-920 contains a wide variety of scanning ca­pabilities. Whether you are in the VFO mode or one of the Memory modes, scanning operation is funda-
FT-920 Operating Manual
65
Page 68
Scanning Operation
mentally identical in all modes of operation, but with the following differences:
r In the VFO mode, scanning causes the trans-
ceiver to sweep up or down the band, pausing or halting on any signal encountered;
r In the QMB mode, the scanner will scan
the QMB memory bank;
r In the “regular” Memory mode, the scanner will
scan the instructed to scanning;
r In the “regular” Memory mode, with “Group”
Memory activated, the scanner will scan the memories within the
r In the Programmable Memory Scan (PMS)
mode, the scanner will scan the band
user-programmed frequency limits
Scanning operation is easy to perform:
Set the [SQL] (Squelch) control to the point where
background noise is silenced. A typical setting, for effective scanning operation, will be at 12 o’clock or slightly clockwise from this position.
Set the transceiver into the operating configura-
tion in which you wish to scan (VFO, Memory, QMB, etc.).
Press and hold in either the [UP] or [DOWN] switch
on the microphone to initiate scanning. On the MD­100A8X, rotate the scanning ring to the left for downward scan, or to the right for upward scan.
Note: If you are scanning in the VFO mode, note that complete rotation of the
end of its travel will place the radio in a “fast scan” mode
across a band.
The scanner will now cause the transceiver to in-
crement in the chosen direction until a signal is detected. When a signal is encountered which opens the Squelch, the scanner will pause until the signal disappears (at the end of the other station’s transmission), at which point the scan­ner will resume. While the radio is in the “Pause” condition, the decimal points in the Main VFO-A frequency display area will blink. See “Scan-Re­sume Choices” below for details of how to cus­tomize the resumption of scanning.
Press the [PTT] switch on the microphone to can-
cel scanning and return to normal Tuning Dial operation.
programmed memories
skip
certain memories during
current group
scanning ring to the
which may aid you in navigating quickly
, and can be
only
only
; and
within
.
Scan Skip Programming (Memory Mode Only)
Among the memories you have programmed, there may be some stations which you do not wish to scan. For example, standard time stations like WWV, JJY, CHU, LOL, RWM, or VNG transmit a continuous car­rier which might always stop the scanner (thus pre­venting you from encountering a different station). Therefore, you may designate certain memory chan­nels to be left intact for manual channel selection.
Here’s how to remove a channel from the scanning loop:
Recall the memory channel to be skipped.Press and hold in the [MEM GROUP] key for ½ sec-
ond, until the “SCAN” indicator on the display panel goes off; this shows that this channel is now not eligible for scanning.
Repeat steps and  as many times as neces-
sary to skip all the channels you do not wish to scan.
Initiate memory scanning (as described previ-
ously), and you will observe that the channels you marked to be skipped are not included in the scan­ning loop. Press the [PTT] switch to stop the scan; now use the front panel or microphone [UP] or [DOWN] key to step through the channels manu- ally - one at a time - and you will observe that the “skipped” channels are, nonetheless, available for recall by manual means.
You may restore a previously-skipped channel to
the scanning loop by selecting the channel manu­ally; then press the [MEM GROUP] switch for ½ sec­ond until the “SCAN” indicator is restored to the frequency display panel.
Programmable Memory Scan (PMS) Operation
The PMS scanning mode allows you to set up band limits within which to scan. For example, you might elect to scan 50.0 to 50.4 MHz in USB mode, watch­ing for activity. The procedure for establishing such band limits is quite easy: First, store the lower frequency limit in the “P-Lo”
memory channel, and the upper frequency limit in the “P-Hi” memory channel. In the above example, you would store 50.000 MHz in “P-Lo,” and 50.400 MHz in “P-Hi.”
Next, switch from the VFO mode to the Memory
mode by pressing [VFO/MEM].
skipped
during
scanning
, but otherwise
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Scanning Operation
Now activate the “Memory Tune” mode by rotat-
ing the VFO-A Tuning Dial slightly either direc­tion. You will observe the [M T UNE] indicator on the display.
Rotate the [SQL] control until the background
noise is silenced, then press the microphone [UP] or [DOWN] switch (or rotate the scanning ring, if using the MD-100A8X Desk Microphone) to ini­tiate scanning. The transceiver will now scan within the range 50.000 to 50.400 MHz, halting on any signals received, then resuming its scan based on the setting of Menu Item U-15 (see below).
Note that these band limits do not apply just to
scanning; they are also applied to the operation of the VFO-A Tuning Dial, so the PMS feature makes it easy to stay within a particular band of operation whether tuning manually or scanning!
Scan-Resume Choices
Scanning operation requires that you have the FT­920’s audio squelched. The transceiver then assumes that the opening of the squelch corresponds to the discovery of a signal you may wish to listen to.
Once the scan has been halted, one of three things may happen:
r The
r Another option is that the scanner will halt,
r The scanner can also be programmed to stop
default
pauses on the signal and stays locked on its frequency until the other station’s transmission ceases (at which point the squelch will close). One second after the squelch closes, scan­ning resumes automatically. The resumption interval is adjustable from 0 to 10 seconds via Menu Item U-17 (see page 75).
when the squelch opens, for a fixed time pe­riod (default = 5 seconds). Thereafter, scan­ning will resume whether or not the other station’s transmission has ended. The “hold” time is adjustable from 1 to 60 seconds via Menu Item U-16 (see page 75).
when it finds a signal, and lock on that fre­quency without resuming the scan at some point.
action is that the transceiver
Scanning is chiefly useful in the FM mode, when you are monitoring a number of repeater or simplex chan­nels. When operating on the 50 MHz band, the num­ber of channels per second may be adjusted via Menu Item U-19; the default value is 10 channels per sec­ond.
When scanning in a narrow-band mode such as SSB or CW, a signal may occupy a number of synthesizer steps over its entire bandwidth. Tuning across a CW signal in, for example, 2.5 Hz steps, will take a con­siderable amount of time at 1 step per second, espe­cially if the signal is strong. But until the signal is fully passed, the squelch will stay open, thinking that it is finding a new station every 2.5 Hz! Therefore, when scanning a band in anticipation of a band opening, you may wish to press the [FAST] key, and reduce the Pause Time (Menu U-16) to about 1 second, so as to reduce the holding time on a signal which is encountered.
Dual Watch is similar , in some respects, to scanning. In Dual Watch, however, the transceiver monitors (squelched) on the Main RX frequency (typically VFO-
The scan-resume choices may be selected via Menu Item U-15 (SCN-STP); see page 75 for details.
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Dual Watch Operation
A) while periodically checking the Sub VFO (typically VFO-B) for activity. A typical example might be for you to set VFO-A to 50.110 MHz, watching for DX stations who might call CQ on that frequency, while periodically checking 28.885 MHz for stations report­ing band openings on 6 meters.
To activate Dual Watch: Set up transmit and receive operation on VFO-A,
establishing your primary monitoring frequency. Set up the frequency to be checked periodically on VFO-B.
V erify that the correct antenna (A or B) has been
selected for VFOs A and B, if they are on dif ferent bands. The Dual Watch feature will automatically switch antennas for you during the VFO-A/B switching process.
Rotate the [SQL] control until the background
noise is silenced.
Press the [DW] key. The decimal points in both
frequency displays will blink, and you will observe that, every few seconds, the green “RX’ indicator for VFO-B will become illuminated for an instant. This shows you when VFO-B is being checked for activity.
If a station is detected on the VFO-B frequency,
the FT-920 will pause on the VFO-B frequency, and stay there according to the Menu selections
you made per the “Scan-Resume Choices” ear­lier.
Press [DW] again to cancel Dual Watch. Note that
pressing the [PTT] switch on the microphone does
not
cancel Dual Watch operation.
The time interval between Dual Watch excursions to VFO-B may be adjusted, via Menu Item U-18, to any value between 3 and 15 seconds. The default setting is 10 seconds.
The VFO-A register need not be in the “VFO” mode; it may also be set to a Memory Channel or a QMB channel, if you like.
Note also that the active RX VFO at the time that [DW] is pushed will be the one on which the transceiver will hold, checking the opposite VFO periodically. Therefore, if the green “RX” LED for nated when you push [DW], the FT-920 will hold on VFO-B, then check
Remember that the squelch must be engaged in or­der for Dual Watch to function. During Dual Watch, transmitting remains enabled, and the VFO frequen­cies may be changed.
The FT-920’s Menu System allows you, the owner, to customize a wide variety of transceiver perfor­mance aspects and operating characteristics. Such
VFO-A
periodically for activity.
VFO-B
is illumi-
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Menu Operation
a large number of adjustments would ordinarily re­quire dozens of additional knobs on the front panel of the transceiver, thus complicating operation hope­lessly. The Ergonomics Design Team at Y aesu Musen Co., Ltd. therefore created the Menu System such that virtually all Menu items are of the “set and for­get” variety, not requiring revision during day-to-day operation.
Three Menu operating modes are provided, allowing different avenues of access to the Menu System. These are:
r Normal Menu operation (73 selections), ac-
cessed by pressing the [MENU] key.
r Panel Menu operation (5 fixed selections), ac-
cessed by holding in the [STEP] key plus one additional key , providing instant access to criti­cal Menu items.
r Quick Menu operation (5 user-selected items),
accessed by pressing the [MENU] key after ac­tivation via Menu Item U-67. When Quick Menu has been activated, Normal Menu operation is activated by pressing and holding in the [MENU ] key for ½ second.
Item number will start blinking, and a brief title for the Memory Item will appear at the far right side of the display.
Rotate the
Item you wish to work on.
When you have chosen the desired Menu Item
number, press [ENT] on the keypad momentarily. The current value or condition for the Menu Item chosen will be shown in the main frequency dis­play area.
Again rotate the
front panel [UPp] or [DOWNq] keys, to change the value or condition for the Menu Item.
When you have made your selection, press [ENT]
to lock in your setting. You may now select an­other Menu Item number to work on (by rotating the VFO-B Tuning Dial) or press [MENU] to exit and resume normal operation.
VFO-B Tuning Dial
VFO-B Tuning Dial
to select the Menu
, or press the
Panel Menu Operation
Five more-frequently-used Menu Items have been
Here are operating procedure summaries for each Menu mode.
Normal Menu Operation
Press the [MENU] key once momentarily . The Menu
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Menu Operation
stored in a special Menu Bank which allows you to recall them quickly by pressing [STEP] key while pressing
another
and holding in
the
key. These Menu
Items are shown below:
For example, here is how to use the Panel Menu fea-
Menu # Function Description
U-08 U-09
U-10
U-24
U-37
Di spl a y Di m m e r On /Off [
Multi Panel Disp lay Choice [
Enhanced Tuning Sca le
Display
"VOX" Hang Time i n CW
Mode
(TX) CTCSS Ton e
Freq u enc y
P re ss th is ke y wh i l e
Ho ldin g in [S
METER SELEC T
[
D ISPLA Y
A B
BK-I
[
R PT
[
] key
] Key
N
] Key
TEP] ke y
] Key
] Key
ture to activate the Display Dimmer:
Press and hold in the [STEP] key.While you are holding in the [STEP] key, press the
[DISPLAY] key. Menu U-08 will appear just to the left of the “DIMMER” title, and “oFF” will blink in the main display area. This means that the cur­rent condition of the Dimmer is
Off
.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select “on;” you
will note that the display just got darker.
Press the [ENT] key on the keypad. You may now
rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial if you want to change some other Menu Item, or just press [MENU] to exit the Menu System and resume normal opera­tion.
Quick Menu Operation
The Quick Menu feature allows Menu Items you feel the need to change more fre­quently . These are assembled into Quick Menu bank which operates almost identically to the “Normal” Menu mode. However, access is very slightly differ­ent:
r When you have created a Quick Menu, you
activate it by pressing [MENU] described above in the “Normal Menu Opera­tion” section). You now the Quick menu Items.
r To gain access to the other “Normal” Menu
Items, press [MENU] and hold it in for ½ sec­ond (instead of pressing it momentarily).
you
to select certain
momentarily
only
have access to
(as
the [MENU] key, operation is identical to that described in the “Normal Menu Operation” section.
The Quick Menu bank is set up by first accessing Menu Item U-67 via Normal Menu operation. For il­lustrative purposes, we shall create a Quick Menu bank consisting of Menu Items U-01, U-02, and U­03: Press the [MENU] key momentarily to enter the
Menu mode.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu Item
U-67. The Title for this item is “Q MENU,” and the default value is “U-01 oFF.”
Press the [ENT] key to enter the Menu Item Com-
mand mode. The “U-01 oFF” display will blink.
Now press the [UPp] key to change the “oFF” to
on” relative to U-01.
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu Item
U-02 . Again press [UPp] to change the “oFF” toon.”
Rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select Menu Item
U-03. Again press [UPp] to change “oFF” to “on.”
Press the [ENT] key to lock in the new settings for
U-67, then press [MENU] to exit.
Now press [MENU] momentarily, and rotate the
VFO-B Tuning Dial. You will see that you have access only to Menu Items U-01, U-02, and U-03. Press [MENU] to exit.
Press and hold in the [MENU] key for ½ second,
then rotate the VFO-B Tuning Dial. You will see that you now have access to
all
Menu Items. Press
[MENU ] to exit.
We will now provide a summary chart showing the Menu Items available, followed by a more compre­hensive description of each Menu Item and the choices available.
Menu Mode Summary Chart
70
After you have done one of the above actions with
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Menu Operation
Menu Mode Selections and Settings
Me nu # F unction of M enu I tem Ava ilabl e C ho ices D efault
U-0 1 U-0 2 U-0 3 U-0 4 U-05 U-06 U-0 7 U-0 8 U-0 9 U-1 0 U-11 U-12 U-1 3 U-1 4 U-1 5 U-1 6
VFO Dial Spee d X2, X4 X 4 Up /D o w n Switch Steps 0.5 kH z ~ 100 0 k Hz /Step 1 00 kHz Step Switch Function Toggle/Momentary Toggle Q ui c k S p l i t O ffs e t O ff/ - 100 kHz ~ + 1 00 kH z O ff TX W he n Sp o t is Pre sse d On /O ff O ff Be ep Fr equency Off/22 0 H z ~ 7040 H z 880 H z "P eak H o ld" M eterin g 0(O ff) ~ 2000 ms. Off Display Dimmer Con trol On/O ff Off Multi-Panel Display Ite m C lar ifie r/P itch/Offset Clar ifier Enha nc ed Tuning Scale C lar./D S P /Tun ing/Fine Tu nin g DS P Memory Channel Group 1 1 ~ 9 9 99 Mem ory C ha n nel Group 2 {( L a s t # in Grp. 1)+1} ~ 9 9 O ff Mem ory C ha n nel Group 3 {( L a s t # in Grp. 2)+1} ~ 9 9 O ff Mem ory C ha n nel Group 4 {( L a s t # in Grp. 3)+1} ~ 9 9 O ff Scan ning Mod e C arrier Dro p/D elay/ Halt Carrie r Dro p Hol d T ime for "Delay" S ca n 1 ~ 60 Seconds 5 Seconds
U-1 7 U-18 U-1 9 U-2 0 U-2 1 U-2 2 U-2 3 U-2 4 U-25 U-2 6 U-2 7 U-2 8 U-2 9 U-3 0 U-3 1 U-3 2
Resume Time after Carrier Drop 0 ~ 10 Seconds 1 Second Du al Watc h P olling Inte rval 3 ~ 15 Seconds 10 Seconds Scannin g S pee d 1 ~ 100 ms ./Step 10 ms. E lec t ron ic K ey e r M o de Key er 1/K e y er 2/B u g Keyer 1 K eyer Dot :Space Ra t io 0 (0: 1) ~ 127 (1 2.7:1 ) 1 0 (1 :1 ) K eye r Da s h :Sp a c e R a t io 0 (0: 1 ) ~ 12 7 (12.7 :1 ) 30 (3:1) Ke y er E nvelope De lay 0 ~ 30 ms. 5 ms. Semi-Break-in PTT Hold Time 0 ~ 51 00 ms. (5 .1 secon ds) 0 ms. Contest Num ber 0 000 ~ 999 9 000 0 C ontest Num b er "0" Format 0 (Zero)/T/O (Oh) 0 (Zero ) C ontest Numb er "1" Form at 1/A A C ontest Numb er "2" Form at 2/U 2 C ontest Numb er "3" Form at 3/V 3 C ontest Numb er "5" Form at 5/E 5 C ontest Numb er "7" Form at 7/B 7 C ontest Numb er "8" Form at 8/D 8
U-3 3 U-3 4 U-3 5 U-3 6
C ontest Numb er "9" Form at 9/N 9 C ontest Numb er Size/Fo rmat N o Lead ing 0/nnn /n nnn/Off N o Leading 0 HF Repeater Tone Type CTCSS/Burst CTCSS VHF Repeater Ton e Type CTCS S/Bur st CTCS S
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Menu Operation
Menu Mode Summary Chart
Me nu # F unction of M enu I tem Ava ilabl e C ho ices D efault
U-3 7 U-38 U-39 U-4 0 U-4 1 U-42 U-4 3 U-44 U-4 5 U-4 6 U-4 7 U-48 U-49 U-5 0 U-5 1 U-5 2
(TX) Tone Frequ ency Off/67.0 ~ 250.3 H z/1750 H z O ff (RX) To ne Frequency O ff/67.0 ~ 25 0.3 Hz O ff H F R epeater Sh ift 0 ~ 5 M H z 100 kH z VHF Re peat er Sh ift 0 ~ 5 MH z 5 00 kH z A u to m a ti c A n t en n a S e le c ti o n A u t o /M a n u a l/O ff A u t o RTT Y G en era to r Ton e Pa i r 212 5/ 12 75 U S B/2 125 /1 27 5 LS B 2 12 5 LSB RTTY Shift 170 /4 25/850 Hz 170 Hz Shif t P o lari ty N or mal /Rever s e N orm al Pa cket Fre q. D isp la y Offset -3.0 ~ + 3 .0 kHz +2.125 kH z Pac k e t S u bc a r ri er Fre qu ency 11 7 0/ 17 00 /2 125/2210 U SB / LS B 2125 US B RF Preamp (Band-by-Band) JFET/MO SFET JFET(160-15m) ATU E n ab ling on RX On /O ff O ff Max . PO: Antenna- A 10 0/50/10 W 100 W Max . PO: Antenna- B 10 0/50/10 W 100 W DS P Voice Equalize r Hi/Mid/Low/Ba ndpass /Off O ff Linear Tun ing St a rt B egins w he n [E nt] i s pressed
U-5 3 U-5 4 U-5 5 U-5 6 U-5 7 U-5 8 U-59 U-6 0 U-6 1 U-62 U-63 U-6 4 U-6 5 U-6 6 U-6 7 U-6 8
Linear Tun in g PO : A nt. A 100/5 0/ 10 W 1 00 W Linear Tun in g PO : A nt. B 100/5 0/ 10 W 1 00 W Linea r Tuning Tim e 3 ~ 60 Seconds 10 Seconds Line ar Tuning Spa ce T ime 0 ~ 30 00 m s. 100 ms. Linear Tu ning Pulse Time 0 ~ 30 00 ms. 100 ms. Rx LSB Carrier Offset - 300 ~ +500 Hz 0 Tx LSB C arrier Offset -300 ~ +500 H z 0 Pr ocess or LSB Offset - 300 ~ +50 0 Hz 0 Rx USB Carrier Offset -300 ~ +500 Hz 0 Tx USB Carrier Offset -300 ~ +500 Hz 0 Process or U SB O ffset - 300 ~ +500 H z 0 VO X H ang T ime 0 ~ 3 Seconds 1 S econd V OX G a in 0 ~ 15 (A rb itr ar y sc ale ) 15 VO X Anti-Trip 0 ~ 15 (A rb itrary s cale ) 5 Q uick Menu A ll Me n u It e m s Off FM S ca nn in g S t eps O ff/0 .5 ~ 50 kH z 10 kH z
72
U-69 U-7 0 U-71 U-7 2 U-73
CW F ilter O n/O ff Off AM Filter On/Off Off ATU Auto- Retuning On/O ff O n ATU F a s t T u n i n g On/O ff O ff RX Ant. Jack Circuit Path Op en/Conn ected o n Tx Ope n
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Menu Operation
U-01 ( DIAL-S )
Function: VFO-A/VFO-B Tuning Dial Speed
Available V alues: 4/ 2
Default: 4
You may choose between two speeds for the tuning dials. Selecting “2” cuts the tuning rate in half com­pared to the default value.
U-02 ( UP/DN-S )
Function: UP/DOWN Switch Steps (front panel) Available V alues: 0.5 ~ 1000 (kHz/Step) Default: 100 kHz/Step
The default value is ideal for quick navigation from one end of a band to the other. For quick tuning around within a band segment, a value like 1 kHz may be preferable.
U-03 ( STEPSET )
Function: STEP Switch Function
Available V alues: LoC/no-LoC
Default: LoC The LoC(Lock) position allows toggling of the Fast
Þ Fine Þ Normal tuning rate. If no-LoC is chosen, you must hold the [STEP] key in while the “Fast” or “Fine” indicator is illuminated in order for those tun­ing rates to be chosen. After releasing the [STEP] key , the tuning rate will return to “Normal.”
U-04 ( QCK SPL )
Function: Activation/Setting of Magnitude of Quick Split Available V alues: oFF or -100 ~ 100 kHz Default: oFF
If the Quick Split Menu Item is set to anything other than Off, pressing the [A u B] key will put the trans­ceiver in the “Split” mode, with TX on VFO-B and RX on VFO-A. Additionally , a frequency offset (referenced to the RX frequency) will be applied, per your setting of this Menu Item.
Function: Activation/De-activation of TX when the [SPOT] key is pushed
A vailable Values: on/off Default: off
Normally , pressing the [S POT] key only causes you to hear an audible tone corresponding to the pitch of your own transmitted signal (in the CW mode). By setting this Menu Item to On, however, you can also cause the FT-920 to pressed.
transmit
when the [\SPOT] key is
U-06 ( BEEP-F )
Function: Setting of Key Beeper Frequency A vailable Values: oFF or 220 ~ 7040 Hz Default: 880 Hz
The Menu Item allows you to set the tone of the front panel key Beep tone generator to whatever value is comfortable. It also allows you to disable the Beep tone, if desired.
U-07 ( MTR-PH )
Function: Enabling/Disabling of the “Peak-Hold” function of the S/PO meter.
A vailable Values: 0(off) ~ 2000 ms. Default: 0(off)
U-08 ( DIMMER )
Function: Adjustment of illumination level for front panel display
A vailable Values: on/oFF Default: oFF
In low-light situations, activating the Dimmer may re­duce excess brightness in the display. For normal room lighting, however, this Menu Item should be set to Off for best visibility.
U-05 ( SPOT-TX )
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Menu Operation
U-09 ( DISPLAY )
Function: Selection of display Multi-Panel charac­teristics
Available Values: CLAr/ PitTCh/ oFFSEt Default: CLAr
This Menu Item allows you to choose which selec­tion will be displayed in the small Multi Panel, located immediately to the right of the VFO-A frequency dis­play. The choices are:
CLAr Display of the Clarifier offset (in kHz)
from the VFO-A frequency.
PitTCh Display of the CW Pitch (in Hz) oFFSEt Display of the amount of frequency dif-
ference between VFO-A and VFO-B.
U-10 ( E-DISPL )
Function: Selection of Enhanced Tuning Scale choices
Available Values: CLAr/ dSP/ tUnE/ FInE Default: dSP
The Enhanced Tuning Scale, located immediately above the VFO-A frequency display, may be used to provide a visual indication of several transceiver op­erating characteristics:
CLAr When the Clarifier is active, a small dot
below the horizontal Enhanced Tuning Scale shows the relative offset of the Clarifier from the displayed VFO-A fre­quency . Note that this small dot will be observed on Receive when the RX Clarifier is on, but only on transmit when the TX Clarifier is on.
dSP When the DSP is On, this scale pro-
vides a relative indication of the band­width currently set via the High-Cut and Low-Cut knobs.
tUnE In this mode, an arrow indicates which
direction you should tune on CW in order to center an incoming tone on the “zero beat” point with your own sig­nal.
FInE When tuning in steps less than 10 Hz,
this scale will expand rapidly as you tune quickly , but as you tune slowly you will be able to measure frequency steps as fine as 1 Hz, thanks to the 1 Hz calibration dots on the Enhanced Tuning Scale. This feature will be dis-
abled when tuning steps are 10 Hz or larger.
U-11 ( GROUP1 )
Function: Select the number of Memory Channels in Group 1
Available Values: 01 ~ 99 Default: 99 (All Memory Channels are in Group 1 by
default) Memory Group 1 may be left at 99 channels, in which case there will be no partitioning of the Memory Sys­tem. Otherwise, you may set any number less than 99 for inclusion in Group 1 if you wish to partition the memories.
U-12 ( GROUP2 )
Function: Select the number of memories in Group 2 Available Values: The last digit in Group 1
the bottom end of Group 2; 99 maximum Default: oFF If, for example, there are 25 memories in Group 1, Group 2 starts at Memory #26.
plus 1
is
U-13 ( GROUP3 )
Function: Select the number of memories in Group 3 Available Values: The last digit in Group 2
the bottom end of Group 3; 99 maximum Default: oFF If, for example, Group 2 contains Memory Channels 26 through 40, Group 3 begins with Memory #41.
plus 1
is
U-14 ( GROUP4 )
Function: Select the number of memories in Group 4 Available Values: The last digit in Group 3
the bottom end of Group 4; 99 maximum Default: oFF You do not have to use all 99 memories. Just set the upper limit of this Menu Item to some value less than
99.
plus 1
is
74
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Menu Operation
U-15 ( SCN-STP )
Function: Select the desired Scan-Resume mode. Available V alues: PAUS/ 5SEC/ StoP Default: PAUS
This Menu Item allows you to select your favorite method of scan-restart after the scanner has stopped on an incoming signal (when the Squelch opens). The choices are:
PAUS The scanner will hold until the signal
disappears, then will resume after a delay set via Menu Item U-17.
5SEC The scanner will hold for a fixed length
of time, set via Menu Item U-16, then resume whether or not the other sta­tion is still transmitting.
StoP The scanner will stop when a signal is
received, and will not restart.
U-16 ( PAUSE-T )
Function: Set the delay time for scan resumption in the “5SEC” scan condition described in Menu Item U-15.
Available V alues: 1 ~ 60 Seconds Default: 5 Seconds
This Menu Item defines the length of time the scan­ner will dwell on a frequency when in the “5 Second” mode, so named after its default value. After the time period set via this Menu Item, the scanner will re­sume irrespective of the presence or absence of a signal on the current frequency.
U-17 ( SCN-RES )
Function: Set the delay time for scan resumption in the “PAUS” scan condition described in Menu Item U-15.
Available V alues: 0.0 ~ 10.0 Seconds Default: 1.0 Second
You will generally want to set a fairly short value for this Menu Item, so as not to delay the resumption of scanning after a signal disappears.
U-18 ( DW-TIME )
Function: Set the polling interval for the Dual Watch system
A vailable Values: 3 ~ 15 Seconds Default: 10 Seconds
This Menu Item defines the amount of time the Dual Watch system will dwell on VFO-A before checking VFO-B for activity.
U-19 ( SCNSP-V )
Function: Set the amount of time per synthesizer step in the VFO/PMS Scan modes
A vailable Values: 1 ~ 100 ms (in 1 ms. steps) Default: 10 ms.
Use this Menu item to select the amount of time each step of the synthesizer will be allocated during VFO Scan or PMS operation.
U-20 ( EL-SET )
Function: Select the keyer paddle operating mode A vailable Values: EL1/ bUG/ EL2 Default: EL1
This menu Item allows selection of the preferred key­ing action of your paddle. The choices available are:
EL1 Iambic keying with Automatic Character
Spacing disabled.
bUG Mechanical “Bug” key emulation. The “dot”
paddle contact produces automatically-gen­erated dots, while the “dash” contact pro­duces dashes of a length produced manu­ally .
EL2 Iambic keying with Automatic Character
Spacing enabled. This selection is best when programming message memories.
U-21 ( DOTSIZE )
Function: Set the Dot:Space ratio for the built-in elec­tronic keyer A vailable Values: 0 ~ 127 (0:1 ~ 12.7:1 Dot:Space ratio) Default: 10 (corresponds to 1:1 Dot:Space ratio) Use this Menu item to set the Dot weighting for the internal keyer. It is not recommended that you ex­ceed a value of “ 20 ” for this setting.
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Menu Operation
U-22 ( DSHSIZE )
Function: Set the Dash:Space ratio for the built-in electronic keyer Available V alues: 0 ~ 127 (0:1 ~ 12.7:1 Dash:Space ratio) Default: 30 (corresponding to 3:1 Dash:Space ratio) Note that the Dot:Space:Dash ratio, using the default values, is a perfect 1:1:3.
U-23 ( QSK-DLY )
Function: Provide an envelope delay when using the internal keyer
A vailable Values: 0 ~ 30 ms. Default: 5 ms.
This Menu Item allows shifting of the entire CW trans­mission string in time, so as to avoid sequencing dif­ficulties with external linear amplifiers, etc. The de­lay is applied to the entire keyed signal (no truncation on either “make” or “break”) to preserve the full val­ues of weighting set via Menu Items U-21 and U-22.
U-24 ( KYR-DLY )
Function: Set the pseudo-VOX hang time for trans­mission during semi-break-in CW
A vailable Values: 0.00 ~ 5.10 Seconds Default: 0
Increasing this value somewhat above its default will allow the FT-920 to stay in the “transmit” mode be­tween word spaces. This function is analogous to the “VOX Delay” function on voice modes.
U-25 ( QSO-NO )
Function: Set the starting value for the Contest Num­ber used by the message memory
A vailable Values: 0000 ~ 9999 Default: 0000
If you should get out of sync with the automatic con­test number incrementation of the message memory , you may reset the number via this Menu Item. In a contest, this may be a good candidate for assign­ment to an exclusive “Quick Menu” position.
U-26 ( 0-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the Ø fig­ure used in contest numbers Available Values: 0 (0:      )
o (o:    ) t (T:  )
Default: 0(0:      ) Use this Menu Item to shorten the number “zero” in a contest number.
U-27 ( 1-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 1 fig­ure used in contest numbers
 
   
)
)
  
)
)
 
)
)
)
)
)
Available V alues: 1 (1:
A (A:
Default: 1 ( Use this Menu Item to shorten the number “one” i n a contest number.
U-28 ( 2-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 2 fig­ure used in contest numbers Available V alues: 2 (2:  
   
U (U:  
Default: 2 (   Use this Menu Item to shorten the number “two” in a contest number.
U-29 ( 3-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 3 fig­ure used in contest numbers Available V alues: 3 (3:   
  
u (V:   
Default: 3 (    This truncation is seldom used in contest numbers, as it may cause confusion with the number 4.
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Menu Operation
U-30 ( 5-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 5 fig­ure used in contest numbers Available V alues: 5 (5:      )
E (E:  )
Default: 5 (      ) This truncation is seldom used in incremented con­test numbers, although it frequently is used in the truncated form of the “599” signal report, which may be shortened to “ENN” ( ahead of the incremented contest number (001, 002, . . . ).
U-31 ( 7-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 7 fig­ure used in contest numbers
Available V alues: 7 (7:
Default: 7 (
This truncation is seldom used in contest numbers, as it may cause confusion with the number 6.
    
    
   
b (B:
)
U-32 ( 8-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 8 fig­ure used in contest numbers
Available V alues: 8 (8:
Default: 8 (
Use this Menu Item to shorten the number “eight” in a contest number.
    
    
  
d (D:
)
)
)
)
)
 )
U-34 ( NR-SIZE )
Function: Set the number of digits in a contest num­ber
A vailable Values: non/ 999/ 9999/ oFF Default: non
The default value places a contest number
leading zeroes
memory location (at the point where “??? ” is inserted). The other choices are:
in the contest number message
without
999 A full three-digit contest number, including
zeroes. This will switch automatically to four digits after QSO number 999.
9999 A full four-digit contest number, including
zeroes. If you reach 9999 QSOs, you prob­ably already won the contest, and can now quit!
oFF In this mode, the contest number genera-
tor is disabled.
U-35 ( HF-TONE )
Function: Define the type of repeater-access tone to be transmitted on 28 MHz during FM “RPT ” opera­tion.
A vailable Values: CtCSS/ bUrSt Default: CtCSS
The default value causes a tone (set via Menu Item U-37) to be transmitted continuously when the “ RPT” FM mode is in use. The BURST option transmits the selected tone for an interval of only 500 milliseconds, and typically only the 1750 Hz tone selection would be applicable for BURST operation.
U-33 ( 9-FORM )
Function: Define the desired truncation for the 9 fig­ure used in contest numbers
Available V alues: 9 (9:
Default: 9 (
This is perhaps the most-commonly-truncated num­ber used in CW contests.
    
    
 
n(N:
)
)
)
FT-920 Operating Manual
U-36 ( VHF-TONE )
Function: Define the type of repeater-access tone to be transmitted on 50 MHz during FM “RPT ” opera­tion.
A vailable Values: CtCSS/ bUrSt Default: CtCSS
The default value causes a tone (set via Menu Item U-37) to be transmitted continuously when the “ RPT” FM mode is in use. The BURST option transmits the selected tone for an interval of only 500 milliseconds, and typically only the 1750 Hz tone selection would be applicable for BURST operation.
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Menu Operation
U-37 ( TX-T-F )
Function: Set the desired repeater access (TX) tone. Available Values: OFF/V alues per chart below/1750
Hz Default: OFF Use this Menu Item to set the frequency of your en­coding tone, used for repeater access in the FM “RPT” mode.
U-38 ( RX-T-F )
Function: Set the desired Tone Decoder frequency for your receiver
A vailable Values: OFF/Values per chart below Default: OFF
Use this Menu Item to set the frequency of your transceiver’s CTCSS Decoder, if used. The Decoder is activated by setting this Menu Item to any value other than OFF, and your receiver will be silent on FM/RPT until a matching tone is received (superim­posed on the carrier of an incoming signal).
U-39 ( HF-RPT )
Function: Set the desired repeater shift magnitude for 29 MHz operation
A vailable Values: 0.0 ~ 5000.0 kHz Default: 100.0 kHz
This Menu Item sets the 29 MHz shift separately from the 50 MHz shift.
U-40 ( VHF-RPT )
Function: Set the desired repeater shift magnitude for 50 MHz operation
A vailable Values: 0.0 ~ 5000.0 kHz Default: 500.0 kHz
The default shift represents the standard value used in most of the United States.
U-41 ( ANT-SEL )
Function: Define the operating function for the [AN-
TENNA A/B/RX] switch
Available Values: Auto/ on/ oFF Default: Auto
The available choices are:
Auto The selection of Antenna-A, Antenna-B,
or RX is stored in VFO or Memory regis­ters, so no operator intervention is needed when changing bands or memories inso­far as antenna selection is concerned.
on The [ANTENNA A/B/RX] switch is functional,
but the settings are not stored in VFO or Memory registers. You must manually choose the antenna selection yourself.
oFF Only Antenna-A is available. There is no
path provided to Antenna-B nor the RX­Only antenna.
U-42 ( RTTY-TN )
Function: Select the offset frequency and injection sideband for the “Mark” tone produced by the inter­nal RTTY generator Available V alues: Hi 2125U/ Lo 1275U/
Hi 2125L/ Lo 1275L
Default: Hi 2125L The available choices include:
Hi 2125U The Mark tone is offset 2.125 kHz,
USB injection
Lo 1275U The Mark tone is offset 1.275 kHz,
USB injection
Hi 2125L The Mark tone is offset 2.125 kHz,
LSB injection
Lo 1275L The Mark tone is offset 1.275 kHz,
LSB injection The Shift tone’s frequency is offset from the Mark tone by an amount determined by the next Menu Item, U-43 (RTTY Shift).
78
CTCSS Tone Freq uenc y (Hz)
67.0 79.7 94.8 110.9 131.8 156.7 186.2 225.7
69.3 82.5 97.4 114.8 136.5 162.2 192.8 233.6 7 1. 9 8 5. 4 100. 0 118. 8 14 1.3 16 7.9 20 3. 5 24 1. 8 7 4. 4 8 8. 5 103. 5 123. 0 14 6.2 17 3.8 21 0. 7 25 0.3 7 7. 0 9 1. 5 107. 2 127. 3 15 1.4 17 9.9 21 8. 1
U-43 ( RTTY-SH )
Function: Set the desired RTTY Mark-Space fre­quency shift
Available V alues: SFt 170/ SFt 425/ SFt 850 Default: SFt 170
This Menu Item determines the amount of shift to be applied from the Mark tone frequency , which was pro­grammed via Menu Item U-42 (RTTY Tones).
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Menu Operation
U-44 ( SFT-POL )
Function: Define whether Mark or Space shall be the idling (key up) tone Available V alues: noAL/ rES Default: noAL The above abbreviations are defined as:
noAL (Normal) The idling tone is Space. rES (Reverse) The idling tone is Mark.
U-45 ( PK-DISP )
Function: Define the Packet displayed frequency offset
Available V alues: -3.000 ~ 3.000 kHz Default: -2.125 kHz
You can have the display show the (suppressed) car­rier frequency or the center frequency between the two Packet tones, for example.
U-46 ( PKT-FRQ )
Function: Align the transceiver to the frequency of the tone pair defined by the TNC. Available V alues: 1170-U/1700-U/ 2125-U/
2210-U/1170-L/1700-L/ 2125-L/ 2210-L
Default: 2125-U The above designations of the available values rep­resent the center frequency of the Packet tone pairs, plus their injection sideband (L =LSB, U=USB).
U-47 ( RF AMP )
Function: Determine which receiver input preampli-
fier is to be used on each band
Available Values: A1/ A2 Defaults: A1 (1.8 ~ 24.49 MHz), A2 (24.5 ~ 54 MHz)
These preamplifier choices allow the user to custom­ize the preamplifier choice for each amateur band. Preamplifier A1 is a Junction FET type, providing superior strong-signal-handling capability, while preamplifier A2 is a Dual-Gate MOS FET, providing best Noise Figure. Note that the total gain of the J­FET amplifier is somewhat lower than for the MOS FET preamp, but on the lower frequency bands the additional gain is not needed. The gain of the J-FET amplifier rolls off above 30 MHz, as does the gain of the MOS FET amplifier below about 7 MHz; accordingly, we do not recom­mend these amplifiers be used outside of the recom­mended frequencies.
U-48 ( ATU-RX )
Function: Enable/Disable the use of the Automatic Antenna Tuner in the Receive mode
A vailable Values: on/ oFF Default: oFF
Engaging the Antenna Tuner in the Receive mode helps protect the receiver circuitry from strong out­of-band signals; it acts as an additional bandpass fil­ter ahead of the fixed bandpass networks already protecting the receiver. There is a very slight reduc­tion in sensitivity when this feature is ON, which should prove insignificant in everyday operation.
U-49 ( A-MAXPO )
Function: Set the maximum power level for the “A” antenna terminal
A vailable Values:100/ 50/10 Default:100
This convenience feature allows you to limit the power applied to the “A” antenna port, in case you wish to excite a low-drive linear amplifier, for example. You may use the other antenna port for full-power opera­tion, of course.
U-50 ( B-MAXPO )
Function: Set the maximum power level for the “B” antenna terminal
A vailable Values:100/ 50/10 Default:100
This convenience feature allows you to limit the power applied to the “B” antenna port, in case you wish to excite a low-drive linear amplifier, for example. You may use the other antenna port for full-power opera­tion, of course.
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Menu Operation
U-51 (MIC-EQ)
Function: Set the DSP microphone equalization pat­tern, if desired
A vailable Values: oFF/1/ 2/ 3/ 4 Default: oFF
This Menu Item allows you to tailor, via the DSP, the audio response of the transceiver to match your voice characteristics. This focuses the the transceiver into the frequency spectrum occupied by your voice, thus increasing The choices are:
available power
useful
power output.
of
oFF This function is disabled. 1 Mid- and high-frequency components are
enhanced with this setting.
2 A high-emphasis response is produced,
ideal for pile-up or contest work.
3 Both low- and high-emphasis responses
are produced.
4 A wide bandpass response is produced,
emulating a “broadcast” microphone audio
characteristic. The [DSP] key on the front panel does on for this feature to work, as On/Off control is im­plicit in the menu selections provided. Use the “M oni­tor” feature to select the audio response most suited for your voice.
U-52 ( LI-TU-S )
Function: Activate the Linear Amplifier Tuning pulser A vailable Values: N/A Default: oFF
After selecting this Menu Item, pressing the [ENT] key activates the pulser for a time duration established via Menu Item U-55, and the time remaining will count down on the U-52 status screen. The characteristics of the pulser are set via Menu Items U-53 ~ U-57. This feature may be ideal for inclusion as a “Quick Menu” item.
U-53 ( LI-A-PO )
Function: Set the power output for the Linear Ampli­fier Tuning pulser via Antenna-A
A vailable Values:100/ 50/10 Default:100
If you have different amplifiers for different bands, each with unique drive requirements, you may use this setting to define the tune-up power level via the A antenna port.
not
have to be
U-54 ( LI-B-PO )
Function: Set the power output for the Linear Ampli­fier Tuning pulser via Antenna-B
Available V alues: 100/ 50/10 Default:100
If you have different amplifiers for different bands, each with unique drive requirements, you may use this setting to define the tune-up power level via the B antenna port.
U-55 ( LI-TIME )
Function: Define the duration of the Linear Amplifier Tuning pulser’s tune-up period
Available Values: 3 ~ 60 Seconds Default:10 Seconds
When the [ENT] key is pressed while in Menu Item U-52, a pulsed signal will be transmitted for a num­ber of seconds, after which the transceiver will return to the Receive mode. The tuning time period is set via this Menu Item.
U-56 ( LI-SPAC )
Function: Set the length of the spaces between the TX pulses defined in Menu Item U-57
Available V alues: 0 ~ 3000 ms. Default:100 ms.
A lower value set in this Menu Item makes the pulser’s action more closely appear to resemble a continu­ous “key-down” tone. The duty cycle is lower , though, depending on the pulse length set via Menu Item U-
57.
U-57 ( LI-MARK )
Function: Set the length of the TX pulse for the Lin- ear Amplifier Tuning pulser
Available V alues: 0 ~ 3000 ms. Default:100 ms.
A lower value set in this Menu Item reduces the duty cycle of the transceiver/amplifier during linear ampli­fier tune-up.
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Menu Operation
U-58 ( RLSBCAR )
Function: Set the RX Carrier Point for LSB Available V alues: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
Changing this value is analogous to rotating the IF SHIFT control, allowing you to preset the frequency response of the receiver during LSB operation. The effect of the adjustment can be heard if you turn the volume up while rotating the VFO-B Tuning Dial to adjust the setting.
U-59 ( TLSBCAR )
Function: Set the TX Carrier Point for LSB Available V alues: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
This is the same function as that of Menu Item U-58, as applied to your voice response on LSB (TX). The effect may be difficult to discern, however, depend­ing on the settings of the TX Equalizer via Menu Item U-51.
U-60 ( PROCLSB )
Function: Set the TX Carrier Point for LSB when the Speech Processor is on
Available V alues: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
This is the same function as that of Menu Item U-59, but is applied to your voice response on LSB (T X) when the Speech Processor is on. Therefore, it is possible to set two different response characteristics for your voice, one for “Processor-On” and one for “Processor Off.”
U-61 ( RUSBCAR )
Function: Set the RX Carrier Point for USB Available V alues: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
Changing this value is analogous to rotating the IF SHIFT control, allowing you to preset the frequency response of the receiver during USB operation. The effect of the adjustment can be heard if you turn the volume up while rotating the VFO-B Tuning Dial to adjust the setting.
U-62 ( TUSBCAR )
Function: Set the TX Carrier Point for USB A vailable Values: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
This is the same function as that of Menu Item U-58, as applied to your voice response on USB (T X). The effect may be difficult to discern, however, depend­ing on the settings of the TX Equalizer via Menu Item U-51.
U-63 ( PROCUSB )
Function: Set the TX Carrier Point for USB when the Speech Processor is on
A vailable Values: - 0.300 ~ 0.500 kHz Dafault: 0.000
This is the same function as that of Menu Item U-59, but is applied to your voice response on USB (TX) when the Speech Processor is on. Therefore, it is possible to set two different response characteristics for your voice, one for “Processor-On” and one for “Processor Off.”
U-64 ( VOX-DLY )
Function: Set the “hang time” for the VOX circuitry A vailable Values: 0 ~15 Default: 5 (Corresponding to 1 second)
The above scale of 1 ~ 15 is in 0.2 second incre­ments, allowing precise setting of the desired VOX recovery time.
U-65 ( VX-GAIN )
Function: Set the gain of the VOX circuitry’s input audio detector
A vailable Values: 0 ~15 Default:15
The adjustment values are an arbitrary scale. Set the VOX Gain to the level which quickly activates the transmitter, yet does not pick up extraneous noises in your operating room.
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U-66 ( VX-ANTR )
Function: Set the level of the “Anti-Trip” circuitry of the VOX system
A vailable Values: 0 ~15 Default:15
This adjustment scale is also arbitrary. This Menu Item should be set to the point where loud speaker volume does not activate the VOX.
U-67 ( Q MENU )
Function: Define which items are to be included in
the “Quick Menu” bank
A vailable Values: All Menu Items Default: OFF
After pressing [ENT] while using this Menu Item, ro­tate the VFO-B Tuning Dial to select the Menu Item to be included/excluded from Quick Menu, then use the front panel [UPp] or [DOWNq] key to change the setting for that Menu Item to ON or OFF.
The default setting for this Menu Item is OFF, which means that there is no Quick Menu feature active. When this is the case, a momentary press of the [MENU] key activates “Normal Menu” operation. When one or more items have been designated for “Quick Menu” use, however, a momentary press of [MENU] activates the Quick Menu; pressing and holding [MENU] in for ½ seconds activates “Normal menu” operation in this case.
U-68 ( FM STEP )
Function: Set scanning steps/ to be used during FM
operation
A vailable Values: OFF/ 0.5 ~ 50kHz Default: 10 kHz
This Menu Item sets the scanning steps for FM work when the “F AST ” synthesizer-step mode is selected. It allows the radio to be used in a “channelized” mode according to the channel spacing utilized in your coun­try .
U-69 ( CW-NAR )
Function: Enable/Disable the signal path through the optional YF-116C CW filter
Available Values: on/oFF Default: oFF
When the CW filter is installed, the signal path must be enabled (or the FT-920 will not “know” that the filter is there). Conversely, if the filter is not installed, erroneously setting this Menu Item to “ on ” will re­sult in a “dead” receiver if the [NARROW ] key is pressed during CW operation.
U-70 ( AM-WIDE )
Function: Enable/Disable the signal path through the optional YF-116A AM filter
Available Values: on/oFF Default: oFF
When the AM filter is installed, the signal path must be enabled (or the FT-920 will not “know” that the filter is there). Set this Menu Item to “ on” to enable the signal path to the Wide filter. The stock 2.4 kHz (SSB) filter then becomes the “Narrow” filter during AM operation.
U-71 ( AUTOTUN )
Function: Enable/Disable automatic retuning of A TU settings when SWR increases
Available Values: on/oFF Default: on
This feature instructs the Automatic Antenna Tuner to re-adjust its settings, without operator intervention, should the SWR present at the antenna jack increase above a value of 3:1.
U-72 ( FASTTUN )
Function: Enable/Disable high-speed antenna tun­ing
Available Values: on/oFF Default: oFF
The higher-speed tuning option reduces the tuning time slightly for the ATU. The SWR obtained at the completion of “Fast” tuning may be slightly higher than in the “Normal” mode, but this should present no prob­lems in typical operation.
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U-73 ( T-RXANT )
Function: Enable/Disable protection relay in line from “RX ANTENNA” jack
Available V alues: on/oFF Default: on
When the [RX ANTENNA ] key is pressed, activating the Receive-only antenna port, protection for the re­ceiver circuits from high RF voltage is afforded by a small relay which, in the default condition, opens the RX Antenna line during transmission. If only very low RF voltage is present in your installation during trans­mission, this Menu Item may be turned OFF.
Menu Operation
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VHF/UHF Transverter Operation
Although the FT-920 does not have a dedicated “Transverter” jack the multiple antenna ports and the Menu system will generally provide easy interfacing to VHF and UHF transverters.
The recommended interconnection points are de­scribed below:
r For transceive converters (where both trans-
mit and receive converter circuits use a com­mon RF input/output line), connect the coaxial cable from the transverter to the [B] antenna jack.
r For separate receive and transmit converter
units, connect the transmit converter’s coaxial cable to the [B] antenna jack, and the receive converter’s coaxial cable to the [RX ANT IN] RCA jack on the rear panel of the FT-920.
per se
, the flexibility provided by
r Select Antenna-B by pressing the [ANTENNA A/
B] switch, if needed.
r Press VFO-A’ s Orange “TX” LED/Switch for ½
second to activate the “TX Mute” mode, which provides a maximum power output of 10 Watts.
r Now rotate the RF PWR control fully counter-
clockwise. At this setting, power output will be essentially zero, and you may then adjust the
RF PWR control slightly clockwise so as to
Important Note:
takenly assign a different band to Antenna B, or forget to turn the RF P WR control fully counter-clockwise, the maximum power which will appear at the Antenna B port will be 10 watts. If you design an input protection attenu­ator network correctly, you should easily be able to provide “fail-safe” protection for your VHF/UHF transverter.
Even though you might mis-
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Overview
Phone patch operation allows linking your FT-920 to the public telephone system to provide two-way sim­plex communications on behalf of third parties. The FT-920 may be used with the LL-7 phone patch unit installed in the optional SP-8 external loudspeaker, or with phone patch units from other manufacturers. The diagram at the bottom of the page shows inter­connection for the SP-8/LL-7 combination; be sure to consult the documentation provided with units of non-Yaesu manufacture for installation instructions.
Operation Phone patch Tx/Rx switching may be done manually using the PTT method, or automatically using the VOX circuitry of the transceiver. While the manual (“PTT”) method does not require careful balancing of the LL-7’s bridge circuit, it by the operator (you must manually switch the PTT or MOX switch every time someone in the patched conversation says “Over”). Therefore, most opera­tors prefer to use the VOX method whenever the telephone signal-to-noise ratio permits. If the tele­phone line noise level is high, however, the PTT method may still be necessary, so you should be­come familiar with both methods.
does
require more work
Phone Patch Operation
Note
You may need to contact your telephone com­pany for permission to connect an external de­vice, such as a phone patch, to the telephone system’s lines. Also, you should procure and use a suitable 600 , three-way transformer if connecting the LL-7 to the same telephone line.
Regardless of which patch Tx/Rx control method is used, you may need to instruct the person on the telephone to speak slowly in a clear, steady voice level, and to say “Over” when a response is expected from the other party . This will serve as a notice to you (if you are using PTT control) to switch to receive while signaling the other station to go ahead and trans­mit, so as to avoid “doubling” with the other station.
During all phone patch operation, you should moni­tor both sides of the conversation at all times (this may be required by law); this will, of course, require a telephone at the operating position.
and
a telephone handset
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CAT
(
Computer-Aided Transceiver
) System Protocol
The CAT System in the FT-920 provides control of frequency , VFO, memory, and other settings through the use of command codes sent from an external personal computer. This allows multiple control op­erations to be fully automated as a single mouse click, or it allows a third-party software package (such as contest logging software) to communicate with the FT-920 without operator intervention.
The FT-920 has a built-in level converter, allowing direct connection from the rear panel CAT jack to the serial port of your computer, without the need for an external RS-232C level converter box.
Y ou will need a serial cable for connection to the (RS­232C) COM port of your computer. Purchase or con­struct a standard serial cable (not the so-called “null modem” type), ensuring it has the correct gender and number of pins for connection to your system.
Yaesu Musen does not produce CAT System oper- ating software, due to the wide variety of personal computers, operating systems, and applications in use today. However, the FT-920 (and other Yaesu products) are widely supported by third-party software packages, and we recommend that you contact your dealer for advice, or check advertisements in ama­teur radio journals. Most software vendors also have Home Pages on the World Wide Web containing a wealth of information on the features and radio sup­port for their software packages.
The information presented in this section will allow the programmer to understand the command struc­ture and opcodes used in the FT-920’s CAT Sys- tem.
Opcode Command Chart
# Com mand Title O pcode Para meter Com ments 1
SP LIT On /O ff 01 H P 1 xx x x x x P1= 00 : Off, P 1 = 0 1: O n
2
Re call Memory 02H P1 xx xx xx See N ote 1
3
Memory Operations 03H P1 P2 xx xx See Note 2
4
Recal l VFO 05H P 1 xx x x x x P1= 00: VFO -A, P1=01: VFO-B
5
Copy Memory Data to VFO-A 06H P1 xx x x xx See Note 3
6
Clarifier Operations 09H P1 P2 P3 P4 See Note 4
7
Set VFO-A Frequency 0AH P1 P2 P3 P4 See Note 5
8
Mode Setting 0CH P1 xx xx xx See Note 6
9
Update IntervalPacing 0EH P1 xx xx xx
10
Status Update 10H P1 xx xx P4 See Note 7
11
Keyer Commands 70H 1B 01 P3 xx See Note 8
12
T une r On /O ff 81H P1 xx xx x x P1=00 : Of f, P1=01: On
13
Tuner Start 82H xx xx xx xx
14
Repeater Shift 84H P 1 xx x x xx P1=00: SIMPLEX, P1=01: M inus Shift, P1=02: Pl us Shift
15
Set VFO-B Frequency 8AH P1 P2 P3 P4 See Note 9
16
Bandwidth 8CH P1 xx xx P4 See Note 10
17
Tone Fr equ ency 9 0H P1 P2 xx xx S ee Note 11
18
Read Meter F7H P1 xx xx xx See Note 12
19
Read Status Flags FAH 01 xx xx xx
P=00~FF(H) in 1 m s. steps. Adds delay between each by te o f al l do wnl o aded d ata f r om t he F T - 92 0
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(
CAT
Computer-Aided Transceiver
Notes to Opcode Command Chart
Note 1:
P1 = 01~7A: Memory Channel Number (Hex)
01~63: Memory Channels 1-01~1-99 64~6D: Memory Channels d-01~d-10 6E~78: Memory Channels C-01~C-11 79~7A: Memory Channels P-Lo~P-Hi
Note 2:
P1 = 01~7A: Memory Channel Number (Hex)
01~63: Memory Channels 1-01~1-99 64~6D: Memory Channels d-01~d-10 6E~78: Memory Channels C-01~C-11 79~7A: Memory Channels P-Lo~P-Hi
P2 = 00: Memory Store P2 = 01: Memory Clear P2 = 02: Memory Recall
Note 3:
P1 = 01~7A: Memory Channel Number (Hex)
01~63: Memory Channels 1-01~1-99 64~6D: Memory Channels d-01~d-10 6E~78: Memory Channels C-01~C-11 79~7A: Memory Channels P-Lo~P-Hi
Note 4:
P1 = 00: RX Clarifier Off P2 = 00: Clarifier Offset (+) P1 = 01: RX Clarifier On P2 = FF: Clarifier Offset (-) P1 = 80: TX Clarifier Off P1 = 81: TX Clarifier On P3 = 00~09 (kHz) P1 = FF: Set Clarifier P4 = 00~00 (100/10 Hz)
Note 5:
The frequency is converted to its BCD-coded components. For example: to convert 14.256.78 MHz
P1 P2 P3 P4
¯¯¯¯
5 Byte Block = 0A, 01, 42, 56, 78
Opcode
Note 6:
VFO-A Mode Parameters VFO-B Mode Parameters P1 = 00: LS B P1 = 80: LSB P1 = 01: USB P1 = 81: USB P1 = 02: CW-USB P1 = 82: CW-USB P1 = 03: CW-LSB P1 = 83: CW-LSB P1 = 04: AM P1 = 84: AM P1 = 05: AM P1 = 85: AM P1 = 06: FM P1 = 86: FM P1 = 07: FM-N P1 = 87: FM-N P1 = 08: DATA-LSB P1 = 88: DATA-LSB P1 = 09: DATA-LSB P1 = 89: DATA-LSB P1 = 0A: DATA-USB P 1 = 8 A: DATA-USB P1 = 0B: DATA-FM P1 = 8B: DATA-FM
Note 7:
Status Update Data
P1 = 01: Memory Channel Number (1 byte) P1 = 02: Current Operating Data for VFO/Memory (28 bytes) P1 = 03: VFO-A and VFO-B Data (28 bytes) P1 = 04: Memory Channel Data: (14 bytes)
P4 = 01~89 Memory Channel Number (used when P1 = 04)
01~63: Memory Channels 1-01~1-99 64~6D: Memory Channels d-01~d-10 (VFO-A) 6E~78: Memory Channels C-01~C-11 79~7A: Memory Channels P-Lo~P-Hi 7B~84: Memory Channels d-01~d-10 (VFO-B) 85~89: QMB Memories S-01~S-05
)
System Protocol
Note 8:
P3 = 00: Keyer Memory 0 P3 = 01: Keyer Memory 1 P3 = 02: Keyer Memory 2 P3 = 03: Keyer Memory 3 P3 = 04: “ID” Memory P3 = 05: “Contest Number” Memory P3 = 06: Keyer Memory Down P3 = 07: Keyer Memory Up P3 = 08: Keyer Memory Playback (no Tx) P3 = 09: Write Memory
Note 9:
The frequency is converted to its BCD-coded components. For example: to convert 14.256.78 MHz
P1 P2 P3 P4
¯¯¯¯
5 Byte Block = 8A, 01, 42, 56, 78
Opcode
Note 10:
VFO-A Mode Parameters VFO-B Mode Parameters P1 = 00: Wide P1 = 80: Wide P1 = 01: Wide P1 = 81: Wide P1 = 02: Narrow P1 = 82: Narrow P1 = 03: Narrow P1 = 83: Narrow P1 = 04: Wide P1 = 84: Wide
Note 11:
P1 = 00~28: Tone Encoder Frequency (Hex) P2 = 00~27: Tone Decoder Frequency (Hex)
Note 12:
A digitized meter deflection indication is returned, with value be­tween 0 and FFH; four sets of this data are sent, plus one pad­ding byte (0F7H), as follows:
Meter Byte Meter Byte Meter Byte Meter Byte F7H
P1 = 00: S/PO, ALC, VOLT, AMP P1 = 01: FWD, REV, SHIFT, PITCH P1 = 02: Dummy byte, SQL, HPF, LPF P1 = 03: NR, PROC, DISC, RMC
CTCSS Tone Data
P1P2Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
00h OFF 0Bh 94.8 16h 136.5 21h 203.5 01h 67.0 0Ch 97.4 17h 141.3 22h 210.7 02h 69.3 0Dh 100.0 18h 146.2 23h 218.1 03h 71.9 0Eh 103.5 19h 151.4 24h 225.7 04h 74.4 0Fh 107.2 1Ah 156.7 25h 233.6 05h 77.0 10h 110.9 1Bh 162.2 26h 241.8 06h 79.7 11h 114.8 1Ch 167.9 27h 250.3 07h 82.5 12h 118.8 1Dh 173.8 28h* 1750 08h 85.4 13h 123.0 1Eh 179.9 09h 88.5 14h 127.3 1Fh 186.2
0Ah 9 1. 5 15 h 131. 8 20 h 192. 8 * 28h = P1 onl y
Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
Freq .
(Hz)
FT-920 Operating Manual
87
Page 90
CAT
(
Computer-Aided Transceiver
) System Protocol
CAT
Serial data is passed via the
Data Protocol
jack on the rear
CAT
panel of the transceiver at 4800 bps. When data is being transferred, the
indicator on the front
CAT
panel display is illuminated momentarily, disappear­ing when the data flow is terminated. All commands sent from the computer to the transceiver consist of five-byte blocs, with up to 200 ms between each byte. The last byte in each block is the
instruction opcode
while the first four bytes of each block are arguments (either parameters for that instruction, or dummy val­ues required to pad the block out to five bytes).
B yt e 1 B yt e 2 B yt e 3 Byt e 4 B yt e 5
A rgu me nt Ar gu me nt A r gum ent A rgu m ent
CAT 5-BYTE COMM AND STRUCTIURE
Instruction
OPC O DE
Each byte sent consists of one start bit, 8 data bits, no parity bit, and two stop bits:
Start
01234567
Bit
CAT DATA BYTE FORM AT
Stop
Bit
Stop
Bit
There are nineteen instruction opcodes for the FT­920, listed in the chart on page 86. Most of these duplicate front panel operations, while some replicate Menu functions. Note that most commands require one or more parameters to be set; however, regard­less of the number of parameters present, every Command Block sent
must
consist of five bytes.
Constructing and Sending
CAT
Commands
Example #1:
Set VFO-A to 14.250.00 MHz r Per the CA T Command Table, the opcode for “Set
VFO-A Frequency” is “0AH. ” Note that the “ H” following each byte value indicate hexadecimal (base 16) values. Placing the opcode into the fifth data bit position, we then enter the frequency into
,
the first four data bit positions:
10'sHz100'sHz1's
00052410
00 50 42 01
Byte 1Byte 2Byte 3Byte 4
kHz
10's kHz
100's
kHz
1's
MHz
10's
MHz
100's
MHz
The four argument byte values are constructed from the decimal value by breaking the frequency into 2-digit blocks (in BCD “packed decimal” for­mat). Leading zeroes
are required
in the hun­dreds-of-MHz place as well as the tens-of-MHz place (when below 10 MHz).
r We now insert the four-byte BCD-coded frequency
(00, 50, 42, 01) into the five-byte block along with the parameter byte, resulting in a complete com­mand string in hex format:
Byte 1Byte 2Byte 3Byte 4Byte 5
00 50 42 01 0AH
Da ta /Arg u ment Byt es O pcod e
Send these five bytes to the transceiver, in the order shown in the table above, left to right: 00
50 42 01 0AH
88
Accordingly, any CAT control program must con- struct the five-byte block by selecting the appropriate instruction opcode, organizing the parameters, if any , and providing unused “dummy” argument bytes to pad the block to its required five-byte length (the dummy bytes can contain any value). The resulting five bytes are then sent,
opcode last
, from the com­puter to the FT-920 CPU via the computer’s serial port and the transceiver’s CAT jack.
Example #2:
Store the above frequency (14.250 MHz) into Memory Channel #1-48 r Memory operation is exercised by Opcode 03H.
In base 16 (hexadecimal), Memory Channel #48 is channel 30. And, pursuant to Note #2 associ­ated with Opcode 03H, parameter P2 (Memory Set) must be set to value “00.” Therefore, the cor­responding five-byte command/parameter block would be 00 00 00 30 03H.
Byte 1Byte 2Byte 3Byte 4Byte 5
00 00 00 30 03H
Da ta /Arg u ment Byt es O pcod e
In sum, commands are sent in the following general format:
Byte 1Byte 2Byte 3Byte 4Byte 5
P4 P3 P2 P1 Opcode
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 91
CAT
(
Computer-Aided Transceiver
)
System Protocol
Downloading FT-920 Data
On command, the FT-920 will download some or all of its operational data. By regular polling of the trans­ceiver, your software can be kept continuously up­dated on the status of the FT-920 operating environ­ment.
The following commands cause the FT-920 to down­load various components of its operational status:
Status Update
transceiver to download frequency and memory channel data, per the parameter data supplied in the Status Update request (parameters P1 & P4).
Status Flags Request
structs the transceiver to download eight status flag bytes.
Read Meter
ceiver to download meter deflection data in packs, pursuant to Note 12 following the “Opcode Com­mand Chart on page 86.
Pacing
(0EH): this Opcode sets the delay between bytes of data when you request a download of data. This delay is set to zero initially, but reset­ting it to a higher value will allow slower comput­ers to read and process data returned by the ra­dio. However, the download time will be signifi­cantly increased if a high value is used in this command’s “P1” argument.
(10H): this Opcode causes the
(FAH): this Opcode in-
(F7H): this Opcode causes the trans-
These Opcodes are detailed below.
Status Update
(10H) Depending on the value of parameter P1, this com­mand will return:
One byte containing the current Memory Channel Number (P1=01);
Two 14-byte records of the current operating frequency (VFO or Memory; P1-02);
One each 14-byte record for VFO-A and VFO­B (P1=03); or
One 14-byte record of Memory Channel data (P1=04).
When P1 is set to value 04, parameter P4 may be set to a hexadecimal value between 00 and 89 to prompt the transceiver to download frequency infor­mation on any of the memories, as shown in Note 7 on previous page. So P1=04 instructs the radio to download memory data, and P4’s value defines which memory channel’s data is to be downloaded.
The format for the 14-byte frequency data records is shown at the end of this sub-section.
Status Flags Request
(FAH) The format for the eight Status Flags is shown be­low:
8-Byte Status Flags Record Table
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #0 Con te nt s
0 Split Operation active with VF O-B on TX 1 Split Operatio n active with VFO-B on RX 2 Antenna Tuner On/tuning 3 CAT Sys tem ope ration in prog res s 4 VFO-B In Us e (both TX and RX on V FO-B) 5 Dir ec t Keypa d E nt r y i n progress 6VFO-A is Muted 7 Tran sm issio n in progr e ss (PTT li n e g roun ded )
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #3 Con te nt s
0 Not Used 1 Alpha-Nume ric Memory Lav el selecte d 2 Not Used 3 Lin e ar Amplifier Tuni ng Pulser act ive 4 PTT grounded via CAT command 5 Transmit "Inh ibit" is active 6 Key R e leas e Timer actve 7PTT inhibit
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #6 Con te nt s
0 Dua l Watch acti ve 1 Not Used 2 Qu ic k Menu Mode act iv e 3 BUSY lamp is on 4 Fi ne Tuning act iv e 5 Not Used 6 V FO -B Tx Mu te a c t i v e 7 V FO -A Tx Mu te a c t i v e
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #1 Con te nt s
0 5-sec ond "M e mory Ch ec k" countdown in prog ress 1 M em or y C he cking in progres s 2 Dual VFO Tracking active 3 Quick Memory Bank (QMB) s elected 4 Mem ory Tuni ng in progress 5 VFO Operatio n selec ted 6 Memory Mode selected 7 Gener al Cov era ge Re cepti on activ e
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #4 Con te nt s
0 RTTY space (TX Idle) 1 Not Used 2 All Front Panel Controls locked 3 Group Memory Mode active 4 Ante n na B sel e cte d 5 Rx Antenna selected 6 Not Used 7 Not Used
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #7 Con te nt s
0 Not Used 1 M enu Setting in prog r es s 2 CTCSS/Tone Burst active 3 Not Used 4 Not Used 5 Linear Am p li f ier Tuning Pulse being tr ansmitte d 6 DTM F Tone are being transmit ted 7 VOX is active
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #2 Con te nt s
0 Fast Tuning is acti ve 1 Antenna Tuner is in-line 2 VFO-B is loc ked 3 VFO-A is loc ked 4 Squelch is closed 5 Up s canning is active 6 Scanning is paused 7 Scan ning is act ive
Bit O ffset S tat us Flag Byte #5 Con te nt s
0VFO-A is muted 1VFO-B is muted 2 Not Used 3 Tx activated via Spot switch command 4 Not Used 5 Not Used 6 Antenna Tuner's Wait light is on 7 High SWR detected
FT-920 Operating Manual
89
Page 92
CAT
(
Computer-Aided Transceiver
) System Protocol
Read Meter
(F7H) Sending this command with the parameters shown below causes a variety of transceiver metering data to be downloaded. The values are within the range 0 and FFH, and the data is returned in the following format:
Parameter
P1 = 00 S/PO ALC VOLT AMP F7H P1 = 0 1 FWD RE V SHIFT P ITCH F 7H P1 = 0 2 Du mmy SQ L HPF LPF F7H P1 = 03 NR PROC D ISC RMC F7H
Meter
Byte
Meter
Byte
Meter
Byte
Meter
Byte
Pad
The “dummy” data above is meaningless, and may be ignored.
1-Byte Memory Channel Number
Data Structure (For Opcode 10H, etc.)
Mem ory Channel Data (H ex Codes)
Ch. He x Ch. He x Ch. He x Ch. He x
5EH
1-9 4
3FH
1-6 3
20H
1-3 2
01H
1-0 1 1-0 2 1-0 3 1-0 4 1-0 5 1-0 6 1-0 7 1-0 8 1-0 9 1-1 0 1-11 1-1 2 1-1 3 1-1 4 1-1 5 1-1 6 1-1 7 1-1 8 1-1 9 1-2 0 1-2 1 1-2 2 1-2 3 1-2 4 1-2 5 1-2 6 1-2 7 1-2 8 1-2 9 1-3 0 1-3 1
02H 03H 04H 05H 06H 07H 08H 09H 0AH 0BH 0C H 0D H 0EH 0FH 10H
11H 12H 13H 14H 15H 16H 17H 18H 19H 1AH 1BH 1C H 1D H 1EH 1FH
1-3 3 1-3 4 1-3 5 1-3 6 1-3 7 1-3 8 1-3 9 1-4 0 1-4 1 1-4 2 1-4 3 1-4 4 1-4 5 1-4 6 1-4 7 1-4 8 1-4 9 1-5 0 1-5 1 1-5 2 1-5 3 1-5 4 1-5 5 1-5 6 1-5 7 1-5 8 1-5 9 1-6 0 1-6 1 1-6 2
21H 22H 23H 24H 25H 26H 27H 28H
29H 2AH 2BH 2C H 2D H 2EH 2FH 30H 31H 32H 33H 34H 35H 36H 37H 38H 39H 3AH 3BH 3C H 3D H 3EH
1-6 4 1-6 5 1-6 6 1-6 7 1-6 8 1-6 9 1-7 0 1-7 1 1-7 2 1-7 3 1-7 4 1-7 5 1-7 6 1-7 7 1-7 8 1-7 9 1-8 0 1-8 1 1-8 2 1-8 3 1-8 4 1-8 5 1-8 6 1-8 7 1-8 8 1-8 9 1-9 0 1-9 1 1-9 2 1-9 3
40H 41H 42H 43H 44H 45H 46H 47H 48H 49H 4AH
4BH 4C H 4D H
4EH
4FH
50H
51H
52H
53H
54H
55H
56H
57H
58H
59H
5AH
5BH 5C H 5D H
1-9 5 1-9 6 1-9 7 1-9 8 1-9 9 d-0 1 d-0 2 d-0 3 d-0 4 d-0 5 d-0 6 d-0 7 d-0 8 d-0 9
d-1 0 C-0 1 C-0 2 C-0 3 C-0 4 C-0 5 C-0 6 C-0 7 C-0 8 C-0 9 C-1 0
C-11
P-Lo
P-Hi
5FH 60H 61H 62H 63H 64H 65H 66H 67H 68H 69H 6AH 6BH 6C H 6D H 6EH 6FH 70H 71H 72H 73H 74H 75H 76H 77H 78H 79H 7AH
14-Byte Frequency Data
Record Structure
The following tables outline the 14-byte data record structures used for the Operating Data, VFO-A, VFO­B, and Memory Frequency data records.
Byte 1 4-Byte Data Rec ord Assignme nt
1 Ban d Selectio n 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Mode Data
9Flag AFilter Data 1 BFilter Data 2 C C TC SS Enc oder D at a D CTCSS Decoder Data E M emo ry Recall Flag
O per at ing Fr equ enc y
Cla rifier Offset
(2 Bytes, see below)
90
Tone Frequency Codes
P1P2Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
00h OFF 09 h 8 8.5 12 h 118.8 1Bh 16 2. 2 24 h 22 5.7 01h 67.0 0Ah 91.5 13h 123.0 1Ch 167.9 25h 233.6 02h 69.3 0Bh 94.8 14h 127.3 1Dh 173.8 26h 241.8 03h 7 1. 9 0C h 97. 4 15 h 13 1. 8 1E h 17 9. 9 27 h 25 0.3 04h 7 4. 4 0D h 100.0 16 h 136. 5 1F h 186. 2 2 8h* 175 0 05h 7 7. 0 0Eh 10 3. 5 17 h 141. 3 20h 192. 8 06h 7 9. 7 0F h 107.2 18 h 146. 2 21 h 203. 5 07h 8 2. 5 10 h 110.9 19h 151.4 22 h 210. 7 08h 8 5.4 11h 114.8 1Ah 15 6. 7 23 h 21 8. 1 * 28h = P1 only
Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
Freq .
(Hz)P1P2
Freq .
(Hz)
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 93
Memory Backup
The FT-920’s memory data is maintained, even when DC power it turned off, via a lithium backup battery with an estimated lifetime of approximately five years. No data essential to the fundamental operation of the radio is stored in “volatile” memory, so when the battery’s voltage ultimately is exhausted the trans­ceiver will not be disabled; you will just observe that your memories have disappeared.
In some cases of erratic operation, it may be advis­able to reset the microprocessor to its factory default condition, so as to determine whether or not a part failure has caused improper action, as opposed to some operational error.
This section describes the procedures to be used for these situations.
Backup Battery Replacement
The backup battery is a standard Sony™ CR2032 (or equivalent), which is installed in a socket on the bottom side of the transceiver. Replacement of the battery is easy to accomplish: Remove the bottom cover of the transceiver (see
page 93).
Locate the backup battery, per the illustration, lo-
cated near the front panel in the vicinity of the bright silver enclosure on the left side. Remove the origi­nal backup battery , and replace it with a fresh one (be sure the replacement battery shows at least 3 Volts on a Voltmeter).
Before closing the case, be certain to check that
you have not accidentally changed the position of the BACKUP switch, located near the backup bat­tery but immediately adjacent to the above-refer­enced silver enclosure. This switch must be in the ON position for the backup system to work.
Close up the case, replacing the six screws on
the bottom, then tightening the four screws on the side panels. Be careful not to pinch any wires while re-assembling the radio.
FT-920 Operating Manual
91
Page 94
Microprocessor Resetting
Microprocessor Reset Procedures
Three levels of microprocessor resetting are avail­able, only two of which are typically used. These are: r A reset of all memories, antenna tuner data, and
VFO frequencies to their factory defaults. Menu settings are this, turn the transceiver off, then press and hold in the [GEN] and [ENT] keys on the keyboard
hold them in while you turn the on
. The VFO-B frequency display area will indi­cate “INITIAL” and a series of “Dashes” will slowly disappear across the middle of the VFO-A fre­quency display area. When the initialization pro­cedure is complete, the frequency displays, newly reset to 7.000 MHz in the LSB mode, will reap­pear.
r A reset of just the Menu settings is also possible.
This will not wipe out any other memories, but will allow you to clear all Menu settings to their origi­nal factory default values. T o do this, turn the trans-
not
affected by this procedure. To do
[POWER]
switch back
and
ceiver off., then press and hold in the [MENU] and [CLEAR CLAR] keys
the
[POWER]
r If the transceiver’s microprocessor still is behav-
ing erratically, you may need to perform a com­plete, “hard” reset of the CPU. To do this, remove the bottom cover of the transceiver as described previously. Now set the BACKUP switch to the OFF position. Wait about 30 seconds, then plug the DC cable back into the rear panel DC jack. Turn the transceiver on, then carefully turn the BACKUP switch on using a non-conducting alignment tool or a toothpick. The transceiver may now be turned off, the DC cable removed, and the bottom cover replaced.
Important Note!
Be extremely careful not to come in contact with any transceiver internal circuitry while the bottom case is removed, as possibly dangerous voltages may exist inside the case.
and hold them in while you turn
switch back on.
92
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 95
Installation of Optional Accessories
Bottom Case Removal
Turn the transceiver off, and remove all cables
connected to it.
Turn the transceiver upside down, and remove
the six screws affixing the bottom panel of the radio. Loosen the four screws on the sides of the upper case, but do not remove them.
Now fold the rear of the bottom panel slightly away
from the chassis, and remove the bottom panel by sliding it rearward.
To close up the case, replace the six screws on
the bottom, then tighten the four screws on the side panels. Be careful not to pinch any wires while re-assembling the radio.
Figure 1
FT-920 Operating Manual
Figure 2
93
Page 96
Installation of Optional Accessories
Installation of
Optional Filters YF-116C/YF-116A
Remove the bottom case of the transceiver (see
previous page).
Refer to Figure 2 on the previous page, and lo-
cate the mounting positions for the CW (YF-1 16C) and/or AM (YF-116A) filters on the MAIN Unit.
Refer to Figure 3, and push the optional filter board
onto the pins corresponding to its assigned mount­ing location on the radio. Gently press the board down until it is firmly seated in its connectors.
Replace the bottom case of the transceiver.Turn the transceiver on, and enter the Menu mode.
Per the chart below, change the setting of Menu Item U-69 to “ON” if installing the YF-116C CW filter, and/or change the setting of Menu Item U­70 to “ON” if installing the YF-116A AM filter.
Filter installation is now complete.
94
Installation of
High-Stability Oscillator TCXO-7
Remove the bottom case of the transceiver (see
previous page).
Refer to Figure 2 on the previous page, and lo-
cate the mounting position for the TCXO-7, which currently is occupied by the “REF OSC UNIT.”
Refer to Figure 4, and remove the REF OSC UNIT,
replacing it with the TCXO-7.
Installation is now complete, as the TCXO-7 has
been carefully aligned at the factory and should require no adjustment after installation. Replace the bottom case of the transceiver.
Installation of FM Unit FM-1
Remove the bottom case of the transceiver (see
previous page).
Refer to Figure 2 on the previous page, and lo-
cate the mounting positions for the FM-1 on the MAIN Unit.
Refer to Figure 5, and push the optional FM-1
board onto the pins corresponding to its assigned mounting location on the radio. Gently press the board down until it is firmly seated in its connec­tors.
Installation is now complete, as the FM-1 has been
carefully aligned at the factory and should require no adjustment after installation. Replace the bot­tom case of the transceiver.
FT-920 Operating Manual
Page 97
CAUTION !
Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by Yaesu Musen could void the user’s authorization to operate this device.
1. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions; (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference including interference that may cause undesired operation.
2. The scanning receiver in this equipment is incapable of tuning, or readily being altered, by the User to operate within the frequency bands allocated to the Domestic public Cellular Telecommunications Service in Part 22.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two condition; (1) this device not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesirable operation of the device.
Page 98
Copyright 1997 Yaesu Musen Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
.... leading the way.
SM
No portion of this manual may be reproduced without the permission of Yaesu Musen Co., Ltd.
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