Yaesu FTM-350 APRS MANUAL

FTM-350 SERIES

APRS MANUAL

The FTM-350 series transceiver is equipped with a 1200/
9600bps AX.25 Data Modem to enable APRS® (Auto­matic Packet Reporting System) operation. The Automatic
Packet Reporting System (APRS®) is a software program
and registered trademark of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR.

VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.

4-8-8 Nakameguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 153-8644, Japan

VERTEX STANDARD

US Headquarters

10900 Walker Street, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A.

YAESU UK LTD.

Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close
Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.

VERTEX STANDARD HK LTD.

Unit 5, 20/F., Seaview Centre, 139-141 Hoi Bun Road,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

VERTEX STANDARD (AUSTRALIA) PTY., LTD.

Normanby Business Park, Unit 14/45 Normanby Road
Notting Hill 3168, Victoria, Australia

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 1

PREPARATIONS

Before performing any APRS® operations, set your callsign, SSID (Secondary Station Iden­tifier), and symbol into the FTM-350, and activate the AX.25 Data Modem via the Set
Mode.

1. Press the [SET] key to enter the Set Mode.

2. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select “APRS/PKT” group, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

3. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
Set Mode item “E28 MY CALLSIGN”,
then press the left side [DIAL] knob twice.

4. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob, or press
one of the microphone keypad buttons, to select the first letter or number in your callsign.

5. After selecting the first digit of the DTMF string, using the left side [DIAL] knob, press

[]

the

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as many times as necessary to complete your call sign.

7. You may backspace the cursor by pressing the

8. When you have completed entering your callsign, press the
SSID slot.

9. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the SSID, then press the
new setting.

10. Press the [ESC] key to exit from Set Mode item “E28 MY CALLSIGN”, then rotate
the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E31 MY SYMBOL”.

11. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, then select the desired preset symbol by pressing one
of the [ICON1]
To choose another icon, rotate the left side
[
after having pressed either key. You may
choose 1 of 46 different symbols.

12. Press the [ESC] key to save the new setting and exit from Set Mode item “E31 MY

SYMBOL”, then rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E32 POSI­TION COMMENT”.

13. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, then rotate
the left side [DIAL] knob to select the de­sired comment. You may choose 1 of 15 dif­ferent comments.

14. Press the [ESC] key to save the new setting and exit from Set Mode item “E32 POSI-
TION COMMENT”, then rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item
“E29 MY POSITION SET”.

15. Press the left side [DIAL] knob. When the
optional GPS Antenna Unit is connected to
the transceiver, select “GPS” by rotating the

key to move to the next digit.

~ [

ICON3]

DIAL] knob to select the desired symbol

or [

USER] keys.

[]

key.

[]

key to move to the

[]

key to save the

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL2

PREPARATIONS

left side [DIAL] knob then press the left side [DIAL] knob to save the new setting, and
then skip to step 19. Otherwise, select “MANUAL” by rotating the left side [DIAL
knob and advance to the next step.
Note: You may choose your position from the “Point” memories stored on the GPS
Point List.

16. Press the [ESC] key to save the new setting
and exit from Set Mode item “E29 MY
POSITION SET”, then rotate the left side
[

DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E30

MY POSITION”.

17. Press the left side [DIAL] knob twice, then enter your position (Longitude/Latitude) by

[]

using the left side [DIAL] knob (select the number/character) and
move the cursor).

18. Press the [ENT] key to save the new setting, then press the [ESC] key to exit from Set
Mode item “E30 MY POSITION”.

19. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E05 APRS MODEM”.

20. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, then rotate
the left side [DIAL] knob to select “ON”.

21. Press the left side [DIAL] knob to save the
new setting, then press the [ESC] key twice
to exit from Set Mode.

/

[]

key (to

]

When the APRS modem is activated, an “A12”
icon appears above the “Right” band frequency
display.

The FTM-350 provides many convenient functions for APRS operation. Refer to the “APRS/
PKT Set Mode” chapter beginning with page 20 for details.

SSID LIST

SSID

Non

Home Station, Home Station IGate

-1

Digipeater

-2

Digipeater

-3

Digipeater

-4

HF to VHF Gateway

-5

IGate (not Home Station)

-6

Operation via Satellite

-7

Hand-held Transceiver, such as VX-8R

-8

Maritime Mobile

-9

Mobile Transceiver, such as FTM-350R

-10

Operation via Internet

-11

APRS touch-tone User (and the Occasional Ballooes)

-12

Portable Units, such as Laptops, Camp Sites etc.

-13

Not Used

-14

Trackers

-15

HF Operation

DETAILS

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 3

RECEIVING AN APRS® BEACON

1. Set the “Sub” band to the APRS frequency. 144.390MHz is generally used in North
America. If you don’t know the APRS frequency of your country, ask your dealer.
Note: In the factory default, the APRS operation uses the “Sub” band (The “A” icon
will appear at the right side of the “Sub” band S/PO meter). You may change the APRS
operating band via Set Mode item “E16 DATA BAND SELECT” in the “APRS/PKT”
group.

2. When another stations APRS beacon is re­ceived, the APRS pop-up window opens and
an APRS alert beep is heard. After ten sec­onds, the APRS pop-up window closes au­tomatically.

3. To confirm the details of the received beacon, press the [F] key repeatedly, until the
[

SMART FUNCTION] key’s category

changes to “F-3” mode, if necessary, then
press the [SyLIST] key to open the “Station
List” window.

4. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the desired station, then press the [ENT] key
to display its received data.

5. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to scroll
through the additional lines or pages of the
received information.
When the “Comment” or “Status Text” is included in the received data, you may jump
to the head of the “Comment” or “Status Text” instantly by pressing the [TEXT] key.

6. When the confirmation is finished, press the [BCK] key to return to the “Station List”
window.

THE F-3 FUNCTION COMMANDS OF THE [SMART FUNCTION] KEY FOR APRS OPERATION

F-3

SyLIST

MSG

LOCK

BCON

B-TX

Open the “Station List” window.
Open the “Message List” window.
Toggles the key lockout feature “on and “off” by pressing the key.
Toggles the transceiver’s power “on and “off” by pressing and holding the key.
Changes the APRS beacon: ON, OFF or AUTO.
Transmit the APRS beacon.

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL4

RECEIVING AN APRS® BEACON

DELETING A RECEIVED BEACON FROM THE “STATION LIST”

1. Press the [SyLIST] key to open the “Station List” window.

2. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the beacon station to be deleted.

3. Press the [ENT] key to display the received data, then confirm that you really want to
erase this beacon data.

4. Press the [DEL] key, then press the [OK?
key to delete the selected beacon station from
the “Station List”.

DELETING ALL RECEIVED BEACONS FROM THE “STATION LIST”

1. Press the [SyLIST] key to open the “Station List” window.

2. Press the [F] key repeatedly, until the [SMART FUNCTION] key’s category changes
to “S-2” mode, if necessary.

3. Press and hold in the [DEL] key for two sec­onds, then press the [ALLOK?] key to de­lete all messages from the “Massage List”.

THE FUNCTION COMMAND OF THE [SMART FUNCTION] KEYS WHILE THE STATION LIST IS OPEN

S-1

S-2

S-3

B-1

B-2

FAST

REPLY

SyFLT
SORT

QUERY

SyLIST

POINT

DISP

¶

µ

REPLY

RAW

QUERY

Enables scrolling of the station list using a fast stepping rate (4 rows/click).

TOP

Jump to the top column of the Station List.
—
Jump to the “TX MESSAGE EDIT” window (Reply operation).
An opposite bands frequency of the APRS operation band changes in accordance with the frequency

QSY

information included in the received APRS beacon.

Jump to the “APRS/PKT” Set Mode item “E34 SORT FILTER”.
Initiates sorting.
—
Jump to the “TX MESSAGE EDIT” window with Query command (?APRSP).

GPS

Jump to the “GPS Information” page.

—
Jump to the “Point List Mode” window.
—
Stores the received position data (Lat/Log) to the “Point” memory.
—

Toggles the compass display between “North Up” and “Heading Up”.

TEXT

TOP

QSY

GPS

TEXT: Jump to the top of the “Status Text Message”.

¶
µ

TOP: Jump to the top column of the received APRS beacon.
—
Jump to the “TX MESSAGE EDIT” window (Reply operation).
An opposite bands frequency of the APRS operation band changes in accordance with the frequency
information included in the received APRS beacon.

Displays the “Raw” data of the received APRS beacon.
—
—
Jump to the “TX MESSAGE EDIT” window with Query command (?APRSP).
Jump to the “GPS Information” page.

]

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 5

RECEIVING AN APRS® BEACON

APRS FILTER SETTING

The APRS filter option allows you to select the specific types of the data to receive.

1. Press the [SET] key to enter the Set Mode.

2. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select “APRS/PKT” group, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

3. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E03 APRS FILTER”, then
press the left side [DIAL] knob to enable modification of this Set Mode item.

4. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the “filter” you wish to exclude.

5. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, and then rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
“OFF”.

6. Press the left side [DIAL] knob to save the new setting.

7. Repeat the above steps and select “OFF” for any other filters you wish exclude.

8. When you have completed your selection, press the [ESC] key several times to exit
from Set Mode.

The FTM-350 provides many convenient functions for APRS operation. Refer to the “APRS/
PKT Set Mode” chapter beginning on page 20 for details.

APRS ALERT BEEP LIST

EMERGENCY COMMENT Set

BEACON Received (Duplicate Beacon

)

OWN MESSAGE Received

x 3 times

EMERGENCY BEACON Received

x 12 times

BEACON Received (APRS Filter “ON”

BEACON Received (APRS Filter “OFF”

BEACON Received (Range Ringer Station

BEACON Received (Callsign Ringer Station

)

)

)

)

OWN BEACON (MY POSITION) Received

MESSAGE Received

GROUP/BULLETIN MESSAGE Received

MESSAGE Received (for Other Station

MESSAGE Received (Duplicate Message

)

)

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL6

MESSAGE ACK Received

MESSAGE REJ Received

BEACON Transmit

MESSAGE Transmit

MESSAGE REJ Transmit

NOTE

RECEIVING AN APRS® BEACON

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 7

TRANSMIT AN APRS® BEACON

MANUAL TRANSMISSION

To transmit your APRS beacon manually, press
the [F] key repeatedly, until the [SMART
FUNCTION] keys category changes to “F-3”
mode, if necessary, then press the [B-TX] key.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

The FTM-350 allows you to transmit your APRS beacon automatically and repeatedly.

1. Press the [F] key repeatedly, until the
[

SMART FUNCTION] keys category

changes to “F-3” mode, if necessary.

2. Press the [BCON] key repeatedly to select
the “Auto” beacon mode (“OFF”, “ON (FIX)” or “SMART”).

OFF: Disables Automatic Transmission (no icon)
ON (FIX): Enables Automatic Transmission (“” icon appears at the left of the “A12”

icon).
Transmits your APRS beacon in accordance with the interval determined
by “2 INTERVAL” of the Set Mode item “E14 BEACON TX” in the
“APRS/PKT” group.

SMART: Enables Automatic Transmission (“{” icon appears)

Transmits your APRS beacon in accordance with the interval determined
by Set Mode item “E33 SmartBeaconingÚ” in the “APRS/PKT” group.

OFF ON (FIX

 When the APRS frequency is busy (squelch is open), the FTM-350 will not transmit an

APRS beacon in manual or automatic modes. Insure that the squelch is closed.

 You may transmit the APRS beacon manually by pressing the [B-TX] key, even if the

FTM-350 is in automatic mode.

:

SmartBeaconingTM is an algorithm created by Tony Arnerich KD7TA and Steve

Ú

Bragg KA9MVA of HamHUD for adjusting the transmit rate using the speed and
heading changes of the vehicle.
Visit www.hamhud.net for more information about SmartBeaconingTM .

)

SMART

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL8

TRANSMIT AN APRS® BEACON

OPTIONAL SETTINGS

DIGIPEATER PATH SETTING

The FTM-350 allows you to set up to eight digipeaters for the APRS packet path.

The FTM-350 is preset to “WIDE1-1” and “WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1” digi-path to insure that
your transmitted APRS beacon is repeated by the New-N paradigm digipeaters. We recom­mend that you use this default setting.

1. Press the [SET] key to enter the Set Mode.

2. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select “APRS/PKT” group, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

3. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select Set Mode item “E19 DIGI PATH SELECT”,
then press the left side [DIAL] knob to enable selection of this Set Mode item.

4. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the desired path you wish to set, then press
the left side [DIAL] knob.

5. When you have completed your selection, press the [ESC] key several times to exit
from Set Mode.

THE F-3 FUNCTION COMMANDS OF THE [SMART FUNCTION] KEY FOR APRS OPERATION

F-3

SyLIST

LOCK

BCON

Open the “Station List” window.

MSG

Open the “Message List” window.
Toggles the key lockout feature “on and “off” by pressing the key.
Toggles the transceiver’s power “on and “off” by pressing and holding the key.
Changes the APRS beacon: ON, OFF or AUTO.

B-TX

Transmit the APRS beacon.

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 9

TRANSMIT AN APRS® BEACON

OPTIONAL SETTINGS

STATUS TEXT MESSAGES

You may store five Status Text Messages (up to the 60 characters for each memory), and
you may transmit one of these Status Text Messages with the APRS beacon.

1. Press the [SET] key to enter the Set Mode.

2. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select “APRS/PKT” group, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

3. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
Set Mode item “E13 BEACON STATUS
TXT”, then press the left side [DIAL] knob
to enable selection of this Set Mode item.

4. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select the
Status Text Resister (“3: TEXT 1” through
“7: TEXT 5”) you wish to store the text mes­sage to.

5. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, then rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select addi­tional text to add to your message.
NONE: There is no addi-

tional text in your
message.

FREQUENCY: Appends the opposite band frequency data of the APRS opera-

tion band into your message.

FREQ&SQL&SFT: Appends the opposite band frequency data of the APRS opera-

tion band, sub audio information (squelch type and its tone fre­quency/code), and repeater shift frequency data into your mes­sage.

6. Press the left side [DIAL] knob, then enter the desired comment (up to 60 characters)
using the following examples.
Example 1: Press the one of the microphone keypad button. Press the [A] or [B] key to

move the cursor forward or backward, and press the [C] key to delete all
data after the cursor.

Example 2: Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select a character/number, and press the

[]
the character (capital alphabet, small alphabet, numeric, and symbol) by press­ing the [FONT] key.

7. When you have completed your entry, press the [ENT] key to save your message.

[]

or

key to move the cursor forward or backward. You may change

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL10

TRANSMIT AN APRS® BEACON

OPTINAL SETTINGS

8. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
“1: SELECT” item, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

9. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
the Status Text resister (“TEXT 1” through “TEXT 5”) you wish to send, then press
the left side [DIAL] knob.

10. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select “2: TX RATE” item, then press the left side
[

DIAL] knob.

11. Rotate the left side [DIAL] knob to select
the frequency whereyou want to transmit
your Status Text Message (“1/1” through
“1/8”). Then press the left side [DIAL] knob.

12. Press the [ESC] key several times to exit from Set Mode.

When the APRS beacon transmits, the Status Text Message is transmitted with the APRS
beacon.

The FTM-350 provides many convenient functions for APRS operation. Refer to the “APRS/
PKT Set Mode” chapter beginning with page 20 for details.

FTM-350 SERIES APRS® MANUAL 11