Yaesu: FT5D Help

[mfn002]

I recently acquired a brand-new FT5D. First of all, I get a "USB Device Not Recognized" error message when attempting to use the factory programming cable. I switched to one from RT Systems (and their software) and that seemed to work. However, I have some issues:
1) In memory mode, I can't get the radio to transmit, I get "TX INHIBIT" when I hit the PTT key. I've checked everything and I can't figure out why the radio is doing that.
2) I have several repeaters around here that use different CTCSS tones for transmitting and receiving. In the software, there is only one column for that information. I don't see anywhere where you can set the RX and TX tones separately.
3) The radio came from Japan and was shipped with a Japanese-language manual. I can't seem to find a manual for the FT5D anywhere. I only come across the later FT5DE model.

 

[AK9R]

0) The cable supplied with the FT5DR and FT5DE is for updating the firmware, not for programming the radio. This is kinda covered on page 36 in the U.S. Advance Manual. I don't know what your radio was shipped with. (more later)

1) What frequency are you trying to transmit on? Is it in the amateur radio band for the region that the radio is intended for? (more later)

2) I don't think this radio can be programmed with "split tones", i.e. different tones for RX and TX. Unless you are experiencing interference from another transmitter on the receive frequency, programming a receive tone is generally not necessary. You just need to program the transmit tone ("TN" in the display) so you can activate the repeater.

3) You can download manual for the North American market from the Yaesu USA website. Frankly, if you are in the US, you should have purchased a North American-spec radio, i.e. FT5DR. The FT5D model is for the Japanese market and the FT5DE is for the European market. Those two markets have different band plans for amateur radio than North America. I have heard anecdotal reports that Japanese radios can be modified for the North American market, but you'd be on your own to perform that mod. Be aware that unless you have an FT5DR, Yaesu USA is under no obligation to provide warranty service on your radio..

 

[mfn002]

I guess it's the wrong model for North America. I didn't realize there was a difference. Anyway, I was trying to transmit on the standard 144/440 MHz bands. The USB cable that came with the radio was a generic one and not anything designed specifically for the radio.

 

[AK9R]

You'll find many Japanese-spec amateur radios for sale on Ebay and other sites. Rarely do the sellers point out that the radio may not be suitable for use in North America. It's best to buy from an authorized North American retailer (Ham Radio Outlet, GigaParts, DX Engineering, MTC Radio, R&L Electronics, etc.).

The Japanese 2m band is 144-146 MHz and the Japanese 70cm band is 430-440 MHz. If you are trying to transmit outside of those bands, your radio may not work.

https://www.jarl.org/English/6_Band_Plan/JapaneseAmateurBandplans20200421.pdf

 

[N4DJC]

The programming cable is a Yaesu SCU-57. It’s not very simple to set up.

 

[ko6jw_2]

I spent an interesting afternoon in 2018 visiting ham radio and camera stores in Tokyo. I knew the band assignments were different. Also there are no 2 meter repeaters in Japan. Yeasu and Kenwood radios that include 222 MHz are not sold in Japan. Cameras are more expensive in Japan because of their VAT. You can get a credit for this tax. However, as far as I know, none of these items have US warrantees. I bought some accessories but no radios or cameras on this visit.

On the question of split tones, as far as I know, neither Yaesu nor Kenwood have that capability and it is rare that amateur radio repeaters use them even though commercial and public safety do.

The MARS mod on the FT-5 should open up the transmit range. At least on the US version.

Use a micro SD card instead of the cable to program the radio.

 

[sallen07]

On the question of split tones, as far as I know, neither Yaesu nor Kenwood have that capability and it is rare that amateur radio repeaters use them even though commercial and public safety do.

I have ... several ... Kenwood HTs and they will ALL do split tones. My Yaesu FT-2980 and FT-60 will not.

As has been stated already, in general there is no need to program a receive tone. Where I live, however, there is one repeater to the east and one to the west that are on the same frequency and while they have different input PL tones neither of them sends an output tone so you will quite often hear both of them.

Split tones are "rare", but the most popular repeater in our area uses them.

 

[mfn002]

The programming cable is a Yaesu SCU-57. It’s not very simple to set up.

I ended up getting the cable and software made by RT Systems, which I had no issues with. The radio received the repeaters fine; it just wouldn't transmit. Anyway, I am bidding on a FT5DR on eBay right now (cheaper than spending $500+ on a new one).

 

[k6cpo]

0) The cable supplied with the FT5DR and FT5DE is for updating the firmware, not for programming the radio. This is kinda covered on page 36 in the U.S. Advance Manual. I don't know what your radio was shipped with. (more later)

1) What frequency are you trying to transmit on? Is it in the amateur radio band for the region that the radio is intended for? (more later)

2) I don't think this radio can be programmed with "split tones", i.e. different tones for RX and TX. Unless you are experiencing interference from another transmitter on the receive frequency, programming a receive tone is generally not necessary. You just need to program the transmit tone ("TN" in the display) so you can activate the repeater.

3) You can download manual for the North American market from the Yaesu USA website. Frankly, if you are in the US, you should have purchased a North American-spec radio, i.e. FT5DR. The FT5D model is for the Japanese market and the FT5DE is for the European market. Those two markets have different band plans for amateur radio than North America. I have heard anecdotal reports that Japanese radios can be modified for the North American market, but you'd be on your own to perform that mod. Be aware that unless you have an FT5DR, Yaesu USA is under no obligation to provide warranty service on your radio..

Interesting, because everything I've read about Japanese market radios indicates that, because of Japanese laws, the Japanese radios are NOT able to be converted to cover the US bands. First off, flashing with US firmware doesn't work and MARS-type modifications are illrgal in Japan so the radio hardware is designed differently.

The programming cable is a Yaesu SCU-57. It’s not very simple to set up.

The cable that comes with the FT5DR is a normal USB cable. It's used for firmware updates. Part of the firmware update process is installing a driver for the radio that allows it to be seen by the computer. The SCU-57 is a package of cables used for connecting the radio for WIRES-X. Programming the FT5DR is best accomplished with a MicroSD card.

 

[N4DJC]

Interesting, because everything I've read about Japanese market radios indicates that, because of Japanese laws, the Japanese radios are NOT able to be converted to cover the US bands. First off, flashing with US firmware doesn't work and MARS-type modifications are illrgal in Japan so the radio hardware is designed differently.

The cable that comes with the FT5DR is a normal USB cable. It's used for firmware updates. Part of the firmware update process is installing a driver for the radio that allows it to be seen by the computer. The SCU-57 is a package of cables used for connecting the radio for WIRES-X. Programming the FT5DR is best accomplished with a MicroSD card.

The SCU-57 set includes the SCU-19 which is used for programming. I had both an FT-3DR and FT-5DR and used it for both with the Yaesu programming software. Yaesu no longer sells the SCU-19 cable separately for some reason.

Compared to the ADMS-1C introduced for the FT-51R in 1994, the complexity to connect the radio to the PC has become a pain.

 

[k6cpo]

Compared to the ADMS-1C introduced for the FT-51R in 1994, the complexity to connect the radio to the PC has become a pain.

That has been remedied with the introduction of programming via a MicroSD card. Programming a radio that has this capability with a cable is just regressive.

 

[AK9R]

I agree that using the micro SD card is an improvement over messing with cables and device drivers, physically moving a card from radio to computer to radio to computer to radio to... is also not exactly convenient.

Radio manufacturers need to get on board with programming radios over the air. Bluetooth would be a good start.

 

[k6cpo]

I agree that using the micro SD card is an improvement over messing with cables and device drivers, physically moving a card from radio to computer to radio to computer to radio to... is also not exactly convenient.

Radio manufacturers need to get on board with programming radios over the air. Bluetooth would be a good start.

I've found using the MicroSD card to be much more convenient, particularly with a mobile radio installed in a somewhat inaccessible location. It's much easier to carry the SD card back and forth than lug a cable and computer out to the vehicle, then fumble around trying to get the stupid cable plugged in. Yaesu has made it even easier by moving the card slot from the radio body to the control head.

My experience with Bluetooth hasn't been the greatest and I really don't use it, even with my phone.