Yaesu: FTM-400XD cannot turn off tone sql

[awg9tech]

I have a simplex frequency saved to B-side memory via software. Inadvertently, a tone sql was saved along with the frequency.

When I press F/MW and toggle through SQL/T-TRX, the sql type toggles through on the pop-up display, but is not updated at the top of the screen above the call sign/freq display. T-TRX is always displayed at the top while I toggle through to “off” and remains there.

When I perform the same actions on an A-side simplex loaded memory, pressing F/MW and then toggling through the SQL, the T-TX/T-TRX/T-REV/D-TRX/PRG/PAGER/OFF at the top of the display oggles along with the pop-up SQL TYPE. The SQL soft key shows “noise” and no T-TRX at the top..IOW, acting like I’d expect.

The B-side, not so much.

Any ideas?

 

[AA6IO]

Start over and re-save the channel without the tone squelch. I’ve had same issue. Once tone is set, it will always appear on that memory channel. Just go back to VFO mode on B side and re-save as memory without the tone. Hope this helps.

 

[robertmac]

Not a problem with mine.

 

[chief21]

Both my A and B sides toggle through the choices on the display (FW 3.1).

 

[vagrant]

No problem here with two different 400XDR radios.
Main: 3.4
Panel: 1.2
DSP: 4.31
Yaesu website is a bit rubbish though regarding clarity of which Main/Panel versions are in the current download.

 

[awg9tech]

Thanks for the replies.

I’ve got bigger problems now.

Thought I’d try to reload the memory using RT systems. While populating the memory, RT software would randomly change the setting in the memory channels. It would change the tone sql, tone type or some other random setting in the channel.

Got things looking OK on the software, double checked the tones and other settings,saved the file and uploaded to the SD card. Uploaded the card to the radio...and now multiplied B-band channels have randomly changed settings (simplex freqs with tones/repeaters with random tones) A-side looks ok as far as I can tell.

Took the card out and re-read into RT..things look OK both sides. Uploaded the card to ADMS, it looks like it reads, but when I select OK, I get an “error!”

Tried reformatting the card. Tried a different card. Tried individual saves to the card (all/memory/settings) from the radio. Tried factory reset on radio.

Best I can tell, RT is not really pushing data to the card(s) and ADAMS can’t read the card(s). My next step is to hand load the memory.

 

[awg9tech]

For the record, I’ve found a “fix” so far..

Found an obscure reddit thread from years about something similar.

On the radio, with “corrupted” card installed, I performed an APRS RESET. I then immediately, loaded the memory from the card. This load was from last night that seemed “corrupted” and/or bad load, and/or something wrong with the software or the card.

It loaded fine, without any random changes to the channels: tones/T sql etc seem fine.

APRS RESET did make things much better or fixed it altogether.

When I get back to the computer, I’ll try a card read-write-change-read and combos thereof.

If I don’t update this thread...the APRS RESET fixed it.

 

[awg9tech]

To clarify, the APRS RESET seems to have fixed both problems:

The original issue of not being able to change the SQL on a B-band simplex freq, and also the card read-write issues.

 

[KE5MC]

APRS RESET jogged the memory cells. I've not noticed it on my 400 and the power supply is being worked on so I can't easily check. When I was using my Kenwood 710 and using APRS more, there is a "voice" option that uses tone squelch allowing simplex voice on APRS for a quick QSO and move to another frequency. While it worked OK it seems to have some negative impact I don't recall the details of. I want to say if that option was ON when I switched to other channels on that side, tone squelch was ON for repeaters I don't want it on for. Admittedly a different manufacture/radio, but maybe related.

 

[awg9tech]

Might be kinda, sorta related.

Before all of this, I did have APRS MUTE on AND attempted to place a 100 tone on the APRS channel for voice call.

I did get the voice call to work, and I was XT and RX beacons. Swell. But I don’t remember now if I was ever RX normal voice while in scan on the B-band (beacon off). I was able to RX APRS beacons while in B-Side scan if/when scan got the APRS channel, just like any other hit, when a beacon was there.

Now that things are “normal” (still have to check the read/write function of the card), I do not have a 100 tone on APRS for voice calls but I do note one thing:

APRS MUTE is NOT APRS MUTE.....It is “B-Band MUTE”. With APRS MUTE ON, it mutes my entire B-Band. At least that’s the way my radio is working right now....

My Bearcat 780XLT has a data skip function...I wish this radio had a modem/data mute.

 

[robertmac]

APRS MUTE is NOT APRS MUTE.....It is “B-Band MUTE”. With APRS MUTE ON, it mutes my entire B-Band. At least that’s the way my radio is working right now....

My Bearcat 780XLT has a data skip function...I wish this radio had a modem/data mute.
[/QUOTE]
Well Bearcat is a scanner, no transmit. The modem/data mute on 400 is to turn off the modem, or at least beaconing. APRS radios are not limited to only transmit on 1 frequency. If modem is on and beacon is set it will beacon on all frequencies. Or if you do not want to mute, just turn the volume down.

 

[awg9tech]

And all these years, here I’ve been trying to make contacts on the 780, turns out it just a scanner.

I did some more switchology checks last night, and on my radio, APRS MUTE does not turn off the APRS modem.

My original issue and the subsequent issue, so far seems to have something to do with a combination(s) of APRS MUTE and APRS VOICE ALERT

So far, it looks as if VOICE ALERT places tones on any and all HAM simplex frequencies on the B-Band and, APRS MUTE, mutes the entire B-Band...So then, if I want to do APRS, it’s all or nothing, unless I want to stop and reconfigure the radio. Voice alert and APRS mute are of no value if I want to do more on the B-Band.

If your radio acts differently, I’d like to know.

 

[awg9tech]

So now, I’m attempting this workaround and will see how it goes for the next few days.

APRS MUTE: OFF This should allow the rest of the B-Band to be used

APRS, VOICE ALERT: NORMAL (off) This should remove the erroneous tones on the B-Band simplex frequencies.

I then manually placed a 100 sql tone on my APRS channel. This, in theory, should mute the APRS data, allow for voice calls on APRS and not populate the other simplex freqs with erroneous tones.

We’ll see

 

[robertmac]

And all these years, here I’ve been trying to make contacts on the 780, turns out it just a scanner.

I did some more switchology checks last night, and on my radio, APRS MUTE does not turn off the APRS modem.

My original issue and the subsequent issue, so far seems to have something to do with a combination(s) of APRS MUTE and APRS VOICE ALERT

So far, it looks as if VOICE ALERT places tones on any and all HAM simplex frequencies on the B-Band and, APRS MUTE, mutes the entire B-Band...So then, if I want to do APRS, it’s all or nothing, unless I want to stop and reconfigure the radio. Voice alert and APRS mute are of no value if I want to do more on the B-Band.

If your radio acts differently, I’d like to know.

Yep, my radio seems to act differently. But when I'm not using APRS on my APRS band I turn modem off so it doesn't beacon. Not sure why APRS MUTE would turn off APRS modem as it is a voice MUTE. And I have VOICE ALERT on but doesn't impact any other of my Band frequencies with modem off. If modem on it will transmit on any frequency. So Voice Alert on for APRS frequency only.

 

[KE5MC]

...snip...

I did some more switchology checks last night, and on my radio, APRS MUTE does not turn off the APRS modem.
...but turning off APRS modem does 'disable' APRS MUTE from blocking receive that are not transmitting 100 Hz.

My original issue and the subsequent issue, so far seems to have something to do with a combination(s) of APRS MUTE and APRS VOICE ALERT

So far, it looks as if VOICE ALERT places tones on any and all HAM simplex frequencies on the B-Band and, APRS MUTE, mutes the entire B-Band...So then, if I want to do APRS, it’s all or nothing, unless I want to stop and reconfigure the radio. Voice alert and APRS mute are of no value if I want to do more on the B-Band.

...snip...

Yes, APRS on B band is all or nothing.

I have my power supply back online and played around with my 400 to reacquaint myself with APRS. Looks like turning off APRS modem will halt the associated options and allow normal operation for the other channels/frequencies on the B side. APRS is typically on only one frequencies by agreement, but could be on any frequency. The consequence is APRS and it's setup will affect other memory channels especially beaconing. Not uncommon to hear someone has changed to a repeater frequency and hear an occasional APRS beacon.

I would say the only radio configuration change needed is to turn APRS modem off to get back to normal B side operation. A plus for a dual band and dual receive radio is allowing APRS on one side and normal operation on the other side. There is one single receive radio with APRS I know of and in APRS mode it is committed to that and no voice mode.

Yaesu has a 90+ page PDF manual for APRS operation that goes into the details for the 400.

P.S. From an earlier post make sure your Firmware (main, panel, DSP) are all up to date for the radio model you have. There is also interaction between main, panel and DSP to be in firmware alignment with each other.

 

[awg9tech]

Thanks,

I’ve read the manual(s), few hundred pages of websites and watch a dozen or so YouTube videos. It looks like I’ve got the radio working like I want, but thought the radio was just a little smarter than it really is.

APRS MUTE: OFF
APRS, VOICE ALERT: NORMAL (off)

I then manually placed a 100hz sql tone on my saved APRS channel.

The 100hz sql tone then acts as voice call and it removes a lot of the APRS data noise and, I still receive beacons. (This is where I though the radio was smarter; Place the VOICE ALERT, 100hz tone on the modem not on all the channels. And/or mark the APRS channel and add the 100hz tone to that channel only. Place the APRS MUTE on the modem and block the data noise, pass the voice.)

This allows me, with beacon off, to scan my B-Band (including APRS) and receive normal voice traffic and if a beacon is received during the scan early enough, I get the packet.

If I want to do strictly APRS, turn off the scan, set to APRS channel, turn beacon on; all with up-front soft keys and without having to dig into the settings.

However, even with the 100hz tone, I still get some data noise through on some beacons (but not all) and I can’t figure out why. Are these beacons that I’m hearing have a 100hz tone on?

 

[KE5MC]

Likely the beacon has voice alert on from the senders side and is transmitting the 100 Hz tone. Reconfiguring to 'normal' configuration will help identify if they have voice alert on. I recall there is a way for them to send in the message field the simplex frequency they are listen to and the radio can switch to that frequency. Thats from memory when I first got my Kenwood 710 and may be flawed. :-O

Not a criticism, but just an observation. You are going to miss many beacons especially in high population areas. When I first got my 710 I kept one side parked on APRS for about 6 months. After the novelty wore off I then only used it for mobile special events when net control was tracking my location. After that 6 months I configured a different scan list for that side and for me made better use of the radio. If you are allowing all the packets to be displayed many are fixed at 0 mph and of little use beyond the first packet decoded.

Conceptually APRS is a committed function and as such hardware/software is built to support that as I have seen in my 710 and 400 radios. If APRS and scanning voice channels was in demand it would be addressed by manufactures. You might find over time not including APRS in the scan list might be a good choice or not.