Yaesu: Trying to set up a yaesu FTM400 and not succeeding

Kagetsu

Newbie
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
3
I can't operate it on repeaters because I haven't found a way to program the sub tone that all repeaters are using to prevent bump trips and when I try simplex with my handheld it jumps to digital mode no matter what I've tried to do to get it out of auto mode select. I'm about to through it out a window.
 

prcguy

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
14,484
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
I can't operate it on repeaters because I haven't found a way to program the sub tone that all repeaters are using to prevent bump trips and when I try simplex with my handheld it jumps to digital mode no matter what I've tried to do to get it out of auto mode select. I'm about to through it out a window.
Where is your window located?

Have you tried the quick setup guide? Look in the files section here. I was just programming mine yesterday and after not using it for several months it seems easy to navigate.
 

Kagetsu

Newbie
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
3
Where is your window located?

Have you tried the quick setup guide?
Well ok, it's a basement window.
Not sure about a quick set up. That url seem to show what I've already gone through so I'll say yes.. I've been going through the manual and pretty sure I've taken all the precautions so I don't die. I know, legal requirements. I managed to program one channel earlier from watching youtube but not sure how I did that. Watching and pushing buttons. Nobody's transmitting anymore so I'm not certain it's receiving but I think it can hear my handheld. I can't get it to transmit anything I can receive. Yeah, it has an antenna but I can only get 12v power from my truck and that's still gerryrigged until I fully connect the battery power into the cab. They give me a long wire but the piece on either end are too big to fit through the tiny holes that I found in the firewall. So, the primary thing I'm looking for is how to get the local repeaters to accept it's transmissions.
 

prcguy

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
14,484
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
Well ok, it's a basement window.
Not sure about a quick set up. That url seem to show what I've already gone through so I'll say yes.. I've been going through the manual and pretty sure I've taken all the precautions so I don't die. I know, legal requirements. I managed to program one channel earlier from watching youtube but not sure how I did that. Watching and pushing buttons. Nobody's transmitting anymore so I'm not certain it's receiving but I think it can hear my handheld. I can't get it to transmit anything I can receive. Yeah, it has an antenna but I can only get 12v power from my truck and that's still gerryrigged until I fully connect the battery power into the cab. They give me a long wire but the piece on either end are too big to fit through the tiny holes that I found in the firewall. So, the primary thing I'm looking for is how to get the local repeaters to accept it's transmissions.
I just went to my truck that has the FTM-400 and wrote down some steps to program a repeater freq, just for you.

Go to VHF mode and program RX freq using mic keypad.
Press FUNC button, find SQUELCH and set for TONE or TONE SQUELCH as needed. Find and select desired TX POWER LEVEL. Press FUNC to exit.
Press and hold DISPLAY button, select SIGNALING, set TONE FREQ. Press BACK then select TX/RX then select mode. (Or you can select mode later with the red DX button). Press BACK.
Select CONFIG then select RPTR SHIFT then SHIFT FREQ then STEP SIZE. Press BACK to exit all menus.
Press and hold FUNC button to program into a channel of your choice.

If that doesn't work please send me address of window and a time to sit outside.
 

k6cpo

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Messages
1,183
Location
San Diego, CA
I can't operate it on repeaters because I haven't found a way to program the sub tone that all repeaters are using to prevent bump trips and when I try simplex with my handheld it jumps to digital mode no matter what I've tried to do to get it out of auto mode select. I'm about to through it out a window.
A little more detail would be helpful. First, where are you located? Second, you say it jumps to digital when you transmit to it with your handheld. What hand held are you using?
 

Kagetsu

Newbie
Joined
Feb 24, 2021
Messages
3
After a few days of resetting and messing with it. I seem to have it functioning and under my control. I've gotten some responses so it is transmitting. Youtube is totally inadequate for this. No one mentions that red button to the left. I've got it scanning and have the better buttons programmed. Sorry for the overly frustrated rant.
 

jeepsandradios

Member
Feed Provider
Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
1,737
Location
East of the Mississippi
I know its not as great as other platforms but the Yaesu software works well for the FTM. I did all my initial and also updates via the Yaesu software. Much easier that via radio. I use the SD card option which is the easiest.
 

GlobalNorth

Active Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
May 2, 2020
Messages
1,878
Location
Fort Misery
To paraphrase Yaesu, they 'know radios and not programming'. Their directions are confusing and frankly odd.

Go with RT Systems software for that radio. I have it and it turns a frustrating days long experience into a simple process that is easy to program and to download. It is worth the cost at twice the MSRP.
 

mrweather

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,219
I've owned a 400XDR for several years and programming by hand is incredibly frustrating. I've used old Saber RSS on a DOS machine and it's no where near as frustrating as Yaesu's ADMS. Thank goodness for RT Systems!
 
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