Yaesu FT-950 60 meter Software Update
  

Always use "dial lock" function when operating on 60 meters with a "transmit all frequency" radio to avoid going into VFO mode. You could accidentally bump the tuning knob. This prevents that from happening.

If you do not understand this, just do the Yaesu download and update your radio, or send it to Yaesu service for an update. I decided not to update mine because the features bundled with the 60 meter updates were unacceptable. I devised this work around for my radio. I am offering it to you freely. You are responsible to operate your radio in accordance with FCC and international rules. If this information is not compatible with your rig DO NOT USE IT.

NOTE: I have verified these settings only for software versions 20.47 and 1.13. If your radio contains anything else, or is a different hardware build, they might not work for you. Also, if you hear other stations on 60 meters that sound "off channel" DO NOT TRANSMIT until you figure out WHY!

ORIGINAL YAESU 60 METER CHANNELS DISPLAYED:

  • US1: 5.332.00
  • US2: 5.348.00
  • US3: 5.368.00 WARNING do not use, No longer legal in US.
  • US4: 5.373.00
  • US5: 5.405.00

The "new" channel 3 is not accessible by this method without downloading a software update that makes significant changes to the TX bandwidth and compressor and EQ functionality.

Note that these "channels" include an artificial display offset and are not actual carrier frequency.

Use of the above with digital modes or CW by injection of audio into the front mike or rear data jacks may be problematic. Check your radio with a frequency counter to be sure. Lock the automatic frequency tracking in your external modem software to avoid being off channel.

Be aware that you could transmit a signal too wide if your SSB TX bandwidth is set too wide under the original radio software. This is something you also need to allow for with the new settings described below.

TRANSMIT ON 60 METERS WITH A FT-950 USING REGULAR MEMORY AND TRANSMIT ALL FREQUENCY MOD

Important menu settings that must be used to make this work

Use dial lock function to prevent moving vfo knob on 60 meters. Do not hammer the alc in any mode or splatter will cause out of channel operation
  • 064 TX bandwidth 4 - 26 which is minimum 2.2 kHz bandwidth
  • 041 CW USB enable off or do not use key because 700 Hz shift is not center channel
  • 042 CW on usb only - warning CW on LSB causes off channel
  • 045 CW pitch freq = 700 Hz only (or adjust to your preference and correct channel freq)
  • 047 CW offset display to "ofst" to display 60 meter frequency properly

Digital modes using Tigertronics use dial lock and lock software with psk offset to 1 kHz

  • 111 TX pwr adj no ALC action on PSK and reduce power to 30 watts or less
  • 053 TNC level AFSK data - adjust for no ALC action, reduce power as noted above if using rear data jack

Turn all EQ and processor off if using mike jack for PSK. Much better to use rear data jack to avoid this problem.

  • 054 Data pkt display offset "0". You can use this function if you correct the frequencies shown.
  • 055 Data pkt car offset "0". You can use this function if you correct the frequencies shown.

RTTY settings 059 thru 063 require care if using true FSK. I have not included these since my Tigertronics cannot do actual FSK, it only does AFSK. If you have a better modem that has this function, spectral purity is better with FSK and you should prefer that method.

SSB operation channel 1 to channel 5 including "New channel 3"

Enter these into your normal channel memory. I use 51 thru 55 for channel 1 thru 5. Use dial lock to prevent going off frequency when using this method.

  • 5.330.50
  • 5.346.50
  • 5.357.00
  • 5.371.50
  • 5.403.50

CW operation channel 1 to channel 5 including "New Channel 3"

Enter these into your normal channel memory. I use 56 thru 60 for channel 1 thru 5. Use dial lock to prevent going off frequency when using this method. This method employs the internal cw keying of the ft-950, not an external tigertronics interface or similar. This allows use of full legal power on CW. With an interface that uses audio, you must exercise great care to reduce power to maintain spectral purity and avoid any alc action.

  • 5.332.00
  • 5.348.00
  • 5.358.50 - New Channel 3
  • 5.373.00
  • 5.405.00

These should look familiar, except for channel 3. Note that while they correspond to the original Yaesu ft-950 channels US1 thru US5, the carrier frequencies are not the same, because yaesu hides an offset in the indication on the factory installed channels. In other words, do not use the factory US1 thru US5 for CW with audio keying with your tigertronics interface! to get to center channel with that method, the audio frequency would be too high for you to copy by ear.

Digital operation channel 1 to channel 5 including "new channel 3"

Enter these into your normal channel memory. I use 61 thru 65 for channel 1 thru 5. Use dial lock to prevent going off frequency when using this method. This method employs an external tigertronics interface or similar with the psk offset set to 1.5kHz and the automatic frequency tracking turned off to stay on channel.

Note that they are identical to the ssb settings. Lower power to avoid final heating and never allow any ALC indication to avoid splatter. Entering these as separate channels will memorize that the EQ and processing is turned off for PSK, if using the front panel mike jack. You can also configure these to use the rear panel jack, with appropriate adjustments. I have not gotten very far with my PSK operations yet, so double check this work with your interface and and modem software.

  • 5.330.50
  • 5.346.50
  • 5.357.00 New Channel 3
  • 5.371.50
  • 5.403.50
  

73,
Janis
AB2RA
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