Page 1
10900 Walker Street, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A. International Division 8350 N.W. 52nd Terrace, Suite 201, Miami, FL 33166, U.S.A. YAESU EUROPE B.V. P.O. Box 75525, 1118 ZN Schiphol, The Netherlands YAESU UK LTD. Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.
Watts of power output on the 144 MHz Amateur band and 35 Watts on the 430 MHz band. The high power output of the FT-8800R is produced by its RD70HVF1 Power MOS FET amplifier, with a direct-flow heat sink and thermostatically-controlled cooling fan maintain- ing a safe temperature for the transceiver’s circuitry.
Packet Interface Cable Availability of accessories may vary. Some accessories are supplied as standard per local requirements, while others may be unavailable in some regions. Consult your Yaesu dealer for details regarding these and any newly-available options Connection of any non-Yaesu- approved accessory, should it cause damage, may void the Limited Warranty on this appa- ratus.
Do not install the transceiver on top of another heat-generating device (such as a power supply or amplifier), and do not place equipment, books, or papers on top of the FT-8800R. Avoid heating vents and window locations that could expose the transceiver to excessive direct sunlight, especially in hot climates.
The FT-8800R is an electrical apparatus, as well as a generator of RF (Radio Frequency) energy, and you should exercise all safety precautions as are appropriate for this type of device. These safety tips apply to any device installed in a well-designed amateur radio station.
NTENNA ONSIDERATIONS The FT-8800R is designed for use with antennas presenting an impedance of near 50 Ohms at all operating frequencies. The antenna (or a 50 Ohm dummy load) should be connected whenever the transceiver is turned on, to avoid damage that could otherwise result if trans- mission occurs accidentally without an antenna.
Page 9
The use of the shortest possible length of the highest quality coaxial cable that fits within your budget will ensure the best performance from your FT-8800R. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
NSTALLATION OBILE NSTALLATION The FT-8800R must only be installed in vehicles having a 13.8 Volt negative ground elec- trical system. Mount the transceiver where the display, controls, and microphone are easily accessible, using the supplied MMB-36 mounting bracket. The transceiver may be installed in almost any location, but should not be positioned near a heating vent nor anywhere where it might interfere with driving (either visually or mechani- cally).
– it is there to protect you, your transceiver, and your vehicle’s electrical system. Never apply AC power to the power cable of the FT-8800R, nor DC voltage greater than 15.8 Volts. When replacing the fuse, only use a 15-A fast-blow type. Failure to observe these safety precautions will void the Limited Warranty on this product.
TNC, if it is designed for multiple-radio use, by connecting the TNC “Radio 1” port to the 1200 bps lines on the FT-8800R, and the “Radio 2” port to the 9600 bps lines. The pin connections of the Data connector are shown below.
Page 13
Right band, or Left band: Transmit band is fixed on Main band). If you have trouble getting your FT-8800R to respond correctly during packet operation, check to be certain that you do not have Menu #26 (PKT.SPD) set to the wrong data rate, and/or Menu #27 (PKT.RXB) set to the wrong operating band.
Press and hold in one of these buttons for 2 seconds to store the current total configura- tion of the radio into a special “Hyper” memory bank. Press the appropriate button momentarily to recall the desired “Hyper” memory. ONTROLS KEY2 350 MHz 430 MHz 850 MHz FT-8800R Operating Manual & S WITCHES 144 MHz ...
Page 15
“Memory Tuning” feature. [ SET ] Key Press this key momentarily to enter the Set (“Menu”) mode. Press and hold in this for 1/2 second to transfer the contents of the “Main band” VFO into a Memory register. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 16
Press and hold in this for 1/2 second to activate Priority Channel Scanning. Key Mode “2” ([ TONE ] Key ) Press this key momentarily to change the Tone Squelch mode: ENC (CTCSS Encoder), ENC.DEC (CTCSS Tone Squelch), or DCS (DCS) operation. & S ONTROLS FT-8800R Operating Manual WITCHES...
Page 17
(in 1 MHz steps) using this knob. Press and hold in this knob for 1/2 second to toggle the operating band on the “right” side as follows: 430 MHz ... 430 MHz 850 MHz 144 MHz 250 MHz 350 MHz FT-8800R Operating Manual...
: Middle TX Power Selected (No Icon indicates High TX Power) : Automatic Power-Off Active : Keypad/DIAL Lock Active : Menu (“Set”) Mode : Key Function Mode is set to “KEY-2” “Right” Band Memory Channel “Right” Band Frequency “Right” Band S- & PO Meter Icons FT-8800R Operating Manual...
9 Amperes (continuous duty). Make certain that the Red lead connects to the Posi- tive (+) side of the power source, and that the Black lead connects to the Negative (-) side of the power source. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 20
Press (or hold in) either of these buttons to tune (or scan up or down) the operating frequency or through the memory channels on the “Main” band. In many ways, these buttons emulate the function of the (rotary) “Main” band DIAL knob. ICROPHONE DTMF MICROPHONE MH-48 ENC ... FT-8800R Operating Manual...
(rotary) “Main” band DIAL knob. Notice: If you change the microphone from the MH-48 vice versa, change the setting of Menu #23 (MIC). See page 64 for details. FT-8800R Operating Manual MH-42 B6JS , but the MH-42...
Hi! I’m R. F. Radio, and I’ll be helping you along as you learn the many features of the FT-8800R. I know you’re anxious to get on the air, but I encourage you to read the “Operation” section of this manual as thoroughly as possible, so you’ll get the most out of this fantastic new transceiver.
1 ) You may select the operating band on the “Main” band by pressing and holding in the microphone’s [ P1 ] key for 1/2 second. 2 ) The FT-8800R may be configured to operate either in a V-V or U-U mode, if needed. VHF-VHF ( V-V ) Operation The FT-8800R may receive very strong signals on the Image frequency, and/or the receiver sensitivity may be somewhat reduced by the combination of the “...
Rotating the DIAL knob allows tuning in the pre-programmed steps established for the current operating band. Clockwise rotation of the DIAL knob causes the FT-8800R to be tuned toward a higher frequency, while counter-clockwise rotation will lower the operating frequency.
“Main” frequency field on the display. Changing the Transmitter Power Level You can select from among a total of four transmit power levels on your FT-8800R. To change the power level, press the [ LOW ] key to select one of four power settings. These...
20/25/50 kHz per step, any number of which may be important to your operating require- ments. The FT-8800R is set up at the factory with different default steps on each operating band which probably are satisfactory for most operation. However, if you need to change the channel step increments, the procedure to do so is very easy;...
The FT-8800R display illumination has been specially engineered to provide high visibility with minimal disruption of your “night vision” while you are driving. The brightness of the display is manually adjustable, using following procedure: 1. Press the [ SET ] key momentarily to enter the Set mode.
4. Press and hold in the “Main” band DIAL knob for 1/2 second to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. 5. Finally, rotate the SQL knob fully clockwise. PERATION UDIO UTING RF S QUELCH FT-8800R Operating Manual...
The FT-8800R includes a number of features which make repeater operation simple and enjoyable. Your FT-8800R has been configured, at the factory, for the repeater shifts customary in your country. While the 144 MHz shift will be 600 kHz; on 70 cm, the shift may be 1.6 MHz, 7.6 MHz, or 5 MHz (USA version).
If you just have one “odd” split that you need to program, don’t change the “de- fault” repeated shifts using this Menu Item! Enter the transmit and receive fre- quencies separately, as shown on page 33. PERATION EPEATER HIFT FT-8800R Operating Manual CTIVATION...
“ENC.DEC” to appear. When “ENC.DEC” appears, this means that the Tone Squelch system is active, which mutes your FT-8800R’s receiver until it receives a call from another radio sending out a matching CTCSS tone. This can help keep your radio quiet until a specific call is received, which may be helpful while operating in congested areas.
CTCSS to control access to the repeater, but don’t pass it along when transmitting. If the S-Meter deflects, but the FT-8800R is not passing audio, repeat steps “1” through “4” above, but rotate the “Main” DIAL knob so that “ENC” appears - this will allow you to hear all traffic on the channel being received.
When this happens, it may be that the other station is not sending any tone. You can press the [ SCN ] key to halt the scan at any time. Tone Scanning works either in the VFO or Memory modes. FT-8800R Operating Manual CTCSS/DCS O EARCH...
EMORY PERATION The FT-8800R provides a wide variety of memory system resources. These include: Independent “Regular” Memory Channels for the “Main” and “Sub” bands, each con- sisting of: 512 “Standard” memory channels, numbered “001” through “512.” Five Home channels, providing storage and quick recall of one prime frequency on each operating band.
Whenever you recall a memory which contains independently-stored transmit and receive frequencies, the “ [ FT-8800R Operating Manual EMORY EMORY HANNEL ] ”...
Once you have recalled a particular memory channel, you may easily tune off that channel, as though you were in the “VFO” mode. 1. With the FT-8800R in the “MR” (Memory Recall) mode, select the desired memory channel. 2. Now press and hold in the [ SCN ] key for 1/2 second; the “...
4. You may repeat this process on the other operating bands. 5. To recall the HOME channel, just press the [ H/M ] key while operating either in the VFO or MR mode. FT-8800R Operating Manual EMORY EMORY HANNEL...
2. Press and hold in the “left” [ V/M ] key while turning the radio on. 3. Rotate the “right” DIAL knob to select the (F-6 M-ONLY MODE), then press the [ SET ] key momentarily. To return to normal operation, repeat the above steps. EMORY HANNEL FT-8800R Operating Manual PERATION...
The FT-8800R usually stores, into memory, the operating frequency and some aspects of operating status (such as CTCSS/DCS data, repeater shift, power level etc.). However, the “Hyper Memory” Mode allows you to store the total current configuration of the radio into a special “Hyper”...
CANNING The FT-8800R allows you to scan just the memory channels, the entire operating band, or a portion of that band. It will halt on signals encountered, so you can talk to the station(s) on that frequency, if you like.
6. To cancel scanning, press the [ SCN ] key momentarily again (or press the microphone’s PTT key). 1) When you start scanning, the FT-8800R will be changing frequency in the upward direction. If you want to change direction of the scan while it is underway, rotate the DIAL knob one click in the opposite direction (in this case, one click counter- clockwise).
7. To re-institute a channel into the scanning loop, select “OFF” in step 5 above (the “Skipped” channel will, of course, still be accessible via manual channel selection methods using the DIAL knob in the MR mode, whether or not it is locked out of the scanning loop). EMORY CANNING FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Preferential Memory Scan The FT-8800R also allows you to set up a “Preferential Scan List” of channels which you can “flag” within the memory system. These channels are designated by a “ ” icon when you have selected them, one by one, for the Preferential Scan List.
) will now be limited within the just-programmed range. 6. Ten pairs of Band Limit memories, labeled L1/U1 through L10/U10 are available. You therefore can set upper and lower operation limits on a number of bands, if you like. IMIT EMORY FT-8800R Operating Manual...
3. Press and hold in the [ HM ] key for 1/2 second to activate the VFO Priority mode. The display will remain on the VFO frequency, but every five seconds the FT-8800R will check the Priority Channel (memory channel) for activity.
2 ) You may activate Smart Search operation on the “Main” band by pressing and holding in the microphone’s [ P2 ] key. 3 ) You may activate Smart Search operation on the “left” and “right” bands at the same time. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
5. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob momentarily. You will observe the “OUT.RNG” dis- play on the LCD. ARTS operation has now commenced. 6. Every 25 seconds, your radio will transmit a “polling” call to the other station. When that ANGE RANSPONDER FT-8800R Operating Manual YSTEM...
12. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob momentarily, then rotate the “Main” band DIAL knob to select “TX ON” (to enable the CW identifier). 13. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob momentarily to save the setting and exit to normal operation. FT-8800R Operating Manual ANGE RANSPONDER YSTEM...
DTMF A UTODIALER Sixteen DTMF Autodialer memories are available on the FT-8800R. These DTMF Autodialer memories can store up to 16 digits of a telephone number for repeater autopatch or other uses. To load DTMF Autodialer memories, use following procedure: 1.
Page 51
3. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob momentarily, then rotate the “Main” band DIAL knob to select the desired time (50/250/450/750/1000 ms). 4. Press and hold in the “Main” band DIAL knob for 1/2 second to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. FT-8800R Operating Manual UTODIALER PERATION...
NTERNET The FT-8800R can be used to access the repeater which is configured to provide access to the Vertex Standard WIRES 1. Press the “left” VOL knob momentarily to activate the WIRES™ access capability. The “INT ON” will appear for 2 seconds at the “Main” band frequency display. The “int”...
Page 53
9 (to establish the link to the Internet link repeater). 10. To disable the Internet link feature, press the “left” VOL knob again. To return to WIRES , recall Menu #17 (INET) then set it to “INT. COD.” FT-8800R Operating Manual ONNECTION EATURE...
“switch-off” time (between 1 and 12 hours in 0.5 hours increments), or OFF. 4. Press and hold in the “Main” band DIAL knob for 1/2 second to save the new setting and exit to normal operation. ETTINGS IMER UTOMATIC OWER FT-8800R Operating Manual...
ROGRAMMING THE Default FT-8800R key functions have been assigned to Microphone’s [ P1 ] / [ P2 ] / [ P3 ] / [ P4 ] buttons ( MH-48 , [ ACC ] / [ P ] / [ P1 ] / [ P2 ] buttons: MH-42 be changed by the user, if you wish to utilize another function on one of these keys.
4. Press and hold in the “Main” band DIAL knob for 1/2 second to save the new setting and to normal operation. To restore the normal (higher) microphone input level and normal (15 kHz) receiver band- width, select “WIDE” in step 3 above. ETTINGS & MIC G ONTROL FT-8800R Operating Manual...
4. Press and hold in the “Main” band DIAL knob for 1/2 second to exit to normal operation. Remember to restore the default setting to “TRX N” (Encoder; Normal, Decoder; Normal) when done. FT-8800R Operating Manual ISCELLANEOUS DCS C NVERSION...
ROSS The FT-8800R can be set up to operate as a full-featured cross-band repeater via a simple Menu procedure. This feature is useful for emergency portable work in a remote area, and for cross-band linking. However, remember these points before using the cross-band repeater function: Check the amateur radio rules and regulations for your country to ensure that this type of operation is permitted.
M-BANK RESET: Clears the Memory Bank Assignment. ALL RESET: Clears all memories and other settings to factory defaults. 4. Press the [ SET ] key momentarily to complete the reset procedure, once you have made your selection in step 3. FT-8800R Operating Manual ESET ROCEDURE...
LONING You can transfer all data stored in one FT-8800R to another FT-8800R by utilizing the handy “Cloning” feature. This requires a user-constructed Cloning cable which connects the DATA jacks on the two transceivers, as shown below. To clone from one transceiver to another, use the following procedure: 1.
The FT-8800R Set (Menu) mode, already described in parts of many previous chapters, is easy to activate and set. It may be used for configuration of a wide variety of transceiver parameters, some of which have not been detailed previously. Use the following procedure to activate the Set (Menu) mode: 1.
Page 63
Default: BEP. ON Menu #6 [ CLK.SFT ] Function: Shifting of CPU clock frequency. Available Values: SFT. ON/SFT.OFF Default: SFT.OFF This function is only used to move a spurious response “birdie,” should it fall on a desired frequency. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 65
See page 50 for more details. Available Values: d-1 ~ d-16 Default: d-1 Menu #20 [ KEY.MOD ] Function: Selects the key functions for the “right” band function switches. Available Values: KEY1/KEY2 Default: KEY1 FT-8800R Operating Manual access.
Page 66
Function: Stores an Alpha-Numeric “Tag” for a memory channel. See page 33 for details. Menu #26 [ PKT.SPD ] Function: Sets the transceiver’s circuitry for the Packet baud rate to be used. Available Values: 1200bps/9600bps Default: 1200bps FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 67
Note: This Menu Item can be set independently on both the “left” and “right” bands. Menu #33 [ RPT.MOD ] Function: Sets the Repeater Shift Direction Available Values: RPT.OFF/RPT. –/RPT. + Default: RPT.OFF (SIMP) Note: This Menu Item can be set independently on both the “left” and “right” bands. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 68
Menu #38 [ STEP ] Function: Sets the Synthesizer steps. Available Values: 5.0 k/10.0 k/12.5 k/15.0 k/20.0 k/25.0 k/50.0 k Default: Depends on the band of operation. Note: This Menu Item can be set independently for each band. FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 69
Available Values: 1 - 30 minutes or OFF Default: 6 minutes Menu #43 [ VFO.TR ] Function: Enables/disables the VFO Tracking feature. Available Values: ON/OFF Default: OFF FT-8800R Operating Manual CTCSS TONE FREQUENCY ( Hz ) 67.0 69.3 71.9 82.5 85.4 88.5...
Page 70
56 for details. Menu #46 [ AM ] Function: Enables/disables the AM mode. Available Values: ON/OFF Default: OFF Menu #47 [AUT. AM ] Function: Selects the receiving mode. Available Values: AUTO/OFF Default: AUTO (AM in Aeronautical Band, FM elsewhere) FT-8800R Operating Manual...
Page 71
1. Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by VERTEX STANDARD could void the user’s authorization to operate this device. 2. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions; (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference including received, interference that may cause undesired operation.
Page 72
Copyright 2003 Printed in Japan VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD. All rights reserved. No portion of this manual may be reproduced without the permission of VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.