How to setup the Yaesu FT-891 for FT8.
There are many excellent instructional videos on YouTube to help you setup a radio for use with FT8. I personally have found myself going back to the same one from time to time to check settings or trouble-shoot issues. Here is the information in text format from an excellent video by ND3N Ham Shack Chat
Please note, while my setup is a little different to the one in the video, I used these same settings and they worked for me.
WSJT-X
Menu Settings:
| Menu Number | Description | Setting for FT8 |
|---|---|---|
| 01-02 | AGC MID DELAY | 700msec |
| 05-06 | CAT RATE | Choose any - mine is 4800bps* |
| 05-07 | CAT TOT (TIMEOUT TIMER) | At least 100msec (mine is at 1000msec) |
| 05-08 | CAT RTS | DISABLE |
| 07-12 | PC KEYING | OFF |
| 08-01 | DATA MODE | OTHERS |
| 08-03 | OTHER DISP | 1500Hz |
| 08-04 | OTHER SHIFT | 1500Hz |
| 08-09 | DATA IN SELECT | REAR |
| 08-10 | DATA PTT SELECT | DAKY |
| 08-12 | DATA BFO | USB |
A note on modes: I had been operating the FT-891 on DATA mode, however there is commentary that it is better to use SSB mode (upper side band) instead. This has certainly found to be true for use with FT8CN (as per below).
Function Settings:
FUNCTION-1:
- WDH (WIDTH): 3000Hz
- The remaining functions can remain off
FUNCTION-2:
- AGC: AUTO
- The remaining functions can remain off
*Whatever you choose here is what goes into the Baud Rate dropdown for your radio settings in WSJT-X:
FT8CN
These settings are somewhat experimental…..what I have detailed below is what I have been able to get working. Things might be refined in the future.
Choose SSB mode (upper side band) when using FT8CN, as this is purported to yield better results and also silences the speaker when using VOX.
Menu Settings:
These don’t really need to be changed when using FT8CN from what they were for WSJT-X.
Function Settings:
FUNCTION-1:
- WDH (WIDTH): 3000Hz
- VOX: ON
- The remaining functions can remain off
Settings within FT8CN:
- I am using FT8CN with VOX, so most settings related to CAT operations (like choosing a radio make & model) are irrelevant.
- Turn off “No call tracked”