Getting Started with Yaesu Transceiver Control
connect your Yaesu transceiver to your PC; if you use one of your PC's USB ports, configure Windows to not automatically power down this port.
if your transceiver's user manual indicates the presence of a CAT TOT (Computer Aided Transceiver Time Out Time) item in its Menu system, set this item to 1000
run Commander, and click the Config button on its Main window to open its Configuration window
in Commander's Configuration window, select the General tab and then set the Radio panel's Model selector to your transceiver model, e.g. MP1000MKV
in Commander's Configuration window select the Ports tab and then
designate the serial port that is connected to your radio interface
select the baud rate, parity, word length, and stop bits that match your radio's settings
- most Yaesu transceivers require 2 stop bits
recent Yaesu transceivers -- the FTDX10, FTDX101, FT-991, FTDX-1200, FTDX-3000, FTDX-5000, and FTDX-9000 -- perform well with a baud rate of 38,400
For an FT-450, FT-950, FT-991, FTDX10, FTDX101, FTDX-1200, FT-2000, FTDX-3000, FTDX-5000, or FTDX-9000 connected to your computer with an RS-232 cable, set the serial port's RTS selector to On (requires a DB9F-to-DB9F cable with all nine pins connected straight through)
if an external interface is being used and it derives its power from the serial port's DTR or RTS modem control signals, set the DTR or RTS selector to On; note that some CT-62 replacement cables from suppliers other than Yaesu use modem control signals for power.
- on the Configuration window's General tab,
check the Interrogation box
set the Command interval to 200 ms (note: older radios like the Yaesu FT-767 require longer Command intervals like 400 ms, but the microprocessors in modern Yaesu transceivers can handle command intervals much shorter than 200 ms, allowing Commander to more smoothly track frequency, mode, and meter changes; after everything is working correctly, try reducing the Command interval to 100 ms, and then to 50 ms)
For an FTDX-9000 with one receiver, uncheck the General panel's Accept 'Dual Rcv On' directives and Accept 'Dual Rcv Off' directives boxes
- On Commander's Main window
the VFO panel should reflect changes you make to your radio's frequency via its front panel
the Mode panel should reflect changes you make to your radio's mode via its front panel
Modifying the VFO panel's frequency display contents and striking the Enter key will radio's primary VFO to the specified frequency; see Changing Frequency for information about the other ways you can change transceiver frequency from the VFO panel
Clicking the Mode panel's buttons should change your transceiver's mode; see Changing Mode for additional information
Clicking the Bandspread button will display a Bandspread window; see Bandspread Window for additional information.
Model-specific notes
- the FT-736R and FT-757GX do not provide CAT commands that enable Commander to track its frequency and mode; the FT-757GXII does provide these CAT commands.
- the FT-817, FT-857, and FT-897 repeater mode is not supported; instead, use Split to access repeaters
- the FT-1000 and FT-1000D require EEPROM version 6.0 or later for operation with Commander
the FT-991 and FTDX-3000 include the equivalent of the Yaesu SCU-17 Interface but require a modified digital mode configuration.
the FTDX-3000's menu 060 ("CW BFO") must be set to USB for Commander to set the transceiver's CW sideband correctly
the FTDX-5000's menu 062 ("BFO") must be set to USB for Commander to set the transceiver's CW sideband correctly