There was a lot involved in getting this working so I thought I would write a post about getting the Yaesu FT-891 to work digital modes (FT8 in this case) with a new Mac the only has USB-C ports. There are probably other ways to do it but I think what I am describing will be the lowest cost route. First, here are the settings in the FT-891 menu system that I ended up using: 05-06 CAT RATE.
Yaesu Ft 891 Ebay
MacLoggerDX - the Mac Ham Radio Logbook choice in 130 countries. Organizing and filtering the spots from your favourite DX Cluster for DXing, casual Contesting or rag-chewing. 10) Click F on the FT-891 (short click) 11) Goto MON on the FT-891 menu. 12) Click on MON. 13) Turn down the MON level to 0 Note: This applies regardless if you have MON ON or MON OFF (this is a bug in Yaesu’s firmware. LOL) 14) Now you have CAT control without any clicking sounds on your FT-891. 15) Enjoy your Yaesu FT-891.
Setting up the Yaesu SCU-17 with the Yaesu FT-891
Yaesu Ft-891 Amazon
#46 Hello everyone, and thanks for this forum. I have a question regarding setting up of the Yaesu SCU-17 USB Interface Unit to use with the Yaesu FT-891, as I have looked and there is very little info on how to go about doing this. My use for the SCU-17 unit will be digital modes such as JS8 & Olivia. The JS8 mode uses the program JS8Call, and for Olivia I will use FLRig & FLDigi. My computer is running Windows 8 Pro. So far I have read that this setup (FT-891 with SCU-17) requires the use of 2 USB cables, but I am not sure on how to progress from there. I have already installed the USB drivers from Yaesu and can confirm that they are working with the FT-891. Could someone here 'walk' me through the setting up of this please? I am trying not to let the 'Magic Smoke' out to soon, Hi Hi. Many thanks. Peter, VK3PYE (Melbourne, Australia) |
#47 Hello Peter Welcome to the group. I use the SCU-17 with my 891 and 817 for data modes (AFSK, FSK, and CW), it's a great bit of kit. I use it under Windows and Linux. I'm away from my computer for the next couple of days but I can walk you through and provide screen-shots as necessary. You've already worked out that you need two usb cables for the FT-891, the one from the 891 is for the CAT commands and the SCU one carries audio. I'm also using JS8Call, WSJT-X, RTTY, AND PSK and confirm your combo can cover them all. Regards Glen G0SBN |
#48 Hi Glen. Thank you for your response, and I look forward to some tips from you. No hurry though, as my FT-891 is my portable ops radio. I have only used it for phone so far and it does a good job at that running from a 12v AGM battery. Summer is here for us now in Oz, so I hope to get out into the parks and try some digi modes with it. If possible Glen, to make this thread more useful to those that follow me with connecting this unit to the FT-891, can you please provide as much info as time permits you. Thanks again. Peter, VK3PYE |
#49 Hello Peter As promised I've put some notes together which I've attached as a PDF document which I hope will offer you and others some assistance when endeavouring to connect the Yaesu FT-891 and Yaesu SCU-17 interface together for data modes. Keep in touch. Regards Glen G0SBN |
#50 Peter You may see I sometimes use CAT for PTT as an alternative to switching via RTS, either will work with the FT-891 and SCU-17 if both usb cables re connected as per my notes. Regards Glen G0SBN |
#51 Update, SCU-17 sound card works but not the CAT chips are non responsive Drivers are loaded (windows), Linux' demsg -T +tells a story I don't like. The chips are not even recognized, gone! do not know what happened. Using Signalink and a USB cable type A-B for control. Feed them both, Signalink & USB cable to a HUB, then one cable to the laptop( Raspberry Pi3) Your info will help me find/input the correct settings for the FT-891. First I want to use FLDIGI then, on a Windows box, WinLink, the various modes, that will be challenging, so I go for FLDIGI first. Pete Thuotte N1ZRL On Wed, Dec 12, 2018 at 4:14 PM Glen - G0SBN via Groups.Io <g0sbn=talktalk.net@groups.io> wrote: Peter |
#52 Hello Pete I'm curious when you say the SCU-17 CAT chips are non responsive, do you mean that Windows doesn't show any associted COM ports in device manager when the SCU-17 is connected? On the FT-891 CAT commands for rig control are via the radio's usb connection only, most software offers PTT control via CAT so the SCU-17 is only handling audio. I do quite a lot of RTTY contesting so that's why I use RTS for PTT control. I also use the SCU-17 & Yaesu 817nd with Lubuntu on an old netbook while using data modes when G0SBN/P I recall I had to issue the following command to give access the SCU-17 via the usb port /dev/ttyUSB0 for CAT control. $ sudo adduser [username] dialout Regards Glen G0SBN |
#53 Edited Hello Glen. Thank you very much for the well presented info Glen. I have read through it and it is easy to follow. I am using JS8Call with my home rig, so the setup menu screen shots look familiar to me. Just one thing to clarify for me please Glen : I take it that you have set the FT-891 menus up as per pages 67 & 68 in the 'FT-891 Advanced Manual'? Are there any other settings in the FT-891 that you found needed that are not mentioned in that manual? I will let you know how I get on Glen. Thanks for you help. Peter, VK3PYE |
#55 Hello Peter My settings are essentially those that Yaesu set as default. I use the 'RT Systems FT-891 Programmer' software for easy recall of radio settings so I've reproduced screen shots below of my radio at the moment. 73 Glen G0SBN |
#56 Correct, Windows did not show any COM ports. I could try to reload the drivers, that of which I had to do several times but, I presently (subject to change) I have a working situation. But, I am curious as to why things went wrong.( maybe it's not broke at all.) As for dialout group, yes, that was one of the first things I checked. On Wed, Dec 12, 2018 at 6:04 PM Glen - G0SBN via Groups.Io <g0sbn=talktalk.net@groups.io> wrote: Hello Pete |
#57 Hi Glen. Thank you again for your time and effort. With the info that you have provided I should be 'good-to-go'. I believe that this info should be made a 'sticky', so that others can make good use of it also. When I get time to do the setup here, I will let you know how I got on, and any issues that I sorted. 73 de Peter, VK3PYE |
#58 Peter In the spirit of Amateur Radio we're all here to help. If you happen to get it setup for the weekend there is a JS8Call 'QSO Party' on the bands which should give some extra data activity to enjoy. Regards Glen G0SBN |
#59 |
#62 G'day Glen. I now have the FT-891 and the SCU-17 working together very nicely due to your help my friend. I have only tested WSJT-X and JS8Call so far, but I'm sure that I should be able to get any other software working using the info in that PDF you posted. You have been a great help mate, thanks again. Cheers and Happy DXing. 73 de Peter, VK3PYE |
#205 If a RIGblaster or Signalink interface is used with the FT-891, is a SCU-17 still required? thanks From: FT-891@groups.io [mailto:FT-891@groups.io] On Behalf Of Peter VK3PYE Hello everyone, and thanks for this forum.Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2018 7:48 AM To: FT-891@groups.io Subject: [FT-891] Setting up the Yaesu SCU-17 with the Yaesu FT-891 I have a question regarding setting up of the Yaesu SCU-17 USB Interface Unit to use with the Yaesu FT-891, as I have looked and there is very little info on how to go about doing this. My use for the SCU-17 unit will be digital modes such as JS8 & Olivia. The JS8 mode uses the program JS8Call, and for Olivia I will use FLRig & FLDigi. My computer is running Windows 8 Pro. So far I have read that this setup (FT-891 with SCU-17) requires the use of 2 USB cables, but I am not sure on how to progress from there. I have already installed the USB drivers from Yaesu and can confirm that they are working with the FT-891. Could someone here 'walk' me through the setting up of this please? I am trying not to let the 'Magic Smoke' out to soon, Hi Hi. Many thanks. Peter, VK3PYE (Melbourne, Australia) |
#206 You could use it for rig control, but the FT891 also has a USB jack for rig control so no, it isn't needed. 73 John W5TD On Sun, Jul 28, 2019 at 8:14 PM N0UTJ <N0UTJ@...> wrote:
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#207 On Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 11:14 AM, N0UTJ wrote: If a RIGblaster or Signalink interface is used with the FT-891, is a SCU-17 still required?The SCU-17 is Yaesu's version of the Signalink / RIGblaster, so as John W5TD said -- 'No' -- Pete, VK3YPE |
#208 toggle quoted messageShow quoted text From: FT-891@groups.io [mailto:FT-891@groups.io] On Behalf Of Peter VK3PYE On Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 11:14 AM, N0UTJ wrote:Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2019 10:20 PM To: FT-891@groups.io Subject: Re: [FT-891] Setting up the Yaesu SCU-17 with the Yaesu FT-891 If a RIGblaster or Signalink interface is used with the FT-891, is a SCU-17 still required?The SCU-17 is Yaesu's version of the Signalink / RIGblaster, so as John W5TD said -- 'No' -- Pete, VK3YPE |
#209 Randall They are all data interfaces, from different manufacturers. Check which modes are supported on different models. I have a couple of Signalink SL+ units which i still occasionally use, they provide audio connection and vox ptt, which is fine for AFSK, however the SL+ doesn't provide FSK if you want it for RTTY. I believe Rigblaster also provide non FSK units, so it's probably worth checking their spec. The table shown on Tigertronics website may help http://www.tigertronics.com/sl_modes.htm I now mainly use the Yaesu SCU-17 interface, with my 891 and 817 radios as it easily provides interfacing for AFSK, FSK, CW modes, and CAT (for the 817). Regards Glen |
#504 I am considering adding an FT-891 and SCU17 to my truck that I use for overlanding. My main interest of use would be WinLink and WSJT-X. Curious if it might be possible to make use of the RS232 port of the SCU for rig control? Would a RS232 to USB converter and a USB A Female to USB B Male adapter work? I want to reduce the number of cables from the laptop to the console port to SCU and radio. If not, it would mean I would need to install two USB ports in the console. Thanks in advance -- Bill Bennett K4IBC |