Programing the Yaesu FT-991 or Yaesu FTX-1
The K6SAC Repeater has an unusual Frequency Offset, aka "Split" between the Receive and Transmit frequencies. Nearly all VHF/UHF radios have a setting that provides a way for users to enter this "Frequency Offset" into their radio. In their infinite wisdom however, Yaesu engineers omitted this setting in their All-Band FT-991 and FTX-1 Transceivers. As a result instead of storing and using a single Memory Channel for the K6SAC repeater, owners of these radios will need to enter the Receive information for the repeater into one Memory Channel, and the Transmit information into a different Memory Channel. Both of these channels should be configured to operate in Simplex, so set the direction of the Repeater Shift setting "RPT" to "None". The Memory Channel used to store the repeater's Receive settings should be configured to use carrier squelch, so set the "TONE/DCS" function to "None". The Memory Channel used to store the Transmit settings will need to be configured to transmits a CTCSS Tone so set the "TONE/DCS" function to "ENC". The Transmit Memory Channel will also need to be configured to send the correct CTCSS tone so set "TONE" to "110.9". Below are step-by-step instructions on how to do this programing on the FT-991. The Yaesu FTX-1 uses similar logic as the FT-991, but the process is not identical.
Programming Steps for the FT-991:
1) Ensure the radio is in "VFO Mode" using the "V/M" button.
2) Enter the "Receive Frequency" of 145.550 in VFO A.
3) Press the "F" button, then using the soft keys on the screen set "RPT" to "None"
4) Using the soft keys on the screen set "TONE/DCS" to "None"
5) Store this into memory by:
a) Briefly pressing the "A-M" button to bring up the list of memory channels
b) Select a Memory Channel to store this into (example, Channel 1)
c) Long press the "A-M" button to store the Receive frequency into memory.
6) Enter the "Transmit Frequency" of 147.600 in VFO A
7) Press the "F" button, then using the soft keys on the screen set "RPT" to "None"
8) Using the soft keys on the screen set "TONE/DCS" to "ENC"
9) Using the soft keys on the screen set "TONE" to "110.9"
10) Store this into memory by:
a) Briefly pressing the "A-M" button to bring up the list of memory channels
b) Select a Memory Channel to store this into (example, Channel 2)
c) Long press the "A-M" button to store the Transmit frequency into memory.
Operating The FT-991 using the Two Memory Channels:
Here is the logic behind the why and how... These All-Band transceivers were primarily designed around the needs of HF operators. HF operators primarily operate using the same frequency for both receive and transmit. In order to quiet the noise and make more contacts per hour HF operators will sometimes separate the traffic by transmitting on one frequency and listening on another, which on HF is referred to as "Working Split". In HF the difference between the transmit and receive frequency is generally not a fixed amount and will sometimes even wonder or change multiple times during one operating session. Yaesu firmware engineers due to laziness, poor assumptions, or inadequate quality control decided owners who want to use these radios with repeaters that have unusual Frequency Offsets will need to use the HF "Split" features of these radios. To do this, you will need to set VFO A to Memory Channel 1, and VFO B to Memory Channel 2. Here is how that is done:
1) Ensure the radio is in "Memory Mode" using the "V/M" button.
2) Press the "Split" button so both "VFO A" & "VFO B" frequencies are displayed.
3) Press the "A / B" Button to swap the two frequencies back and forth until VFO A is 145.550, and VFO B is 147.600.
* Note in "Split Mode" VFO A will have a Green LED, and VFO B will have a Red LED, indicating which is the receive and transmit side.