Yaesu FT-857 & FT-857D Mini-Manual

Introduction

This mini-manual provides a concise and detailed guide for setting up and operating the Yaesu FT-857 and FT-857D all-bands, all-mode radio. It is designed for quick reference, offering step-by-step instructions and useful hints to clarify operation. The guide covers essential functions and modes, including DSP option coverage, for both models of the radio.

Visual representation of the Yaesu FT-857 & FT-857D Mini-Manual. This compact, laminated, spiral-bound manual is designed for durability and quick reference, fitting easily into a map pocket or radio kit. It features color-coded, clear instructions for various radio operations.

General Controls and Symbols

Mini-Manual Symbol Key

• Φ: An Informational Item
• →: Next Step
• [V/M]: Press a function key
• [↑] I Sec: Press F KEY 1 Second
• ΙSELECT: Rotate select knob
• ΙUMDIAL: Rotate the Main Dial

Front Panel Controls Overview

• V/M (VFO/MR): Switches between VFO and Memory Modes. Press until the 2nd beep to store current frequency and settings into the GMB scratch-pad memory.
• HOME: Recalls a Home (Call) frequency from Memory, a user-programmable frequency per band: HF, 6M, 2M, and 70CM. In CW, pressing and holding this key down generates a CW spotting tone for tone pitch comparison.
• DSP: Quick access to MFP DSP controls function keys. Press 1 second for Menu-48.
• DWN/UP (Band Switch): Used to change the operating Band.
• SELECT: Rotary knob used for multiple functions depending upon current mode. Selects the MFa-q [A] [B] [C] function menus after pressing [?]. In VFO mode, steps VFO in discrete menu selectable step sizes. Steps VFO in 1 MHz increments after pressing (MEM/VFO). Selects Main Setup Menu items after pressing [?] 1 Sec (until 2nd beep). In Memory Mode, Press then rotate to select Memory Group. Set Menu-65 ON. The function activated by pressing MEM/VFO can be changed via Menu-67.
• CLAR (Clarifier (RIT)/IF Shift): Dual function key, pressing the unmarked button activates Clarifier (Receive Incremental Tuning) function. In RIT mode, USELECT changes the frequency for avoiding adjacent QRM.
• SQL/RF (Squelch/RP Gain): Used as RF Gain for CW, SSB and AM, and as a Squelch Control in FM and packet modes. Selectable function via Menu-00.
• FUNC (Function): Press and UMEM/VFO to access 17 sets of functions for the [A], [B] & [C] keys. Press until 2nd beep to enter and exit Man Setup Menu. Selectable via Menu-64 to either: completely lock the Front Panel, only the Frequency Controls, just the Man Dial, or All controls including the Mic buttons.
• LOCK: (Function not detailed in OCR, but present on image)

Setup Procedures

Setting the Band, Frequency and Operating Mode

This section details the fundamental steps for selecting the desired operating band, setting the frequency, and choosing the appropriate mode (e.g., LSB, USB, CW, AM, FM, DIG, PKT) for your radio operations. Refer to the "Front Panel Controls" section for details on VFO/MR, DWN/UP, and SELECT controls.

SSB TX Setup - Output Power, Mic Gain & Equalizer, VOX

Instructions are provided for configuring Single Sideband (SSB) transmission parameters, including adjusting output power levels, setting microphone gain for optimal audio, utilizing the audio equalizer for desired voice characteristics, and enabling Voice Operated Transmit (VOX) for hands-free operation.

AM Mode & 20MHz FM Mode Transmission Settings

This part of the manual covers specific settings for Amplitude Modulation (AM) and the 20MHz range for Frequency Modulation (FM) transmissions, ensuring proper configuration for these modes.

Using the VFO's, RIT and Improving RX Signals

Learn how to effectively use the Variable Frequency Oscillators (VFOs) for frequency tuning, apply Receiver Incremental Tuning (RIT) for fine-tuning received signals, and implement techniques to improve overall reception quality.

CW Key Wiring

For compatibility with this rig, a CW Key is wired as follows:

• Straight Key: The tip of the stereo plug is the key contact, and the barrel is ground.
• Paddles: The tip of the plug is the Dot, next contact is Dash, and the barrel is common/ground.

Setting-up for FM Simplex Operation

1. Press [↑] as required to select the FM Mode. (FM is displayed middle left)
2. For maximum sensitivity make sure [SQL/RF] control is fully CW.
3. Use front panel [UP]/[DWN] to select the band → ΙSELECT or use the Microphone [UP]/[DWN] keys to set an operating frequency.
4. Press [SELECT] → ΙSELECT to change frequency in 1 MHz steps.
5. Use Menu-52 FM STEP if you need to change Step Size to set the exact frequency.
6. Make sure SPL is not showing at upper left. (Use MFa (A/B, A-B, SPL) menu to turn off)

Adjusting FM Microphone Gain

If you receive reports that your modulation (audio level) on FM is either too low or too high, perform this procedure:

1. Set up for FM operation.
2. Press [A]MODE to move over the [B] key.
3. To adjust the FM Mic Gain: Press [FUNC] 1 sec → ΙSELECT to Menu-51 FM MIC GAIN.
4. Press PTT and speak into the microphone using your normal speech level.
5. Hold the mic to the side of your mouth, with lips near the center of the microphone.
6. Adjust FM Mic Gain for 16 bars of meter 'deflection' on voice peaks. (About 8 or 9)
7. Use ΙUMDIAL to set Microphone Gain [FUNC] 1 sec to save setting and exit the menu.
8. To verify this adjustment you may need someone to make comparisons to other stations of the loudness of your voice during FM transmit.

Setting-up for Repeater Operation

Complete steps 1 and 2 below to set up the radio for accessing a repeater. Continue to STEP 3 to save settings into a MemCh, and to STEP 4 to Label the Ch.

STEP 1: Setting-up Repeater Duplex Direction & Offset

• Automatic Repeater duplex offset is built in for standard VHF & UHF repeaters.
• If setting up a HF or 6M repeater, or a repeater not conforming to band plan offset frequencies, be sure to set the duplex frequency as shown in STEP 1a below.
• Press [↑] as required to activate the FM Mode. (FM displays center left)
• For maximum signal sensitivity make sure [SQL/RF] control is fully CW.
• Use front panel [UP]/[DWN] to select the band → ΙSELECT or use the Microphone [UP]/[DWN] keys to set an operating frequency.
• Press [SELECT] → ΙSELECT to change frequency in 1 MHz steps.
• Use Menu-52 FM STEP if you need to change Step Size to set the exact frequency.
• Make sure SPL is not showing at upper left. (Use MFa (A/B, A-B, SPL) menu to turn off)
• You can press [D]REV if you wish to monitor the repeater input frequency.

STEP 1a: Set 29MHz and 6M Band (and non-standard VHF/UHF) Repeater Duplex Offset

When setting a 10 or 6 Meter HF band repeater, or a non-standard offset, use the following procedure:

1. Press [FUNC] → ΙSELECT to Menu-76 RPT SHIFT.
2. Use ΙUMDIAL to select the offset frequency [FUNC] 1 sec to save & exit.
3. If you change a band offset to accommodate an "odd-split", be sure to remember to restore it to the default offset later.

HF Repeater Shift Values

STEP 2: Setting and Enabling Repeater Access and Squelch Tones

Perform this procedure if tones are required to access the repeater.

1. Press [FUNC] → ΙSELECT to the MFa [TON, TDCH] menu.
2. Press [A]TON 1 sec to Menu-83 → ΙUMDIAL to set the Access Tone frequency.
3. Press [FUNC] 1 sec to save setting and exit the menu.
4. Press [A]TON to activate the access tone encoder - TEN is displayed (or to activate tone encoder and decoder - TBQ, to engage Tone Squelch operation).
5. VFO repeater operation should now be setup, press [PTT] to transmit. To save to a memory channel continue with the STEP 3 memory programming procedure.

Operating Procedures

CW Operation and Setup

Using the CW Code Practice Feature

You can send random 5-character groups at the current CW speed by pressing the [FUNC] key and then the [A]CW key. This is useful for practicing Morse code reception.

CW Memory Keyer / Beacon

The FT-857 has three 40-character Keyer Memories which can be used individually or linked together for longer messages.

Programming the Memory Keyer / Beacon Text

1. Press [FUNC] 1 sec → ΙSELECT to Menu 11 BEACON TEXT.
2. Use ΙUMDIAL to select BEACON TEXT 1, 2 or 3. (An auto-timed beacon message must start in 1).
3. Press [SELECT] to enable storage of the message.
4. Use ΙUMDIAL to select a message character → ΙSELECT to advance to next character position.
5. Repeat Step 4 until message complete. (40 characters max)
6. Terminate the message by using Step 4 to insert the Φ character. (end of text flag) Then Press [SELECT] to complete the storage to the memory location.
7. To continue a longer message to memory 2, insert the Φ character. (continuation flag) Press [SELECT] then repeat Step 2 selecting BEACON TEXT2 and continue with Steps 3,4,5 & 6 storing the remainder of the message.
8. To program a message longer than 79 characters, repeat the above steps linking Memories 1, 2 and 3 together. (For a maximum message length of 118 characters.)
9. Remember to insert the Φ character mark at the end of a message sequence.
10. Press [FUNC] 1 sec to save setting and exit the menu.

Transmitting a Stored Memory Keyer Message (or Beacon)

1. Press [FUNC] 1 sec → ΙSELECT to Menu 12 BEACON TIME.
2. Use ΙUMDIAL to set the Beacon Time to OFF to be able to manually send a stored message, or to automatically repeat the message select a Beacon repetition rate of from 1-286 seconds.
3. Press [FUNC] 1 sec to save setting and exit the menu.
4. If using the auto Beacon feature, make sure VOX is off. (MFd [RPT, REV, VOX] menu)
5. Press [FUNC] → ΙSELECT to the MFo [PL1, PL2, PL3] menu.
6. Press [PL1], [PL2] or [PL3] to transmit the message.
7. To terminate auto beacon mode, repeat Steps 1,2 & 3 selecting OFF.
8. Access Menu-30 CW SPEED if you wish to change the CW keying rate.

Split Frequency Operation

Why Use Split Frequency Operation?

Split Frequency Operation allows the transmit and receive frequencies to be different. DX stations often work split to prevent stations calling in a pile-up from obliterating the DX's transmit signal. This is usually indicated by the DX station saying something like "up 5" or "just a number 30". Both of these refer to KHz and may only indicate an approximate frequency. Working these stations requires split frequency operation - your RX frequency on one VFO and a TX frequency on the other.

Working Satellites is another reason to work split. In which case, the split VFO's will be on different bands. The procedure is essentially the same in either case.

Setting and using both VFO's for Split Frequency Operation

This procedure assumes that you have already tuned to the DX's transmit frequency (This will not be the Pile-up frequency).

1. Press [FUNC] → ΙSELECT to the [A/B, A-B, SPL] menu.
2. Use ΙUMDIAL and a bit to locate exactly listening (locate the Pile-Up).
3. Press [A]A/B to reverse the VFO's.
4. Both VFO's are now set. The displayed VFO is your RX frequency (the DX's transmit frequency) and the "hidden" VFO is your transmit frequency (the Pile-up).
5. Press [C]SPL to activate split operation. (Split icon SPL shows at upper left)
6. You are now ready to make your call to the DX.
7. Press [A]A/B to switch back to the DX's receive frequency if you wish to monitor the Pile-Up. Listen (find the frequency) for the calls he is actually coming back to. Some times, to spread out the pile-up, the DX will be changing the frequency where he is actually listening.

Programming and Using Memory Channels

This section guides you through the process of programming frequencies and settings into the radio's memory channels for quick recall. It also covers how to effectively use these stored channels for various operations.

Scanning Operations

Detailed instructions are provided for setting up and initiating scanning operations, allowing you to monitor multiple frequencies or memory channels efficiently.

Reference Information

Function Key Reference

The manual provides detailed instructions for the use of the [A], [B], and [C] function keys, which access various menus and settings. Refer to the specific sections for their applications in different modes of operation.

Main Setup Menu Reference

A comprehensive reference to the main setup menu items is included, allowing users to quickly navigate and adjust advanced settings of the FT-857/FT-857D radio. Specific menu numbers are referenced throughout the manual for ease of use.

Troubleshooting

Possible Problems & Corrections

This section addresses common issues that may arise during the operation of your Yaesu FT-857/FT-857D radio and provides practical solutions. For specific problems, consult the relevant operational section or the full factory instruction manual for more in-depth troubleshooting.

Product Specifications