Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the FT-60 minimum tuning step is 5 khz.  The wide/narrow menu setting only alters the TX dviation from 5 khz to 2.5 khz, respectively.

Having said that, certain "narrowbanded" freqs can be programmed using the 12.5 khz step setting, but only in cardinal multiples, i.e. 146.5125, 146.525, 146.5375, 146.55.

There is no way (using the radio keyboard, or programming software) to program, say, 146.3125.  That would require 2.5khz steps, which aren't available on the FT-60 in its current form.

Minimum frequency step is constrained by the PLL divider; arguably easy to implement, but evidently not implemented (in the US version) FT-60 - no demand for 2.5 khz granularity...?

If you need that kind of frequency resolution, consider a 5-10 year old LMR rig.  You'd have to obtain the programming accessories (cable/dongle, RIB box, warez, etc) or pay to have the radio flashed to the freqs you wish to "monitor".


73,
Mike N5MJ

Hamfests are the easiest venue to visit with your fellow amateur.  For some, it's the one time of the year when we can all be found at one place - more and more, sadly, it's the last time...

I like supporting the vendors that support our hamfest - <shameless plug>http://www.alamohams.org</shameless plug>
and try to lighten their return trip load.  We don't have a local "candy store"...

Overpriced used stuff?  Well... whatever the market will bear, as the old saying goes?  Personally, I have no problems making a fair offer on any item.  If the seller wants to sell, they'll sell.  If they don't, they won't.  Some have no clue what to price their gear at.  A small stack of Hamiltons or Franklins is a powerful disincentive to packing the gear up and taking it home, again...

To the grouches and sourpusses - enjoy seeing your friends and cherish the experience.  We're not getting any younger.

73,
Mike N5MJ

What:  20th annual Alamogordo Hamfest

Where: Otero County Fairgrounds, Hwy 54/70 and Fairgrounds Road, Alamogordo, NM

When: Saturday, September 4th, 2004 from 7AM to 3PM

Admission:  FREE!  

URL:  http://www.alamohams.org

Features:  vendors from across the west and local sellers, on-site snacks and light chow provided by the Kiwanis Club, and many great door prizes, including a new IC-706.

Vendors can set up on Friday evening (3 September) at the Fairgrounds. Preregistration is suggested if you need a table.  Choice spots go fast!

Talk in on 146.800 (-, 100hz)

Hamfest banquet is at Pepper's Grill, pay-as-you-go, at 6PM-ish.  Pepper's Grill is located adjacent to the Fairgrounds, and offers some of the best cuisine to be had in Alamogordo.

While in town visit also the annual Cottonwood Festival at Alameda Park - a few blocks south of the Fairgounds. info at http://www.alamogordo.com/activites/cottonwood.html

73,
Mike N5MJ
hamfest04@alamohams.org

Eh, the link posted below applies to VX1 and VX5R handitalkies...

I bought a cable from RT Systems, and haven't had any luck uploading back to the radio.... matter of fact, I downloaded the radio, made one change, tried to upload, and found the radio had lost all memories.  

What a pain.  IMHO it's easier to just do it from the keyboard.

Mike N5MJ

My experience with Yaesu/Vertex first attempt to make programming software for their amateur VHF/UHF rigs is that.... well, they should stick to making radios.  The software was a piece of junk.  About the only thing that actually worked was the cable.

I ended up tossing the software and buying the ARDTS software from RT Systems.  It's clunky too, but works most of the time.

The key is to download from the radio FIRST.  Don't try to program the freq list then upload it, it won't work that way.

There's something about expanding the radio's TX frequency that causes it to change personality as far as the programming software is concerned.  

Download from the radio what's in memory to a blank RDF file.  Modify the list that comes off of the radio, then try uploading it again.

Hope it works for you.  My record is less than 50/50 getting the software to sync up with the radio.  Geez, commercial stuff is *sooooo* much easier to work with.  Then again, I have to *pay* a lot more for the rigs and warez too....

Mike N5MJ

Greetings -

I made the mistake of buying the ADMS (Yaesu/Vertex) version of the programming software.  It was a piece of junk and didn't work.

The RT Systems software (ARDTS 7100) is superior, but still clunky.  At least it works, sort of.

Here's the deal.  If you modify your radio to TX out of band, ie you've removed one or more of the initialization diodes/jumpers, your radio is now "different" than it was before.  Consider it a personality change.  The old files you had won't work.

To make it work, you have to DOWNLOAD to a new, empty  freq file, make entries into *that* freq file, then try uploading the new freq file to the rig.  It's catch-as catch-can with any of these programming softwares, for me most of the time it doesn't sync up very well at all.

BTW, if you do buy from RT, ensure they send you the software on CD, not floppy.  I bought the programming pkg (software and cable) for the FT90/FT2600 at the same time as the 7100 ware.  The software came on diskette.  It was an old version, and wouldn't install.  I emailed RT Systems, and about 2 weeks later, Karin sent the newer version on CD.  I discovered the cable was the wrong one too the first time the software actually fired up, it wouldn't talk to the radio.  

To RT Systems' (Karin Thompson, the programmer) credit, they will fedex you replacements no questions asked.  Just make sure you either call them, or email them during the hours they look at email: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, from 6 to 9 PM eastern time.

Sure... ADMS-2G is *supposed* to work with this radio... the version I bought (dated 10/28/2001) is wrought with bugs, has a lousy user interface, and absolutely refuses to establish a connection with the radio.  I've managed to get it to work once, and can't repeat the process.

Is there some kind of secret handshake to get the radio and the software to sync reliably?  Following the instructions results in nothing but a comm error and alarm bleeps coming from the radio.  Of course, the software documentation is nonexistent and I notice as of May 2003 that this ill-begotten excuse for programming software isn't even listed on the Yaesu web site (they couldn't or wouldn't own up to it, I guess)...

First off - the "brick" described is most likely a lightly (if at all) filtered broadband 2-30 MHz amp made by and for CBers.  Without taking the time to look up the specs on the transistors, it'd be a fair guess to surmise they FT at 30 MHz.  Further, if there is any rudimentary output filtering at all, the circuit likely begins to suckout starting at 54 MHz (right where you want the amp to perform)... So, you're outta luck there on several accounts, "by the book".  

That doesn't mean it would be worth playing around with to try and salvage some use out of the amp.  You might get away with decreasing the values of the chip caps in the RF circuit (Unelcos, most likely) about 20%, and taking one turn out of the broadband input and output transformers.  That part at least is easy enough - the windings are the teflon-coated wires wound thru the ferrite cores at the bases and collectors of the PA transistors.  You'll find the Unelcos tough to unsolder with anything less than a 150W gun.  

It would be an interesting experiment to try the conversion, given enough time, parts, and tools.  I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for it to work (properly) though.  Good luck with the project anyway - and thanks for pulling the amp out of the 11m market.

73,
Mike N5MJ