I figured it out...It turns out that the scan mode can interfere with the weather alert function.  From the manual:


If the mode is set to "ONLY", the weather alert channels will not be swept during MR or VFO scans, and will not "silently scan" if you start scanning on the weather bands.  Switching the scan mode to "MEM" fixed the problem.

I've had several VX-170 radios for years now and this afternoon I was trying to get the "Weather Alert" function to work...with no success.

Page 45 of the manual says that to enable weather alert, simply set menu 052 WX.ALT to ON.  Easy enuf.  The same page also says:


This is the desired result; however, when I switch to the weather bands and initiate scanning with the up or down arrows, the radio simply stops at the first broadcasting channel with the audio on full.  When I initiate scanning in either VHF or MR mode, the radio doesn't scan the weather bands at all (it's supposed to check'em every 5 seconds when WX.ALT is set to ON).

Anyone else encountered this problem?  Suggestions?

Thanks!

I've operated mobile for over a decade now from my trusty  1994 Toyota pickup using first an ICOM-2100 and then later a Yaesu FT-1500.

For Christmas I bought my wife a brand new Honda Element, and figuring out where to put the radio without running afoul of the SIX airbags or messing up the vehicle's ergonomic interior is really giving me a headache.

Which got me to thinking....

Why aren't mobile rigs sized to the same dimensions as factory radios?  I can flip through Crutchfield, pick out a receiver made by Sony, Panasonic, or many other brands and easily pop it in just about any car.  Sure there may be some shims or specialty brackets, but by and large it's an easy install and the outcome looks clean and professional.

Many of the latest rigs already include AM/FM receive.  If the manufacturers added a jack for the factory AM/FM antenna, a set of stereo outs, and an AUX-IN on the front panel for the ubiquitous iPod, I think many HAM's wouldn't hesitate to throw out their car's stereo in favor of a 2m / 70cm transceiver mounted cleanly in the dashboard.

So how about it?  Let's get some of our 600,000 licensed hams to petition ICOM, Yaesu, and Kenwood to make it easier on all of us to install our mobile rigs.

73,
N3XFD
Scott Drumm

I've backpacked solo around Mt. Hood twice on the Timberline Trail and carried the VX-170 both times.  It is a rugged, dependable radio which won't let you down.

You'll want a roll up J-pole antenna.  You might also consider a lightweight ARROW directional beam antenna.  The mast comes in three sections, but the owner will custom fabricate a single-piece mast which could double as trekking pole.

If you carry a handheld GPS (and I suggest that you do, and a map, and a compass) then you can hook an OpenTracker between the GPS and the VX-170 and not only beacon your position via APRS but also view the locations of other stations in your area (possibly the rescue party...)

As far as satellite phones go - they're outside my budget; However, I carry a rugged cell phone (Motorola i355) and have found that it works in a surprising number of places.

Good luck!

>If all three radiators are connected to the center
>conductor, it's not an open sleeve, it's more of a ....
>fan vertical.

All the radiators are connected to the center conductor in the original article, so that's what I'm going to go with first.

>Either way, cut 'em long and get out your wire cutters.

Wire cutters, Aye!

Thanks.

I'm building a multi-band HF vertical based on WA5ABR's design in ARRL Antenna Compendium Vol. 5.  In this design, he uses aluminum tubing cut at 1/4 wavelength for each band, separated by several circular acrylic spacers.  A set of ground radials is buried around the antenna.

I was thinking that instead of tubing, I could use #10 AWG copper clad steel wire run inside PVC pipe.  There are three reasons for this change:

1.  It's cheaper.

2.  If I run all the wires inside a 6" OD pipe, I can easily camoflauge the pipe with paint, thereby avoiding the neighborhood antenna police.

3.  The chance of the dog (or anyone else) getting an RF burn from the antenna is greatly reduced as the radiators are insulated from contact.

I think this will work...but what do you'all think?  Will the PVC cause any significant attenuation?  Is it a sufficient insulator to prevent RF burns?  Can the radiators for each band be w/in 2 inches of each other and still radiate properly?

Thanks!

73
N3XFD
Scott Drumm

>When the flag icon is showing, rotating the select knob will change your RF output.
>There's no indication of this on the display but you will see the results on a wattmeter.

I really like Yaesu radios, but that has to be one of the dumbest "features" I've stumbled across.  You'd think they could spare a few bytes to update the display so you could see what you were changing.

Thanks for the reply tho, and I'll head on over to the Yahoo Group to see what more I can find on the 857.

73
N3XFD
Scott Drumm

The FT-60R is a good choice.  I personally carry the Yaesu VX-170 (I only need 2m) backpacking for many of the same reasons.  The FT-60 is a close cousin and well-built.

I'd recommend throwing a role up J-Pole antenna in your kit, and if you're going to be out in really cold weather go with Lithium AA's in the drycell pack as a backup to the standard Li-Ion cell.

73
N3XFD
 

I just recently picked up a Yaesu FT-857 and need some help figuring out how to change the transmitter output power.  Yep, pretty basic question, but I've gone through the entire manual twice now and it has me stumped.  

What I've found:
  Menu Mode No-075: RF POWER SET
    Sets the maximum power level for the current band.

  Menu Mode No-057: MEM/VFO DIAL MODE
    Selects the function which is engaged when you press the SELECT knob.  Values include RF POWER, STEP, MHz/MEM GRP, etc.

What I'm looking for:  A LO/MED/HIGH toggle similar to my 2-meter only FT-1500 rig and the ability to store a separate power setting with each memory channel.

Also, when I change menu #57 to RF POWER and press the SELECT knob in, I get a flag icon in the upper right corner near the voltage display, but nothing else seems to happen, even when I then rotate the SELECT knob.

Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks!

73
N3XFD
Scott Drumm