Operation Manual

20 FT-817ND Operating Manual
OPERATION
MENU QUICK START
Many aspects of this transceiver’s configuration may be customized using the convenient
“Menu” system, which allow you to configure many “set and forget” settings just the way
you want to. A full discussion of the Menu system beings on page 58; for now, here is a
brief discussion on how to change Menu settings:
1. Press and hold in the key for one second to enter the Menu mode.
2. Rotate the knob to recall the Menu item to be changed (for example, Menu #01,
which Enables or Disables the Automatic Repeater Shift on the 144 MHz band).
3. Rotate the knob to set this feature (in this example, the default setting is “EN-
ABLE,” so rotate the knob to set this feature to “DISABLE.”
4. Press and hold in the key for one second to save the new setting and exit to normal
operation.
If you have momentarily pressed the key to change an operating function,
press the key momentarily again (to clear the function indications for the
, , keys) before engaging the Menu.
ADJUSTING THE RF GAIN AND SQUELCH
The control is configured differently,
depending on the country to which the FT-
817ND has been exported. In the U.S. version,
the default function of this control is “RF Gain.”
The configuration of the control is set
via Menu #45; see page 67 for details.
If your transceiver is configured for “RF Gain” use, rotating this control fully clockwise in
the SSB/CW/Digital modes will provide best sensitivity. To reduce the receiver’s RF Gain
somewhat, rotate this control counter-clockwise slightly. You will observe an increasing
number of bars on the S-meter as you rotate the control counter-clockwise; this
indicates increasing AGC voltage, which is causing the front-end gain to be reduced. In the
FM and Packet modes, this control will automatically be set to an “Auto-Squelch” mode,
wherein the FM/Packet squelch threshold is pre-set at the factory; the control still
acts as an “RF Gain” control, however, and it normally should be set fully clockwise.
If this control is configured for “SQL” operation, the FT-817ND’s RF Gain will be set for
maximum sensitivity in all modes, and the control will function solely as a Squelch
control. In this case, rotate the control to the point where the background noise is
just silenced; this will provide the best sensitivity to weak signals, while keeping the re-
ceiver quiet when no signal is received. The LED just above the Main Dial will glow Green
when the squelch is opened by an incoming signal or noise.
Battery consumption is significantly reduced if the receiver is squelched, as the
audio amplifier stage is shut off when the receiver is muted.