Operation Manual

Page 21FT-897 OPERATING MANUAL
OPERATION
LSB USB CW CWR
AMFMDIGPKT
MODE
MODE SELECTION
Press either the MODE
(

)
or MODE
(

)
key to move
among the eight settings for the operating modes, respec-
tively.
where “CWR” is “CW-Reverse,” using the opposite side-
band from the “default” BFO injection sideband (in most
cases, the default injection sideband is on the “USB” side);
“DIG” is an AFSK-based Digital mode, set up per Menu
Mode No-038
[
DIG MODE
]
; and “PKT” represents either
1200 or 9600 bps FM packet.
You can set VFOa and VFOb to different modes
in the same band, allowing you to have a
“Phone” VFO and a “CW” VFO, for example.
ADJUSTING THE AUDIO VOLUME LEVEL
Rotate the AF knob to set a comfortable listening level.
When operating in the “DIG” or “PKT” modes, you may
set the AF knob to any comfortable setting, or even all the
way off, because the output from the DATA jack is a fixed-
level audio signal.
Start with the AF knob set fully counter-clock-
wise, especially when using FM (the back-
ground noise on FM can be surprisingly loud)!
ADJUSTING THE RF GAIN AND SQUELCH
The SQL/RF Gain control is configured differently, depend-
ing on the country to which the FT-897 has been exported.
In the U.S. version, the default function of this control is
“RF Gain.” The configuration of the SQL/RF Gain control
is set via Menu Mode No-080
[
SQL/RF GAIN
]
; see page 59
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 RF Gain control counter-clock-
wise; this indicates increasing AGC voltage, which is caus-
ing the front-end gain to be reduced. In the FM and Packet
modes, this control will automatically be set to “Squelch,”
even though the setting of Menu Mode No-080
[
SQL/RF
GAIN
]
is “RF Gain.”
If this control is configured for “SQL” operation, the FT-
897’s RF Gain will be set for maximum sensitivity in all
modes, and the SQL/RF Gain control will function solely
as a Squelch control. In this case, rotate the SQL/RF Gain
control to the point where the background noise is just si-
lenced; this will provide the best sensitivity to weak signals,
while keeping the receiver 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 ampli-
fier stage is shut off when the receiver is muted.
BATT-B
BATT-A
MODE
BATT-B
BATT-A
AF
BATT- B
BATT- A
SQL/RF