FT-8800 extended TX (MARS/CAP) Mod

Extended transmit modification shown on a Yaesu FT-8800R. The modification procedure is the same for the FT-8800, FT-8800R, FT-8900, FT-8900R, FT-7900 and FT-7900R.
For better, enlargeable images, check out my textblog article: baltic-lab.com/2014/05/yaesu-...
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[@l.a.2646]

I shake so much now that I'm old, when I saw the tips of both irons is really indicative of how small these surface mount components really are. With those irons it's like putting chalk lines on a baseball field with a D-9 dozer! Yikes, I think I'll pay someone with steady hands to do my MARS mods on my old FT-8800. Thanks for the excellent video

[@mellon678]

Did this mod yesterday took 2 seconds to do so thanks for the help my friend

[@barndweller4573]

Thank you for making this video. The problem I have is as my eyes get worse the parts keep getting smaller!

[@j.haynes2870]

Excellent instruction. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@Parras243]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@OneBiOzZ]

what i have always done is use one iron and either a chisel tip or a fine tip at an angle, you can also wrap copper wire around your tip and bend it over to act a second iron tip

[@wb5geo]

Very good instructions that I have been looking for and have shared it with others that needed it. Thanks & 73 de WB5GEO

[@w2aew]

No apologies necessary on the 2-iron process - yes, it is difficult to do through the camera! I like using the hot tweezers too.

[@HeilmanHackatronics]

I did this soldering technique as well, works very well :)

[@darrenhoey4667]

Great video I've just bought this radio

[@panagiotismpotsikas1989]

Πολύ καλό δουλεύει 😊

[@jamesrickard295]

Works great !! I had enough room in my radio to put the tip of my iron right on the resistor and started with low heat and gradually increased till it melted the solder. Just a note if you are using the programing software you will have to change the version # of the radio after modifying. It will also not TX on Aircraft band.

[@cinibar]

+James Rickard Can you please explain the scenario about changing the version # of the radio? I'll be using RT Systems software. Thanks!

[@jamesrickard295]

This is for the G4HFQ software. www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftb8800.htm If you have already built a program before modifying it has a certain version # depending on the resistor/diode pattern. When you remove the resistor/diode it changes this number. All I had to do was reread a blank program from the radio and if u look in the top right corner I believe it will show the version #. To change it click on it and it will give u a drop down select the new #.

[@cinibar]

+James Rickard Thanks James for your answer. I just performed the change. Since I'm using the RT Systems program I learned that it doesn't have this version # issue. It just worked as like you would expect. No issues. Good to have a rig set up for emergencies!

[@n1kkri]

Would you know if this would still work with the CHIRP software on a 8900R after doing the mod?

[@jamesrickard295]

Ken no idea it should tho don't see any reason it wouldn't.

[@ka2lal]

after the mod on my 8900 it will not take program from chirp, is there something else to do

[@jadegross6049]

Will this modification allow as high as 470.000 ty this would work well for GMRS

[@nathanedwards3190]

Ive been told by yeasu that the resistor need to be replaced, im here in the UK and have the UK version is this correct, or was it just them wanting to gain some cash

[@deeporigin8316]

Hello friend, this same procedure unblocks the cellular frequency too? 73s

[@kheavrin]

Any info on the Icom ic-92 Dstar mods? Thanks for the useful video!

[@charlesgoede2809]

I don't have this rig but what is the actual RX / TX coverage after this type of modification? Do the specs fall off on the out of band frequencies? Do you lose any pre-set splits, functions, etc? thanks, 73

[@stradafamilystrada6073]

I performed this mod about five years ago. And I programmed the memories with CHIRP. And it's worked flawlessly since then. Until just lately. The FT8900 now crashes every time I transmit. UNLESS I FACTORY RESET THE RADIO. Then it works fine. But once I reprogram the radio with CHIP, it crashes again and again. Any ideas?

[@bernardjones6162]

Can the Yeasu FT60R be modified in the same manner? If so could you demonstrate the procedure?

[@vicrod74]

Good Job, but the OCD in me would go back to re-solder the resistor leads on the board to have a clean job done. LOL!

[@ilovedragons]

Hi, is it possible if you can show a video of cap/mod for a FT-60r?

[@ThatCleanMT]

I have heard that Yaesu made a slight update to the 7900R board and it’s not identical anymore. Any words?

[@zachcagley9519]

Pro tip. Tape the resistor into the box the radio came in. That way you can put it back in if you ever sell the radio.

[@DrJCCoaching]

Would it be possible to transmit over 470MHz after this modification? I am in need of transmitting 477.025MHz...

[@eleketrician]

The way I do it . I use needle under the resistor, then apply heat on one end as it get hot and star to melt I lift only one end . This way if I have to replace it back I do not have to look all over to Radio Shack.

[@jeanjenner4510]

Smart!

[@rmnw178971]

what happens if you just cut the line

[@coyote5963]

it work with the 8900r?73s NP4LW

[@THETERPZ]

My yaesu 8900r looked different. I couldn’t find the resistor. I’ll just have ham radio outlet do it fir $29.00

[@josecano5751]

Yes, it William be great if you can show me how to do it. I round some videos, but some are four european version and the others open some bands but no one shows how to open the hall range of frecuncies. Soraya for my english.!

[@jonatassilva383]

you know how to unlock the tyt th 9000d. Thanks

[@baghdadmerc69]

hi great demo vid thanx, will this mod work on a FT8900r also is there a mod for bellow 28mhz so I can get comms with CB users in convoys or do I need to buy a cb as well ? thanx in advance

[@javygro]

Pudo liberar ft8900?

[@LuisLeon-sd5zn]

Have you done this for the FTM 100DR ?

[@jacobvarley5453]

could I corssband 2 gmrs freqs, basically use this as a duplex repeater?

[@milesclouston2005]

No, because that's not cross banding. To repeat within the same band you would need a set of cavities as a duplexer. The closer two frequencies are, the harder it is to use to them as a repeater pair.

[@iancarlodimaranan]

Can it be done also at Yaesu 8900R? Does it seems look familiar thanks by the way

[@ichigohollo5586]

How to adjust power yaesu ft 8800

[@psychdoc27]

Can the 8900 be modded the same way? Bill W4ZWO ARES/MARS

[@BalticLab]

William Collins Yes, it actually can.

[@gaurav279]

One of the best MOD videos. Can someone pls advise if we are able to TX on all the 4 Bands (since this is a QUAD band radio) ....73s DE VU3OSA

[@j.haynes2870]

The FT-8800 is a dual band radio.

[@sreagle9430]

Dose the Cross-Band work in the MARS/CAP portion ???

[@BalticLab]

SREagle Yes, it does. I have actually used it to link two non-ham repeaters together before during a government exercise.

[@Kellymale]

I wish the mod would enable the 220 band.

[@BalanceGuy63]

Will this transmit in the air band?ex 122.800. I'm a pilot and amateur operator and would like one radio for both.

[@BalticLab]

Negative. Asides from the fact that this wouldn't be legal, air band uses Amplitude Modulation while the radio is made for Frequency Modulation.

[@surveycivil]

Will this Modification allow the radio to reach the frequencies above 148 as well ?

[@BalticLab]

surveycivil Yes, it sure does. Goes up to somewhere around 170 MHz just fine.

[@michaelmilenkoclewes572]

So much simpler and safer to simply cut the track with a craft knife . Easy to put back to standard

[@SandeepYADAVggn]

Will we be able to RX in these extra freqs or only TX?

[@milesclouston2005]

Of course! The receive capabilities were there before. The mod doesn't take away anything.

[@735Secure]

Thanks for the vid. BTW, all memory positions after this mod will be erased and radio needs to be reprogrammed.

[@gaurav279]

afshin735 thanks for the info....you mean we have to re-programme it using a cable

[@SixDegreesIntellectu]

Thank you for making this video and sharing it. I have a question for you. With this mod; does it give you GMRS frequencies 462 to 467? Thanks in advance.

[@BalticLab]

Hey Juan! Yes, it does.

[@cobrajack-official]

@@BalticLab What about CB 26.9-27.4?

[@Madams95]

No am tranmission capable

[@Douglaser2005]

Will it go at TYT-9800

[@ryankc9oza118]

Will it operate on 11m now?

[@milesclouston2005]

What I would like to know is, what are VHF & UHF TX/RX ranges?

[@BalticLab]

That really depends on a lot of factors, primarily on your antenna set-up. But certainly in the 30-50 miles range with a good set-up.

[@billfarnham1592]

The automatic reset - does it clear the memory so that all programming has to be re-done?

[@BalticLab]

Yes it does.

[@G1VNB]

Thanks for the video. I have a 8900 quad band do you think it would be a similar procedure thanks

[@BalticLab]

Probably, but I haven't done it myself on a 8900

[@coreystohlquist8969]

Will you still be able to use the "Alpha-Numeric" tags after this mod?

[@BalticLab]

+Corey Stohlquist Yes.

[@nextexhale]

Excellent video instruction. Thanks for uploading this. I have this radio and often TX by accident because the PTT is so easy to press. Is there any mod that can give it more friction to reduce accidental TX? Thanks.

[@darrenhoey4667]

I've just bought this radio. Can the colour be changed on screen ??

[@nextexhale]

Darren Hoey There is no menu option to change the screen color. However, you can adjust the brightness of through the menu.

[@darrenhoey4667]

Ok thanks for the reply . I just wanted green like my car dash . On most yaesu you can change the colour. Trust me to buy the one you can't lol

[@nextexhale]

You are welcome, Darren. Enjoy your radio. I love mine.

[@darrenhoey4667]

Yea i love it too .

[@n1kkri]

what's the high UHF transmit/receive? are there any mods for the 800MHz range?

[@BalticLab]

UHF TX/RX will be 420 MHz - 470 MHz. There are no 800 MHz mods. I would assume that building 440 to 800 MHz transverter might be the "easiest" way of using this radio on 800 MHz.

[@dumass00072]

They do an an excellent job on the service manual don't they. According to the service manual the resister you removed R1430 from pin *62* of the micro M3826AEFGP (labeled as Q1104). That pin *62* was labeled as MTX0 and the next MTX1. *Would you happen to know what the MTX stands for?*

[@BalticLab]

Modified TX? Just a guess, rarely read manuals even though I probably should :)

[@dumass00072]

KF5OBS Lets hope someone comes along that's above our league and educates us.

[@farmerpabst]

will this mod allow transmit on 164,35 mhz and 446 mhz ?

[@skinoku]

Yeah of course, but check that The antenna is ok for that band checking your SWR or you may harm your radio!

[@aladino3335]

thanks good work now i can use 220 yihaaaa 73

[@josecano5751]

Do you know how to extend tx no the ft 8900 ..?.? Thanks

[@BalticLab]

Yes. The modification for the FT-8900 is exactly the same as for the FT-8800. You'll find the jumpers in exactly the same spot. Yaesu really makes these type of modifications easy on you. If you're interested in me doing it for you, just message me.

[@n1kkri]

Can you tell me if you loose any features after the mod? Will it still work with CHIRP programming software?

[@royalgixxer]

You lose nothing, only gain. I have this mod on my 8900r

[@KE6DOA]

Same for 8900 ?

[@MrSoundshark]

the soldering tips look like they could do with a clean or even changing

[@BalticLab]

The right one is perfect. But the left one is from a garbage WalMart iron. It started looking like that 30 minutes after I used it. i don't bother with it, all it's for is for this sort of work. Get plenty of spares for the right one, but again, It's perfectly good.

[@MrSoundshark]

KF5OBS im terrible if i clean them during use and they don't go shiney again they get lashed (on the cheap ones anyway ) My hako ones not so much at the cost of replacing them to often :)

[@ronk4257]

Hello What about de 50 mhz and 10 meter band...can you transmit on 27 mhz to aftrr the mods.? Greetings Ron

[@ryankc9oza118]

Wondering the same

[@thenextgeneration3297]

How many watts after the mod? Specifically 2 meter and GMRS

[@BalticLab]

Unfortunately, I don't remember and don't have the radio anymore. Maybe someone will read your comment and respond with their measurements.

[@spr00sem00se]

next time get a proper soldering iron before messing around on delicate pcbs, then just bridge the two contacts of the resistor with solder, heat more or less in the middle and it will come smoothly off without damaging anything, then tombstone it on the PCB so its there for if you ever want to put it back

[@stevemcgavren7645]

Would this be the same for the FT8900R

[@BalticLab]

I honestly don't know but some viewers indicated that its the same for tue 8900

[@KD6TAV]

Hard to tell which one to remove.

[@BalticLab]

Hey, thanks for the feedback. On my textblog there's better pictures that can be enlarged and show the exact position: baltic-lab.com/2014/05/yaesu-ft-8800-extended-tx-marscaps-mod/

[@Achisachis73]

My suggestion is to use very small pliers and just remove it. You put a hot iron and will risk damage to the chip and other components. Do you think it's hard to remove? Try putting this jumper back in!You will not put it back in May likely.

[@gaurav279]

Achisachis73 You are use the special SMD solder iron which has a needle thin tip... off course with temperature control. We have temp control soldering stations for this purpose

[@danholbert9891]

I used my phone as a magnifier and used a soldering tweezers to remove chip - smallest mod i have ever accomplished.

[@bjj6708]

It would be far easier and neater to just use a sharp blade and cut the pcb track. Also easier to "undo" if required. There is a long length of easy to access pcb exposed.

[@Chris-tx9ou]

You lifted the pad straight off the board. OMG -

[@deeporigin8316]

Hello friend, this same procedure unblocks the cellular frequency too? 73