How do I use the Yaesu FC-50 Tuner with my FT-891?

[@hamradiowithkevin]

That is a nice compact Tuner for the 891

[@backcountryamateurradio]

It really is. And is has mounts to integrate the units. If the 891 had integrated sound card I may have considered keeping it.

[@vincentcimino1963]

Thanks for the video, I see that it’s sold out in a couple of the radio places, hopefully I won’t have to wait too long before they restock.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

@@vincentcimino1963 I think you'll enjoy this tuner! I also hope for you that you don't have to wait forever!

[@MatthewAE4JC]

Yes! Thank you for posting this. I didn't know I needed to turn the tuner on in the menu. My new tuner is up and running now. 73, KQ4AWC

[@backcountryamateurradio]

So glad it was helpful. I searched all over when I got this tuner and never had the complete picture of how to use it. That’s why I finally made this. Enjoy your radio. It’s a great setup with that tuner. 73, KI7WJP

[@JoshuaJayG]

I believe the tuner stores the memories internally. You don't have to store the "tuned frequency" in memory on the radio. That's why the tuner changed its matching when you were scrolling through the band, the tuner remembered what you tuned in that frequency range previously. The tuner is reading the frequency you are on via your control cable.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

This is true. I guess I failed to make that clear in the video. Thanks for bringing it up! 73

[@leeharrell67]

Correct.

[@davidbrennan5]

I just bought a FT-891 and the FC-50 thanks for the info. I had an FT1000mp in the garage but its not always heated well and I was worried about leaving the radio there. I think the ft891 will be better. I purchased an ALINCO DM-330MV to power it.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

I hope you're enjoying your new setup. It's an extremely powerful rig.

[@davidbrennan5]

@@backcountryamateurradio It is a very nice rig, I am very happy with it so far. I made around 1200 contacts in the last 4 weeks on 40 and 20.

[@pa1863]

Thanks for posting this! I want to stress to anyone still reading these comments that you may have to turn the rig off and back on. I had to in order for the change to work.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Thanks for stopping by. Yes, when you first set this up it is necessary to restart the radio. I found that after that I was able to skip that step when disconnecting or reconnecting. 73

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Nice video - very helpful and informative, so thanks! Just curious if you have the tuner somehow attached to the rig or side rail arrangement that you have there? I'm looking for clever ways to make up a nice POTA go-box with that combination.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Thanks for commenting and checking out this video. The tuner should have come with replacement feet for the 891 that allows you to mount the 891 to the top of the tuner via 4 matching slots. The rails for protecting the face of the radio are aftermarket things I got from ebay, something like this: www.ebay.com/itm/226006335178

[@chulchue2619]

I thot you needed to open up the tuner and set the dip switches to “receive”? Anyone?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

You do need to get inside to change the dip switch. I had already done that.

[@VictorJenks]

You didn’t mention how to activate the tuner for receive. There is supposed to be a way to activate the tuner for receive rather than just transmit.

[@backcountryamateurradio]

I wish I'd presented that before I sold it. Apparently the information on RX tuning for the FC-50 isn't widely available. If I can find the instruction sheet I'll post it here.

[@bisounours1970]

bonjour, quelle antenne utilisez vous ? est ce que ça peut fonctionner sur une 5/8 ?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

bonjour, j'utilize EFHW ou resonnante 1/2 onde exclusivement. Desole de n'avoir pas experience sur une 5/8.

[@bisounours1970]

@@backcountryamateurradio merci

[@slagazor]

What is that enclosure on the FT-891?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

This is a product from NZ or Australia I believe. Rig Rails on ebay. However, not sure they're still being sold. You can find several similar items on ebay searching for 891 protective side rails.

[@geirha75]

Will FC-50 adjust automatically tuning power down as well? Even if your FT-891 is set to, let us say, 100W?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

yes. the power output on the 891 basically just passes thru the tuner on the way to the antenna. no additional steps required.

[@Proc3000]

If your running 100w do you need to turn power down to tune?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Not that I know of, and that didn’t seem to be a problem for me.

[@lousadventures2111]

Thank you 73s de n3lou

[@mattb7406]

What is that 2m radio above the 891? Looks cool

[@backcountryamateurradio]

It’s a great little radio. It’s been discontinued for a long time I think. Yaesu FT-90R. I found mine on eBay. But buyer beware, they can be quirky.

[@mattb7406]

I am tech studying my general. Cant afford hf base and portable. Heart set on ft710 but not good for pota. Could do ft891 but not great base. Money tight but can swing 710. Thoughts? Would get 991 but more $$ then 710 and hate the menus

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Finding the right radio is tough. And if you want 2m/440 as well as HF you’ve got some work ahead of you. I started with the Yaesu FT-891 and FT-2980. I ended up selling those for the FT-90 you saw and then got the 817 because it’s so versatile. Between the options you listed is personally choose the 991a because it does so much so well. Aside from menus. Have you looked into the FT-897? Older. Maybe hard to find.

[@Thordmz]

Get an 891 while ya can. It is a good base radio. Excellent radio with settings found in many base radios.

[@kimoclyde]

What antenna are you running here?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

I believe I was running a 41’ random wire (9:1) with a counterpoise. Feedpoint was about 15’ high.

[@dancosminmarza2974]

hi gret setup hav the same setup small diference at home i use the fc 40 becaus is a fixt setup 4 home the fc 50 i use in the field mobile with a dipol antenna or wit the a tas 120a if ther is no room to deploy folded dipol antenna fc 50 has meny hidenn futurens that are not activ 4 the long run if you want you cand upgrad the fan inside vit one that puts out moere air runing abov 50w the tuner gets rely hot and the stok fan dosent handel it well 73

[@backcountryamateurradio]

Great advice! Thank you for sharing. 73

[@dancosminmarza2974]

@@backcountryamateurradio little add ft891 loves a rg 213 coax its big and bulky but does a gret job 4 the mony and wery low stres on tuner and amp got main to a 1,2 mach on a run of 25 m coax to antenna ..small mod in the fc 50 made by factori ther is inside a row o swithes 1 of them activates the reciv priamp inside the tuner

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great station 73 from kb2uew

[@backcountryamateurradio]

thanks! It was a great station. I no longer have this rig. 73 KI7WJP

[@DARTHDANSAN]

How is the tuner power ?

[@backcountryamateurradio]

the tuner can handle the output power of the 891, so up to 100 watts. The current draw of the tuner is relatively low. If I remember right, it was something like 0.5 A during the tuning cycle.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Thanks

[@mindfulmunchkin1215]

Ahhh long press 😃

[@backcountryamateurradio]

oh yes, no button can have a single function!

[@petermajor4599]

I have that setup. Thanks for sharing💎💎💎💎💎💎 73

[@backcountryamateurradio]

It’s a great combo. 73!

[@petermajor4599]

💎💎💎💎💎👏👏👏👏👏