How to use Wires-X on the FT3D and C4FM (System Fusion)

After covering APRS on the ft-3dr, someone asked about the red "x" button on the radio.
So today we are covering wires x, or the Wide-Coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement system ability on the ft3dr in detail. WiresX allows users to connect repeaters to other repeaters using rooms and nodes. C4FM allows stations to transmit and receive crystal clear quality audio, as well as their callsign and GPS location in text form.
The Yaesu Ft3dr supports this feature, and many other, so this video aims to get into the details of configuring it, and making it work.
Wires-X enabled Repeaters:
www.yaesu.com/jp/en/wires-x/id/active_node.php
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[@e.j.bukont6717]

Thank you for a concise, well made video that stayed on point. Those are very hard to find! Your explanations and examples are outstanding. I happen to have an FT3DR so I love that you are making content that directly applies to what I have. Looking forward to checking out your other videos.

[@ScannerJunkie]

I think you have to turn on wires x passthrough

[@laurence_rj6140]

Thank you for taking the time to simply explain wires X and to talk your way through the radio.

[@karenrosal3181]

I am super new at this and have watched a lot of KZbin videos and so far you have been the only one to truly explain things where I could somewhat grasp thank you

[@ModernHam]

I'm glad I could help!

[@josem.4312]

Love the way you go step by step reviewing configuration...now to practice. Thanks again!

[@billpedersen568]

Great video - I have been trying to understand this for some time and you connected all of the dots for me - KUDO's

[@paulkodada8406]

I got so much useful information watching this video. Thank you.

[@jamesw6529]

Awesome job as usual. Thanks for this.

[@safety86]

Another excellent video! Keep them up!

[@teashea1]

good presentation - good production values

[@Donkarnage223]

perfect video! not too long imho. my ft3dr is being delivered today i am so excited! i would also like to try and set the ft3dr up as a node itself and run another yaesu fusion radio through it so i have access to all the wires-x rooms on my computer.

[@chrishasley5614]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@jeffsmith9694]

This video was awesome. Thank you so much.

[@RookieLock]

This helped me out quite a bit.. I'm getting a ft5dr for Christmas and have been trying to figure out as much as i can before it arrives.. A bit confused about certain parts but this was very helpful.

[@ModernHam]

Glad it was helpful. Theres a lot to this little radio.

[@marcbrown1312]

Ok, I'm trying to link up my zumspot, and I can hear but not transmit. Is there a setting in Pi-star I need to set? Or in the radio, it's an FT3DR Thanks Marc

[@mohawk14616]

Excellent video.

[@MrBenEye]

Great instructions, 73!

[@dooberrypie]

Your video helped me with my FT5DE way more than the useless manual! 👍

[@ModernHam]

Glad I could help!

[@432hzcompanyq.6]

I Node now. Thanks so much for the info. Cheers

[@jeffreywyke368]

Outstanding! Very understandable

[@larrybushman1]

Many thanks for that. Found it very useful. 73s Larry

[@jaybarr3307]

Thanks for your excellent vids on this radio. I have a FT5D, but they're basically the same and there aren't as many vids on the 5, so I've been watching all the 3's. Love that you explain the various menu options - including the ones that won't be selected! So many youtubers just tell you to select one option or another, without explaining the other selections, or sub-menu choices, or WHY they are selecting what they do. Very helpful to have a fuller explanation. Is it true that you cannot disconnect while others are in QSO in the room that you're connected to? Heard that somewhere. Thanks again. Watching all your vids on this radio.

[@ModernHam]

Unfortunately yes. The disconnect signal requires you to transmit to the repeater and then the repeater transmitting back, so if people are talking it ties all of this up.

[@N4EJM]

Great video, can’t wait to get one of those. 73 de N4EJM

[@mikepasquale71]

One note: hotspots cannot connect you directly to a WIRES-X room. Hotspots will connect you to YSF reflectors or FCS reflectors using the wires-X button. Some WIRES-X rooms are bridged to YSF or FCS reflectors, but not all

[@user-ss6zt2mo1l]

great explanation !

[@GalacticGuru]

clear instructions...good video!... Liked & subbed ..👍

[@kj4ddmmrmitchell607]

Good stuff!

[@ghostmandka5498]

You have found the rabbit hole! haha Enjoy the ride. Remember though, there are nodes and rooms. And you can operate digital (C4FM) or analog.

[@timking2194]

Good video

[@user-vm2ke3yk9n]

Great video this helps out a lot what setting do I put on my dash

[@Headhacker]

I’ve just got the FT3D and the jumbospot and your videos are great! One question - at the start and end of a QSO there is a beep which is audible even when the volume is down low. I’ve managed to get rid of the start beep by choosing DN rather that automatic DN, but I still get the end beep. Is there a way to turn this off? Can’t find it in the manual

[@AVSFalcon77]

How do I access the ZZ PARROT room? A search doesn't find it.

[@TellyS100]

A basic question, if I may: how does the process differ when connecting to a Wires-X capable repeater, vs. a repeater that is listed as "System Fusion" or "FM Fusion"? Do I use the "X" method on all cases?

[@PartisanPapa]

Awesome video....okay dumb question....is there a way to create a new room (I’m assuming with HRI200) and make it private except to the people you tell about it? Or are all rooms open?

[@tmccusk1]

Thanks for the video. Having difficulty searching. Example... Looking for Texas Nexus. I type in texas and hit enter. My FT3D searches and comes back with nothing. What am I doing wrong? I have a hotspot at my home.

[@Hangs4Fun]

How do you get the frequency info to enter in for a hotspot I see in Yaesu's listing? The NodeID next to me (W4NSN-ND) doesn't list the frequency on the Yaesu page

[@mrtonicsvls3624]

If i want to insert a manual frequency as 446.00625 (PMR1) is possible to do it?

[@Donkarnage223]

I actually have a question for you now. So I am able to connect to a Wires repeater near me. Then I am able to use the search function and see the available rooms to join. I am assuming the numbers on the far right indicate how many people are in that chat room right? So it looks like 1 and 77 and 13 and 10. I click on the chat room. It says I am connected and I never hear anyone talking. I see that I am RX but I can not hear anyone and then when I TX and ask for a radio check no one comes back to me. What could I be doing wrong?

[@Steve.davis717]

If connecting to a repeater how do you set the DMR color code?

[@statesideqsod]

Very helpful. Thanks for posting. Dan WA2CLP

[@robertaucoin3860]

I know this is an older video, but thought I would post a question just the same. I have an FT5D. From what I can see, the method to save reflectors in one of the categories is the same as what you describe. I follow the printed directions and do what you have done, but for some reason that I cannot explain the reflector doesn't get memorized into the category. The name of the reflector will appear in the list in the MENU-->Wirex-x-Remove node/room, but it will not appear in the group when I use search and rector. Can you explain?

[@howardrosen5573]

Is there a way to access analogue wires repeaters if the repeater has a WIRES-X node?

[@HKey_Root]

But how did you connect to that guy for a test QSO ? There seems to be a cut in the vid. Completely new to this mode and trying to get my head around it.

[@nexusnrg]

I've noticed if I change from Memory mode to Bank mode and try to press the X button to connect to wiresX on my local repeater it doesn't respond. Do you have the same issue?

[@primalucephoto]

Do you need to have completed the registration on the yaesu site before you get this to work? I have the hotspot and can pick a room to listen to by default but when I hit the X, it flashes a P in the top left, then after awhile, beeps 3 times, and I don't get the connected message you're talking about.

[@robertwolf4043]

Does the red "R" on the white "X" in the upper left mean that you are connected to a repeater - vs PDN or other? Love your KZbins!

[@mikemcmullen8141]

Hi I have the Ft7250DR and the FT3D Yaesu radios. I noticed on you tube you connected to your hotspot. Being a older senior citizens and 2 months into ham radio it is difficult to get straight answers as I don’t have an Elmer. I am looking at a rugged hotspot to get to wires x with my 7250. Is that possible? Should I be connecting the FT3D to the hotspot? Do I even need a hotspot? The repeaters in my area are mostly analog. Any help would be appreciated. Mike the old new guy to ham radio.

[@edwardharding8148]

Does this apply to the FT70D as well ?

[@bobbyscottjr8584]

When connected to wires x on the hotspot, why doesn’t it give you the Yaesu connection sound?

[@farmfab]

What are you using as a hotspot ?

[@mhowardweasel]

cannot get any lists when pushing the search ALL button. Americalink is shown in the main window as 0. Any help would be appreciated

[@johnkatz5820]

i got a question. how do you connect to a repeater with wiresx? Is a frequenz shift needed? I got it working with my hotspot. the rooms are only a handfull with activity :-((

[@randyhavener1851]

Thanks! Which hotspot do you use and how well do you like it? Keep up the Great Work!! Randy

[@fone2way]

I'm interested in knowing which hotspot, but my guess is he hasn't answered in 6 months it will continue to be a mystery.

[@jgaffney6]

Thank You very helpful great job K4YNA

[@mtand73]

you seemed to skip something. can you go into more detail things work whit a hot spot? im trying to access a node and cant locate it

[@bearmat6605]

Good video but please, please, please ditch the background music.

[@off-trailseeking3965]

Extremely annoying.

[@hobonickel]

I had to stop watching less than four minutes into the video because of the annoying music.

[@MrJimmy440]

I'm new to ham and Yaesu. I have a FTD3 & a FTM300dr. I have to ask, Hotspot ?? How do I connect my radio to one ? Is this something online a separate purchase ??

[@treelinehugger]

Every video I have watched on wires-x passes right over connecting to a hotspot. For a newbie, I can't even get started. What is a hotspot? How do I connect to one?

[@tglenn3121]

Nice, helpful video. Do you have any video on how you set up your hotspot for the FT3D?

[@ModernHam]

Not yet, but it's coming.

[@tony2wheelz408]

What happens when the x is blinking and goes back to vfo mode?

[@Robertoce8eys]

Hi, this is Bob, CE-8-EYS from Patagonia, Chile. Does the radio need MARS mode so to be able to transmit out of the VHF/UHF bands or is it "open" right out of the box ?

[@ModernHam]

It will need some modification.

[@franmchugh880]

Good video. My question is this, if you connect through a local repeater, does it lock it up unless you proprly exit?

[@ModernHam]

Some are set to disconnect automatically after no activity for a while. Others may stay connected until someone else changes it.

[@yb7vk]

in my place there is no repeater as you described, so in the meantime I'm trying to connect with fellow yaesu users who have digital ht as you mentioned, thanks for the explanation, sorry for my bad english, de yb7use

[@SLACKPLAN9]

I am planning on getting one of these during my pilgrimage to HRO on the 14th. They have a special on these. Also, It appears that Chirp may be compatable with this too. Well, if nobody has tried this lately, I will soon find out...

[@carolyndavis6173]

I have also read that Chirp can destroy a Yaesu FT3 dr. I chose to download the RT Systems(for Mac about $25) and use a micro card (32). worked great, and very easy)

[@soupdragon12345]

Hey thanks for that , very interesting. Can you link the ft3 too a laptop for wiresx and access nodes through laptop?

[@ModernHam]

Sure you, but you need a special "Scu" something cable to do so.

[@linaskerbelis5636]

can you do digital( psk31, js8call, jt8 and others) modes on it? What attachments needed?

[@Ram_Jam99]

Yes but you need to buy a hotspot.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

I got it to work! Had to change D Id to 01, from Auto. Apparently Auto isn’t so Auto. Ok Band button to disconnect.

[@o00scorpion00o]

My local repeater switched off access to Fusion because People were not unlinking preventing others using the repeater or something like that so they just removed access rather than educate People, but wouldn't you think a time out or something would be built into the system ? Either way, there's no information on the website about this so how are people to know

[@adambrown6930]

Didn't think you could access "true" Wires X via a hotspot. I understood that if you're using a hotspot, you're access reflectors that are bridged to the Wires X network, but you're technically not on Wires X.

[@ModernHam]

You are correct.

[@adambrown6930]

@@ModernHam Like to see a video about how to connect to an actual Wires X repeater.

[@jjsemperfi]

Got the FT3DR last week (been setting up all of my freq's, repeaters, bands and listening...) and passed my Tech last night. Still trying to figure out Wires-X. There is a node about 7.5 miles north of me that I can connect to (sometimes it takes multiple connection attempts) but when I try and search through "all" nothing comes up. On the main Wires-X screen the bottom text says "Colorado-River 1". Could this be a private node possibly? I really dig your videos, very clear and concise. Keep it up man. Thanks.

[@sandrocapaldi262]

Hi there, I’m looking to do my test, thought they were all stopped for now?

[@sandegutt123]

I also have the same problem, i have the FT-3D and nothing comes up when i press all or if i try to search. Anyone now what coz this .?

[@mhowardweasel]

Also, how do you set up a parrot channel???

[@otisburgess1077]

Can I ask a question? Iam a truck driver so I travel alot. I'm in a different city everyday. I need a radio that will work in any city that I'm in on any given day. Will the ft3dr meet that need???

[@tardusmerula6102]

FT3D is a nice, full-featured portable ham radio, not easy to match by performance these days. Of course, it will do everything! For the sake of safety and comfortability and output power, in the truck, I would recommend looking at the FTM-400 or the new FTM-300D mobiles: both have a larger screen, basically the same general features and operation (cost is a more or less comparable to FT3, though not cheap, you get much more power, the detachable front end! ) . You set up the repeaters and local nodes in memory lists, that all 3 models will be able to search automatically. You can beacon your signal and APRS (digital and analog + mapping on aprs.fi, if you like) in GM mode and all receiving YSF radios and repeaters will be able to see your position and callsign - and vice versa. All 3 models: you can set up a local mobile hotspot and connect to YSF, cross mode to DMR, D-star.... modes .or worldwide to Wires-x network. Of course, you can do all classical FM communication with all three. While driving in a convoy, you can set up a private digital group. Please, check the other comments here and youtube videos. Best options these days, I believe.

[@lawrencemayfield9669]

Do i need a hot spot for my ft 3dr? just got my tech license today? Have a razpi 3 b plus what kit could i build and what parts would i need to construct a diy hot spot if i need a hot spot. I live in vegas and there are like 4 YSF i can connect to. or do i need to buy the scu 39 cable? im lost lol

[@ModernHam]

I have the $30 Ebay MMDVM board I put in a spare Raspberry PI. It works fine for me. But if there are YSF repeaters around, you can use those for free.

[@Droanly]

@@ModernHam From my understanding you cannot connect to a Wires-X node or room with out going through a Yaseuo HRI-200 or other radio with Wires-X built in. MMDVM hotspot running pistar or the like will not yield you access to Wires-X repeaters or rooms. Prove me wrong please...

[@theoriginalcrb]

why does my radio beep and not want to go into wires x mode

[@nickc.5626]

Thanks for yours videos, I think I watched all of them and they were very useful to me, very easy to understand. Since I am new to the world of digital radio, I want to use Yaesu ft-2d with a MMDVM and please tell me if it need to calibrate MMDVM or not, for low BER. I know it's necessary at DMR. Thank you in advance! '73!

[@ModernHam]

i found that I didn't need to calibrate mine. Mine came with the information to put in.

[@nickc.5626]

@@ModernHam You have Openspot or MMDVM? I have MMDVM.

[@ModernHam]

@@nickc.5626 The MMDVM

[@nickc.5626]

@@ModernHam Thanks a lot for the quick answers. You helped a lot. I wish you all the best and maximum health!

[@anthonyhughes8888]

i can connect on my hotspot , but when i press the wires x it wont connect and times out any ideas new to the yaesu ft3dr but ive been through all the menus and i am stuck thank you..

[@n3fhw631]

Did you ever figure this out? I am having the same issue

[@richg.2579]

Cool

[@johnmiskimmin6840]

Is there anyway of seeing who all is in the wiresx rooms on the ft3d? And great video, it really did help me set the radio up

[@oldpreach]

No. You would have to hook it up to a laptop with a scu 39 cable and use the wires x software .

[@kedmark]

Please include your hotspot set-up procedure used for this demo

[@ModernHam]

Will make a video on this in the next few weeks.

[@ThisTall]

Newbie question. Why do you need a ham license and call sign to operate the FT3DR if it can only transmit in VHF/UHF? I thought you only need a license to transmit on lower frequencies?

[@goophy30]

You still need a Ham license to operate the FT3DR cause it operates on amateur radio frequencies. VHF UHF and HF all need a license to transmit on these bands. As to the reasons why is because you could interfere with other radio services if you dont know what you are doing with one of these radios. Possibly interfere with an emergency communication as well. Getting the license teaches people what frequencies they can operate on and how to use the bands without causing harmful interference. A technician license is easily obtained to be able to use VHF and UHF and a very small sliver of HF. I hope this helps answer your question. W9ALC 73's

[@balky23]

can you do a short video or send me instructions on how to enter a digital channel using the PC software from the list of nodes and rooms on the wires X site??

[@ModernHam]

That's a good idea. I'll try to make one here soon!

[@jjsemperfi]

I also had one more question for you. All I have is the FT3DR. If I got an HRI-200 could I connect to it directly through my FT3 or would I have to get another HT or something like an FT-100...? Some people are saying you need an additional radio to hook up directly to the HRI-200 then you use an HT or another radio to link to Wires-X through it. Others are saying you can setup the HRI-200 in a "direct mode" and go straight from the FT3 directly into Wires-X through the HRI-200. Hopefully I'm explaining all of this correctly and using the right vocab. Thanks.

[@mikepasquale71]

With an HRI-200 you need a FTM-100,FTM-300, or FTM-400 to act as the node radio. Think of the node radio as a small repeater,. You would then use the FT-3 to transmit to the node radio, the node radio will then transmit the signal from the node radio to the HRI-200 which is connected to the internet by your PC.

[@AlGordon]

For about $60, you can pick up an SCU-39 cable, which allows you to plug your FT-3DR directly into your computer, which acts as a WiRES-X node. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWPEfmhqg8yBhsU

[@ManuelPinner]

I have a FT5D, and a Open Spot 4,

[@stacksmasher]

Great video! Get a Lapel mic from Amazon for $20 and ditch the background music.

[@QRP700]

Nice video. 73 de Aiden EI8HJB.

[@CNT12696]

Thanks for the info! Too bad I don't have any wires x repeaters within range of me

[@jasonmcnab1]

I am new. But can’t you use a micro repeater or hotspot in your house via wifi to connect to a repeater?

[@jamieb9556]

What's the Parrott node number?

[@tardusmerula6102]

#99999

[@danielnapier4501]

Love Yaesu radio's , but they're much too pricey. I'd like to have one though.

[@o00scorpion00o]

I thought that too until I bought the Anytone D878 and spent days trying to program it for the first time and then weeks to perfect it, fine radio but after using a friends FT-3d you can see that the Yaesu is vastly superior and easier to use, I was sceptical still even after using my friends FT-3d, as time went on I realised how bad DMR really is, it is after all designed for business use not ham radio, if I want to change repeater, travel etc I got to spend a huge amount of time entering Repeaters + all the programming for each talk group for each repeater it's just ridiculous, with the FT-3d you simply enter the repeater frequency and hit Wires-X and you're done, it's the way it should be. IF something goes wrong with the config you simply restore it from a backup on the sd card, no PC required. Yes the Yaesu is expensive but ( in my opinion ) vastly superior to DMR, the more that buy the cheap Chinese radios with DMR the less incentive Yaesu and Kenwood have to make good radios, I'm not saying the anytone is a bad radio, it's not, DMR is the real issue. Perhaps these cheap DMR Chinese radios are the reason Kenwood stopped production of the D-74 ?

[@bulldogbrower6732]

I think I node what you meant

[@LoganWeilerIII]

Very helpful demo, thanks! KO4HRE

[@ModernHam]

Glad I could help!

[@crewsgiles9499]

The use of “hotspot” in this video is confusing. You are not connecting to a hotspot. I noted people asking what hotspot they needed to get. The answer is: “Not any.” He is simply connecting to a Wires-X repeater- one I use often in Fort Worth is “KA5TWA” on 447.700, and that is what is showing when I connect by tapping the “X” button, and that is how I named it when programming it on my FT3. Speaking of hotspots, his sample QSO was, indeed, using a hotspot. That received transmission had the ”Charlie Brown’s Teacher” *Wha-wa, wa-wah-wha-wa* tone, which is what gives away hotspot users. Whereas, Yaesu System Fusion (like the FT3D) radios connected to the repeater using C4FM will sound like a cell phone, with crisp consonants, and all five vowels.

[@ModernHam]

I'm connecting to a Hotspot in the video. A Hotspot is simply the rf-internet device used to connect to other stations. In my case, I'm using an MMDVM raspberry pi Hotspot running pi-star.

[@crewsgiles9499]

Okay, but unnecessary for a how-to video on connecting an FT3 to a Wires-X repeater. Your method was exactly the same as connecting to a Wires-X repeater, but had followers asking what hotspot they would need- so I assumed you had a reason to not use (or rename) a Wires-X repeater. I am not trying to be hyper-critical, but since a hotspot is not normally a part of a local connection to Wires-X, and the questions regarding it went unanswered, I wanted to clear it up. I like your videos, and subscribe.

[@watchmanmichael2023]

😊👍🏼

[@o00scorpion00o]

I am going to sell my Anytone D-878, I bought the FT-3d, I used a friends and it's vastly easier to setup and use than DMR, no need to mess for endless hours with a code plug, programming repeater frequencies in for every reporter times the number of talk groups ? it's a real mess of a setup, the anytone radio itself is decent but DMR is just a joke to setup and use and if you have issues it can take a long time to figure out what's wrong. With the FT-3d you simply load a backup of a previously known good backup on the sd card and you're back in business, no PC needed, no cable, no programming or trying to figure out what's wrong with your code plug. Fusion = enter repeater frequency, press wires-x, find room, you're done. DMR = many hrs or weeks messing with a code plug, then if you travel and need to use repeaters you got to enter this repeater frequency for every talk group and it's very time consuming.

[@padreandrew2822]

Background music makes it hard to listen and watch the video.

[@smithsterj]

Kill the background music!

[@davidpatrick4310]

The music totally ruins this video can't watch it

[@tony2wheelz408]

So without a hotspot, it's beyond a pain in the ass and nearly a useless digital radio. I must admit, im frustrated that its still not working, But so far, really not well thought out compared to other HT's at this price point

[@dustoff499]

Don’t take this personal... I’m hearing this annoying background audio other than your voice and presentation noises. It was distracting.