Mastering your FT-dx10 with WSJT-x for FT8/FT4

[@donchurchill8177]

I just wanted to thank you again Tom for you very instructive videos. You were right on when you ask if I had my split turned on. Sure enough, that was the problem. All is up and running as it should. Thank again. AA7TS-Don

[@ND3N]

Don’t give me too much credit…. It was a W.A.G. But happy it’s working for you now

[@darrelford1]

Thanks so much after spending over a day trying to figure this out, you had me up and running in about 10 min. Thanks so much enjoy your vids.

[@ND3N]

Glad it helped!

[@mikeh9446]

Excellent info on setting up the FTDX-10 radio for WSJT-X for FT8/FT4 very much appreciated; watch all your videos, many thanks Tom

[@ND3N]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikeh9446]

Will you be doing one for SSB Audio settings for your EQ and Mic? Would be great

[@ND3N]

Eventually

[@billperkins570]

Perfect step by step setup

[@ND3N]

Thank you. Careful though, I might get a big head….

[@MarkInAlabama]

Thank you very much for this instructional video! I just unboxed my new FTDX10 yesterday, got it set up and operating, and then used your video to set up WSJT-x. Everything works like a charm. Thanks again and 73! de N4ZOO

[@ND3N]

Glad it helped!

[@billrupp9261]

Thanks so much for putting this together! Awesome info. Now I just need to figure out how to tune the radio! lol!

[@ND3N]

Glad to help!

[@Hendo70586]

Awesome presentation Tom. Easy to follow. Also hit the thumbs up also.

[@ND3N]

Much appreciated!

[@jasonpackard2079]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@ND3N]

You are welcome!

[@cjshaker01]

Nicely done!

[@ND3N]

Thanks!

[@pvdk]

Hi, minutet 13:13 I had to select RTS to high in order the cat to work. (Seems logic as in your video CAT RTS is set to ON)... 73 Phil ON4VP

[@ND3N]

Good catch. Thanks

[@donchurchill8177]

Thank you very much for the great video. Now my WSJT Dash X is working fine. However, I do notice that on my FTDX 10 when operating on 40 m on the AVFO I noticed that it seems to it switches to my BVFO when I click the enable transmit. It starts out on 40 m and then instantly switches to 20 m, is there a setting that I have missed. Thank you, AA7TS Don

[@ND3N]

Make sure you aren’t set to split in the WSJTx settings, radio tab

[@donchurchill8177]

Hello yet again, Update, I noticed that the freq. changes to 20 meters when I click transmit from 40 meters regardless of what the radio says on the VFO's. The radio stays on 40 and is transmitting there. This change does not change on the radio, only in the program.

[@donchurchill8177]

I do notice that there is a star * beside 7.074 and a star * by 14.074 in the box that shows the frequency on WSJT-X. That is something I have never noticed before. Just a thought.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

Clear, to the point... how refreshing, thanks Tom de ve7kkq

[@ND3N]

My pleasure! That’s always what I aim for….

[@mikemcdonald5147]

new subscriber you have a good way of explaining things. Was wondering if you could do a video on how to set the ALC on the ftdx 10? I have not figured that out yet and it's very frustrating LOL I don't know how anyone figures out this radio at all. So many settings hidden in menus and I don't know what more than half of them even do LOL :)

[@ND3N]

Can do. I was planning on doing one for voice transmit settings and I’ll be sure to add ALC to the mix…

[@ea1bc]

Thank for your help.73 Tom from EA1BC Jose.L (Spain)

[@ND3N]

You’re welcome

[@RobertMacCready]

Are you doing a video on how to integrate a software log that will keep track of all your contacts on WSJT-x? I do want to try FT8 and 4 but don't want to hand write the logs. Nice video. And very informative as I'm just getting into FT8 in the coming weeks.

[@ND3N]

I use and recommend the N3FJP Amateur Contact Log (AC Log). And yes, I’ll put out a video on integrating it…. For WSJTx it has the simplest connection.

[@RobertMacCready]

@@ND3N Any opinion on HRD Logbook?

[@ND3N]

@@RobertMacCready I used it for a long time, but since i stopped using DM780 and HRD, I’ve moved on. Thier customer service used to be first rate…. Now-not so much….

[@RobertMacCready]

@@ND3N would you install the AC Log first or WSJTx?

[@RobertMacCready]

@@ND3N Well, I got that AC Log software and I'm having no luck, unless I hand entered data into the logbook. Can't wait for your video!!! BTW, this video was very good. All I want to do is take the logs that are generated by WSJT-x and move them to AC Log. Sounds simple, NOPE!!!

[@rebeccaanton5735]

Hey Tom, since you've been so kind as to indulge me before, how about a video on running some of the older digital modes with the DX10? Currently debating whether to try that with FLDIGI or HRD. --Rebecca W5TTA

[@ND3N]

The dx10 is a great digital rig, will have to refresh myself on some of those modes, but for you I’d do anything - Hihi…

[@g7rhfrighthandfork87]

Good job many thanks 😊😊😊

[@ND3N]

Thank you too

[@hennero.3826]

Thanks for the video, Tom. I have never used any digital modes so far and I have unboxed my FTdx10 only about 2 weeks ago, so I am totally new to all these things. Did I get that correctly that for making the FTdx10 working with WSJT-x I only need a commercially available USB (A-B) cable, not any additional cable to plug into the RTTY/DATA port? Just would like to know what to obtain - I do not even have that USB cable at hand as of now. And I hope the configuration on Linux is more or less the same, except for the details regarding the /dev/tty... stuff. 73 de DO1HNR, Henner

[@ND3N]

Yes, that simple cable is all you need. Not sure what stores you have in Germany, but any store selling computers or similar electronics will have them. They are commonly called printer cables. You can also pick them up on Amazon. You can work RTTY using this cable without a lot of workaround. 73

[@hennero.3826]

​@@ND3N Ok, thank you for the quick answer. Good to know that the USB cable is the only one required. 🙂 I am familiar with these ones as I have been working in IT all my life and will have no problem to get one, whereas the these other connectors like the RTTY/DATA on the rear of my transceiver still look "weird" to me for now. 😐 Good to know they are "out for scope" for the time being.😉

[@ptlmbutler]

Hey Tom, thanks for the great videos. What RF power would you recommend I set the radio to while using these settings?

[@ND3N]

Use the minimum power required for good communication. If you are constantly getting +10 or higher reports, you’re probably using too much. If you’re constantly getting -10 or lower, then turn it up. I find that 25 to 50 watts is good for me. A lot depends on your antenna and the current solar conditions. Since, these modes are high duty cycle, running lower power will put less of a strain on your rig, and that’s a good thing. The final decision is yours.

[@donchurchill8177]

Hello again Thanks for the reply. I've tried the program again and I have the FTDX10 set to all the settings you suggested as well as the program WSJT-X and I have made sure the split is set to "none." Also the radio is set to "B' VFO 7.074 and the "A" VFO is set to 14.220. When I click transmit everything goes fine but in the frequency box on WSJX-T it switches 20 meters. However the radio does not switch frequency. If I put the same frequescy in both VFO's then all is fine. Could there be a setting on the radio that I have messed up? This is a new radio for me so I'm still learning Don

[@peterjones6357]

Thanks for this. Can I ask why you don't use the new FT8 preset?

[@ND3N]

I do, but since the DX 10 only has a single preset, I wanted people to have a couple of options. I just picked up an FT-710, and it has 5 presets, so I’ll be doing an entire video about setting them up for multiple modes. I did show the preset in this video…

[@kc0w264]

Why are you being a LID by calling the CQing station on his exact frequency?

[@wrussell2190]

I'm excited to have an ftdx10 now to catch up on digital modes, not around when I was first a ham 40 yrs ago. TY Tom for this video and your ftdx10 series! One question: after installing the si labs univ drive as you demonstrated, I can't find com ports on my win10 laptop's device manager, so I can't look at the settings you recommend for the new com port. Any suggestion? TY - - Bill KQ4RSH

[@ND3N]

Congrats. When you install the drivers, you need to have the USB cable unplugged from the rig. After installing, plug the USB back into the rig and they should show up in the device manager. Other rigs you can just power down…. This seems to be a Yaesu “feature.”

[@donchurchill8177]

Ok I figured it out. I got the "S" out of the green dot. On my other radio, FT-950 I always used upper sideband. Can I use that on the FTDX1-10?

[@ND3N]

I always use the Data-U mode, but USB will work as well. However, when using USB, and if you have your parametric EQ set, it will apply those settings to your signal. The data mode doesn’t use the parametrics.

[@donchurchill8177]

It seems no matter what I try I can not get the split mode to go away. In the freq. box it says 40m but the dot next to the box is green with an "s" in it. I have marked the "none" in the settings under split operation but nothing seems to work. any suggestions?

[@terry5089]

You show how to set the RX levels but said nothing about the TX levels. I noticed that your ALC in TX was about mid range. A lot of people get heart burn if there is any ALC level at all. What do you recommend and why?

[@ND3N]

I’ve got a video planned for this, but in a nutshell - the displayed ALC represents a bias voltage the radio develops to protect itself from over powering its output. It doesn’t kick in until just after the output power comes up to around 10% of the rated output (or whatever you’ve set as your output. At full ALC, your driving signal is being clamped down to keep your rig below the rated output. So, low ALC means you’re not getting the output current you want, and at max ALC, your signal is being distorted. I find that between 1/3 and 1/2 on the ALC scale is the sweet spot where you’re getting the power you want with a clean, clear signal. There’s more to it, but that’s my general premise…. 73 degrees ND3N

[@ghostedyoutuber263]

Video is a bit campy but tolerable... and very informative.. thanks so much for video.. you saved me hours of bashing my head against a wall.

[@siliconhell333]

Hello I would like to thank you for sharing your knowledge with others. I find your videos have just the right balance of info versus explanation. You are helping me understand my new FTDX10 I'm paralysed and therefore unable to press buttons etc. I control my Windows pc by voice using Dragon Dictate. I want to operate my new Yaesu FTDX10 with Ham Radio Deluxe so I can use WSJT-X. I am struggling to get HRD - Yaesu FTDX10 - WSJT-X working together so how about creating a new video explaining how to do this? Many thanks Mike 2E0UMF

[@ND3N]

I’ll look into it, but I’m really not a fan of HRD. It is not very intuitive and the customer service nothing for them to brag about.

[@christianknight2905]

Is there a way to save this setup and then load it when i want to do digital?

[@ND3N]

Yes. Just make the changes you want and whenever you come back to WSJTx, it will hold whatever you setup until you’re ready

[@willrucker1628]

After doing all these settings as you described I get a rig controll error hamlib.

[@ND3N]

Are you running any other programs, like a logger?

[@willrucker1628]

@@ND3N No but I do have HamClock running

[@ND3N]

@@willrucker1628 does your ham clock interface with your rig?

[@alanf403]

Darn, I guess I'm just an old fart. I've made thousands of contacts on JT65, FT-8 and FT-4 with my old Yaesu FT-950 and a SignalLink USB soundcard. Fast forward to present day, a guy traded me some stuff and now I own an FTDX10. Can't get it to work on FT-8.I've followed the instructions and watched every video I can find. I give up. I'm going to give my FTDX10 away and go back to using the FT-950.

[@ND3N]

Did you download and install the drivers from the Yaesu site? I’ve got a video “dx10 first steps, if you need to do that.

[@alanf403]

@@ND3N Yes I did download the drivers. I'm going to watch again the first steps video before I jump to conclusions. I know there is probably just one little tick or toggle I don't have right. Thanks for the reply. Your confidence is commendable. I'll also mention it's refreshing to see you putting out all these videos without asking for money or withholding information unless I become an S9 VIP level Patreon donor!

[@emil9475]

Promo sm 😒