Unveiling the Ultimate FT-991A/FT-8 Video Guide

As I now have several hundred QSOs with WSJT-x, FT8 Mode, on the FT-991A, along with a lot of experimentation and just plain playing around, and since I've looked at what I put out before, I felt it was time to put out another set up video.
Links:
WSJT-x Download Page: wsjt.sourcefor...
Yaesu FT-991A Driver Download Page: tinyurl.com/44...
PSK Reporter Site: pskreporter.in...
Chapters:
01:30 FT-991A Menu Settings
06:07 FT-991A Function Settings
09:54 Software, User Guide, and Driver Downloads
12:42 Computer Audio and Time Settings
14:52 WSJT-x Settings
22:45 Demo (Fast Forward)
Thanks for viewing. Please remember to Like, Share, Comment, and please consider Subscribing.
73 de Tom, ND3N

[@wayneburkettsr.9422]

Tom, Thanks for the updated presentation. I have been thru most of the Yaesu-WSJT-X videos that you have done and you have been very helpful. The only reason I came back today and reset my settings was that for a couple of months I was having waterfall issues with lack of coverage on whatever band I was on and even at this point I do not know why it changed (more likely operator error) but it is back to a complete waterfall and I am a happy ham. I have been working FT-8 almost a year now and I am up to 117 countries with nearly 3000 contacts. I am probably going to try more FT-4 in the near future. 73 and thanks for all you do for our hobby 73 de Wayne

[@ND3N]

You’re very welcome

[@BigRed1500LC]

I found your videos when I first bought my 991a! Your videos about FT8 and the SSB Audio settings have been a huge help. I switch back and forth between WSJTX and JTDX depending on what im doing that day. Your settings work well in both programs. For my POTA and ARRL Field Day operations I use a FT-891 I would love to see you do a video about optimum settings on the 891 for FT8. I have sent many new FT8 operators links to your videos and they all have had success with them. Best Wishes & 73 KG9PN.

[@ND3N]

I did an FT-891 WSJT-X video back in January. Do a KZbin search for FT-891 WSJT-x and it should pop up. If you can’t find it, let me know and I’ll send you the direct link. You probably want to check out the one I did about the SignaLink USB as well…

[@tomlash78]

Tom, This is the perfect video for my set up! I've struggled getting FT-8 set up for too long. This video made all the difference and I'm up and running. Many, many, many thanks. Tom 73

[@ND3N]

Glad it helped!

[@MountainMan7.62x39]

This is the most helpful video I've seen on this topic. Thanks

[@ND3N]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AI5HV]

Thanks you for compiling your videos. It seems that you have a lot of great content that is related to topics that I am wanting to start doing or to learn more about. Thanks again from Greg AI5HV.

[@ND3N]

Thanks

[@brohren]

Your videos have been very helpful to me, especially those that focus on the FT-991A. One area that would be very helpful to me and many others is interfacing and using a tuning pulser with the FT-991A. I purchased an Ameritron AL-811H and have carefully tuned it when using it. I read about using a Tunning Pulser and how that would be a great aid in tuning the amplifier. I purchased an ATP-102 and the instructions are as clear as mud. There is nothing published on interfacing this Pulser with the FT-991A. Myself and many others would be very grateful if you could demonstrate how the Pulser might be setup and used with the YEASU radio. Thank you, sir!

[@ND3N]

I’d love to help, but I’ve never used an amplifier. Hence, I’ve never used a tuning pulser. 73 degrees Tom, ND3N

[@86casimir]

Agn a nice video TOM. TNX for explications between the FT991A and WSJT-X (numeric modes) . I Have the same configuration here in my shack and now it's more easy for me to make FT8. 73's. Joël/F8MGW

[@ND3N]

Glad it helped

[@markrobinson7831]

Great instructions, help me with a few settings.

[@ND3N]

Glad it helped

[@Proc3000]

Hi Tom. Your channel is great because I also own a 991a. Thank you so much. I wanted to share my digital mode issues. Dell Windows 11 laptops come with an application called Waves Audio Maxx that launches at startup and "enhances" audio. You have to disable the services for this or digital modes don't work because it "enhances" the volume down to zero on the computer because its getting over loaded. Just wanted to share if anyone is coming to you for questions and they have a Dell Windows 11 laptop. That took me MONTHS to figure out. But now Im on the air with FT8 and having a great time. Thanks for your content.

[@ND3N]

Thanks for the great advice. I do have Dell Windows 11 Laptop, fortunately I don't use it for Ham Radio Stuff - hi hi... It is used for a lot of my post-processing video work. I may go ahead and hook it up to my 991A and make a quick video on this issue. 73 de Tom, ND3N

[@Proc3000]

@@ND3N My particular laptop is about a year old. What I was experiencing was seeing some signal on the waterfall for about a second and then there would be nothing. Like the computer just went completely deaf. The computer would control the cat and it would activate PTT. It just wouldn't hear anything from the radio. Wanted to provide that additional information to see if you can replicate.

[@smoberdeen]

Tom, Thanks for another great video. K8STU 73

[@ND3N]

Thanks for watching!

[@markcapozzoli6756]

Very informative Tom! Can I assume similar settings for the Ftdx10?

[@ND3N]

The main difference is using the preset that the DX10 has, but I believe the WSJTx settings are the same.

[@jorgerueda7087]

Hello Tom, thank you for all your videos, they are great and have been the best help for learning digital modes. I have not been able to do JT65 when I am doing FT8 everything is perfect I changed the mode to JT65 nothing I do not receive any signal. When I change to JT65 I must change something else in the radio or in the program

[@ND3N]

Unfortunately JT65 is basically a dead mode. You probably didn’t do anything wrong, it was that there was no one there.

[@jackmerrill674]

Tom, what do I need to do to get the receiving b ar up to 60 and my graph to look like yours. Thank you, Jack KJ5EJV. my bar goes from 2.8 to 4.2. I am not getting hardly any contacts.

[@ND3N]

Adjust your RF gain You can also go into the menu settings and adjust the signal output for receive.

[@herbgarciakm6jbi542]

Could you please do a video on configuring FLDigi on a FT991A receiver.

[@timmyers3428]

question for you, regarding the RS232 cable to the back of the 991A. I have three StarTech USB-A Male to DB9 (9 Pin; D-Sub) Male adapters approx 12" long is there anything special about the cable to connect my computer to the 991A?

[@ND3N]

It needs to have a converter built in. Like this one - from my Amazon Associates account... amzn.to/495mhnr

[@Leonards_life]

How do I get the DB bar on the let bottom of ft8 screen under band used to go lower. It is maxed out! Thanks for any reply N6ZKI. all was fine until I did something wrong.

[@timmyers3428]

is the driver for the wstj program different from the one I downloaded for the FT Programmer program?

[@ND3N]

Yes

[@jackmerrill674]

I have done everything I know how to get the receiving number above 4.2. My range is 2.8 to 4.2. I do have the volume turned up in the Volume Mixer. The signals in the graph are fuzzy not solid. My graph looks different than yours. I have Moni off. My MIC Gain is 60. Any advice. Thank you, jack KJ5EJV

[@Lymitliss]

Think I may have had my audio set up incorrectly before. But if you have your master sound set to the computer speakers/mic, and the Wsjtx software set to CODEC, don't you have to listen to that tone every time it's transmitting?

[@ND3N]

You listen to your transmit signal by using the MONI (monitor) Function. Setting it up the way I showed isolates the CODEC from the computer audio so you don’t transmit computer audio, like notification beeps and so on.

[@Lymitliss]

@ND3N The MONI option on the radio toggles the transmit tone on the radio speaker, unfortunately the computer speakers play the transmit tone when set up how the video shows. Is there a way to avoid that? Does the computer sound have to be on for it to transmit properly? I thought I'd read somewhere the sound had to be on...

[@MrBenEye]

Grateful Tom! 73, KN6NDM😃

[@ND3N]

Many thanks!

[@MrBenEye]

Hey Tom, I truly value and appreciate the amount of time and diligence you put into these instructive videos, especially the Yaesu 991A which is my primary rig. You have saved me untold amount time navigating this rig, now onto the adventure of ft8! God bless you my KZbin Elmer! @@ND3N

[@mailmannb7970]

HELP.. had my 991a antenna down for 3 months. EFHW. Just rehooked it up. But the radio won't tune. Hold the tune button down.. seems like a very high swr.. but shuts off within a half second! I wonder if I have a bug or dirt in a coax connection? Any thoughts?

[@ND3N]

First find the menu item for your antenna tuner is set to internal. If it’s still not tuning, check everything from your computer to your antenna for kinks, dirt, etc. use a multimeter on your antenna to check for shorts between the center conductor and the shell. And verify the end to end continuity of both center conductor and the outer shell (on your coax). If it still doesn’t work , contact Yaesu, or your local club, for more troubleshooting help. Let me know when you find the trouble.

[@mailmannb7970]

@@ND3N Thank you, I shall see what I can do. Iam somewhat new at this... I will add.. the noise floor for me on 20m was very low. For me the band seemed very quiet, but did pick up at least one station about 1000km away. But will check what I can as soon as I can. VE9RPT

[@jeffdieleman3112]

WSJT-X volume is set to 1 in my volume mixer, I can’t adjust it (it is greyed out). How do I increase that? I am not getting enough audio into WSJT-X to decode effectively.

[@ND3N]

Adjust your codecs - which is what your WSJT-x should have selected in your volume mixer, using a combination of your DT GAIN and the WSJT-X Slider adjustment. Set it so your ALC is between 1/3 and 1/2 (ish) of full scale. The only thing that adjusts in the Volume Mixer on your computer are the default values - the top two entries in the mixer. Let me know if you get it working and see you on the air

[@jackmerrill674]

What do I need to do to get the Receiving on the lower left to get up to 60? I am only getting up to 40. Thank you. KJ5EJV

[@ND3N]

To start, 40 is is good enough for FT8, but try adjusting your RF gain up and down to see how that affects your receive. I like to keep my sensitivity to around 50 ish. And the higher that goes, the more noise you’ll receive. Too low and you’ll start to limit the good signals, and too high you’ll drown them out with the bad signals… QRM/QRN…

[@jackmerrill674]

@@ND3N I have done everything I know how to get the receiving number above 4.2. My range is 2.8 to 4.2. I do have a question. When I click on the speaker on the lower right and open the Volume Mixer I have System Sounds full volume, JTAlert CallSigns #1 Full Volume, but WSJT-X is greyed out. Sometimes it shows a volume but it goes away. The signals in the graph are fuzzy not solid. My graph looks different than yours. I have Moni off. My MIC Gain is 60. Any advice. Thank you

[@jackmerrill674]

I used to do FT-8 with my Yaesu FT-840 with siglink. All I had to do was turn my volume up to get the Receiving number up.

[@kg5pte]

Hello I have a question. Do these same Yaesu FT-991A Radio setings apply for VARA HF Winlink too ?

[@ND3N]

Yes they do.

[@frodeigland91]

Hi, Tom. Instructive video, but at 18:30, why do you set "Split Operation" to "None", risking that you are the source of harmonics inside the passband? There is no downside to setting "Split Operation" to "Rig" or "Fake It", making sure that you do not risk creating problems for others by transmitting bad signals, or "being that guy"?

[@ND3N]

I assumed that this meant true split, where A and B VFO’s are both used. I’ll have to do some more research I guess.

[@frodeigland91]

@@ND3N If you use "Rig", both VFOs are used, VFO A for Rx and VFO B for Tx. That is true split, whilst "Fake it" is fake split, using only VFO A and changing the frequency between Rx and Tx. This function secures that the audio signal stays in the 1500-2000 Hz sweetspot no matter which Tx audio frequency you select in the waterfall. The radio changes the dial frequency accordingly to make sure that the sum of dial and audio frequencies remains where you want it to send the audio signal. This avoids harmonics inside the passband and angry hams around the world having their reception interfered with by your signal. Use "Rig" for all radios, except those that don't switch fast enough between the VFOs or have only one VFO. See the User Manual section 4.2 about Split Operation. The video may need an update.

[@frodeigland91]

@@ND3N "Rig" employs both VFOs with separate RX and TX frequencies, like "real" Split", whilst "Fake it" uses only one VFO and changes the frequency of that VFO between RX and TX.

[@BennyCFD]

I did a comparison test between FT8 and watching paint dry...........Paint drying was a bit more entertaining.

[@ND3N]

Be glad you don’t have use JT-65…

[@frodeigland91]

Then, why did you waste your time watching this video (not the drying paint) and even commenting.