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OPERATING MANUAL

YAESU M U S E N CO., LTD.
C.P.O. BOX 1500

TOKYO, JAPAN
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Contents
Front Panel . Fold-Out Meter Functions, Top Panel Controls & Display . . . . Fold-Out Specifications. . . 2 Accessories & Options . . 3
ATU-2 & FC-800 Automatic Antenna Tuners TCXO-3 Master Reference Oscillator SP-6 Loudspeaker and LL-5 Phone Patch Option YH-77ST Lightweight Headphones DVS2 Digital Voice System FIF-232C CAT System Interface IF Crystal Filter Options Microphones 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5

... ... .... ... .. ... . ....... ... .... . .

Transmitting.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
18

Station Installation

.. ........

6
6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9

. .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . .10 . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Getting Started Tutorial . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connector Pinouts Connecting External Accessories Connecting a Linear Amplifier Power-Up Settings
Tuning & Scanning Steps General Coverage Reception Displaying the 10's-of-Hz Digit Button Beeper Settings 13 14 14 14

Preliminary Inspection AC Power Supply Changing the AC Voltage Range of the FP-800 Transceiver Location Grounding Adjusting the Front Panel Angle Antenna Considerations Mobile Power Connection Mobile Mounting Mobile Antenna Installation Interconnection of Accessories Memory Backup

Automatic Antenna Matching SSB Transmission Microphone Tone Selection AF Speech Compressor IF Processor Frequency Shift VOX (Voice-Actuated T/R Switching) CW Transmission CW Key or Paddle Connections Using the Internal Electronic Keyer Sidetone & Button Beeper Volume AM Transmission FM Transmission FM Repeater Operation Clarifier (Receiver Offset Tuning) VFO B & Split Frequency Operation Tuning Knob Torque Adjustment

Memory Features

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
24 24

21 22

Memory Storage Checking Memory Contents Frequency Display Modes Clarifying Memories, and M TUNE Memory Recall & Operation Memory Scanning Memory Scan Skip Memory Blanking Subband Scanning: Memories PI & P2

23 23

24 25
25 25

Digital Modes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
27
28

25

TU/TNC Interconnections Transmitter AF Input Relationships Transmitter Adjustment Frequency Display & Tuning 1200-Baud FM Packet

Optional DVSP Digital Voice Recorder

CAT System Computer Control
Data Returned From FT-890 Status Update Data Organization CAT Commands Coding Examples

. . . 31 . . . 35
36 37 39 39 31 31 32 34

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28 2-8 29 30

Dealing with Interference

...... ...

14
14 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 16

Installing Internal Accessories
Cover Removal TCXO-3 Enhanced-Stability Oscillator Optional IF Crystal Filters ATU-2 Internal Antenna Tuner

-.

Front End Selections: RF Amp & Attenuation RF Gain Setting AGC-F Selection Noise Blanker Setting IF Shift Adjustment AM & CW Narrow IF filters Locking the Dial or Buttons IF Notch Filter YF-101 SSB Crystal Filter Option

Rear Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

The meter indicates the selected parameter during transmission, and signal strength in S-units during reception (on the top scale). Each S-unit is approximately 6 dB. See the back of this page.

This button activates split frequency transceive operation. The displayed frequency is used for reception, and the other VFO or rear half of the memory for transmission. The SPLIT indicator at the left side of the display is lit while this function is active.

I One of these indicatorlbuttons is al- I ways lit to indicate the function of the
multimeter during transmission. Press an indicator to change the selection. The meanings of the abbreviations are as follows: ALC relative Automatic Level Control PO RF Power Output (watts) S W R Standina Wave Ratio This button can be used to manually activate the transmitter. It must be in the undepressed (I) position for reception.

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The TX LED glows red when the transmitter is activated. The BUSY LED glows green when number and special states. Details are on the back of this page. These five momentary buttons select the operating mode, indicated by the LED in each button.

transmitter switching in voice modes. Related controls are on the rear panel, and operation is described on page 19. This button turns the transceiver on and off. To avoid switching spikes, make sure it is off when you turn the DC power source (AC power supply) on or off. In a mobile installation, the transceiver should be off when starting or stopping the engine. This '/&inch, 3-contact jack accepts either monaural or stereo headphones with a 2- or 3-contact plug. When a plug is inserted, the loudspeaker is disabled. Audio is supplied to both channels of a stereo headphone.

Each of these buttons has an LED indicator to show when the function is activated. This 8-pin jack accepts the PROC activates the speech processor in MD-1B8 or M D - ~ C E Desktop the SSB and AM modes. See page 18. Microphone or the MH-188 AGC-F sets the receiver Automatic Gain Handie Scanning MicroControl decay time for fast recovery, which phone. Proper microphone can improve CW reception and fast-fading input impedance is 500 to (QSB) SSB signals. 600 ohms. IPO bypasses the receiver RF amplifier, providing the widest dynamic range. See page 14 for details. MIC 4 r ATT If the IPO function is on and the band is noisy or very strong signals are present, press this button to insert a 12-dB attenuator in the front end to protect the receiver from overload. RPT activates HF FM repeater operation on the 29-MHz band. See page 21.

The inner AF gain control adjusts the volume of the receiver in the speaker or headphones. The outer RF gain control adjusts the gain of the receiver IF amplifiers. This control is normally set fully clockwise for maximum sensitivity. See page 15 for details.

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The inner MIC control adjusts the microphone input level for SSB and AM transmission. The outer RF PWR control sets transmitter output power in all modes. The adjustment range is from less than 10 to 100 watt3 (5 to 25 watts AM).

This button toggles operation between a memory and a VFO. Either VFO-A (or -B), or MEM is displayed to the left of the frequency to indicate the current selection. If a displayed memory has been retuned, pressing this button once returns the display to the original memory contents, and pressing it again returns to the (last used) VFO.
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Pressing this button while receiving in a ham band activates the transmitter for while the tuner rematches the antenna for minimum SWR. The resulting settings are stored in the antenna tuner's 31 memories, for automatic recall later. See page 17.

Front Panel
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Pressing this button momentarily displays the contents of the currently selected memory channel for three seconds. Holding this button for 1/2 second copies all data from the memory to the VFOs, as two beeps sound. Previous data in the VFOs is overwritten. See page 24. When receiving on a VFO or a retuned memory, holding this button for 1/2-second writes the current operating data to the currently selected memory. Two beeps sound, and any previous data in the memory is overwritten. Also, pressing and holding this button after recalling a memory (without retuning) causes the memory to be "blanked." Repeat to unblank the memory.

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When receiving on a VFO, this button toggles operation and display between VFOs A and B. On a memory, it tog-

Pressing this button so that its LED is lfi ~ u t the antenna tuner s in line. ~ e ' c e ~ t i o n affected. is not The START button also activates the antenna tuner.

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memory half. Previous contents of the non-displayed VFOlmemThis knob tunes the clarifier offset frequency up to 9.99 kHz, when activated by the CLAR button to the left of it. Operating details are on page 21.

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*
Pressing either of these buttons momentarily steps the operating frequency down or up one ham band, or 100 kHz (if receiving in GEN mode), respectively. Pressing FAST with one of these buttons steps down or up 1 MHz if receiving in GEN mode. Continue holding either button for repeated stepping.

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'This knob tunes the operating frequency of the VFO or a recalled memory. Tuning increments are normally 10 Hz (100 Hz in AM and FM modes). The markings on the knob represent 25 increments each, and one full turn of the knob provides 500 increments (5 kHz, or 50 kHz in AMIFM). This button determines the function of the DOWNIUP buttons when receiving on a VFO or retuned memory: GEN steps are 100 kHz, and HAM steps are from one amateur band to the next.

The inner NOTCH control adjusts the IF notch freauencv when activated bv next the b u t t o n l i ~ ~ to the label. l i modes other than AM and FM, the outer SHIFT control offsets the IF passband center frequency from the displayed frequency when turned away from the 12-o'clock position. The outer SQL control sets the signal threshold at which receiver audio is muted (and the BUSY LED turns off), in all modes. This control is normally kept fully CCW, except when scanning, and during FM operation. Scanning stops when the squelch is open. See page 25. The inner NB control adjusts the blanking level when the noise blanker is activated by the indicatorlbutton left of the label. If the control is set very far clockwise, receiver audio may be distorted.

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This button toggles I~cking the of tuning knob to prevent accidental frequency changes. LOCK appears at the bottom left of the display window when locked (the knob can still be turned, but it does nothing). Press again to re-enable the tuning knob. You can change the function of this button to lock most of the controls and buttons, instead of just the tuning knob, by holding the button while switching the transceiver on. In this case the LOCK display will blink when enabled.

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For fast tuning, press this button while rotating the tuning knob or pressing the UP or DOWN button, to increase the tuning rate ten times. See the table on page 13 for all available steps. When fast tuning is active, FAST is displayed above the MHz digits. You can set the function of this button to be either "pressand-hold", or toggle onloff, by holding it while switching the transceiver on.

Meter Functions
Note: While receiving, refer only to
During reception, the top "S" scale indicates incoming signal strength in S-units at the left end of the scale, and in dB above S-9 at the right end. Each S-unit is approximately 6 dB.

the S-meter function: the top scale of the meter. While transmitting, the meter function is determined by the METER buttonlLEDs below it. One of these is always lit (even while receiving) to indicate the transmit function of the meter.

The second, "PO" scale indicates transmitter power output, in watts, when selected by the METER button/LED with the same name. This scale is calibrated to be most accurate when the antenna impedance is 50-Q. Refer only to the numbers above the scale (0 - 150) for the FT-890: the numbers below apply only to special low-power versions.

1

15 :
ALC

00

The "SWR" scale indicates the standing wave ratio at the antenna jack, as a ratio of forward to reflected power, when selected by the METER button1LED with the same name. A perfectly matched antenna should give no deflection. If the SWR is above 3, the antenna requires matching.

The bottom "ALC" scale indicates transmitter Automatic Level Control voltage when selected by the METER button/LED with the same name. The position and movement of the meter needle give a good indication of transmitter performance. This meter function is important when setting the MIC gain control for SSB and AM modes, and the RF PWR control in CW and FM modes. See the Transmitting instructions beginning on page 17.

Top Panel Controls

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For CW operation (with or without the internal keyer) this switch selects the type of transmitlreceive switching between code elements. Select the FULL position for full break-in (QSK), if you want the receiver to be activated between each dot and dash. Select the SEMI position if you want the receiver to be activated only when you pause while sending. Related adjustments are described on page 20.

This 3-position slide switch activates the internal electronic CW keyer (in the AUTO or WT positions), and selects heavy (1:4.5) dotdash weighting in the WT position. In the MAN position, the internal keyer is disabled. Keyer operation is described on page 20.

This slide potentiometer adjusts the speed of the internal electronic CW keyer, when the KEYER switch is set to either AUTO or WT position.

Display
One of these segments lights along with the TONE indicator when the repeater function (RPTK button) is activated in the FM mode, indicating the direction of repeater offset. TONE indicates the CTCSS tone is also activated to access CTCSS-controlledrepeaters (page 21).

This indicator appears whenever the fast (x 10) tuning rate is activated by the FAST button below the tuning knob. This indicator blinks after pressing the M * VFO or VFO M button, to indicate that Memory ChecKing is active. While it is blinkiqg, you can press the DOWNIUP buttons to check the contents of memories, without affecting operation. Wait 3 seconds and Memory ChecKing stops. See page 23.

This indicator appears when the automatic antenna tuner detects an abnormally high SWR that it cannot match.

This indicator appears while the automatic antenna tuner is seeking an impedance match with the antenna. It also flashes each time the main microprocessor sends frequency update data to the tuner microprocessor (while you tune).

While selecting memories during Memory CHecKing, this indicator appears when the selected memory is vacant. The frequency display is blank.

rtKm

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VFO-A -vFo-B
W M T u N E MIEM

These three indicators appear when the respective functions are active: split transceive (page 21), GENeral coverage (100-kHz) DOWNIUP stepping (page 13), and dial or panel lock (page 15).

1

1

LI

- I,) - 1,1 I,) - -LI
MHz kHz
-

SKIP

-

-17
I-/

,j -

These two small digits display the memory number when operating on a memory. For VFO operation, you can choose one of two functions: last-selected memory number (default), or the 10-Hz digit of the operating frequency (one digit only). Hold the UP button while switching the transceiver on to toggle these choices.

shows the current VFOImemory the right of the display, or when retuning a memory (M TUNE). This is the current operating frequency, with decimals at the MHz and kHz positions. The rightmost large digit is 100's of Hz. The displayed frequency changes when you transmit with either clarifier offset or split transceive enabled. (Memory scan skip) This indicator appears when displaying a memory that has been selected to be skipped during memory scanning (page 25).

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General Description
The FT-890 is a high-performance transceiver providing up to 100 watts transmitter power output on all HF amateur radio bands in CW, SSB and FM modes, and up to 25 watts carrier in AM mode. The receiver tunes all frequencies between 100 kHz and 30 MHz in 10-Hz steps. Modular circuit design employs surfacemount components on composite epoxy boards for high reliability and serviceability. Two direct digital synthesizers (DDSs) and a magnetic rotary encoder provide silent, silkysmooth tuning, pure local signals and very fast t/r changeover important for QSK CW. Frequency accuracy and stability are assured by driving both DDSs from a single master oscillator, and the optional TCXO-3 temperaturecompensated crystal oscillator is available for C enhanced 2-ppm stability from -10 to +50 O . Other valuable features include an effective noise blanker, all-mode squelch, 4-function multimeter, and an AF speech compressor with adjustable IF passband-shift, which lets you tailor SSB and AM transmitter audio to your own voice characteristics. Special features for CW include a built-in iambic memory keyer with dot-dash memory and a choice of 500- or 250-Hz narrow IF crystal filters. For serious voice contesting, the same DVS2 digital voice recorder option introduced with the FT-1000 can also be used with the FT-890, providing continuous-loop receiver recording and pushbutton transmission of multiple voice messages to help keep you at your peak QSO-rate throughout the contest. The IT-890 weighs under 6 kg, and with its top-panel heatsink, runs cool all the time. An internal thermally switched fan allows full transmitter output without any rear panel protrusions, giving easy access to rear panel connectors and controls. A choice of automatic antenna tuners is available for the FT-890, each with its own microprocessor and 31 memories which automatically store most recent antenna matching settings for nearly instant recall while changing operating frequency. The ATU-2 can be mounted right inside the transceiver, or the FC-800 can be installed remotely at the antenna feedpoint. Each antenna tuner is controlled from the front panel of the FT-890. Other accessories include the FP-800 AC Power Supply with Loudspeaker; the SP-6 External Loudspeaker with audio filters and optional LL-5 Phone Patch; the MMB-20 Mobile Mounting Bracket; the YH-77ST Headset; and Desktop and MH-1~8 Hand Mithe MD-1~8 crophones. Before connecting the power cord, you should read the Installation section carefully, heeding the warnings in that section to avoid damage to the set. After installation, please take time to work through the Operation chapter, referring to the fold-out panel diagrams at the back of the manual as necessary for details. This manual is intended to be read while sitting in front of the FT-890, so you can try out each control and feature as they are described.

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The low-noise, high-performance receiver front end uses a parallel pair of high-IDSSFETs in a constant-gain, grounded gate RF amplifier, feeding an active double-balanced quad FET ring mixer. The RF amplifier can be bypassed for direct feed to the mixer (by the IPO button), and a 12-dB attenuator can be inserted for clear copy of even very strong signals. Interference rejection is facilitated by the unique "up-down-up" conversion scheme, which provides both IF shift and an IF notch filter. The optional YF-I01 crystal filter can be installed to provide enhanced SSB and AMnarrow skirt selectivity. Four microprocessors in the IT-890 are programmed to provide the simplest possible control interface for the operator. Two independent (A/B) VFOs for each band (20 total) hold their own frequencies and modes, as well as clarifier offsets and repeater shifts, when used. Thirty-two memories store all of this data for both VFOs, giving a total of 84 independent sets of frequency, mode and other selections. Of course all memories can be freely tuned and scanned, but two special memories also let you limit the tuning/scanning range between their stored frequencies.

Specifications
General
Receiving frequency range: 100 kHz - 30 MHz Transmitting frequency ranges: 160-m band, 1.8 to 2.0 MHz 80-m band, 3.5 to 4.0 MHz 40-m band, 7.0 to 7.5 MHz 30-m band, 10.1 to 10.5MHz 20-m band, 14.0 to 14.5 MHz 17-m band, 18.0 to 18.5MHz 15-m band, 21.0 to 21.5 MHz 12-m band, 24.5 to 25.0 MHz 10-m band, 28.0 to 29.7 MHz Frequency stability: < 10 ppm, or < f2 ppm from -10 to +50 O w/TCXO-3 option C Emission modes: LSB/USB (J3E),CW (A1A), AM (A3E), FM (F3E) Basic frequency steps: 10 Hz for CW and SSB; 100 Hz for AM and FM Antenna impedance: 500 nominal without ATU 16.5 to 150Q with AT'U (unbalanced) Supply voltage: 13.5-V DC f lo%, negative ground Power consumption (approx.): 1.5 A receive (no signal) 20 A transmit (100 watts) Dimensions (WHD): 238 x 93 x 243 mm Weight (approx.): 5.6 kg (12.3lbs) Selectivity (-6/-60 dB):
h

Receiver
Circuit type: dual-conversion superheterodyne Intermediate frequencies: 70.455 and 455 kHz, 8.215-MHz Notch IF Sensitivity:
(for 10 dB S/N, 0 dBp = 1 pV)

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1

Modes

Minimum -6 dB BW

Maximum -60 dB BW

SSB, CW wide, AM narrow (without options) SSB. CW wide. AM narrow w/YF-101 ootion CW narrow with YF-100 option CW narrow with XF-455K-251-01 ootion I AM (wide)

1

2.2 kHz 2.4 kHz 500 Hz 250 Hz 6kHz

1

4.2 kHz 4.2 kHz 1.8 kHz 700 Hz 18kHz

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Squelch sensitivity: 1.8 - 30 MHz (CW, SSB, AM): < 2.0 pV 28 - 30 MHz (FM): < 0.32 p V
IF rejection (1.8 - 30 MHz):

70 dB or better

Transmitter
Power output: adjustable up to 100 watts (25 watts AM carrier) Duty cycle: 100%@ 100 watts PEP SSB Modulation types: SSB: Balanced, filtered carrier AM: Low-level (early stage) FM: Variable reactance Maximum FM deviation: 2.5 kHz Harmonic radiation: > 50 dB below peak output Spurious radiation: > 40 dB below peak output SSB carrier suppression: > 40 dB below peak output Undesired sideband suppression: at least 50 dB below peak output Audio response (SSB): not more than -6 dB from 400 to 2600 Hz 3rd-Order IMD: -31 dB typ. @ 100 W PEP, 14.2 MHz Microphone impedance: 500 to 600 R

Image rejection (1.8 - 30 MHz): 70 dB or better
IF Shift range:

+ 1.2 kHz

IF Notch filter attenuation: 30 dB or better
Clarifier tuning rangelsteps: f 9.99 kHz/10 Hz Maximum audio power output: at least 1.5 watts into 4 Q with < 10%THD Audio output impedance: 4 to 8 SZ

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Automatic Antenna Tuner Options
Impedance range: 16.7 - 150Q (unbalanced) Frequency range: see Transmitting ranges, above Min. auto-tune & Max. power range: 8 - 120 watts SWR when matched: less than 1.4:l Matching time: within 30 seconds

Specifications are subject to change, in the interest of technical improvement, without notice or obligation.

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Accessories & Options
Supplied Accessories

1 20-A Fuse (1pc, #Q0000009)

Fused DC Cable (1 #T9018320) pc,

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3-ct Plug for KEY jack (1pc, #P0090008)

2-ct Phono Plugs (2 pcs, #P0090544)

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2-ct Plug for EXT SPKR jack (1pc, #P0090034)

3-ct Plug for DATA INIOUT jack (1pc, #PO0907261

Options

ATU-2 & FC-800 Automatic Antenna Tuners
The ATU-2 (internal) and FC-800 (external remote) antenna tuners match impedances of up to about 3:l with the transmitter. Operation is controlled from the front panel. The FC-800 plugs into the rear panel, and can be mounted at the antenna feedpoint to avoid feedline losses.

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TCXO-3 Master Reference Oscillator
For special applications and environments where extra frequency stability is essential, the TCXO-3 temperature-compensated crystal oscillator is a 2-ppm (from -10 to +50°C) replacement for the reference oscillator.

SP-6 Loudspeaker w i t h Audio Filters and LL-5 Phone Patch Option
Selectable audio high- and lowpass filters with a large loudspeaker complement the audio characteristics of the FT-890 with your choice of 12 different audio filtering combinations. Two input terminals are provided for multiple transceivers,

Accessories & Options

DVS-2 Digital Voice System
Serving as either a continuous receiver recorder for instant pushbutton playback, or microphone audio recorder for multiple on air playback, the DVS-2 applies the advantages of random-access solid-state digital memory t serious communica; tions. All data is stored electronically, with no moving parts except your finger and a pushbutton. More information is on page 30.

with a front panel switch to select between them. A phone jack is provided on the front panel to take advantage of the audio filters with headphones.

FIF-232 C CAT System Interface
To control the FT-890 from an RS-232C serial port of an external personal computer, use the FIFWith the optional LL-5 Phone Patch Unit instal2 3 2 ~ convert the TI-L levels required by the to led in the SP-6, the FT-890 can be patched to the transceiver to the RS-232C levels required by the public telephone The LL-5 a h ~ - serial port. A cable is included for connection bebrid transformer circuit to assure proper impedtween the transceiver and the mF-232C (the cable ante matches, and gain and level meter to to the computer must be provided separately).The set proper audio levels on the telephone line. FIF-232C includes its own AC power supply.

IF Cy s tal Filter Options YH-77ST Lightweight Headphones
Dual samarium-cobalt transducers with sensitivity of 103 dB/mW ( 2 dB @IkHz, 3552) provide the perfect match for the FT-890, taking full advantage of the spectacular audio performance. For extra CW receiver selectivity, the 500-Hz YF-100 or 250-Hz XF-455K-251-01 &pole crystal filter may be installed in the 455-kHz 2nd IF of the
FT-890.- - -- -

Also, for e~hancnd and AM narrow receiver SSB fidelity and ultimate attenuation, the YF-101 8pole, 2.6-kHz crystal filter may be installed in place of the standard ceramic filter.

Accessories & Options Microphones
Matching the electrical and cosmetic features of the FT-890, the MH-1~8 Hand Mic and MD-1cg Desktop Mic have 600-52 impedance, and include up/down scanning buttons and a large P Tswitch I also with latch. The MH-1~8 has a 2-position transmit audio characteristic selector, while the MD-Icg has a 3-position selector. Typical audio characteristic plots with the different switch settings are indicated in the graphs below.

DWN

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YELLOW BLUE

ORANGE

YELLOW

50

100

200

500
FREQUENCY(Hz)

1000

2000

5000

10000

20000

Station Installation
Prelirninay Inspection
Inspect the transceiver thoroughly immediately upon opening the packing carton. Confirm that all controls and switches work freely, and inspect the cabinet for any damage. Make sure the accessory fuses and plugs pictured on page 3 are included. If any damage is found document it completely, and contact the shipping company (or dealer, if you purchased it over the counter) right away. Save the packing materials in case you need to return the set for service. If you purchased optional internal accessories separately, install them as described in Installing Internal Accessories (page 36). This chapter describes base station installation first, followed by mobile installation and then interconnections with external accessories.

Caution!
Permanent damage can result if improper supply voltage is applied t o the transceiver. Your warranty does not cover damage caused by application of AC, reversed polarity DC, or DC outside of the specified range of 13.5 V+10%.
the supplied DC cable assembly, but you must be extremely careful to avoid reversed polarity connection. See the Caution box above. If you are connecting the FP-800 with the FT890, before connecting power, check the label on the rear of the FP-800 which indicates the AC mains voltage range for which the supply is currently set. If your AC mains voltage is outside of this range, the transformer taps inside the power supply must be rewired, and the fuse in the FP-800 must be changed. This involves some soldering of the AC mains input (see below), so you should ask your dealer for assistance if you are not experienced with this sort of work. Incor-

AC Power Supply
The FT-890 is designed for operation from 13.5-V DC, negative ground. For base station installations, we recommend the matching Yaesu FP-800 AC power supply which was specifically designed for this purpose, and which includes a large loudspeaker for the transceiver and its own cooling fan. You can use another DC source capable of providing 20 amperes at 13.5-VDC with

rect connections could cause serious damage not covered by the warranty.

Changing the AC Voltage Range of the FP-800 Power Supply
0 Disconnect the AC cable from the rear of the
FP-800. and the DC cable from the FT-890.

0 Remove the 8 screws affixing the top cover.
0 Unsolder the wires from the transformer, and resolder for the required voltage as indicated below.

0 Replace the fuse in the rear panel holder with a fast-blow, &A fuse (for 100 117-V AC) or 4 A (for 200 234-V AC).

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0 Check your work carefully, then replace the top cover and its 8 screws. Change the voltage marking on the FP-800 rear panel label, and replace the AC cord, if necessary.

----Important!
If you change the AC

W V 2 2 0 V 2 0 0 V 1 1 7 ~ IIOV

100~

POWER TRANSFORMER PRIMARY CONNECTIONS

voltage range you must change the fuse in the rear panel holder. Do not use a slow-blow fuse. Also make sure to change the voltage marking on the label on the rear panel to match the new voltage setting.

Station Installation
In any case, make sure the power supply is set correctly before connecting power. If you have any doubts about the procedure, ask your dealer for help. You should also make sure the fuse in the FP-800 rear panel fuse holder is correct for your mains voltage:
AC Mains Voltage 100- 117 200 - 234 Fuse Capacity 8A 4A

Antenna Considerations
Any antenna connected to the FT-890 should have a coaxial feedline with 5 0 4 impedance, and include a well-grounded lightning arrestor. The internal ATU-2 and external FC-800 antenna tuners are capable of matching antennas with an SWR of up to 3:1 or more on the amateur bands to the transmitter. Nevertheless, optimum performance for both reception and transmission will generally result with an antenna designed to provide a 50-R unbalanced resistive load at the operating frequency. An antenna that is not resonant at the operating frequency may present too high an SWR for proper matching with the antenna tuner, in which case the antenna should be readjusted, or a wide-range manual antenna tuner should be used. If the tuner is unable to bring the SWR down to an acceptable level, attempting to transmit will result in an automatic reduction in power output and increased losses in the feedline. Operation under such conditions can waste power and cause TVI, RFI and RF feedback: it is better to install another antenna designed for that band. Also, if your antenna has a balanced feedpoint and you use a balanced feedline, install a balun transformer between the feedline and the transceiver's antenna jack.

After making certain the AC voltage for which the power supply is set matches your mains voltage, and that the correct fuse is installed in the fuse holder, connect the DC cable from the power supply to the jack on the rear panel. Don't plug the power supply cord into the wall until all other transceiver interconnections have been made.

Transceiver Location
To assure long life of the components, make sure to provide adequate ventilation around the cabinet. The cooling system of the FT-890 must be free to draw cool air in at the bottom rear of the transceiver, and to expel warm air out of the upper rear panel. Do not place the transceiver on top of another heat-generating device such as a linear amplifier, and do not place equipment, books or papers on top of the transceiver. Place the transceiver on a hard, flat surface. Avoid heating vents and window locations that could expose the transceiver to excessive direct sunlight, especially in hot climates.

Mobile Power Connection
A fused (20-A) DC power cable for mobile installation is supplied with the transceiver. Please note the Caution at the beginning of this chapter before connecting power. Plan to connect the DC cable directly to the vehicle battery, rather than to the ignition or accessory circuitry. Route the cable as far away from ignition cables as possible, and then cut off any extra cable (from the battery end) to minimize voltage drop losses. If the cable is not long enough, use #12 AWG stranded, insulated wire to extend it, but no more than is necessary. Use the following procedure to connect the cable: 0 Before connecting the cable, measure the voltage across the battery terminals with the engine running fast enough to show a charge. If above 15 volts, the automobile voltage regulator must be adjusted to reduce the charging voltage before proceeding. 0 With the radio end of the cable unconnected, connect the RED cable lead to the POSITIVE battery terminal, and the BLACK lead to the NEGATIVE terminal. Make sure the battery terminal connections are tight, and remember

Grounding
For protection from shock and proper performance, connect the GND terminal on the rear panel to a good earth ground, using a heavy braided cable of the shortest length possible. All other station equipment should be connected to the same grounding cable, as close together as practical. If you use a computer with or near the FT-890, you may need to experiment with grounding of both the transceiver and the computer to suppress computer noise in the receiver.

Adjusting the Front Panel Angle
If your installation places the FT-890 much below eye level, you may want to prop up the front. A wire bail on the bottom of the FT-890 can be folded down for this purpose.

Station Installation
to check them periodically for signs of loosening or corrosion. Make sure the switch On the transinto the ceiver is and plug the DC 6-pin molex jack on the rear panel.

Interconnection of Accessories
The diagrams on the following pages show interconnections of external accessories. If you have any questions on these accessories or connecting devices not shown, contact your dealer for advice.

Caution!
In mobile installations, check to ensure that the transceiver POWER switch is off whenever starting or stopping the engine, to avoid damage from switching transients.

Memo y Backup
The lithium memory BACKUP switch inside the hole at the front center of the bottom panel is turned on at the factory, allowing VFO and memory data to be retained while power is off. ~ a - c k current is miniscule, so it iinot necessary u~ to turn the BACKUP switch off unless the trans~ e i ~is to be stored for a long time. er After about five years the transceiver may fail to ,tain memories (although operation will be othewise unaffected), and the lithium battery should be replaced. Ask your dealer for replacement of the batteT, or fo; instructions on how to do so yourself.

Mobile Mounting The optional MMB-20 Mobile Mounting Bracket allows quick insertion and removal of the transceiver from the vehicle. Complete instructions are provided with the bracket, which the transceiver' can be mounted above Or
MMB-20 Mobile Mounting Bracket

Mobile Antenna Installation
Please review the Antenna Considerations on the previous page, as they apply equally to base and mobile antennas. The FC-800 or FC-1000 Remote Antenna Tuners are particularly desirable in a mobile station, where the short antenna elements have very narrow bandwidth. Make sure that the shield-of the antenna coax is firmly grounded to the car body at the antenna feedpoint if using a base-loaded vertical.

Switch Locations in Bottom Cover

Connector Pinouts

Station Installation

Connector Pinouts
BAND DATA
I

1 TUNER
2
3
4 5

6 ,
7 ,
8)

f13V T X GND GND B A N D DATA B A N D DATA B A N D DATA B A N D DATA LINEAR

1

GND

A
6

C D
I

5 GNDED B Y F C - 8 0 0

1 CAT
(
F -

I GND 2 S E R I A L OUT

-

1,

VOICE IN VOICE OUT

\5

'2

(31

3 S E R I A L IN
14) P T T

3J
( 6

3 PTT '? +9v i,
\ CNTL 1 5 '6CNTL2
7:

5 S/PO

-

6 NC

,

1 DATA IN/OUT

\2

GND

1 PHONES
I

S I G N A L (R)

DATA IN

DATA OUT

-i
GND

3

SIGNAL(L)

/
GND

KEYER

DOT

COMMON

/

GND

/

Station Installation

Connecting External Accessories

Connecting External Accessories

SUPPLIED CABLE A ( ~ 9 3 0 9 8 0 )

non-QSK Linear Amp.

ANT

FT-890

PC
RELAY CONTROL

page 10

Station Installation

Connecting a Linear Amplifier
For all linear amplifiers, connect the ALC output from the linear to the EXT ALC jack on the rear of the transceiver. After making the RF and t/r switching connections described below, you will probably need to adjust the ALC output level of the linear so that it is not overdriven by the IT-890. Your linear's manual should describe how to do this. If using an FL-7000 with the FT-890, use optional cable CT-11 to provide automatic band selection for the linear, as well as QSK t/r switching control. If using another QSK linear, and if it can be switched with less than 100 mA of DC voltage below 15V, you can connect the the t/r switch line for the linear to pin 2 of the BAND DATA jack, and the linear's exciter-enable output to pin 8 of the BAND DATA jack. This line must be held high (+5 to 15 V) to inhibit transmission until the linear is ready for excitation by the IT-890. If your QSK linear requires more than 100 mA or uses more than 15 V for t/r relay switching, you will have to provide a suitable external interface transistor, controlled by pin 2. The FT-890 provides the TX GND jack on the rear panel, connected to an internal relay, for non-QSK t/r switching of linear amplifiers that use AC voltage, or DC voltage above 15V, or require more than 100 mA for t/r switching. This relay is disabled at the factory to avoid the click sound when the transceiver is used alone or with a QSK linear. To enable the relay for non-QSK linears that exceed the above t/r switching requirements, you will need move switch S2001, located in the large hole near the rear center of the bottom cover, to its forward position (see the photo on page 8). Turn the FT-890 on its side or upside down and use a thin, sharp object to move the switch. Then connect the center contact of the TX GND jack to the positive line to your linear, and the outer contact to the negative line or the linear's chassis ground (if there is no separate negative line). With the relay enabled, the FI'-890 can support non-QSK linear t/r switching voltage up to 125VAC @ 200 mA, or DC voltage up to 220 V @ 300 mA, or closed-circuit current up to 2 A with DC voltage up to 30 V. Use the TX GND jack after setting S2001 to the forward (on) position. Do not attempt QSK

operation with a linear if its switching requires the relay enabled.

Caution!
The FT-890 is designed for use with the FL-7000 when QSK operation with a linear amplifier is required, and with the internal t/r relay enabled for non-QSK operation with all other amplifiers. Using pins 2 and 8 of the BAND DATA jack for other amplifiers will not work unless the control line signals are carefully matched, and damage may result otherwise. Your warranty does not cover damage resulting from improper connections to this jack, so if you are unsure, use the TX GND jack and operate non-QSK only.
TX GND

(on rear panel)
D2063
U

P
C2014 Q2061
FAlA4P

1SS270

BAND DATA

(socket viewed from rear)

Linear Amp TIR Switching in the FT-890

page 11

Power-Up Customization & Button Combination Settings
By pressing and holding certain buttons while switching on the FT-890, you can make many settings to customize features to your particular requirements, and perform several troubleshooting functions. Some important settings can also be selected by holding the FAST button while pressing certain other buttons. These are described in the tables below. Default settings are in italics.

FAST is displayed when active.

FAST Button Combinations

page 12

Operation
Getting Started Tutorial
While reading this chapter, refer to the foldout photos of the panels for the locations and functions of the controls and jacks. Before plugging in the transceiver the first time, make sure your supply voltage is correct, and that your ground and antenna are connected as described in the Installation chapter. Then preset the following controls: POWER, M X V X & switches: off (I); O, O MIC, RF PWR, SQLand NB: all ccw (minimum); AF: 10 o'clock; RF: fully clockwise; SHIFT and NOTCH: 12 o'clock. Connect your microphone and/or CW key or paddles, and then press the POWER switch on. The meter and display should light up. If the display is too bright or dim, hold the FAST button below the tuning knob while turning the CLAR control to adjust display brightness. At the left side of the panel, if the green LEDs in any of the PROC, AGC-F, IPO, A l T & RPTrT buttons are on, press to turn them off. Take a moment to study the display. You should see "vFO-A" or "VFO-B" at the left, with the operating frequency in large digits in the center (if you don't see a VFO indicator, press the VFOIM button near the top right). At the right side of the display is either a small 2-digit memory channel number ("01" by default), or a single-digit indicating the 10's-of-Hz of the operating frequency.
"GEN" appears to the left of the frequency on the display, and the D W and UP buttons O N step in 100-kHz increments (or 1-MHz if FAST tuning is activated as described below).

Example: say you're tuned to 7.000 MHz, and want to change to 21.200 MHz.
0 First check to see if "GEN" appears on the left side of the display, and if it does, press the HAMlGEN button. 0 Then press the UP button 4 times to change to the last-used frequency on the 15-meter band.

0 Now you can use the tuning knob to tune to 21.200. However, if the current frequency is more than 100 kHz away, you can save some cranking: press HAMIGEN again so that "GEN" appears, and press the D W and UP buttons, O N as needed, to get within 100 Wz. Then use the tuning knob. When you want to change bands again, remember to press HAMIGEN so that "GEN" disappears. Press the mode button (to the left of the tuning knob) corresponding to the mode you wish to operate - for now, we suggest an SSB mode: USB if you have selected a band above 10 MHz, or LSB otherwise. LEDs in the mode buttons show the selected mode. Adjust the A control for comfortable volume F on signals or noise in the loudspeaker or headphones. Tune around the band a bit with the tuning knob to get the feel of it (if you want to adjust the torque, see page 22). For faster (x10) tuning steps, press the FAST button at the lower left side of the knob. to enable the "FAST" indica-

Use the BANDIMEM DOWN and UP buttons (to the right of the tuning knob) to select a band for which your antenna is designed. These buttons have several different functions: O By default (the ham stepping mode), when receiving on a VFO, these step from one ham band to another. Changing bands stores the current frequency automatically, so that D W and UP always return you to the freO N quency last used on each band (if it is inside the 500-kHz range of the ham band). The 10meter band has two 1-MHz ham bands. 0 If the HAMIGEN button has been pressed (to activate GENeral coverage tuning mode),

toggle (press on/press off). The table below lists all available tuning steps in each mode. If your

Tuning & Scanning Steps

' To double knob tuning rate, hold F S and press SWR. AT
-

page 13

Dealing with Interference

Operation

Displaying the 10's-of-Hz Digit
The FT-890 defaults to display frequency only to 100-Hz resolution, so the actual 10-Hz tuning resolution is not visible. This means that when tuning with the microphone UP and DWN buttons in CW and SSB modes, the displayed frequency changes only once every 10 button presses. You can change the display to show the 10-Hz digit at the right (in place of the memory number), by holding the BANDIMEM UP button while switching the set on. Tuning steps are not affected. microphone has UP and DWN buttons, you can use them to tune in 10- or 100-Hz steps. Also, the FAST button on the microphone duplicates the FAST button on the front panel.

Dealing with Interference
The FT-890 includes special features to suppress the many types of interference that may be encountered on the HF bands. Still, real world conditions are constantly changing, so optimum setting of the controls is somewhat of an art, requiring familiarity with the types of interference and the subtle effects of some controls. Therefore the following information should be considered only as general guidelines for typical situations, and a starting point for your own experimentation. The controls are described in the order that you would usually make them after changing bands. An exception to this is if strong pulse noise is present, such as from the lWoodpecker", in which case you may need to activate the noise blanker (described on the next page) before making other adjustments.

General Coverage Reception
You may have already noticed that you can tune outside one of the amateur bands (actually, outside the 500-kHz segment that includes each ham band) regardless of whether GEN or hamstepping is selected for the BANDIMEM DOWN and LIP buttons. However, the transmitter (and antenna tuner) are disabled on such frequencies. If you try to transmit, the TX LED still lights, but there is no RF power output. Also, the ham band recall system ignores such frequencies. If you select a ham band and then tune outside the band, the non-ham frequency will be lost when you change bands. When you return to the original band you will find that it has reverted to the (ham-band) frequency it was on when that band was previously selected. Don't let this worry you: any displayed frequency can always be stored in a memory (as described on page 23) so you can recall it quickly later. Once you become familiar with the memories, you will find this convenient: each memory can be tuned just like a pair of VFOs, and stored again without having to go through the VFOs. Besides the above, general coverage reception provides all the features available on ham frequencies.

Front End Selections: RF Amp @PO)& Attenuation
A constant-gain, dual parallel FET RF amplifier in the FT-890 receiver front end provides high sensitivity to weak signals. This amplifier is active whenever the IPO button is OFF, and bypassed when it is on. Additionally, a 12-dB attenuator in front of the RF amplifier can be activated by the A n button.

Button Beeper Settings
As shipped from the factory, pressing a button on the front panel causes a beep to sound. The volume of the beep is independent of the receiver volume, and can be set by a trimpot accessible through a hole in the left side of the transceiver as described on page 20. You can also toggle the beeper (to be enabled or disabled) by holding the NOTCH button near the lower left corner of the front panel while switching the transceiver on. If you wish to change the pitch of the beeper, hold the FAST button (below left of the tuning knob) while pressing the NOTCH button. This causes the display to show the beeper frequency in Hz, while double beeps sound. Turning the CLAR knob adjusts the beep pitch. When done, press the NOTCH button again to return to normal operation.

page 14

Operation
When looking for weak signals on a quiet band you will want maximum sensitivity, so the IPO and A n buttons should both be switched off. This situation is typical during quiet times on frequencies above 20 MHz, and when using a small antenna on other bands. If you notice intermodulation from strong signals on other frequencies, turn on the IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) function to bypass the RF amplifier. Sensitivity is reduced slightly, but intermodulation immunity increases. Even with the IPO function on, very strong signals can still overload the mixer. So if you still notice intermodulation, or if the signals you want to listen to are very strong, you can press the A n button. This reduces the strength of all signals (and noise) by 12-dB (about 2 Sunits), and can make reception more comfortable, important especially in long QSOs.

Dealing with Interference

IF Shift Adjustment

(not used in AM & FM modes)
Once you have tuned in a signal you are going to listen to for a while, if you hear interference from nearby frequencies, use the SHIFT control to suppress the interference. Turning the SHIFT control left or right from center shifts the center frequency lower or higher, as depicted here.

Shlft [-Rann,\

h~:::::~ [(
Interfer~ng Signal
Interfering

Signal

Desired

Bandpass

IF Bandpass

w

H
IF Bandpass

M
IF Bandpass

RF Gain Setting
When tuned to a moderate-strength signal, if low-level background noise is present, try reducing the RF gain control from the fully clockwise position. This reduces the gain of the IF amplifiers and causes the minimum S-meter reading to move up the scale, often clearing up the background noise and putting the desired signal more "in the clear." But don't forget to return this control fully clockwise when you want to receive weak signals, or read low levels on the Smeter.

You will want to press the LOCK button beneath the tuning knob before ad.justingthe SHIFT control, as accidentally retuning would invalidate your setting (particularly in narrow-bandwidth CW). When ready to retune to a new frequency, press LOCK again to release it, and return the SHIFT control to its normal position (centered).

AM & C W Narrow IF filters
Pressing the AM mode button once (when switching from another mode), selects 100-Hz tuning steps and the 6 - H z AM wide bandwidth. This gives the highest fidelity, and is best on strong AM signals (and particularly music). For weaker AM signals, or where adjacent channel interference is present, the narrower 2.4-kHz IF bandwidth offers a compromise between interference rejection and fidelity. This can be selected by pressing the AM mode button a second time (NAR appears at the top of the display). For even better reception of AM signals under these conditions, you can switch to an SSB mode (whichever sideband gives the clearest reception). Along with the choice of the best sideband,

AGC-F (Automatic Gain Control - Fast Recovey)Selection
When tuning around the band looking for signals, the AGC-F button is usually best kept on, so receiver gain recovers quickly after tuning past strong signals. Once you have a signal tuned in, unless it is very weak, you probably will find reception more comfortable with it off (slow AGC).

Noise Blanker Setting
The noise blanker circuit in the FT-890 can blank both wide and narrow pulse noise, and can sometimes also reduce the level of static crashes from electrical storms. The NB button/LED activates the blanker, and remains lit while it is on. If you hear pulse noise, just press the NB button so that it lights, and turn the NB control clockwise just until the noise is blanked. If the blanker seems to distort a signal you're listening to, reduce the setting for optimum readability.

Locking the Dial or Buttons
Normally, pressing the LOCK button disables only the tuning knob (it still turns, but does nothing). If you wish to have the LOCK button also disable the buttons (except MOX and vOX), turn the set off and then hold it while switching back on.

page 15

Dealing with Interference

Operation
10-Hz Steps in AM & FM Modes
When changing modes from SSB or CW to AM or FM, operation initially remains on the same frequency, even if it is not a multiple of 100 Hz. As soon as you attempt to tune, the operating frequencyjumps up or down to the nearest whole 100-Hz step. However, the clarifier uses 10-Hz steps in all modes, so if you need 10-Hz resolution in AM or FM mode, activate the clarifier (see page 21). Pressing the CW mode button once when switching from another mode selects the 2.4-kHz IF bandwidth also used for SSB. If you have either the 250-Hz or 500-Hz narrow IF filter installed, pressing the CW button again selects the narrow filter, and "NAR" appears at the top of the display. The 2.4-kHz bandwidth is often convenient to give "a wide view" when tuning around, but once you find a signal of interest and center it in the passband, the narrow selection is much better. The next section on transmission gives more details of CW operation.

you gain several benefits of the SHIFT control. After selecting the best sideband (LSB or USB mode), you need to zero beat the carrier to avoid distortion: turn the SHIFT control all the way clockwise for LSB or counterclockwise for USB, fine tune until the signal is steady, then return the SHIFT control to center (or for best audio and interference suppression).

YF-101 SSB Crystal Filter Option
The optional YF-101 crystal IF filter can be installed in place of the 2.4-kHz ceramic IF filter, to enhance SSB and AM narrow reception. While both filters have approximately the same shape factor and bandwidth, the crystal filter provides a flatter passband, giving receiver audio a more natural sound, and also deeper attenuation for better immunity to interference from nearby signals. Typical plots of the two filters are superimposed below for comparison. Ask your dealer for the YF-101 option if you don't have it. Installation is described beginning on page 36.

IF Notch Filter (not used in FM mode)
After tuning in a desired signal and adjusting the IF shift, if you hear heterodyne interference, activate the IF notch filter by pressing the NOTCH button/LED and adjusting the control with the same name to null the heterodyne. Note that if the interfering heterodyne is more than about 1.2 kHz away from the center of the passband, the notch filter may be unable to null it. Try switching the notch filter off and readjusting the SHIFT so that the heterodyne is outside the passband.
Heterodyne

\

Signal

I
453

IF Bandpass

1

kHz

455 /
457 kHz

IF Notch Filter Adjustment
-

-

-

-

-

page I 6

Operation

Transmitting

Transmitting
The IT-890 can transmit within the 500-kHz segment of the HF amateur bands above 1.8 MHz, and from 28 to 30 MHz. When tuned between 1.5 and 1.8 MHz, the tuner will not function, and when tuned to any other (general coverage) frequency, the transmitter is disabled. Still, you should restrict your transmissions to those frequencies authorized by your license, and for which your antenna is designed. Attempting to transmit out of band still causes the red TX LED to the right of the meter to light, but the transmitter will provide no output. The transmitter is also temporarily inhibited when stopping scanning (described later), as pressing the PTT switch while scanning just causes the scanner to stop. When you transmit on an amateur band, the FT-890 senses reflected power at the antenna jack. If an impedance mismatch causes too much reflected power, the transmitter shuts down, and "HI SWR" appears near the upper left corner of the display. Although this should prevent damage to the transceiver, we still recommend that you not transmit without having a proper antenna connected to the antenna jack.

Important!
If the red HI SWR LED lights at any time, the tuner is unable to match your antenna to the transmitter at the displayed frequency. You will have to tune to another frequency, or repair or replace your antenna or feedline.
corner of the display, and the red TX LED at the left end of the display lights for one to about thirty seconds while the tuner seeks the proper matching settings. If monitoring SWR on the meter, you should see the tuner select the lowest possible reading. When the WAlT indication on the display turns - . off, you are ready to transmit (assuming the HI SWR indicator didn't come on). Once you have used the antenna tuner, the green TUNER LED remains on (unless you press the TUNER button to switch the tuner off). If the tuner found a match, the WAlT indicator will occasionally flash when you change frequency (while receiving), as the main microprocessor reports the frequency change to the tuner coprocessor (reception is unaffected). The tuner coprocessor compares the current frequency with its memories, and resets itself to the new range if it has any previously stored settings for that range. However, when you first connect a new antenna, the tuner does not have the correct settings stored in these memories, so you need to "train" the tuner, by pressing the START button whenever you change to a new frequency range (for this antenna).

Automatic Antenna Matching
The internal ATU-2 or external FC-800 automatic antenna tuner makes even first-time transmitter setup very simple. After using it once on a band, it recalls previous settings from memory (the tuner has 31 of its own) during reception, whenever you tune to the same part of the band again. When using the tuner the first time on an antenna, we recommend you set the RF PWR control to around the 9-o'clock position (or 12o'clock above 24.5 MHz), to minimize possible interference to others and to minimize stress on the tuner, feedline and antenna (in case there is a high SWR). All you have to do beforehand is ensure your transmit frequency is clear of other signals. If you want to monitor the tuner's action, press the SWR button/LED so it lights. If "SPLIT" is displayed to the left of the hequency, press the SPLIT button near the top right to disable split operation for now. After making sure you are on a valid transmitting frequency, and that the channel is clear of other signals, press the START button near the upper right corner of the front panel. The green TUNER LED comes on, indicating the automatic tuner is activated, "WAIT" appears at the top left

SSB Transmission
To transmit in LSB or USB mode: 0 Make sure the appropriate mode indicator to the left of the tuning knob is lit, and press the ALC button/LED so it lights. The meter now shows automatic level control voltage when you transmit. This is negative feedback to the transmitter amplifiers that prevents overdriving the finals (higher ALC indicates greater reduction of RF amplification). 0 If this is the first time you are transmitting SSB with the FT-890, preset the MIC control to about 12 o'clock~ the RF PWR control fully ) I . clockwise, and make sure the VOX is off ( 0 Confirm that the display shows the frequency you want to transmit on.

page 17

Transmitting

Operation
IF Processor Frequency Shift
The frequency-shifted processor in the FT-890 lets you shift the IF passband (and hence the RF passband as well) of your transmitted signal in SSB and AM modes, to customize your signal for your own voice characteristics. LSB, USB and AM IF offsets are set independently. To display the current transmitter offset for the selected mode (LSB, USB or AM), hold the FAST button and press PROC. The display changes to 3 frequency digits indicating the current offset in kHz. While this is displayed, the offset can be set between -0.30 (-300 Hz) and 0.50 (+500 Hz) for SSB or between -3.00 (-3 kHz) and 3.00 (+3kHz) for AM by turning the tuning knob. A minus sign indicates the offset is closer to the carrier (low-frequency speech audio emphasized). You can transmit during the display and adjustment. When done, press PROC again to return the display to normal. Of course you can adjust the offset by trialand-error on the air, but it is better if you have a separate receiver in which you can hear the effect yourself. Otherwise, we recommend starting with +I00 Hz offset initially, to add some "crispness" to your processed speech. To obtain the same result on both USB and LSB, just set them for the same offset display.

0 Listen carefully on the frequency to make sure you will not interfere with any other stations. Then, if you have an automatic antenna tuner option, press START to match the antenna. 0 After "WAIT" disappears from the display press the PTT (push-to-talk) switch on your microphone, and give your callsign (to identify your transmission) or make your call. You should see the meter fluctuate as you speak.

Note: Adjusting the MIC control for proper ALC indication on the meter requires that the SWR be below 1.5:l. Otherwise the ALC meter may behave erratically. 0 To find the optimum setting of the MIC control for your microphone, begin with it fully counterclockwise (minimum), and adjust it while the RF PWR control is fully clockwise. Speak into the microphone (at a normal level) so that the meter deflects no further than mid-range (the upper end of the blue ALC range) on voice peaks. This will normally be about the 10-o'clock position with the MH-1138 or MDla microphone. 0 You can press the PO button/LED and adjust the RF PWR control for less output power, as indicated on the second meter scale from the top. We recommend using the lowest power output possible to maintain reliable communications - not only as a courtesy to other stations, but to minimize power consumption and the possibility of causing RFI and TVI, and to maximize the life of the equipment.

Microphone Tone Selection
Before setting up the speech processor, set the selector switch on your microphone for the desired audio characteristic. The higher-numbered setting(s) suppress low frequencies. See page 5.

+--

OFFSET

--+

OFFSET

A Speech Compressor F
Once you have found the proper MIC control setting (with full power) and selected the microphone tone characteristic, you can activate the speech compressor to increase the average power of your signal. The RF PWR setting does not affect speech processor ad.justment. 0 Press the ALC button/LED, and the PROC button just below it, so that the LEDs in both buttons light. Now speak into the microphone and adjust the MIC control slightly, if necessary, so the meter needle stays within the thick blue ALC zone on the bottom scale. 0 The COMP control on the rear panel (the shaft nearest the antenna jack) sets the degree of compression. This control is preset to the 12\
LSB US6 CARRIER PASSBAND CARRIER POINT PO l N T

o'clock position at the factory, which provides about 10 dB of speech compression with an average voice pitch. Setting it for more compression can seriously distort your signal, so it should only be adjusted if you have some means of monitoring the transmitter. You can do this with an external receiver, if you have

page 18

C

Operation
one, or by having another station give you signal reports as you adjust it. 0 If you adjust the COMP control, you should recheck your MIC control setting as described in the step before last.

Transmitting

VOX (Voice-Actuated T/R Switching)

1

1

I

In VOX operation, your voice causes transmit/receive switching merely by speaking into the microphone, without having to press the P T For the VOX circuit to operate properly, I. three controls on the rear panel must be set to match your microphone and the acoustic environment of your station. Once set, these trimmers should not require readjustment unless you change your microphone or station location.

just long enough so that the transmitter remains keyed between words, but drops back to receive during pauses. Adjust the DELAY control (third from the right), if necessary, for comfortable hang time. The ANTI-TRIP control probably needs no adjustment, but if you find that, with the microphone in its normal operating position, receiver audio from the loudspeaker trips the transmitter, advance the ANTI-TRIP control more clockwise (as viewed from the rear). On the other hand, if VOX keying seems sluggish or unstable when you speak into the microphone, try a more counterclockwise setting. Note: if VOX operation is unstable despite these adjustments, RF feedback from the antenna or feedline may be getting back into the transmitter. Make sure your antenna is properly matched, and that your antenna or feedline is not radiating near the transceiver.

0 First set the receiver for normal volume on a clear channel, and preset the VOX GAIN control (nearest the power jack) on the rear panel fully counterclockwise. Also preset the ANTITRIP and DELAY controls (next to the VOX GAIN) to mid-range.

0 Set the RF PWR control fully conterclockwise
(to avoid creating interference while you set up the VOX controls).

CW Transmission
There are several types of CW transmission available with the FT-890. All require, of course, that You have a CW Or paddies the KEY jack on the rear panel (with a ~ - c ~ n t a c t plug only - see the drawings below). There are no critical adjustments for the transmitter: you just the RF PWR to set your Output power. YOU may also wish to set the sidetone volume, as described in the box on the next page. 0 Begin by pressing the PO meter selector button/LED. Of course you must have CW mode selected, and for now, make sure the BREAKIN slide switch on the top panel is in the SEMI

0 Now press the VOX switch near the upper left corner of the front panel to activate VOX (-). Without pressing the switch 'peak 'Ontinuously into the microphone while slowly advancing the VOX GAIN control clockwise (as viewed from the rear), just until your voice keys the transmitter. 0 Now speak intermittently into the microphone, and note the "hang time" between the moment you stop speaking and when the receiver is reactivated. This period should be

CW Key or Paddle Connections
page 19

Transmitting

Operation
0 Now squeeze the paddles, and adjust the
SPEED slide potentiometer on the top panel

position (right), and the KEYER slide switch is in the MAN position (left). 0 Press the VOX button to turn on the VOX circuit, which in CW mode provides automatic transmitter activation when you close the key. 0 Now you can adjust the RF PWR control for the desired power output. Note that if you select less than maximum power output and press the ALC meter selector button/LED, the meter reading will deflect beyond the ALC zone. This is perfectly normal, and does not degrade your signal.
0 Release the key to return to receive.

for the desired speed. With the KEYER switch in the AUTO position, dot:dash weighting is 1:3.If you prefer a heavier (1:4.5) weighting, slide the KEYER switch to the WT (rightmost) position. The keyer works for both semi and full breakin keying, as described in the previous section.

AM Transmission
Transmitter power output in the AM mode must be limited to 25 watts (carrier) with the RF PWR control. Setting it for higher levels reduces readability. After setting the power level, you need to adjust the MIC control to avoid overmodulating. This setting will be lower than the optimum SSB setting.

Courtesy of the VOX circuitry, you are now using semi break-in CW, in which the transmitter remains keyed except during pauses in your