HI,

I buried the following enquiry in another thread so thought it best to bring it to light in its own thread...

Operating my FT-980 on AM for the first time this weekend, on-air comments suggested that the rig has a modulation issue. With Mic Gain at max, people commented on poor modulation. I can’t get any action at all on the ALC meter in AM and need to almost shout to get it moving on SSB.??

Hi All,
I just added Mat Breton N8TW as a Moderator. Thanks for offering Mat!

73
Roger VE7LB group co-owner

This is great Fred!

I was able to add the always on fan without major mechanical effort (I had to drill a couple holes for the rubber isolation stakes in the heat sink cover sheet metal). If you care take a look in the Files->Mod section for my writeup. Can't hear the always-on fan running, and the primary fan only comes on when I am working a digital contest (like the RTTY Roundup with begins in a few hours).

--
-Mat Breton, N8TW

After digging into hamlib a bit, I've discovered an executable that will act as a virtual "translator": it will make your rig (FT-980 or other) appear as a TS-2000 to software programs trying to interface to it with CAT. This means that if the SW supports the TS-2000 ... it will at least partially support the FT-980. The software does NOT have to use Hamlib ... this translator is an independent program that will translate the raw "serial" streams en-route.

Caveats:
1. I have tried it yet.
2. It involves setting up a virtual com port. In Linus this is pretty easy. In windows it is more involved.
3. You have to install Hamlib on your machine.
4. Because the Hamlib FT-980 backend is Alpha, current functionality is very limited (frequency, mode, memories). We will hopefully address this ...

But ... I think there is great hope that a huge array of software might be available for use with our venerable FT-980 rigs. The TS-2000 is very widely supported I believe.

-Mat


--
-Mat Breton, N8TW

Hi Fred,

I verified that WSJT-X was able to read the FT-980 frequency and update itself. That is as far as I got ... but I think it answers your question.

I downloaded the Hamlib 4.0 library and have been digging into it. It looks like the Alpha level backend only supports the following right now:
--
-Mat Breton, N8TW

I am posting this from a Linux (Mint Tricia 19.3) running WSJT-X via a SignaLink USB interface. My FT8/PSK31 rig is normally a TS-930S but it's currently out of line for maintenance and a couple of upgrades. In its place is one of my FT-980s.

I don't have a radio cable built for the Yaesu but may order one, connect the SignaLink along with one of my FIF232's up to the host PC and see if the '980 is usable in CAT mode. Since the only thing I'd need to alter within the program is frequency, WSJT-X's computer control capabilities should work nicely -IF- the control set is properly implemented. (Power level is set-and-forget at roughly 60W PEP, as is audio output to the SignaLink - and these modes use USB regardless of band.)

This rig has an FC-757AT connected to it. Band memories are a nice feature with the Yaesu tuner - unlike the '930 which must be manually retuned each time I QSY to a different band. The only downfall to running the '980 is its slightly tighter audio passband on TX and RX. Whether or not this is a severe limitation remains to be seen.

73 - Fred, N8YX

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Hi Wald,

Today I verified my FT-980 CAT interface was still functional by trying a couple of the direct interface SW packages (see the files section of this group).

I then used WSJT-X and set it up (4800,N,2). It connected to the rig, and read the frequency/band correctly. I then ran into one of the issues related to the antique FT-980 CAT system: when the CAT control is enabled, the CAT-related front controls are disabled). WSJT-X didn't release the CAT controls, so things like the mode and frequency (dial) and band were disabled. To use them I needed to either shut down WSJT-X, or turn off the rig control is settings. Note that this doesn't affect the analog settings iike mic gain, AF volume, etc.

If you aren't planning on changing any of the CAT settings once you start WSJT-X I think this will work for you. I'm wondering what the right approach is: should Hamlib be modified to take control, read/write, and then release control so the front panel will work in-between? Or should it continue to lock out the front controls as long as a program is interfacing? Hmmm ...

After this exercise I then tried fldigi, which also says it supports the FT-980 rig control via Hamlib (like WSJT-X). However, I was not able to get it to connect at all. Not sure of the issue here: I will likely need to put a com-sniffer in place to see what the traffic looks like.

--
-Mat Breton, N8TW

Hi Mark,

The heated 30MHz master crystal will drift over time as it (and other components like the pulling caps) age. After almost 40 years this drift will probably be signficant (it certainly was in my FT-980). I included an article in the "Repair" folder in the files section on how to "re-calibrate" it, along with what to do if the drift exceeds the stock trimmer-cap adjustment capability.

-Mat
N8TW

Mat (and all),

I currently own four of the rigs. One is completely accessorized, including the Gen TX board and the keyer module. The others are in various stages of accessorization, down to my bench "mule" which is barebones and is used to develop mods for the others. I'm currently using it to model a frame for a power supply fan assembly which can be fitted to the existing heat sink and will be "always on". My implementation of IF Out will be similar to what Yaesu did with the FT-90x series - and in fact, a YO-901 will play nicely with the FT-980 when cabled properly. Very similar 1st IF DNA, so to speak.

There's a Yaesu-modified FTV-901R w/ cable kicking around the collection, an FC-757AT and two FL-7000 amplifiers - so the peripheral complement is well represented. Amongst rigs of the period, it's my favorite. There are two inline here at the moment.

Your TCXO mod sounds interesting. I've had to replace the 30.0000MHz reference oscillator crystal in two of the radios (Yaesu sold me a handful of spares - thanks Jose!) but a rework of that area may preclude the parts aging out of spec - as they often do. Another thing I'm working on is a bit of reverse-engineering of the accessory band PROM so the rig can be properly fitted with things like 60M and maintain optimum spectral purity. I bought a bunch of red and green 1x5mm LEDs and am going to change some of the yellow indicators out whenever I have the front panels off the rigs.

Lastly, computer control. I'll be happy to assist the group with Hamlib-related efforts. For a bit of retro-computing fun I'm thinking about writing a CAT program for the Tandy Model 100/102 (I have two of the latter). They're neat little computers and would excel in a dedicated role like this. A Model 10x is also small enough that it won't hog your operating desk space.

73 - and Happy 2021 all.

Fred, N8YX

I am the proud owner of a 1983 Yeasu FT-980. I bought it used in 2010 for $250 (which included a Dentron MT3000A transmatch) and it has been my daily driver ever since (Phone, CW, Digital). I will be using it this weekend in the ARRL RTTY RoundUp in fact. I enjoy the fact that it is built like a tank, have a very high receiver sensitivity, and is very to work on/repair.

I've repaired it several times, and have made a couple of minor modifications:
1. Buffered IF Out for a panadapter
2. Added an always on silent fan to the fan
3. Added the AM and CW-N filters

I would like to assist the Hamlib group to debug their FT-980 CAT Interface from Alpha to Beta or Release. I am also considering replacing the "heated" master xtal with a TXCO (my shack is in my basement, and there are times when it gets a bit drifty due to the ambient temperature changes for some digital modes).

Hi Wald,

One quick way to see if the problem is the radio or somewhere else is to try the old CAT980 DOS program interface. After I write this message I'll try to upload the files and instructions to the Files section in case anyone here doesn't have a copy.

If it works then the issue is the rig or your serial path. Note: many of these programs use Hamlib as their interface library. Hamlib has the FT-980 listed as "Alpha" (meaning no one tested it yet). I've been meaning to do this someday and help get it running ... it should then allow multiple programs to work with it.

Note: It was last updated in 1988 ... for 16-bit DOS. This means that you must install DOSBox first (sourceforge), set the serial port up, and link to the directory. See below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1)????? Load and install (copy files) for CAT980 to c:\CAT980 (or similar directory)

2)????? Load and install DOSBox (sourceforge)

3)????? Edit DOSBox config file (dosbox.conf) to setup your FT-980 serial port

a.? Old line: serial1=dummy

b.? New line: serial1=directserial realport:com6

?

4)????? To run:

a.????? Run DOSBox (from start menu or shortcut)

b.????? > mount c c:\CAT980

c.????? > c:

d.????? > CAT980

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Guys,

Is anybody in this Group using FT-8 i.e. WSJT-X software?? If so, I have a request... further assuming that an FT-980 with a CAT interface is handy...??

My goal is to verify that WSJT-X actually supports our radio.? It is listed in the pull-down Rig menu:

I actually have tried various options for the PTT method, including VOX, but TEST CAT simply times out no matter what.? FYI, I have tried three different FT-980s.? None of them responded.?? So the obvious question is whether all the radios have dead CATS in them or.... my USB->RS-232 interface is at fault...?

So a quick hardware description on my end:? Dell Inspiron, i7, 32 GB RAM, up--to-date Win 10.? The interface is FT232 chip based and the FTDI drivers are installed correctly.? To prove that, I used the same interface with an added TTL-RS-232 level translator and connected it to my K3.? With the required ELecraft settings, the radio and the program work as expected.

The interface alone appears to be OK then.? To talk to the 980, I am routing the RX and TX lines from the UART directly to the CAT port. Some old CAT circuits show an open collector output for the TX.. in my case the output is TTL driven.? Could that be the issue?? And, yes, I triple checked if the TX and RX lines are connected correctly...

Thank you for reading this.
73 and Happy Holidays to All,
Wald N4PL

Hi Terrence,

Could you contact me directly?? I tried to use your QRZ.COM address but it may be no good.? I have some updates on the AM filter you are looking for.

Thx and 73,

Wald

I’m in the same rowboat looking for the XF-8.9 AM filter for one of my FT-901DM’s. Sold my FT-980 awhile back and sold a crap box FT-One with every option and filter in it shortly before that. Kinda wish I’d of kept the FT-One because I sold it for a lot less than what all the filters were worth. Anyhow, if you’ve got an extra AM filter, I’ve got an XF-8.9HC for you.

Regards,
Terence VE3KKM

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Fellow enthusiasts,

My FT-980 has a curious ailment and I'm hoping someone here can offer some guidance.

In order to communicate on, say, 3.595000MHz, I need to tune my rig such that the frequency display reads 3.595250MHz. Having listened to my own transmissions on a websdr station not far away, I've verified that the 250Hz offset produces a good signal on the desired 3.595000MHz.

Shifting to 40m, the offset appears to be 500Hz such that, to achieve comms on, say, 7.160000MHz,I need to set my display to 7.160500MHz.

On 20m, although I haven't verified quite as methodically as for 80m and 40m, it appears that I need to set my display frequency a whole 1kHz above my desired frequency.

That there appears to be a mathematical relationship in all of this, I suspect that some simple might need to be adjusted. But what, I don't know. For the record, there is no clarifier/RIT in play.

I know I can use the rig without trouble by remembering to dial higher, but I'd like to get the rig back into line as it is otherwise in mint condition. Any clues would be much appreciated.?

Thanks,

Mark
VK2MOH