I'm sure the CAT function in the FT-847 does what it was designed to do.
It's just that it should have been designed to do more. The contest and
logging software I have used (NA, CT and LogEQF) allow you enter frequency
information from either the keyboard or the radio. The ability of the radio
to report it's VFO and mode registers permits the radio and software to
remain synchronized. Otherwise, during the "heat of battle" in a contest
I'm quite sure this synchronization could be easily lost which would cause a
major headache when trying to troubleshoot the logs later.
Although the intent of the FT-847 is probably not as a full boogie HF
contest radio it certainly is a contender for VHF contesting. Personally,
the only use I have for the computer interface to a radio is in the context
of logging (contest or otherwise). In this regard Yaesu made a goof in
eliminating the status dump command. I hope they correct this in future
upgrades to the radio OS. Actually Yaesu needs to revise their entire CAT
command structure so that individual registers (as in ICOM and Kenwood) can
be uploaded. The status dump from my FT-1000 is over 1K which is far more
info than is really needed and is the only way to retrieve VFO data.
W8KX
This is NOT true. Unlike the FT-736R when the FT-847 is in CAT mode you do
have dual control. The front panel controls are NOT disabled. It is true
that the FT-847 does not send frequency and mode information to the computer
like in other radios.
I have seen postings about this so called defect of the CAT function. The
CAT function works just fine on both my FT-736R and FT-847. I can see
posting a message about the CAT function not working or about the radio not
sending certain information to the computer. But why does everyone post a
message trying to make it sound like some sort of defect ? If you are using
the CAT function and operating the radio by computer there is no need for
the radio to send frequency or mode information to the computer. If the need
is for the present frequency and mode information to be added to logging
functions within a CAT software this can be done with software routines
within the program and no need for the radio to communicate them to the
computer. Unlike my program "CATLink Pro for the FT-736R", the new program
for the FT-847 I am working on will have this capability. You will simply
just click the "save to log" button and all info will be saved to the next
log record.
I would just like to say, "Congradulations Yaesu!" for a very fine product
in the Yaesu FT-847.
Gary N5IXI (Maryland)
catlink@erols.com
CATLink Software http://www.erols.com/catlink.
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