[VHFcontesting] Transverter interfacing with FT290RII

[Keith Morehouse]

According to the FT817 manual, the ACC connector has a pin that goes to
ground on TX.

It's referred to as "TX GND" but I've seen that described in Yaesu manuals
two different ways - one, it actually does go to ground on TX and two,
grounding that pin puts the radio in TX.  I don't know which the 817 does.

-W9RM

Keith J Morehouse
Managing Partner
Calmesa Partners G.P.
Olathe, CO

On Wed, Feb 14, 2018 at 10:16 AM, Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com> wrote:

> I've usually been using a modified Realistic HTX-100 as an IF rig for the
> microwave bands.I removed the rear power module and replaced it with a
> piece of 1/8" thick aluminum where I placed the power and RF connectors,
> removed the speaker and installed a homebrew 28 to 144 MHz transverter in
> the space where the speaker was. It's well-documented where to tap off
> connections inside the rig for transmit and receive RF and keying voltage.
> The rig has its drawbacks but works well on the uncrowded microwave bands.
> I've made hundreds, maybe over a thousand microwave QSO's with it over the
> years.
>
> I now have an FT-817 which I'm working on using as an IF rig. It has the
> advantage of two antenna connectors, which can be selected per band. I'm
> hoping to use one of those on 28 MHz as the IF for my 50 through 432
> transverters and the other as the 144 MHz IF for the bands above that.
>
> I think there is a point inside the radio that can be used as a T/R
> voltage.
>
> I'll have to dig into the schematic of the FT290RII a little further and
> see at what point I can extract a T/R switching voltage.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 14, 2018 at 10:08 AM, Mark Spencer <mark at alignedsolutions.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Interesting..
> >
> > Apparently I'm not the only one working thru these issues.  With my Icom
> > radios I like to intercept the PTT line from the microphone, route the
> PTT
> > line thru a sequencer, then key the radio, amp, etc via the sequencer.
>  It
> > seems safer that way but yes sending CW with this scheme is a bit more
> > complicated than using SSB.  I should probably add a foot switch for CW
> and
> > need to ponder how to tie that into the the PTT scheme.
> >
> > I also have a FT290 put aside for future use as an IF radio in my rover
> so
> > this topic is of interest to me.
> >
> > 73
> > Mark S
> > VE7AFZ
> >
> > mark at alignedsolutions.com
> > 604 762 4099
> >
> > > On Feb 14, 2018, at 7:02 AM, Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > That might be where being able to flip a switch would come in handy. If
> > I'm
> > > reading the documentation right, the DEMI transverters prefer you don't
> > use
> > > full- or semi-break in with CW anyway, so you'd want it to just stay on
> > > until you're done transmitting. That's a good point though, especially
> > with
> > > a portable setup.
> > >
> > > Sean WA1TE
> > >
> > >> On Wed, Feb 14, 2018 at 8:33 AM Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> I have been using mine in a similar manner, but I thought someone
> might
> > >> offer a better way to do it.
> > >>
> > >> I don't use the FT290RII as an IF rig too often. But as I have it
> wired,
> > >> when working CW I have to hold down the mic button with one hand while
> > >> sending CW with the other hand. It's a bit unwieldy.
> > >>
> > >> 73, Zack W9SZ
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 11:23 PM, Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks for the responses! I got a few good ideas here. I'm not
> entirely
> > >>> certain why it never occurred to me to pull the Push To Talk signal
> off
> > >> of
> > >>> the thing you push...to talk. Way easier than trying to tap the
> board.
> > >>>
> > >>> I have some reading and building to do. Hopefully I'll be up on 7
> bands
> > >>> (Dare I say...hopefully 8? If I can pull together the scratch for
> 13cm)
> > >> by
> > >>> June.
> > >>>
> > >>> Either way, looking forward to getting this all working smoothly.
> > >>>
> > >>> 73,
> > >>> Sean WA1TE
> > >>>
> > >>>> On Tue, Feb 13, 2018 at 11:52 AM Michael Kana <aa9il at sbcglobal.net>
> > >>> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>> Hi Sean
> > >>>> I use an FT290mk2 with a sequencer. I use the 4th relay to close the
> > >> PTT
> > >>>> and key line and plug the key and mic into a “control box” where the
> > >>>> sequencer relay is in line. I have the key and mic cables run to the
> > >>> radio.
> > >>>> I flip a switch to sequence and when the fourth relay closes, the
> key
> > >> and
> > >>>> PTT lines are closed so I can then key or transmit.
> > >>>> When done, flip the switch off, and the key and PTT lines are
> > >>>> disconnected. I will never Key the radio until the sequencer is
> > >> switched
> > >>>> unless I intentionally bypass this scheme and plug into the radio
> > >> direct.
> > >>>> 73 Mike
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Warning!  This is transmitted over a non secure medium
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> On Feb 13, 2018, at 10:38 AM, Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> I've got one of the old FT290RII 2m all modes that I'm using as t
> >
>
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