Basic functions
(picture 1.1 - the root program window)
Picture 1.1 will show you the root program window with all the possible functions. If you have experience with the functions of your FT847 transceiver, you should have no problems to understand the functions of the software, as many of the buttons are self-explainable. If you have tooltip's activated ("TIPS ON" button), you'll get a small help text when moving your mouse over the buttons.
Connect the software with the transceiver:
If you have configured the software correctly (refer to chapter 2 - Configuration), you can connect the software with the transceiver by using the button "CAT ON". If everything is ok, a small indicator "CAT" should appear in the display of the rig and in the display of the software. If so, FT847-SuperControl� is now connected to your FT-847 transceiver. The display of the software should show you the transceiver's VFO1 frequency and mode.
If nothing happens, please check your nullmodem cable, is it connected to the correct COM-port? Do you really have a nullmodem cable with crossed pins 2 and 3 ? If nothing helps, could it be that your transceiver is an older one ? The first generation of transceivers were not able to communicate bi-directional, so a polling of frequencies and modes from the rig was not possible ! Unfortunately in this case you should send off your transceiver back to YAESU, as only they can fix the problem. They will update the firmware in the FT-847. I'm not sure, whether this service is still for free, because its a long time ago when these problems occurred. Before you are going to send your transceiver back to YAESU, you should make sure, that this is really the reason !
Also please note, that in normal mode only VFO1 is accessable via software cat commands! The usage of VFO2 is only possible when the transceiver is in satellite mode ! Also polling of frequency and mode is not possible from VFO2. The transceivers firmware is not able to use VFO2 ! FT847-SuperControl will use the software-VFO2 for virtual operations, as described later below.
If the connection is established, you should be able to use the software to change something on the rig now. For example we can alter the frequency of the transceiver via some buttons.
Tuning the frequency via software:
With the buttons "ENTER VFO1" , or "ENTER VFO2" you are able to enter frequencies by hand (refer to picture 1.2). In this case you should click with your mouse on the graphical number pad (refer to picture 1.3). Please make sure you enter the frequency correctly with two seperation points. For example 7.045.000 or 145.500.000 ! You must seperate mhz, khz and hz with seperation points, otherwise errors may occur. At the end of your entry you must click on the small "OK" button in that number pad, to take over the entry to the transceiver. Another way to enter a frequency is to use the number pad on your keyboard. For the seperation points you can use several keys: plus, minus, slash, point, comma, etc., to end the entry and take over the new frequency, simply use the "enter" or "return" key on your keyboard.
(Picture 1.2 - tuning buttons) (Picture 1.3 - number pad)
With the buttons "<<MHZ>>", "<<KHZ>>" and "<<HZ>>", you can comfortable tune the frequency in different steps. If you are using the "STEP" button, you are able to detailed change the tuning steps of the "<<KHZ>>" buttons.
With the buttons "FAST" and "SLOW" you can change the tuning way from automatic continuous tuning to stepwise tuning (every step needs one click with the mouse). The buttons "FAST" and "SLOW" will affect all the tuning buttons.
Enter the mode via software (SSB,AM,FM,CW):
These buttons (refer to picture 1.4) are self explainable and they don't need to be explained. The only thing what is interesting to you is, that there are two parts in the software with the same buttons. The second (right) part is - of course - for VFO2, and is only useable when you are in satellite mode. In normal mode these buttons will have no function.
(Picture 1.4 - mode-buttons)
Repeater offset:
The button "RPT" turns on the repeater offset, the button "RPToff" turns off the repeater offset. With the buttons "+" and "-" in the row of the "RPT" button, you can change the used offset with predefined data. You can change the offsets also via the pulldownmenu "Configuration" (refer to picture 1.5).
Digital coded squelch:
The button "DCS" turns on the digital coded squelch. A new window appears after clicking on this button. In this window you are able to choose between all possibillities for DCS. The button "DCSoff" turns off this function. With the buttons "+" and "-" in the row of the "DCS" button, you can change the used DCS-data stepwise (refer to picture 1.5).
CTCSS encoder / decoder:
The button "DEC" and the button "ENC" are turning on the CTCSS-de- or the CTCSS-encoder A new window appears after clicking on these buttons. In this window you are able to choose between all possibillities for CTCSS. The buttons "DECoff" and "ENCoff" are turning off these functions. With the buttons "+" and "-" in the row of the "DEC" or "ENC" buttons, you can change the used CTCSS-data stepwise (refer to picture 1.5).
(Picture 1.5)
VFO copy functions:
The button "A>B" brings about the takeover of the actual frequency and mode of VFO1 to VFO2. If the transceiver is not in satellite mode, this copy function will be only a virtual copy, because VFO2 can not be used in normal mode (refer to picture 1.6).
The button "A<B" brings about the takeover of the actual frequency and mode of VFO1 to VFO2. If the transceiver is not in satellite mode, this copy function will be only a virtual copy, because VFO2 can not be used in normal mode (refer to picture 1.6).
The button "A<>B" brings about the takeover of the actual frequency and mode of VFO1 to VFO2 and VFO2 to VFO1. If the transceiver is not in satellite mode, this copy function will be only a virtual copy, because VFO2 can not be used in normal mode (refer to picture 1.6).
(Picture 1.6)
Reverse function (repeater offset):
The button "REV" will change (reverse) the frequency display of a repeater-frequency to an inverted repeater frequency display. You can listen to the repeater input frequency instead of the normal output frequency. Whether it is a minus or plus offset, the function will negotiate the frequency. The button "NOR" will change the frequency display back to normal operation. This function will only work, if there is a repeater offset active (refer to picture 1.6)
Using home channels:
With the button "home-settings", you can start a new window with the possibility to configure a special home channel for each amateur radio band. Please note, that the entered frequency must have seperation points between the mhz, khz and hz. Also after the frequency it is a must to enter a blank (space), followed by the mode (3 chars max.) (refer to picture 1.8).
You can save these settings by pushing the button "save homechannels". All the entry's will be written to the windows-registry database then. If you come back later to this part, you can read all the entry's again by using the button "read homechannels".
(Picture 1.7)
(Picture 1.8 - home-channel configuration)
After saving the entry's, you can use the home-channel buttons (refer to picture 1.7) to tune directly to the predefined channels. For example, if you click to the button "160m", the predefined frequency and mode for the 160m homechannel, will be transferred to the transceiver and therefore the frequency display's will be affected.
With the buttons "UP" and "DOWN" you can switch between all the predefined homechannels.
Please note, that the second (right) part of the homechannel buttons can only be used correctly in satellite mode. In normal mode the channels are used only for virtual operations.