Dual Watch Operation. YAESU FT-817nd

D

UAL

W

ATCH

O

PERATION

Dual Watch is similar, in some respects, to scanning. In Dual Watch, however, the transceiver monitors (squelched) on the VFO-A frequency while periodically checking VFO-B for activity (or vice-versa). A typical example might be for you to set VFO-A to 50.110

MHz, watching for DX stations who might call CQ on that frequency, while periodically checking 28.885 MHz for stations reporting band openings on 6 meters.

To activate Dual Watch:

1. Set up transmit and receive operation on VFO-A, establishing your primary monitoring frequency. Set up the frequency to be checked periodically on VFO-B.

2. Recall VFO-A, then rotate the control until the background noise is just silenced.

3. Press the key momentarily, then rotate the knob, as needed, until Operating

Function Row 5 [ SCN , PRI , DW

] appears on the display.

4. Press the

(

DW

) key momentarily to activate Dual Watch operation (the “

DW ” icon will appear at the bottom left corner of the LCD.

5. The transceiver will continue to monitor (squelched) on the current (VFO-A) frequency, but every five seconds will switch briefly to VFO-B frequency, looking for activity.

6. If a station is detected on the VFO-B frequency, the transceiver will pause on the VFO-

B frequency (the decimal point in the frequency will blink).

7. Press the

(

DW

) key again to cancel Dual Watch operation (the “

DW ” icon will disappear).

Note that pressing the

PTT

switch on the microphone does not cancel Dual Watch operation.

56 FT-817

ND

Operating Manual

O

PERATION ON

A

LASKA

E

MERGENCY

F

REQUENCY

: 5167.5

KHZ

(U.S. V

ERSION

O

NLY

)

Section 97.401(d) of the regulations governing amateur radio in the United States permit emergency amateur communications on the spot frequency of 5167.5 kHz by stations in (or within 92.6 km of) the state of Alaska. This frequency is only to be used when the immediate safety of human life and/or property are threatened, and is never to be used for routine communications.

The FT-817

ND

includes the capability for transmission and reception on 5167.5 kHz under such emergency conditions via the Menu system. To activate this feature:

1. Press and hold in the key for one second to activate the Menu mode.

2. Rotate the knob to select Menu #28 (

EMERGENCY

).

3. Rotate the knob to select “ ON .”

4. Press and hold in the key to exit the Menu mode.

Emergency communication on this spot frequency is now possible:

Press the key, as necessary, to enter the Memory mode, then rotate the knob to select the emergency channel ( M-EMG ), which is found between channels M-PU and

M-001 .

Note that the receive-mode C

LARIFIER

functions normally while using this frequency, but variation of the transmit frequency is not possible. Activation of Menu #28 does not enable any other out-of-amateur-band capability on the transceiver. The full specifications of the

FT-817

ND

are not necessarily guaranteed on this frequency, but power output and receiver sensitivity should be fully satisfactory for the purpose of emergency communication.

If you wish to disable operation on the Alaska Emergency Frequency, repeat the procedure detailed above, but set Menu #28 to “

OFF

” in step 3 of the procedure.

In an emergency, note that a half-wave dipole cut for this frequency should be approximately 45’3” on each leg (90’6” total length).

Emergency operation on 5167.5 kHz is shared with the Alaska-Fixed Service. This transceiver is not authorized for operation, under the FCC’s Part 87, for aeronautical communications.

FT-817

ND

Operating Manual 57