Yaesu FT-900 User manual

Button/Knob Initial Setting function Manual Reference
fcw means fully clockwise fccw means fully counterclockwise
Power OFF (out) ower u functions 13
Tuner ON (in) autotuner momentary ON/OFF ½ sec force tuning 20
Meter toggle TRX/TX, RX/TX/ALC, RX/TX/SWR 17,49
Proc OFF increase average ower in SSB and AM 21
ATT IPO OFF/OFF reduce strong signals/turn off receiver RF am 18
NB OFF noise blanker for ulse noise 18
S lit Off hidden (back) freq xmits 25
Ham/Gen Ham tuning mode/general ur ose band; u /down 15
Fast OFF tuning s eed 16
Mox OFF (out) manually keys transmitter 47
Vox OFF (out) voice activated T/R switching
AGC-F ON (in) AGC decay time for fast recovery 18
Mic Gain 12 o'clock Mic in ut for SSB and AM; watch ALC meter 20
RF Pwr OFF (fccw) 10 to 100 watts 47
S eed CW internal keyer s eed
Keyer internal CW keyer 23
BK-IN CW mode
A/B VFO-A VFO selector toggle, ½ sec ush equalizes A=B 26
V/M VFO-A toggle between VFO/Memory
V->M ½ sec ush: VFO to currently selected memory 26
M->V ½ sec ush: air of freqs in memory to VFOs 26,28
Down/U Band selection
Lock OFF tuning knob 17
CLAR OFF fine tuning AM/FM 18, 25
AF/SQL 10 o'clock/OFF (fccw) audio level/squelch
Notch/Shift 12 o'clock/12 o'clock Notch filter/shift center freq 18
Numeric BAND or <Ent> freq <Ent> 16
Key ad
Gen general ur ose band
Power-U Customization: Notch Down U Fast FM U +Down V/M Lock V->M Clar Meter
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4

FT-900
OPERATING
MANUAL
YAESU MUS EN CO ., LTO.
C. P.O. Uox 1500. Tnk ,r o. •Jnpun
YAESU U.S.A.
11210 E ~w !l r ds Rd .. Ce rrito•, Cu lirol'llin 110711/l
U. S. A.
YAESU EUROPE B.V.
Snipweg 3. J 11.8 1l :>l !'i<:hip hnl, The Nl'lhrl'lunds
YAESU UK LTD.
Unit 2, l\,1aple Grove llusincss CN 1tr 1•
l.nwr E' n C::e Rd .. 1-l o un slow, Middl eS{'X T Vv ' tl GI )J( , l,; J{

ImportantAdvice on Mobile Installation and Operation
The following tips are designed to improve results
when using the FT-900 in mobile installations. Adher-
ing to these suggestions can reduce difficulties result-
ing from improper grounding, high SWR, feedline
radiation and RFI. Complete installation instructions
are included with the YSK-900 Separation Kit and
FC-800 Automatic External Antenna Tuner (if used).
Please read the information provided with them thor-
oughly before beginning your installation.
It
is importantto rememberthat mobile installations
often present special challenges to the owner, be-
cause satisfactory
RF grounding (as opposed to DC
grounding) may be difficult to obtain at
all frequencies
of interest. The use of a remote control head (via the
YSK-900 Kit) adds signal and ground paths which
must
be considered. With thoughtful planning and
careful installation, your mobile communication
susyem performance with the FT-900 should be excel-
lent.
1. When installing the FT-900 with the YSK-900
Separation Kit, refrain from mounting the sub panel in
close proximity to the transmitting antenna. The strong
RF field near the base of the mobile antenna may
cause the sub-panel to not operate properly if the two
are mounted too close together.
2. Provide separate chassis ground connections
for the transceiver and antenna mounting base. The
shield of the coax cable, though it may connect to the
base of the mobile antenna, does not establish a
satisfactory RF ground by itself. Without solid ground-
ing of the mounting plate for the mobile antenna, RF
currents may flow
on the shield of the coaxial cable,
leading to RF feedback, noise, and generally erratic
operation.
3. If at all possible, the mobile antenna should be
tuned for minimum SWR (less than
2:1 at the center
frequency of interest) at the antenna feedpoint. Be-
cause most mobile antennas have avery narrow SWR
bandwidth, it is important to establish the lowest pos-
sible center frequency so to allow as much !attitude as
possible for frequency excursions away from the cen-
tral frequency. The ATU-2 internal antenna tuner will
provide much betteroperating bandwidth if the (central
operating frequency) SWR is low.
4. During installation, do not route the DC power
cable, antenna coaxial cable and sub-panel control
cable together
in parallel; route them along separate
paths, if possible. If you have excess lengths of cable,
coil and tape them up neatly, but avoid placing loops
from diferent cables on top of one another.
5. Use the FT-900's internal antenna tuner (ATU-
2) to resonate the mobile antenna plus feedline sys-
tem
in most installations. Even though the feedline
may carry a 3:1 SWR at some frequencies away from
resonance, the very short feedline length yields negli-
gible SWR-related cable loss in most mobile setups.
6. Should circumstances dictate the use of a non-
resonant whip
in conjunction with the FC-800 external
tuner, a general guideline is to mount the FC-800 as
far as practical from the FT-900, with the antenna as
close as possible to the FC-800 feedpoint. Keep in
mind that that the external tuner itself becomes part of
the antenna system. Provide a good RF ground con-
nection for the tuner by using a short, braided ground-
ing strap.
Follow the installation instructions provided with
the FC-800, and ensure the supplied toriodal choke
is
installed in-line to suppress RF currents on the ca-
bling. Yaesu recommends a minimum of 5 meters (16
feet) of coaxial cable be used between the FT-900 and
FC-800. If you experience RFI (feedback, transmit
distortion, etc.), try installing a separate common-
mode filter
in the coaxial line between the transceiver
and tuner. A coil of 15
em (6 ") diameter made from
8-10 turns of coaxial cable taped tightly together may
work well.
7. To prevent vehicle noise from being superim-
posed
on your transmitted audio, pay particular atten-
tion to your MIC GAIN and (when using the speech
processor) COMP controls.
Do not exceed the 12-
o'clock position of the COMP level control.
YAESU
Performance without compromise. sM

General Description
Congratulations on the purchase of your Yaesu
amateurtransceiver! Whetherthis is yourfirst rig, or if
Yaesu equipment is already the backbone of your
station, rest assured thatyourtransceiverwill provide
many hours of o pe rating pleasure foryears to come.
We want you to feel thatyou are now a part of the
Ya es u Team, after all, we also share the exciting
hobby of amateur radio communications you do. In
fact, Yaesu Musen's history in Amateur Radio goes
back to 1959, being the first to introduceandmanufac-
ture qua li ty, high-performance SSB transceivers for
the amateur market. Yaesu Musen also manufactures
a broad range
of high-quality commercial equipment
that publicservices, businessesand marinersdepend
on every day.
Following the same tradition
of excellence and
innovation into the twenty first century, Yaesu Musen
paves the way, incorporating the latest microproces-
sor and RF technology in our communications equip-
ment. Yaesu transceivers have scaled mountains,
crossed storm-tossed oceans and even orbited Earth.
Some Yaesu equipment are legends in themselves,
such as t he classic FT-101E. and the industry stand-
ard of excellence. the FT-1000. Each Yaesu model is
the result of extensive r.esearch, design and develop-
ment. Most Yaesu engineers are also licensed ama-
teurs, and they design transceivers with operators in
mi nd . The product of thiscombi ne d effort is evident in
Yaesu equipment's rugged construction, comfortable
operation, and of course, high performance.
But the effort doesn't stop here. With the progres·
sion of amateur radio along with the high-technology
race, each transceiver incorporates a wealth of oper-
ati ng features to help you "keep up with the crowd".
User-friendly controlsand programming letyou easily
manage your new operating capabilities, with just a
few simple keystokes!
Along with the philosophy that each Yaesu trans-
ceiver should serve you well into the future, Yaesu
stands behind
our products with a worldwide network
of dealers and servicecenters. Feel free to contactus
if you ever need technical advice or assistance.
You r FT-900 is a high-performance transceiver
providing up to 100watts transmitter output poweron
all HF amateur radio bands in CW, SSB and FM
modes, and up to 25watts carrierin AM. The recelver
tunes all frequencies between 100kHz and 30 MHz in
2.5-Hz st eps.
Formobileoperation,a
new lightweightdetachable
sub-panel permits separating the transcei
ver and
mounting the rear main unit in a remote location,
keeping the most-commonly used frontpanel controls
and display where you need them-in a comfortable,
safe location (YSK-900 Separation Kit required f
or
separateinstallation). Th is makesthe FT -900conven-
ie nt for mobile and maritime amateur operation. or
wherever space is critical.
Operating frequency and other important settings
aredisplayedon a high-contra st backlitLCD.The new
three-mode bargraph meter display features delayed
"peak hold" circuitryforthetuning bargraph segments
that simplifies tuning stations with rapidly varying sig-
nal strength. The
new flexible mounting scheme com-
bined with the famous high-performance circuitry of
the earlier FT -890 is combined to fonm a compact,
reliable rig that is ideally suited for base or mobile
operation.
CW enthusiasts will enjoy the new CW reverse-
sideband, which lets you switch the receiver carrier
point (offset)
to help sidestep QRM, and not have to
page 1

Accessories & Options
retune stations when switching between LSB and CW
(convenientwhen working on 40 meters and below). If
you use a multi-mode TNC or CW decoder, the adjust-
able BFO offset lets you match the CW pitch to that
used
by your unit so that the tuned station will be
centered in the receiver IF passband, and your de-
coderwill give optimum copy. The FT-900 full-featured
internal electronic keyer allows front panel control of
keying speed, weighting and mode (semi-/full break-
in).
Modern circuit design employs surface-mount
components
on composite epoxy boards for high reli-
ability and serviceability. Twin direct-digital synthesiz-
ers (DOSs) and a magnetic rotary encoder with
selectable 2.5-, 5- or10-Hztuning steps provide silent,
silky-smooth tuning, pure local signals and very fast
tx/rx changeover important when operating QSK
CW.
Frequency accuracy and stability are assured by driv-
ing both DOSs from a single master oscillator, and the
optional TCX0-3 temperature-compensated crystal
oscillator
is available for enhanced ±2-ppm stability
from oo -+50° C.
The low-noise, high performance receiver front end
uses parallel high-lOSS FETs in a constant-gain,
grounded-gate
RF amplifier, feeding an active double-
balanced quad FET-ring mixer. The
RF amplifier can
be bypassed for direct-feed to the mixer (by the IPO
button), and a 12-dB attenuator can be inserted for
clear copy of even very strong signals.
Interference rejection is facilitated
by the unique
"up-down" conversion scheme, and includes an IF
shift and notch circuit. The optional XF-11 OS crystal
filter can
be installed for enhanced SSB and AM nar-
row-skirt selectivity.
Four microprocessors in the FT-900 are pro-
grammed
to provide the simplest possible control in-
terface for the operator. Two independent
(NB) VFOs
for each band (20 total) hold theirown frequencies and
modes settings. One hundred memories store all of
this data for both VFOs, giving a total of 220 inde-
pendent sets
of frequency, mode and other selections.
page2
Flexible scanning features allow all 100 memories
oronly those selected to
be freely-tuned and scanned.
In addition, ten special memories also let you limit the
tuning/scanning range between their stored frequen-
cies. Scan resume mode
is selectable between timed
or carrier-delay, and scanning speed
is also adjust-
able.
Other valuable features include
an effective noise
blanker, all-mode squelch, multi-function meter, and
an AF speech processor with adjustable IF offset
which lets you increase the average power
of your
SSB signal and allows tailoring audio response to your
voice characteristics. The FT-900 weighs under5.5
kg
and an internal thermally-switched fan allows full
transmitter output without any rear panel protrusions,
giving easy access
to rear panel controls and connec-
tors.
A choice of automatic antenna tuners
is available
for the FT-900, each with its own microprocessor and
31 memories which store most recent antenna match-
ing settings for nearly instant recall while changing
operating frequency. The ATU-2 can be mounted in-
side the transceiver, while the FC-800 can
be installed
remotely at the antenna feedpoint. Each antenna
tuner
is controlled from the front panel of the FT-900.
The MH-31AaJ hand microphone is supplied with
FT-900. Other accessories include the FP-800 AC
Power Supply with Loudspeaker; the SP-6 External
Loudspeaker with audio filters and optional LL-5
Phone Patch and the MMB-20 Mobile Mounting
Bracket.
Before connecting the powercord, you should read
the Installation section carefully, heeding the warnings
in that section to avoid damage to the set. After instal-
lation, please take time to work through the Operation
chapter, referring to the fold-out panel diagrams atthe
back of the manual as necessary for details. This
manual is intended to be read while sitting down in
front ofthe FT-900, so you can try outeach control and
feature as they are described.

Specifications
General
Receiv i ng frequency range : 100 kHz -30 MHz
T
ransmitting frequency ranges :
160-10 me t er AmateurBands
Freq
uency stability : ± 10 ppm (SSB, CW, AM)
from -1o•- +50° C or ±2
ppm from o•- so •C
(SSB, CW,
AM wffCX0 -3 option)
Emiss ion modes : USB, LSB( J3 E), CW(A1A),
AM(A3E), FM (F3E)
Frequency Tuning Steps :
2.5 H z/ 5.0 H z/ 10 Hz (CW,SSB)
100 Hz (AM, FM)
Antenna impedance : 50 n nominal(w/o ATU)
16.
7- 150 Q with ATU (unbalanced)
Operating temp. range : -1 ooC - +50° C
Supply voltage : 13. 5-V DC ±10 %, negative ground
Power consumption (app rox ): 1.5 A rx (no signal)
20A tx (100
watts)
Dimensions (WHO): 238 x93 x 253 mm (w/o knobs)
Weight (approx): 5.3 kg
Transmitter
Po we r output: adjustable up to 100 watts
(25
wa tt s AM carrier)
Modulation types: SSB: Balan ced , filtered car rier
AM: Low-level (early stage) FM: Variable reactance
Maximum FM deviation :± 2.5 kHz
Harmonic radiation : 50 dB below peak out put
40 dB (10 MHz, 18MHz)
Spurious radiation : 40 dB below peakoutput
SSB carrier suppression : 40 dB
Undesired sideband suppression: at least 50
dB below peak out put at 1.5 kHz modulati on
Audio response {SSB) : < ·6dB from 400- 26 00 H l:
3rd·order IMD: -31 dB (typical) @ 100 watts PEP,
14.2 MHz
Microphone impedance : 500 - 600 Q
Automatic Antenna Tuner Option
Impedance range: 16.7- 150!."!(unbalanced)
Freq uency range : 160 - 10 m ama t eur bands
Matching time : < 30 sees.
Matched SWR: <1.4:1
Receiver
Circuit type: superheterodyne
Intermediate frequencies : 1st: 70.455 MHz
2nd: 455 kHz, Notch 8.215 MHz
Sensitivity:
(for 10 dB SI N, 0 dB~t = 1 ~l V, I PO oH)
Frequency -t 150-250 250-500 0.5-1 .8 1.
8-30
rMode (BW)t kHz
kH z MHZ
MH Z
sse.cw
< 5 J!V <2 J! V < 1 ~v < 0 . 25~tV
(2.4 kHl:)
AM (6k Hz
BW,
400- H z, 30% <40
~tV < 16 J!V < 8pV < 1 !! V
mO<I ulatio o)
Selectivity (-6/· 60 dB ):
28-30
MHZ
O.SpV
for 12
dB
SINAD
(FM)
Modes Min. Max.
SSB . CW wide, AM n ar ro w 2.2
kH z
(w/o
opt i ons)
CW narr ow w ith XF - 11 OC op ti on 500 Hz
CW narr ow with X F-1 1 OC N op t io n 250 Hz
AM ( wi de) 6k Hz
FM (-6/-50 dB) 8kHz
Squelch sensitivity(IPO off) :
1.8-30 MH Z(CW, SSB, AM): < 2.0 ~V
28 -30 MHz (F M ): < 0.32 )tV
4.2kHz
t.8kH z
700Hz
18kHz
19kHz
IF rejection (1.8 - 30 MH z): 70 dB or better
Imag e rejection (1.8 - 30 MH z): 70 dB or better
IF Shift range: ± 1. 2 kHz
IF Notch rejection: 30 dB or bett er
Clarifier tuning range/steps : ±9. 99 kH z/ 2.5 Hz
5Hz or 10 Hz
Maximum audio power output:
at least 1.5 wa tts int o 4 n with < 10% THO
Audio output impedance : 4 to 8 !."!
Sp ecific atiou s arc s ubj ect to clumge, in the btten>st of
t ec lmical improv ement, without nMi ce or obligation.
page3

Accessories & Options
Supplied Accessories
2(}-A Fuse (2 pes, #00000009)
3·ct Plug for KEY jack (1 pc , #P0090008)
Hand Microphone MH·31A8J (1 pc)
Options
ATU-2 & FC-800
Automatic Antenna Tuners
The ATU-2 (internal) and FC-800 (external remote)
match impedances ot up
to about 3:1 with the trans·
mi lte r.Operation is con trolled from thefrontpanel. The
FC-800 plugs int o the rearpanel, and can bemounted
at the antenna feedpoint to avoid feedline losses.
TCX0-3
Master Reference Oscillator
For specialapplicat io nsandenvironments whereextra
frequency stability
is essential, the TCX0 ·3 tempera·
lure-compensated crystal oscillator is a
±2- ppm (from
o•to +50° C) replacement for the reference oscillator.
YSK- 900 Separation K it
To separate the fr ont sub-panel and mount the trans·
ceive rbo dy inanout-of-the-wayloc at io n. theYSK-900
includesa 6-meterlength of interface cableand quick·
re lease panel clamp which can be attached to the
vehicle dash
or a gooseneck-type mounting arm (not
supplied).
page4
Fused DC Cab le (1 pc , #T9018320)
2-ct RCA Plugs (2 pes , RP0090544)
3-ct P
lu g for DATAIN/OUT jack (1 pc, #P0091046)
ATU·2 & FC-800
TC X0-3

Ac c essories & Opt i on s
-===- - -==:::::~
\ \ \ ' '
\ \ \ \
\ \ ' ..
• • ••
••••
YSK- 900
SP-6 Speakerw/AudioFilters
& LL-5 Phone Patch Option
Selectable audio high- and lowpass lilterswith nlarge
loudspeaker comple ment the audio charactenstios of
the FT-900 wtlh your chOice of 12 dtflerent audio
filtenng combinations. Two input terminals are pro-
vided lor multlpletransceivers,wltha frontpanelswitch
to select between t he m. A phone jack is provided on
the front panel to take advtllltege of t
he audio filters
w it h headphones.
SP-6
Wtth the optional U-5 Phone Patch Unittnstatled
in the SP-6, the
FT ·900 can be patched to the publtc
network. The LL-5 includes a hybrid lla nslormer clr·
cult to assure
pr oper impedance ma tches, an d g atn
controls a nd level meter to se t proper audio levels on
the telephone tlne
LL ·S
DVS-2 Digital Vo ice Sy stem
Use as a continuous receiver recorder lor Instant
push-button playback, or microphone aud'to recorder
lor multtple On·air playback. the OVS-2 applies tho
advantage of random-access solid state dtgttaJ mem·
oty to senouscommuntcalions Alldata fs stored elec·
tronicall y, with no moving parts except you rfingerand
a pu
sh·b utton. More lnfonnatlon Is on page 34 .
OV $- 2
FIF-232C CAT System Interface
To co nt ro lyour FT-900 froman RS-232C se rta l port
of an external personal computer. t he F IF -232C con·
verts the TIL levels required by t he FT -900 to the
RS-232C levels requ ir ed by the computec A cable ls
included to connect the FT-900 to the Fl F ·232C (the
cable to the computer must be provided separately).
The FIF·232Cincludes its own AC powersuppl
y.
IF CrystalFilter Opt i ons
F or e ~ tra CW receiver selectMty, the 500 - H~ X F·
110C or 250·H~ X F- 110CN B·pole crystalfilt er may be
installed in t
he 455- kH z 2nd IF or t he FT -900.
Also, lor enhanced
SS B and AM na rrow rece iv er
fidelity and ulti ma te atte nu at ion. t he XF ·110S 8-pole,
2.6-kHz c
ty stal htter may be Installed in pl a ce of the
standardceramic lifter.
Optional Fi lter s
pagoS

Accessories & Options
Microphones
Matching the electrical and cosmetic features of
the FT-900, the
MH-31AaJ Hand Mic has 600-Q im-
pedance, and include up/down and fast scanning but-
tons and a two-position tone selector.
The MD-1
ca Desktop Microphone may be used
with the FT-900. However,
it requires the optional
CT-20 Microphone Cable. The CT-20 adapts the 8-pin
mic. jack on the MD-1ca to the 8-pin modular-style
plug used with the FT-900.
page6

I
Station Installation
Preliminary Inspection
Inspect the transceiver thoroughly immediately
upon open.ng the packing carton. Confirm that all
controls and switches work freely, and inspect the
cabinet for
any damage. Make sure the accessory
fuses andplugspictured
on page4 areincluded. Ifany
damage
is found document it completely, and contact
the shipping company (or dealer,
if you purchased it
overthecounter) rightaway. Savethe packing materi-
als in case you need to return the set forservice.
If you purchased optional internal accessories
separatel
y, install themas described in Installing Inter-
nalAccessories (p. 37). This chapter describes base
station installation first, followed
by mob1le installation
and then interconnections with external accessories.
In st a lli ng t he Fr o nt Sub-Panel
From the factory, the removable front sub-panel is
packaged separately. Install the sub-panel by placing
it into the upper receptacle on the
fr ont of the trans-
ceiver (it should rest flush with the front panel, and
shifted approx 1
em to theright of center). Next, using
your left hand to keep the unit in place, slide the sub-
panel to the lo ft with your right hand. You will hear o
cli ck when the panel locks into place.
To remove the sub-panel, press the latch on the
right side of the main front pa nel and slide the sub·
panel to the right and out from the transceiver.
Important! Ensure the power is first switched oH
before remov1ng the front sub-panel.
Installing the Front Sub-Panel
Removing the Front Sub-Panel
C hanging the AC Voltage R ange of the FP-800 Power S upp ly
0 Disconnect t he AC cable from the rear of the FP-
600, and the DC cable from the FT-900.
0 Remove th e 6 screws affixing the top cover.
0 Unsolder the wires from the transforme r. and ro-
solderfor the required voltage as indicated below.
n Replace the fuse in the rear panel holder with a
fast-blow, B·Afuse (for 100 -117- VAC) or4·A( fo r
200- 234-V AC).
0 Check your work carefull y, then replace the top
cover and i
ts 6 screws. Change the voltage mark·
ingon the FP-800 rear panel labe
l, and replacethe
ACcord , if necessary.
.--- + ....... ...... .- + ·.. .... .... 0 •••••••
117
Import a nt!
.-- ~ - .. --. ----. - -.- ~ - .. .. .. .. .. .
••••••• 0 ••• ·r--+ ..... .
........ ......
234 220 200 117 110 100 V AC
110
100
0
117
11 0
1
00
0
If youchange the AC
voltage range you
mustchangothefuse
in the rear panel
holder. Do not use a
stow-blow fuse. Also
make suro to chan ge
the voltage ma rk ing
on the label on the
rear pa nel to match
th9 new voltage se t-
ting.
pagel

Station Installation
AC Power Supply
The FT-900 is des1gned for operation from 13.5-V
DC. negative ground For base station installations,
we recommend the matching Yaesu FP-800ACpower
supply which was specifically designed for this pur-
pose, and which inc ludes a large loudspeaker lor the
transceiver and its
own cooling fan. You can use
another DC source capable
of providing 20 amperes
at 13.5-V DCwiththesupplied DCcableassembly.but
you mustbeextremelycarefulto all04d reversedpolar-
Ityconnection.
See the Caution box below.
If you are connecting the FP-800 with the FT-900,
before connecting power. check the label on the roar
of the FP-800 which indicates the AC mains voltage
range
for which the supply is currently set. If your AC
mains voltage is outside of this range, the transformer
taps insidethe powersupply must be rewired, and the
fuse in the FP-800 must be changed.
This involves
some soldering
of the AC ma1ns 1nput (see previous
page, bottom).
so you should ask your dealer for
assistance it you are not experienced with this sort of
work. Incorrectconnectionscouldcauseseriousdam-
age not covered by the warranty.
In any case, make sure the power supply is set
cor rectly before connecting power. If you have any
doubts about the procedure. ask your dealer for help.
Also make sure the fuse in the FP-800 rear panel
fuse holder
1s correct lor your mains voltage:
AC Mains Voltage
100-117
200-234
Fuse Capacity
8A
4A
After making certain the AC voltage for which the
power supply
is set matchos your mains voltage, and
that the correct fuse
is install ed in the fuse holder.
connect the DC cable from the power supply to the
jack on the rear panel. Don't plug the power supply
cord
into the wall until all other transceiver intercon-
nectionshave been made .
Caution!
Permanent damage can result if tmpropersupply
voltage isapplied
to tho transcei ver . Yourwarranty
does not
cover damage caused by application of
AC, reversed polarity DC. or OC outside of the
specified range ol13.5 V .1: 10% .
If you wish to
use a power supply other than the
FP-800.you must makecertainthatthe DC supply
connector
to the transoe1ver matches the FT-900
requirements. See the DC connectorpinout onthe
rear panel
fo ld-out. Other manulacturers have
powersupplies with a physically matched connec-
tor that is wired differently: this will cause serious
damage to the FT-900.
pageB
Transceiver Location
To assure long hfe of the components, make sure
to provide adequate ventilation around the cabinet.
The
coolingsystemofthe FT-900 must be freeto draw
cool air in
at the bottom rear of the transceiver. and to
expel warm
air out of the upper rear panel. Do not
place the transceiver on top
of another heat-generat-
ing device such as a linearamplifier, and donot place
equipment. books
or papers on topof the transceiver.
Place the transceiVer on a hard, flat surface. AII04d
heatingventsand w1ndow locationsthatcouldexpose
thetransceiVer
to excessivedirectsunlight, especially
•n hotclimates.
In addition to the above, 11 you chooseto separate
the front sub-panel and mount the transceiver body In
a remote location, choose both mounting locations
carefully. If mounting the main body in the trunk of a
vehicle, ensure a stable flat surface capable of sup-
porting theweight of thetransceiver is availabletor the
mounhng bracket.
Do not mount the transceiver 1nto
hberboard, plastic or othermaterialssometime used 1n
automotive constructiOn. Find a location that permits
mounting the bracket bolts through rigid sheet metal,
such as the transmission
hump or trunk structural
support members. The front sub-panel
is lightweight.
and can be mounted almost
anyw here on the dash-
board,but as statedbefore,avoidareaswhere it might
be exposed todirect heat and sunlight.
Grounding
For protectionIrom shockandproperperformance,
connectthe
GND term1nal on the rearpanel to a good
earth ground, using a heavy braided cable of
the
shortest leng th possible. Wa rning!! Do not use gas
line for stationgrounding!. All others ta tion equipment
should beconnected to the same grounding cable,
as
close togetheras practical. If you usea computerwith
or nearthe FT-900, you may need to experiment with
groundingof both thetransce1ver and thecomputer
to
suppress computer n01se 1n the receiver.
Adjusting the Front PanelAngle
II your installation places the FT-900 much below
eye level,you maywant to prop
up t he front. Awire bail
on the bottom of the FT-900 can be folded down for
this purpose.
Antenna Considerations
Anyantennaconnected to the FT-900should have
a coax.ial feedline with
so-n 1mpedance, andincludea
well-grounded lightmng arrestor.
The internal ATU-2
and external FC-.800 antenna tuners are capable
of
matching antennas with an SWR of up to 3:1 or more
on the
ama teurbands to the transmitter. Nevertheless.
optimum performance
for both reception and trans-
missionwill generally result with an antennadesigned
to provide a
50-Q unbalanced resistive load at the
operating frequency.
An antenna that is not resonant

Station Installation
at the operating frequency may present too high an
SWR for proper matching with the antenna tuner, in
which case the antenna should be readjusted, or a
wide-range manual antenna tuner should be used. If
the tuner Is unable to bring the SWR down to an
acceptablelevel, attempting
to transmitwill resultinan
automatic reduction in power output and increased
losses in the feedline. Operation under such condi-
tions can waste power and cause TVI, RFI and RF
feedback: it is better to install another antenna de·
signed for that band. Also, if your antenna has a
balanced leedpoint and you use a balanced feedlin
e,
ins ta ll a balun transformer between the feedline and
the transceiver's antenna jack.
Mobile Power Connection
Afused (20-A) DC power cable for mobile installa·
tion is supplied with the transceiver. Please note the
Caution at the beginning of this chapter before con-
necting power. Plan to connect the DC cable directly
to the vehicle battery, rather than to the ignition or
accessory circuitry. Route the cable as far away from
ignit
io n cables as poss ib le, and then cut off any ext ra
cable (from the battery end) to minimize voltage drop
losses. If the cable is not long enough, use 1112 AWG
stranded, insulated wire to extend i
t, but nomore than
is necessary. Use the following procedu
re to connect
the cable:
0 Before connecting the cable, measure the voHage
across the battery terminals with the engine run-
ning fa st enough to show a charge. 1f above 15
vohs, the automobile voltage regulat or must be
adjusted
to redLtce the charging voltage before
proceeding.
0 With the radio end of the cable unconnected, con-
nect the RED cable lead to the POSITIVE battery
terminal, and the BLACK lead to the NEGATIVE
terminaL Make sure the battery terminal connec-
tions are tight, and remember to check them peri-
odically for signs of loosening
or corrosion.
0 Make sure the POWER switch on the transceiver
is off, and plug the DC cable into the 6-pin molex
jackon the rearpanel.
Caution!
In mobile installations, check to ensure that the
transceiver POWER switch is off whenever start-
ing or stopping the engine, to avoiddamage from
switchingtransients.
Mobile Mounting
The optional MMB·20 Mobile Mounting Bracket
a ll ows quick insertion and removal of the transceiver
from the vehicle. Complete instruct
io ns are provided
with the bracket, which can
be mounted above or
below the
tr ansceiver.
Remote Mounting
The frontsub-panel canbeseparated andthe main
unit and mounted remotelywith the optional YSK-900
Separation
Kit. Operation and mounting instructions
are provided with the YSK-900.
Mobile Antenna Installation
Please review the Antenna Considerations on the
previous page, as they apply equally
to base and
mobile antennas. Use the internal ATU -2 antenna
tuner wheneverpossible in mobile installations,where
the short antenna elements have very narrow band·
width. Make sure that the shield of the antenna coax
is firmly grounded to the car body at the antenna
fee dpoint if using a base-loaded vertical.
Interconnection of Accessories
The diagrams on the next page show interconnec-
tions of external accessories. If you have any ques-
tions on these accessories or connecting devices not
shown, contact yourdeal
er foradvice.
Memory Backup
The BACKUP switch inside the hole at the front
center
of the bottom panel is turned on at the factory,
allowing VFO and memory data to be retained while
power is off. Backup current is miniscule,
so it is not
necessary to tum the BACKUP switch off except for
lo ng-term storage of the transceiver.
After about five years the transceiver may fail to
retain memories (although operation will be otherwise
unaffected), and the lithium battery should be re-
placed. Askyourdealer fo rreplacement of thebattery,
or f or instructions on how to do so yourself.
OFF
S2001 t
ON
D
ON~ OFF OFF+-+- ON
Switch Locations in Bottom Cover
page9

CABLE A P/N T9101407
( Spplied with LL-5)
FT-900
y
DC 13.5V
FT-900
-
u
0
Y
When us;ng tho TX GND
jack, move switc.h 82001
to the MoN- pos1tion.
See page 9.
DC 13.5V
page 10
Station Installation
FL-7000
0 ... ~LC ALC PTT
0 @ - OC]O ATT "OFF"
CABLE B P/N T9101296
(Supplied with FL-7000)
Optional Cable CT -11
P/N A05000001
CABLE A P/N T9100980
(Supplied with FL-7000)
0
Non-OSK Linear Amp.
0
0 0
0
AC
0
AC
0 0
-

Station Installation
ConnectorPinouts
BAND DATA
'8
1 +13V
•2 TX GNO
13
GND
'"' BAND OATA A
•5 BAND DATA 0
1. 6 BANO DATA C
TUNER
l1 BANO OATA 0 ( 3 r'
CAT
6
\
2
-- 5
- - 3'
i fl LINEAR
1 GNO
'I SERlAL OUT
1 SERIAL IN
•4 PTT
$ 5/PO
•& NC
t-::-:-= ~ =-::::-- ---------- -- 1
DATA IN/ ~ 0 :.-! U .!.. T ---- -------
DATA IN
OATA OUT •
GNO
KEVER PADDLE
OASH
CO MM ON
EXTSPKR
7SJGNAL
OVS·2
4
PHONES
RCA PLUG
<
ConnectorP in outs
I GNO
2 + 1 3V
<, 3 OAiA
- (2) • GNO
1$• GNOEO BY ~C·BOO
2 1 VOICE tN
5 2
VOICE. OUT
> PT T
3 4 +
9V
$ CNTL. I
7• 6 CNTL. 2
(6 J 7•
GNO
SIGNAL.!L.)
SIGNAL (R) I
GNO
SIGNA L 0< (~)
/
GND GND
or (-)
page 11

Station Installation
Connecting a Linear Amplifier
Forall linear amplifiers, connectthe ALC output from the linearto the EXT ALC jack on the rear of the transceiver.
After making the RF and t/r switching connections described below, you will probably need to adjust the ALC
output level of the linear so that it is not overdriven by the FT-900. Your linear's manual should describe how
to do this.
If using an FL-7000 with the FT-900, use optional cable CT-11 to provide automatic band selection forthe linear,
as well as OSK t/r switching control. If using another QSK linear, and if it can be switched with less than 100
mA of DC voltage below 15 V, you can connect the the t/r switch line for the linear to pin 2 of the BAND DATA
jack, and the linear's exciter-enable output to pin 8 of the BAND DATA jack. This line must be held high (+5 to
15 V) to inhibit transmission until the linear is ready for excitation by the FT-900. If your QSK linear requires
more than 100 mA or uses more than 15 V for t/r relay switching, you will have to provide a suitable external
interface transistor, controlled by pin 2.
The FT-900 provides the TX GND jack on the rear panel, connected to an internal relay, for non-QSK t/r
switching of linear amplifiers that use AC voltage, or DC voltage above 15 V, or require more than 100 mA for
t/r switching. This relay is disabled at the factory to avoid the click sound when the transceiver is used alone
orwith a QSK linear. To enable the relay for non-QSK linears that exceed the above t/r switching requirements,
you will need move switch S2001, located in the large hole near the rear center of the bottom cover, to its
forward position (see the photo
on page 9). Turn the FT-900 on its side or upside down and use a thin, sharp
object to move the switch. Then connect the centercontact of the TX GND jackto the positive line to your linear,
and the outer contact to the negative line or the linear's chassis ground (if there is no separate negative line).
With the relay enabled, the FT-900 can support non-QSKlineart/r switching voltage up to 125 VAC @ 200 mA,
or DC voltage up to 220 V @ 300 mA, or closed-circuit current up to 2 A with DC voltage up to 30
V. Use the
TX GND jack after setting S2001 to the forward (on) position. Do notattempt QSK operation with a linear if its
switching requires the relay enabled.
Caution!
The FT-900 is designed for use with the FL-7000 when QSKoperation with a linear amplifieris required, and
with the internal tlr relay enabled for non-QSK operation with all other amplifiers. Using pins 2 and 8 of the
BAND DATA jack for other amplifiers will not work unless the control line signals are carefully matched, and
damage
may result otherwise. Your warranty does not cover damage resulting from improper connections to
this jack, so if you are unsure, use the TX GND jack andoperate non-QSKonly.
D2063
1SS270
BAND DATA
page 12
S2001
8 0
Linear Amp T/R Switching in the FT-900 -

Power-Up Customization & Button Combination Settings
By pressing and ho lding certain buttonswhile switching on the FT-900, youcan make many settings to customize
features
to your particular requirements, and perlorm several troubleshooti ng functions. Some important settings
can also
be se lected by holding the F AST button while pressing certain other bu tton s. Th ese are descr ibed in the
tables
be l ow . Default settings are in italics. To return the setting below to t he ir default, si mply repeat t he power+
button sequence.
Hold this
Power-Up Functions
button &
Comments
turn on
Panel Button Beeper Enable/Disable NOTCH Press a bvtton
to see if
the beeper is enabled.
Display
BFO Offset or Carrier
,DOWN
BFO Offset adds 700 Hz to displayed
Fr
equency in CW mode
CW frequency. Affects disp l ay on ly.
Enable/disable 10 -Hz freqvency
£UP
Affects display only .
digit
at right end of display
Make
FAST Butt on operat i on
FAST FAST
is displayed when active.
toggle on -off, or momentary
-Adjust RepeaterShift
(0 to 500 kHz, 100kHz de-Sh
ift is displayed. Use tuning knob or
FM
,.DOWN/£UP buttons to change
fau/O. Press FM aga in aftersetting. in 1-kHz steps.
System Reset -clears all memories and
£UP + TOOWN
VFOs and Mem ory 1 default
returns settings to
their factory default. to
7.000 MHz LSB.
Scan Resume Mode: Resumes scanning after
VIM
Th ere is al ways a pause after squelch
5-sec pause,
or only after squelch closes. closes
before scanning resumes.
Select Lock Mo de : Tuning knob only ,
•L aCK' displ ayed when buttons are
LOCK locked. MOX and POWER cannot be
or tuning knob & front panel buttons
loc ked.
Display/hide Memory Channel v
.... M Hi
des memory channe l display when
di splay dur ing VFO operation. operating from a VFO.
Display/hide clari fi er receiveroffset CLAR
--
S & PO segments hold on p eak signal
Enable/Disable
Mete r Peak-Hold Feature METER level (tx
or rx) for 1-second.
Default
sel ting is off.
page 13

Station Installation
FAST Button Combinations
Hold FAST button and
press ...
Set Beeper Audio Frequency (300
to 3000 Hz, 880 default). Press NOTCH
NOTCH
aga in when done.
Scan speed adjust NB
Main tuning knob step se lection:
AM
Speech Processor IF Offset Ad just
(·300-+500 Hz). Must be in an PR
OC
SSB mode. Press PROC again
when done.
D is play/Select CTCSS Tone Fre·
quency ( fr om standard tones, de- FM
fault 88.5 Hz). Pr ess FM again
when done.
Toggle Current
Memory to be
skipped when Memory Scanning V/M
(sk ip /no-skip)
CLAR control tuning step selection
CL AR
Lockma in unit keys when frontpanel LOCK
is separated for remote mounting
Change CW Offset & Sicletone ATT
Toggle internal keyerCW weighting IPO
Reverse CW Sideband
cw
page 14
Comments
Repea ting double beep sounds
and beep frequencydisplayed in
Hz while adjusting.
Speed r ange adjustable
from 1 •
200 msec.(10 default)
toggle 2.5-, 5- or 10-Hzsteps
Offset affects both USB & LSB.
Monit or your signal in an external
receiver
wh il e adjusting.
-1-Displays t
one frequency in Hz. Use
the tuning knob or 'YOOWNJUP .._
buttons to select.
Affects only memory scanning.
"SCAN" no longer displayed for
select ed memory when activated.
toggle 2.
5- , 5- or 10-Hzsteps
Use tuning knob or TOOWNJUP
.._
buttons to to'Wie •SE P· on• or
"5E·- -uFF".
select400 - 1 odo Hz(700Hzdefault)
Use the TDOWN /UP .._ bunons or
tuning knob to
se lect1
•
;:o,.,"= 1:1:4.5,
or
·o :=F"=1:1 :3 default).
Select USB (default)
or LSB
I
t
diE
sh
lef
PF
th e
cor
fun
she
o
pe
dor
t he
2-di
u
the ll
tenn ;;
lions:
0 8}
in~
an
qu
wa
ba ,
bat
ba1
0 If U
vat .
pe<
T O

Operation
Getting Started Tutorial
While reading th is chapter, refer to the fold-out
photos
of the panels for the locations and functions of
the controls a
nd jacks.
Before plugging
in the transceiv er the first time:
./ Make sure your supply voltage is correct.
./ Ensure a p ro per g rou nd connection.
./ Connect an antenna as described in the Instal-
lationchapter.
Then preset the following controls:
MOX & VOX switc he s: of f (- ):
MIC GAIN, RF PWR and SOL :all ccw (minimum);
PROC, NB, IPO, A TI: all off:
AF : 10o'clock;
SHIFT and NOTCH: 12 o'c lock.
Connect
your microphone and/or CW key or pad-
dles, then press the POWER sw itch. The display
should light up. If
no t, rech eck all connections. At the
left
si de of the panel, if the green LEDs in any of th e
PROC, NB, ATI or IPO bu tt ons are on, press to tu rn
them off.
Take a moment to study the LCD, t
he FT-900
combines frequency, operational settings and a mu lti·
function meter into one easy -to-read display. You
should see " VFO ·A" or " VFO-B " at t he tel!, with the
operating freq
ue ncy in large digits in t he center (if you
don
't see a VFO indicator, press t he V/M button near
the top right). At t he right si de of t he display is a small
2-digit memory channel number
(D : bydefault).
LSB
VFO"A
,-, ,-, ,-, ,-, ,-, ,-, ,, ,
U ... f Lf Lf.LfLf L.l l cH
s
U se t he TDOWN and UP A buttons (to the right of
the tuning knob) to select a band l or which your an·
tenna is designed. These buttons have dilferent func-
tions:
0 By default (t he ham steppingmode), w hen receiv-
ing on a VFO, these st ep from one ham band to
anot
he r. Changing bands sto re s the cur rent fre-
quency automaticall y, so t ha t TDOWN / UP"' at·
ways return you to t he frequency lastused onea ch
band (if it is inside the 500-kHz ra nge of the ham
band).
The 10 -meter band has two l ·MHz ham
bands.
0 If the HAM/GEN button ha s been pressed (to act i·
vate GENeral co verage tuning mo de), 'fi13n" ap-
pears in the up p er left of the display, and the
TDOWN IU P"' buttons step in 100- kHz incr e-
•
Amateur Bands
Meter Band Frequency Range(MHz)
160 1.800 - 2.000
80
3.500- 4.000
40 7.
000- 7.500
30
10.000- 10.500
20
14 . 000- 14.500
17 18000- 18.500
15 21 .000- 21.500
12
24 500 -25.000
1
0'
28.000 -29.700
(in two 1- MHzsegm en ts)
ments (or 1-MHz if FAST tuning is
ac tivated, as
described later).
Example : say you're tuned to7. 000 MHz,and wantto
change to 2
1. 200 MHz.
0 First check to see if the 'fi13n" appears in the
dis play, and if itdoes, press t he HAM/GENbutton.
Th en press t he UP A. button 4 times to cha nge to
the last-used frequency on the
15 -meter band.
0 N ow you can usethetuning knob to t une to 21.200.
However, if the cu rrent frequency is morethan 100
kHz away. you can save some crankin g: press
HAM/GEN again so that l!l3ll appears, and press
the TOO
WN /UP "' buttons, as nee ded, to get
within 1
00 kH z. Th en use the tuning knob. Wh en
you want to change ba nd s again, remember to
press
HA M/GEN so that l!l3ll di sa ppears.
Press the mode button (to the left of the tuning
kn ob) corresponding to the mode you w ish to operate.
For now,
we suggest an SSB mode: USB for ama teur
bands above 10
MH z, or LSB otherwise. Indicators at
the top of t he display confirm your selection.
Adjust t
he AF control for comfortable volume on
signals or noise in t he loudspeaker or he adphones.
Tune around the band a bit with the tuning knob to get
t
he feel of it (if you wa nt to adjust the torque, seepage
2
4) . F or tast er t un ing steps, pr ess the F AST button at
t he lower left side of t he knob, to enable t he ''lml"
indicator on the disptay.
I@' Fast tuning normally requires holding this button
while tuning, but if you hold it
wh ile swi tc hi ng the
FT-900 on, the button becomes a toggle-type
(press-en/press-off).
Hiding the 10-Hz Frequency Digit
If you pref er to have the 10- Hz digit hidden on the
frequency displ
ay ,you can turnit off by holdingthe
UP
A. button while switching on t he transcei ve r.
Tuning steps are no taffected. Repeat the process
to return t
he 1D-Hz digit display.
page 15

Operati on
---===::=;---==:::::::J
Ifyourmicrophone has UP and OWN buttons. you
can use them
to tune in the same steps as the tuning
knob. Also, the FST button
on the microphone dupli-
cates the FASTbutton on the front panel.
Using the Keypad for Direct Band
Selection &Frequency Entry
The 1O·digit front panel keypad permits th e follow-
ing operation:
0 Instant amateur band sel ec tion
0 Direct numeric frequencyentry
0 An "instant-recall" programmable general cov-
erage band
FT -900 Instant Band Recall &
Direct Entry Keypad
To select an amate ur ba nd at any ti me, simply
press the numeric key corresponding to the desired
band (notice the label at the upper
fe ll of each key).
The lowerband limit
lor eachamateurband is pre-pro·
grammed for the corresponding button.
0 For example, if you are operating on 18 MHz and
want to quickly
OSY to 160 meters (withouthavmg
to press the T OOWNIUP a. buttons five times),
somply touch the l" 1) key.
0 You can al so enter lr equencoes directly, and savea
lot of llmecranking the tuningknobandtoggling the
FAST button. Let's say you're at the low end of 10
meters (28.035 MHz, for example). and want to
QSY up to 28.600 MHl to check in on a net. You
can get there quickly by pressing:
~ ( ~·r) .... ~ .... ( "~ .... ~ .... r~ · 'l .
First pressing ENTcausesthe frequency displayto
clear except for the bottom segments and the two
decimal points.
At this point you can enterall digits of
thefrequency. Afterthelast
dig~.the receiverwillOSY
au1omatically. Or you can enterjust the first few dig1t s
thenpress ENTmomentarily(<
17 sec.),in whichcase
zero replaces the remaining digits.
Not e: For frequencies below 10 M Hz , you can
either entera leading 0, or else ent er a decimal point
(press
the(OE •) button)aftertheMHzdigit. Forl roq\oen ·
ciosbelow 1MHz. entertwo l ea ding zeros,or en te rt he
decimal
po int fi rst.
0 Ex. Entertho frequency ot yourfavorite AM broad·
cast station on 648 kHz. There are two ways you
can do this:
page 16
Selecti ng Tun i ng Step Si ze
Tuning speed using the dial knob or !Tllcro-
phone UP /O WN keys dopends on the de-
fault tuning step size for each operating
mode, and If the FAST tun1ng funcllon (but-
ton) is engaged.
Yo u can select 2.5·, 5-(default) or 10- Hz
tuningstepsbyholding tho FA ST buttonand
then pressing AM. the frequency displ ay
clears and shows the solectod tu ning steps.
Rotate thetuning knob
or use the frontpan el
TDOWN/UP a. buttons to soloctthodesired
size. then press AM agai" to return to nor-
mal. Note: while tuning increments
as small
as 2.5 Hz are poss1ble, maximum display
resolution is 10-Hz.
For digital modes, 2.5· and 5.0-Hz stops
offera slowertuningrate andlinerresolution
lor tuning Packol. PACTOR, AMTOA and
ATTY. Pressing the FAST button 1ncreases
the default tuning rate
(lmi appears in the
display). Possible combinations are:
It- -- ~ M I FM_
Nonnal 100 Hz
Fas t 1 kHz
11-~:.;_ -1--
USBILSB/CW
2.5/5/10 Hz -
100Hz
-'-=-- -1
Ciarifier 2.5!5/10-Hz steps, ±9.
99 kHz range
Similarly, CLAR tuning stops can atso be
selected. Hold the FAST bunon and then
press CLAR. Select tho desired step size,
then press CLAR again to
f101sh . Max 1mum
receiver offset avaolable from the clarifier is
±9.99 kHz. regardless of step size.
or
~ ~ .T) .... :" w .... e_m .... t· G) .t " 4) .... bJ1 .... r ~· !l
With keypad frequency entry, operation not only
immediatelyshiHs to the newlyentered frequency,
but
the entry is also automatocally wntten into the front
VFO for thatamateurband.Non-amateurfrequencies
a
re writlen into the GEN regoster (covered next).
The
!;• •) key at the bonom right IS used to store
an d select a "general purpose" band. While numeric
keys 1-0 a
re pre-programmed with amateur bands,
any f
re qu en cy (amateur or general coverage) can be
recalled from the GEN band. You might w ant to pro-
gram the the bottom edge of the AM broadcast band
(5 40kHz) for example. if you enjoy listening to music,
spons or news.