Yaesu FT-2980R User manual

FM TRANSCEIVER
FT-2980R
Operating Manual

Index
Introduction.................................................... 1
About this manual ......................................... 1
Safety Precautions ........................................ 2
Accessories & Options ................................. 4
Supplied Accessories.................................... 4
Optional Accessories .................................... 4
Front Panel Controls & Switches................. 5
Microphone Switches.................................... 7
Rear Panel Connectors................................. 8
Installation...................................................... 9
Preliminary Inspection................................... 9
Installation Tips ............................................. 9
Antenna Consideration ............................... 10
About coaxial cable..................................... 10
Mobile Installation ....................................... 10
Base Station Installation ............................. 12
Basic Operation........................................... 13
Turning the Transceiver On and Off............ 13
Adjusting the Audio Volume Level............... 13
Adjusting the Squelch Setting ..................... 13
Frequency Navigation ................................. 14
Transmission............................................... 15
Advanced Operation ................................... 16
Weather Broadcast Reception (USA Version) ... 16
LOCK Feature............................................. 17
Keyboard Beeper ........................................ 17
Channel Step Selection .............................. 18
Display Brightness ...................................... 18
RF Squelch ................................................. 18
Repeater Operation ..................................... 19
Standard Repeater Shift ............................. 19
Automatic Repeater Shift ............................ 20
Checking the Repeater
Uplink (Input) Frequency.... 20
CTCSS/DCS/EPCS Operation..................... 21
CTCSS Operation ....................................... 21
DCS Operation............................................ 23
Tone Search Scanning................................ 24
EPCS (Enhanced Paging &
Code Squelch) Operation .... 25
CTCSS/DCS/EPCS Bell Operation............. 27
Split Tone Operation ................................... 27
DTMF Operation........................................... 28
Manual DTMF Tone Generation.................. 28
DTMF Autodialer ......................................... 28
Memory Operation....................................... 30
Memory Storage ......................................... 30
Storing Independent Transmit
Frequencies (“Odd Splits”).... 31
Memory Recall ............................................ 32
Labeling Memories...................................... 33
Memory Tuning ........................................... 34
Masking Memories...................................... 34
Memory Bank Operation ............................. 35
Home Channel Memory .............................. 37
Memory-Only Mode .................................... 37
Scanning ...................................................... 38
Basic Scanner Operation ............................ 38
Scan-Resume Options................................ 39
Memory Skip Scanning ............................... 39
Preferential Memory Scan .......................... 40
Memory Bank Link Scan ............................. 41
Programmable Band-Scan Limits ............... 41
Priority Channel Scanning (Dual Watch)..... 42
Weather Alert Scan ..................................... 43
Band Edge Beeper...................................... 43
Smart Search Operation ............................. 44
Internet Connection Feature....................... 45
SRG (“Sister Radio Group”) Mode.............. 45
FRG (“Friends’ Radio Group”) Mode........... 45
ARTS™ (Automatic Range
Transponder System).... 48
CW Training Feature.................................... 51
Packet Operation......................................... 52
Miscellaneous Settings............................... 53
Password .................................................... 53
Time-Out Timer (TOT)................................. 54
Automatic Power-Off (APO)........................ 54
Busy Channel Lock-Out (BCLO)................. 55
Programming the Key Assignments............ 56
FM Bandwidth & TX Deviation Level .......... 57
MIC Gain Setting......................................... 57
DCS Code Inversion ................................... 58
Reset Procedure.......................................... 59
Microprocessor Resetting ........................... 59
Set Mode Resetting .................................... 59
Cloning ......................................................... 60
“Set” (Menu)Mode ...................................... 61
Menu Selection Details ............................... 64
Specifications .............................................. 73
After-market Services ................................. 74

FT-2980R Quick Reference Guide
Adjusts the audio
volume level.
Á [VOL KnOb]
Adjust to the point where the
background noise is muted.
Selects the operating Frequency.
Press and hold for
one second.
Press and hold for one second to lock
all key functions except the VOL, SQL
knobs and PTT switch.
 [SQL KnOb]
à [FreQuency DIAL KnOb]
Ä [LOcK SwItch] À [POwer SwItch]
[MIcrOPhOne]
Speak into the microphone
in a normal voice level while
pressing this switch.
Å [trAnSMISSIOn SwItch]

FT-2980R Quick Reference Guide
Key Overview
Key Press Key Briey Press and Hold Key
Activates the Internet Connection
Feature.
Locks out the switches and knobs
(except the VOL, SQL knobs and
PTT switch).
Allows tuning the VFO frequency
in 1-MHz steps, or tuning chan-
nels in 10 channel steps.
Enters the Set (“Menu”) mode.
Reverses transmit and receive
frequencies in repeater opera-
tion.
Activates the Priority Channel
Scanning (Dual Watch feature).
Selects the transmitter power
output level.
Toggles the display indication be-
tween “frequency” and the chan-
nel’s “Alpha/Numeric Tag”.
Switches the frequency control
between the VFO, Memory Sys-
tem, and the Home channel.
Transfers the VFO contents into
a Memory register.

Introduction
The Yaesu FT-2980R is a deluxe, rugged FM mobile transceiver providing high power
output and outstanding receiver performance for the 144 MHz Amateur band. Included in
the FT-2980R’s feature complement are:
80 Watts of power output, with selection of four power levels for every operating
situation.
Expanded receiver coverage: 136-174 MHz.
Keyboard entry of operating frequencies from the microphone.
Excellent protection from receiver intermodulation distortion, thanks to Yaesu’s
renowned Advanced Track Tuning front end.
221 memories (200 “basic” memory channels, 10 sets of band-edge memory channels,
and one “Home” channel) which can store repeater shifts, odd repeater shifts, CTCSS/
DCS tones, and 6-character Alpha-Numeric labels for easy channel recognition.
10 NOAA Weather Broadcast Channels, with Weather Alert and a Volume Control for
the Weather Alert tone.
Built-in CTCSS and DCS Encoder/Decoder circuits.
The Smart SearchTM feature, which automatically sweeps a band and loads active
frequencies into dedicated memory banks, is ideal for identifying active repeaters
when visiting a city for the first time.
Extensive Menu system, which allows customization of a number of transceiver
performance characteristics.
The Yaesu-exclusive multi-function LCD display.
Additional features include a transmit Time-Out-Timer (TOT), Automatic Power-Off (APO),
Automatic Repeater Shift (ARS), plus provision for reduction of the Tx deviation in areas
of high channel congestion. And an RF Squelch circuit allows the owner to set the squelch
to open at a programmable setting of the S-Meter, thus reducing guesswork in setting the
squelch threshold.
Congratulations on your purchase of the FT-2980R! Whether this is your first rig, or if
Yaesu equipment is already the backbone of your station, the Yaesu organization is
committed to ensuring your enjoyment of this high-performance transceiver, which should
provide you with many years of satisfying operation. Our dealer network and technical
support personnel stand behind every product we sell, and we invite you to contact us
should you require technical advice or assistance.
We recommend that you read this manual in its entirety prior to installing the FT-2980R,
so that you fully understand the capabilities of your new transceiver.
About this manual
This manual contains symbols and conventions to call attention to important information.
Symbols Description
This icon indicates cautions and alerts the user should be aware of.
This icon indicates helpful notes, tips and information.
1FT-2980R Operating Manual

Safety Precautions
Note beforehand that the company shall not be liable for any damages suffered by the customer or
third parties in using this product, or for any failures and faults that occur during the use or misuse of
this product, unless otherwise provided for under the law.
Type and meaning of the marks
DANGER
This symbol indicates the possibility of death or serious injury being inflicted on the
user and the surrounding people when these instructions are ignored and the product
is mishandled.
WARNING
This symbol indicates the possibility of death or serious injury being inflicted on the
user and the surrounding people when these instructions are ignored and the product
is mishandled.
CAUTION
This symbol indicates the possibility of physical impediments occurring or impedi-
ments being inflicted on the user and the surrounding people when these instructions
are ignored and the product is mishandled.
Type and meaning of symbols
Prohibited actions that must not be attempted, in order to use this radio safely.
For example, signifies that disassembly is prohibited.
Precautions that must be adhered to in order to use this radio safely. For example, signifies that the
power supply is to be disconnected.
DANGER
Do not use the device in “regions or air-
crafts and vehicles where its use is prohib-
ited” such as in hospitals and airplanes.
This may exert an impact on electronic and
medical devices.
Do not use this product while driving or
riding a motorbike. This may result in ac-
cidents.
Make sure to stop the car in a safe location first
before use if the device is going to be used by
the driver.
Never touch the antenna during transmis-
sion.
This may result in injury, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Do not operate the device when flammable
gas is generated.
Doing so may result in fire and explosion.
Do not transmit in crowded places in con-
sideration of people who are fitted with
medical devices such as heart pacemakers.
Electromagnetic waves from the device may
affect the medical device, resulting in accidents
caused by malfunctions.
Do not touch any liquid leaking from the liq-
uid display with your bare hands.
There is a risk of chemical burns occurring
when the liquid comes into contact with the skin
or gets into the eyes. In this case, seek medical
treatment immediately.
WARNING
Do not use voltages other than the speci-
fied power supply voltage.
Doing so may result in fire and electric shock.
Do not transmit continuously for long peri-
ods of time.
This may cause the temperature of the main
body to rise and result in burns and failures due
to overheating.
Do not dismantle or modify the device.
This may result in injury, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Do not handle the power plug and connec-
tor etc. with wet hands. Also do not plug
and unplug the power plug with wet hands.
This may result in injury, liquid leak, electric
shock and equipment failure.
When smoke or strange odors are emitted
from the radio, turn off the power and dis-
connect the power cord from the socket.
This may result in fire, liquid leak, overheating,
damage, ignition and equipment failure. Please
contact our company amateur customer sup-
port or the retail store where you purchased
the device.
Keep the power plug pins and the surround-
ing areas clean at all times.
This may result in fire, liquid leak, overheating,
breakage, ignition etc.
Disconnect the power cord and connection
cables before incorporating items sold sep-
arately and replacing the fuse.
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
2FT-2980R Operating Manual

Never cut off the fuse holder of the DC pow-
er cord.
This may cause short-circuiting and result in
ignition and fire.
Do not use fuses other than those specified.
Doing so may result in fire and equipment fail-
ure.
Do not allow metallic objects such as wires
and water to get inside the product.
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Do not place the device in areas that may
get wet easily (e.g. near a humidifier).
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
When connecting a DC power cord, pay due
care not to mix up the positive and negative
polarities.
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Do not use DC power cords other than the
one enclosed or specified.
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Do not bend, twist, pull, heat and modify the
power cord and connection cables in an un-
reasonable manner.
This may cut or damage the cables and result
in fire, electric shock and equipment failure.
Do not pull the cable when plugging and
unplugging the power cord and connection
cables.
Please hold the plug or connector when un-
plugging. If not, this may result in fire, electric
shock and equipment failure.
Refrain from using headphones and ear-
phones at a loud volume.
Continuous exposure to loud volumes may re-
sult in hearing impairment.
Do not use the device when the power cord
and connection cables are damaged, and
when the DC power connector cannot be
plugged in tightly.
Please contact YAESU Technical Support or
the retail store where you purchased the de-
vice as this may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
Follow the instructions given when install-
ing items sold separately and replacing the
fuse.
This may result in fire, electric shock and
equipment failure.
CAUTION
Do not place this device near a heating in-
strument or in a location exposed to direct
sunlight.
This may result in deformation and discolor-
ation.
Do not place this device in a location where
there is a lot of dust and humidity.
Doing so may result in fire and equipment fail-
ure.
Stay as far away from the antenna as possi-
ble during transmission.
Long-term exposure to electromagnetic radia-
tion may have a negative effect on the human
body.
Do not wipe the case using thinner and ben-
zene etc.
Please use a soft and dry piece of cloth to wipe
away the stains on the case.
Keep out of the reach of small children.
If not, this may result in injuries to children.
Do not put heavy objects on top of the pow-
er cord and connection cables.
This may damage the power cord and connec-
tion cables, resulting in fire and electric shock.
Do not transmit near the television and ra-
dio.
This may result in electromagnetic interfer-
ence.
Do not use optional products other than
those specified by our company.
If not, this may result in equipment failure.
When using the device in a hybrid car or fu-
el-saving car, make sure to check with the
car manufacturer before using.
The device may not be able to receive trans-
missions normally due to the influence of nois-
es from the electrical devices (inverters etc.)
fitted in the car.
For safety reasons, switch off the power
and pull out the DC power cord connected
to the DC power connector when the device
is not going to be used for a long period of
time.
If not, this may result in fire and overheating.
Do not throw or subject the device to strong
impact forces.
This may result in equipment failure.
Do not the put this device near magnetic
cards and video tapes.
The data in the cash card and video tape etc.
may be erased.
Do not turn on the volume too high when
using a headphone or earphone.
This may result in hearing impairment.
Do not place the device on an unsteady or
sloping surface, or in a location where there
is a lot of vibration.
The device may fall over or drop, resulting in
fire, injury and equipment failure.
3
Safety Precautions
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Accessories & Options
Supplied Accessories
Microphone MH-48A6JA ................................................................................................... 1
Mobile Mounting Bracket MMB-83 .................................................................................. 1
DC Power Cord w/Fuse.................................................................................................... 1
Spare Fuse 25A................................................................................................................ 2
Standing Foot ................................................................................................................... 2
Operating Manual............................................................................................................. 1
Warranty Card .................................................................................................................. 1
Optional Accessories
High-Power External Speaker MLS-100
AC Power Supply FP-1023 (23 A: USA market only)
AC Power Supply FP-1030A
Do not stand on top of the product, and do
not place heavy objects on top or insert ob-
jects inside it.
If not, this may result in equipment failure.
Do not use a microphone other than those
specified when connecting a microphone to
the device.
If not, this may result in equipment failure.
Do not touch the heat radiating parts.
When used for a long period of time, the tem-
perature of the heat radiating parts will get
higher, resulting in burns when touched.
Do not open the case of the product except
when replacing the fuse and when installing
items sold separately.
This may result in injury, electric shock and
equipment failure.
4
Safety Precautions
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Front Panel Controls & Switches
③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩
① ② ⑪
VOL Knob
This control adjusts the audio volume level. Clockwise rotation increases
the volume level.
SQL Knob
This control is used to silence background noise on the receiver. It should
be advanced clockwise just to the point where the noise is silenced (and
the “ ” indicator on the display turns off), so as to provide the best
sensitivity to weak signals.
Microphone Jack
Connect the supplied MH-48A6J Hand Micro-
phone to this jack.
PWR Key
Press and hold this key for one second to toggle
the transceiver’s power on and off.
[(L)] Key
This key allows operation in conjunction with the Internet Connection fea-
ture.
Press and hold in this key for one second to toggle the Lockout Feature “on”
or “off”.
[MHz(SET)] Key
This key allows tuning in 1-MHz steps (the MHz digits will blink on the dis-
play). If receiving on a memory, pressing this key the rst time activates the
Memory Tuning mode, and pressing it again enables 1-MHz steps.
Press and hold in this key for one second to activate the “Set” (Menu)
mode.
5FT-2980R Operating Manual

[REV(DW)] Key
During split-frequency operation, such as through a repeater, this key re-
verses the transmit and receive frequencies.
Press and hold in this key for one second to activate the Dual Watch fea-
ture, described in the Operation chapter (“PRI” will be displayed on the
LCD, indicating “Priority Channel” monitoring).
[LOW(A/N)] Key
Press this key momentarily to select the transmitter power output level.
The available power levels are:
LOW1 (5 W) àLOW2 (10 W) àLOW3 (30 W) àHIGH (80 W)
To toggle the display between indication of the frequency and the channel’s
Alpha/Numeric label, press and hold in this key for one second while receiv-
ing on that memory channel.
[D/MR(MW)] Key
Press this key momentarily to switch the frequency control among the VFO,
Memory System, and Home channel.
Press and hold in this key for one second to activate the Memory Storage
mode.
DIAL Knob
This 24-position detented rotary switch is used for tuning, memory selection
and most function settings. The microphone [UP]/[DWN]buttons duplicate
the functions of this knob.
Display
The main digits on the display may show the operating frequency, memory
name, or any of many parameters during Menu setup.
6
Front Panel Controls & Switches
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Microphone Switches
PTT Switch
Press this switch to transmit, and re-
lease it to receive.
Keypad
These 16 keys generate DTMF tones
during transmission.
In the receive mode, these 16 keys can
be used for direct frequency entry and/
or direct numeric recall of the Memory
channels.
The [A], [B], [C], and [D]keys, on re-
ceive, replicate the functions of the front
panel keys ([MHz(SET)], [REV(DW)],
[LOW(A/N)], and [D/MR(MW)]). See
the previous discussion.
[P1]/[P2]/[P3]/[P4]Buttons
These four keys are user programma-
ble, allowing quick access to features
used often. The default functions are
described below.
[P1]button (SQL OFF)
Press this button to disable the noise and tone squelch systems.
[P2]button (S SRCH)
Press this button to activate the Smart Search feature.
[P3]button (C SRCH)
Press this button to activate the Tone Search feature.
[P4]button (WX CH/T.CALL)
In the USA version, pressing this button recalls the “Weather” broadcast
channel bank. In the Asian version, pressing this button activates T.CALL
(1750 Hz) for repeater access.
You can reprogram the [P1], [P2], [P3], and [P4]buttons for other func-
tions, if desired. See page 56 for details.
LAMP Switch
This switch illuminates the Microphone’s keypad.
LOCK Switch
This switch locks out the Microphone’s buttons (except for the keypad and
PTT switch).
[UP]/[DWN]Button
Press (or hold in) either of these buttons to tune (or scan up or down) the
operating frequency or through the memory channels. In many ways, these
buttons emulate the function of the (rotary) DIAL knob.
①
②
③
④
⑤
⑥
7FT-2980R Operating Manual

Rear Panel Connectors
②③ ①
13.8V DC Cable Pigtail
This is the power supply connection for the transceiver. Use the supplied
DC cable to connect this pigtail to the car battery or other DC power supply
capable of at least 15 Amperes (continuous duty). Make certain that the red
lead connects to the positive side of the supply. The fuse is 25A.
ANT Coaxial Socket
Connect a 144-MHz antenna to this type-M (SO-239) socket using 50-Ohm
coaxial cable and a type-M (PL-259) plug. Make sure the antenna is de-
signed specically for use on the operating frequency.
EXT SP Jack
This 2-contact 3.5-mm mini phone jack provides receiver audio output for
an optional external speaker. The audio impedance is 4 Ohms, and the lev-
el varies according to the setting of the front panel’s VOL control. Inserting
a plug into this jack disables audio from the transceiver’s internal speaker.
8FT-2980R Operating Manual

Installation
This chapter describes the installation procedure for integrating the FT-2980R into a
typical amateur radio station. It is presumed that you possess technical knowledge and
conceptual understanding consistent with your status as a licensed radio amateur. Please
take some extra time to make certain that the important safety and technical requirements
detailed in this chapter are followed closely.
Preliminary Inspection
Inspect the transceiver visually immediately upon opening the packing carton. Confirm
that all controls and switches work freely, and inspect the cabinet for any damage. Gently
shake the transceiver to verify that no internal components have been shaken loose due
to rough handling during shipping.
If any evidence of damage is discovered, document it thoroughly and contact the shipping
company (or your local dealer, if the unit was purchased over-the-counter) so as to get
instructions regarding the prompt resolution of the damage situation. Be certain to save
the shipping carton, especially if there are any punctures or other evidence of damage
incurred during shipping; if it is necessary to return the unit for service or replacement, use
the original packing materials but put the entire package inside another packing carton, so
as to preserve the evidence of shipping damage for insurance purposes.
Installation Tips
To ensure long life of the components, be certain to provide adequate ventilation around
the cabinet of the FT-2980R.
Do not install the transceiver on top of another heat-generating device (such as a power
supply or amplifier), and do not place equipment, books, or papers on top of the FT-
2980R. Avoid heating vents and window locations that could expose the transceiver to
excessive direct sunlight, especially in hot climates. The FT-2980R should not be used in
an environment where the ambient temperature exceeds +140 °F (+60 °C).
9FT-2980R Operating Manual

Antenna Consideration
The FT-2980R is designed for 50 Ohm resistive impedance at the amateur operating
frequencies.
The antenna (or a 50 Ohm dummy load) should be connected whenever the transceiver is
turned on, to avoid damage that could otherwise result if transmission occurs accidentally
without an antenna.
Ensure that your antenna is designed to handle 80 Watts of transmitter power. Some
magnetic-mount mobile antennas, designed for use with hand-held transceivers, may
not be capable of withstanding this power level. Consult the antenna manufacturer’s
specification sheet for details.
Construct the antenna and coaxial cable, to maintain the impedance presented to the FT-
2980R antenna connector for an SWR of 1.5 or less. Careful preparation of the antenna
will permit maximum performance and protect the transceiver from damage. High voltages
may be present on the antenna; install it so it will not be easily touched when in operation.
About coaxial cable
Use high-quality 50-Ohm coaxial cable for the lead-in to your FT-2980R transceiver.
Mobile Installation
The FT-2980R must only be installed in vehicles having a 13.8 Volt negative ground
electrical system. Mount the transceiver where the display, controls, and microphone are
easily accessible, using the supplied MMB-83 mounting bracket.
The transceiver may be installed in almost any location, but should not be positioned
near a heating vent nor anywhere where it might interfere with driving (either visually or
mechanically). Make sure to provide plenty of space on all sides of the transceiver so
that air can flow freely around the radio’s case. Refer to the diagrams showing proper
installation procedures.
10
Installation
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Mobile Power Connections
To minimize voltage drop and avoid blowing the vehicle’s fuses, connect the supplied
DC power cable directly to the battery terminals. Do not attempt to defeat or bypass the
DC cable’s fuse - it is there to protect you, your transceiver, and your vehicle’s electrical
system.
Warning!
Never apply AC power to the power cable of the FT-2980R, nor DC voltage
greater than 15.8 Volts. When replacing the fuse, only use a 25-A fuse. Failure
to observe these safety precautions will void the Limited Warranty on this
product.
Before connecting the transceiver, check the voltage at the battery terminals while
revving the engine. If the voltage exceeds 15 Volts, adjust the vehicle’s voltage regu-
lator before proceeding with installation.
Connect the RED power cable lead to the POSITIVE (+) battery terminal, and the
BLACK power cable lead to the NEGATIVE (–) terminal. If you need to extend the
power cable, use #12 AWG or larger insulated, stranded copper wire. Solder the
splice connections carefully, and wrap the connections thoroughly with insulating
electrical tape.
Before connecting the cable to the transceiver, verify the voltage and polarity of the
voltage at the transceiver end of the DC cable using a DC voltmeter. Now connect
the transceiver to the DC cable.
FT-2980R
Fuse 25 A
Fuse Holder
WARNING!
NEVER remove the FUSE
holders from the DC cable.
Mobile Speakers
The optional MLS-100 External Speaker includes its own swivel-type mounting bracket,
and is available from your Yaesu dealer.
Other external speakers may be used with the FT-2980R, if they present the specified
4-Ohm impedance and are capable of handling the 3 Watts of audio output supplied by
the FT-2980R.
11
Installation
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Base Station Installation
The FT-2980R is ideal for base station use as well as in mobile installations. The FT-
2980R is specifically designed to integrate into your station easily, using the information
to follow as a reference.
AC Power Supplies
Operation of the FT-2980R from an AC line requires a power source capable of providing
at least 15 Amps continuously at 13.8 Volts DC. The FP-1023 and FP-1030A AC Power
Supplies are available from your Yaesu dealer to satisfy these requirements. Other well-
regulated power supplies may be used, as well, if they meet the above voltage and current
specifications.
Use the DC power cable supplied with your transceiver for making power connections to
the power supply. Connect the RED power cable lead to the POSITIVE (+) power supply
terminal, and connect the BLACK power cable lead to the NEGATIVE (–) power supply
terminal.
Base Station Feet
The supplied Base Station Feet allow the transceiver to be tilted upward for better viewing.
To install the Base Station Feet, remove the two screws affixing the front side of the
bottom cover, then install the Base Station Feet using these screws.
12
Installation
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Basic Operation
Turning the Transceiver On and Off
1. To turn the transceiver on, press and hold in the PWR key
for one second.
When you turn on the FT-2980R, the current DC supply
voltage is indicated on the LCD for 2 seconds. After this
interval, the display will switch its normal indication of the
operating frequency.
2. To turn the transceiver off, again press and hold in the
PWR key for one second.
You can change the Opening Message (DC supply voltage indication) to any
desired message (up to 6 characters) via Set Mode Item “31 OPN.MSG;” see
page 67 for details.
Adjusting the Audio Volume Level
Rotate the VOL control to adjust the receiver volume. Clockwise
rotation increases the audio output level.
Adjusting the Squelch Setting
Rotate the SQL control just to the point where the noise is
silenced and the “ ” indicator on the display turns off.
If the SQL control is set further clockwise, sensitivity to weak
signals is reduced.
A special “RF Squelch” feature is provided on this radio. This
feature allows you to set the squelch so that only signals
exceeding a certain S-meter level will open the squelch. See
page 18 for details
13FT-2980R Operating Manual

Frequency Navigation
1)Tuning Dial
Rotating the DIAL knob allows tuning in the pre-programmed steps. Clockwise rotation
of the DIAL knob causes the FT-2980R to be tuned toward a higher frequency, while
counter-clockwise rotation will lower the operating frequency.
Press the [MHz(SET)] key momentarily, then rotate the DIAL knob, to change the
frequency steps to 1 MHz per step. This feature is extremely useful for making rapid
frequency excursions over the wide tuning range of the FT-2980R. Instead of pressing
the [MHz(SET)] button, you may also press the [A]key on the Microphone’s keypad to
engage tuning in 1 MHz steps.
2)Direct Keypad Frequency Entry
The keypad of the MH-48A6J DTMF Microphone may be used for direct entry of the
operating frequency.
To enter a frequency from the MH-48A6J keypad, just press the numbered digits in the
proper sequence. There is no “decimal point” key on the MH-48A6J keypad. However,
there is a short-cut for frequencies ending in zero: press the [#]key after the last non-zero
digit.
Examples: To enter 146.520 MHz, press [1]à[4]à[6]à[5]à[2]à[0]
To enter 146.000 MHz, press [1]à[4]à[6]à[#]
If you cannot get the radio to accept the frequency entry, it is possible that
the channel steps are set to an incompatible value (e.g. if you have 25 kHz
steps set, you cannot set a frequency of 146.520 MHz). See page 18 to learn
how to change the channel step size.
3)Scanning
From the VFO mode, press the microphone’s [UP]/[DWN]keys momentarily to initiate
scanning toward a higher- or lower frequency, respectively. The FT-2980R will stop when
it receives a signal strong enough to break through the squelch threshold. The FT-2980R
will then hold on that frequency according to the setting of the “Resume” mode (Menu “41
SCAN)”; see page 39).
If you wish to reverse the direction of the scan (i.e. toward a lower frequency, instead of a
higher frequency), just rotate the DIAL knob one click in the counter-clockwise direction
while the FT-2980R is scanning. The scanning direction will be reversed. To revert to
scanning toward a higher frequency once more, rotate the DIAL knob one click clockwise.
Press the [UP]/[DWN]keys again to cancel scanning. You may also press the PTT button
momentarily; scanning will stop, but you will not transmit until you release the PTT button,
and press it again.
If you have enabled the “Severe Weather Alert” feature, you will occasion-
ally notice “WX” channels interspersed with the regular channels you are
scanning. This is normal, because your radio is constantly monitoring for weather
alerts. See page 16.
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Basic Operation
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Transmission
To transmit, simply close the PTT (Push To Talk) switch on the microphone when the
frequency is clear. Hold the microphone approximately 1” (25 mm) from your mouth, and
speak into the microphone in a normal voice level. When your transmission is complete,
release the PTT switch; the transceiver will revert to the receive mode.
During transmission, the “ ” indicator will appear at the upper left corner on the display.
Changing the Transmitter Power Level
You can select from among a total of four transmit power levels on your FT-2980R.
To change the power level, press the [LOW(A/N)] key (or the microphone’s [C]key to
select one of four power settings. These power levels will be stored, in memory registers,
at the time of memory storage (see page 30 for details on Memory operation).
During transmission, the Bar Graph will deflect in the display, according to the power
output selected.
Low 1 (5 watts)
Low 2 (10 watts)
Low 3 (30 watts)
HIGH (80 watts)
15
Basic Operation
FT-2980R Operating Manual

Advanced Operation
Weather Broadcast Reception (USA Version)
The FT-2980R includes a unique feature which allows reception of weather broadcasts in
the 160 MHz frequency range. Ten standard Weather Broadcast channels are pre-loaded
into a special memory bank.
To listen to a Weather Broadcast Channel:
1. Press the Microphone’s [P4]button to recall the Weath-
er Broadcast channels.
2. Turn the DIAL knob to select the desired Weather
Broadcast channel.
CH Frequency CH Frequency
01 162.550 MHz 06 162.500 MHz
02 162.400 MHz 07 162.525 MHz
03 162.475 MHz 08 161.650 MHz
04 162.425 MHz 09 161.775 MHz
05 162.450 MHz 10 163.275 MHz
3. If you wish to check the other channels for activity by scanning, just press the Micro-
phone’s PTT switch.
4. To exit to normal operation, press the [P4]button again. Operation will return to the
VFO or Memory channel you were operating on before you began Weather Broad-
cast operation.
The [P4] key, one of the programmable keys, is assigned (default setting) as
the “WX Broadcast” one-touch access key. Please note that if you change/
assign another function to the [P4] key, one-touch access to the WX channel will
be unavailable.
Severe Weather Alert Feature
In the event of extreme weather disturbances, such as storms and hurricanes, NOAA (the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) sends a weather alert accompanied
by a 1050 Hz tone and subsequent weather report on one of the NOAA weather channels.
You may enable this feature via Menu Item “57 WX ALT”, if desired. See page 43 for
details.
When scanning the band or the “regular” memories, with the Severe Weather Alert feature
engaged, you will notice that the FT-2980R will break over to the Weather Channel bank
every five seconds, performing a quick scan of those channels in search for the 1050 Hz
alert tone. If the alert tone is received, operation will lock on the weather broadcast station
issuing the alert; otherwise, the radio will revert to the VFO or memory scan session in
progress without interruption.
When the alert tone is received, press the PTT button momentarily to disable the alarm,
and the Severe Weather message will now be audible from the speaker.
16 FT-2980R Operating Manual