Yaesu FT DX 1200 User manual

HF/50 MHzTransceiver
FT DX 1200
OperaTing Manual
YAESU MUSEN CO., LTD.
Tennozu Parkside Building
2-5-8 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 Japan
YAESU USA
6125 Phyllis Drive, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A.
YAESU UK
Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close
Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.
YAESU HK
Unit 2002, 20/F, 9 Chong Yip Street,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

About this MAnuAl . . .
The FTDX1200 is a leading-edge transceiver with a number of new and exciting features, some of which may be unfa-
miliar to you. In order to gain the most enjoyment and operating efciency from your FTDX1200, we recommend that
you read this manual in its entirety, and keep it handy for reference as you explore the many capabilities of your new
transceiver.
Before using your FTDX1200, be sure to read and follow the instructions in the “Before You Begin” section of this man-
ual.

Page 1
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
General Description
Congratulations on the purchase of your Yaesu amateur
transceiver! If this is your rst rig, or if Yaesu equipment
is already the backbone of your station, rest assured
your transceiver will provide many hours of operating
pleasure for years to come.
The FTDX1200 is an elite-class HF transceiver provid-
ing exceptional performance both on transmit and re-
ceive. The FTDX1200 is designed for the most competi-
tive operating situations, whether you primarily operate
in contest, DX, or digital-mode environments.
Built on the foundation of the popular FTDX9000 trans-
ceiver, and carrying on the proud tradition of the FT-
1000 series, the FTDX1200 provides up to 100 Watts
of power output on SSB, CW, and FM (25 Watts AM
carrier). Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is utilized
throughout the design, providing leading-edge transmit-
ter and receiver performance.
For exceptional protection from strong signal interfer-
ence, the optional RF µTuning Kits may be connected
via the rear panel. The RF µTuning Kits provide extraor-
dinarily sharp selectivity and protect your receiver from
close-in interference on a crowded band.
In the front end, you may select one of two RF pream-
pliers, or IPO (Intercept Point Optimization), providing
direct feed to the rst mixer. Three levels of RF attenua-
tion are available in 6-dB steps.
The FTDX1200 receiver utilizes DSP ltering, incorpo-
rating many of the features of the FTDX9000, such as:
Variable Bandwidth, IF Shift, and Passband Contour
tuning. Also provided are Digital Noise Reduction, Digi-
tal Auto-Notch Filtering and a manually tuned IF Notch
lter.
On the transmit side, the Yaesu exclusive Three-Band
Parametric Microphone Equalizer allows precise and
flexible adjustment of the waveform created by your
voice and microphone. The audio Amplitude, Center
Frequency, and Bandwidth are adjusted separately for
the low, mid-range, and high-frequency audio spectrum.
The transmitted bandwidth may also be adjusted.
Advanced features include: Direct Keyboard Frequency
Entry and Band Change, Speech Processor, IF Monitor
for Voice modes, CW Pitch control, CW Spot switch,
Full CW QSK, CW Message Memory, adjustable IF
Noise Blanker, and all mode Squelch. Two TX/RX
antenna ports are provided on the rear panel. Two key
jacks are provided (one on the front and one on the rear
panel). The key jacks may be congured independently
for paddle input, connection to a straight key, or com-
puter-driven keying interface.
Frequency setup is straightforward on the FTDX1200.
Enter frequency directly for VFO-A. Separate keys are
available for band selection. Each band key provides
three separate VFO settings for three different parts of
each band. You may create three independent VFO set-
tings of frequency, mode, and lter for each band.
In addition, 99 memories are provided to store: Frequen-
cy, Mode, IF lter selection, Clarier offset, and Scan-
skip status. What’s more, five quick-recall (“QMB”)
memories can instantly store operational settings at the
push of a button.
The built-in antenna tuner includes 100 memories that
automatically store antenna matching settings for rapid,
later automatic recall.
Interfacing for digital modes is extremely simple with
the FTDX1200, thanks to the dedicated RTTY/DATA
connection jack on the rear panel. Optimization of the
lter passband, DSP settings, carrier insertion point, and
display offset for digital modes, is possible via the Menu
programming system.
Advanced technology is only part of the FTDX1200
story. Yaesu stands behind our products with a world-
wide network of dealers and service centers. We greatly
appreciate your investment in the FTDX1200, and we
look forward to helping you get the most enjoyment
from your new transceiver. Please feel free to contact
your nearest dealer, or one of Yaesu’s national headquar-
ters ofces, for technical advice, interfacing assistance,
or accessory recommendation. Watch Yaesu U.S.A.’s
Home Page for late-breaking information about Stan-
dard Horizon and Yaesu products: http://www.yaesu.
com.
Please read this manual thoroughly, to gain maximum
understanding of the full capability of the FTDX1200.
We thank you again for your purchase!

Page 2
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
table of contents
General Description ..................................................... 1
Table of Contents ......................................................... 2
Accessories & Options ................................................. 4
Supplied Accessories................................................ 4
Available Options..................................................... 5
Before You Begin.......................................................... 6
Extending the Front Feet.......................................... 6
Adjusting the Main Tuning Dial Torque .................. 6
Adjusting the Clock.................................................. 7
Resetting the Microprocessor................................... 7
Installation and Interconnections............................... 8
Antenna Considerations ........................................... 8
About Coaxial Cable ................................................ 8
Grounding................................................................. 9
Connection of Antenna and Power Cables............. 10
Connection of Microphone and Headphone........... 11
Key, Keyer, and Computer-Driven Keying
Interconnections ..................................................... 12
VL-1000 Linear Amplier Interconnections.......... 13
Interfacing to Other Linear Ampliers................... 14
Plug/Connector Pinout Diagrams............................. 15
Front Panel Controls & Switches ............................. 16
Display Indications..................................................... 26
Rear Panel................................................................... 29
Optional FH-2 Switches............................................. 31
Basic Operation: Receiving on Amateur Bands...... 32
Operation on 60-Meter (5 MHz)Band
(U.S. and U.K. version only).... 35
CLAR (Clarier) Operation ................................... 36
LOCK..................................................................... 37
DIMMER ............................................................... 37
VFO COLOR ......................................................... 37
Convenience Features................................................ 38
Band Stack Operation............................................. 38
C.S (Custom Switch).............................................. 38
SCOPE ................................................................... 39
Rotator Control Functions...................................... 42
More Frequency Navigation Techniques ............... 43
Antenna Selection .................................................. 44
Receiver Operation (Front End Block Diagram)... 45
Interference Rejection ............................................... 46
ATT ......................................................................... 46
µ-Tune FilTer (requires The opTional
rF µ Tuning KiT) ... 47
IPO (Intercept Point Optimization)........................ 49
R.FLT (Roong Filters).......................................... 50
IF Noise Blanker (NB) Operation .......................... 51
CONTOUR Control Operation .............................. 52
IF SHIFT Operation
(SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT Modes)........ 53
WIDTH (IF DSP Bandwidth)Tuning
(SSB/CW/RTTY/DATA Modes)........ 54
NARROW (NAR) One-Touch IF Filter Selection . 55
IF NOTCH Filter Operation
(SSB/CW/RTTY/DATA/AM Modes)....... 56
Digital NOTCH Filter (DNF) Operation................ 57
Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) Operation............ 57
Tools for Comfortable and Effective Reception ...... 58
RF Gain .................................................................. 58
DSP IF Filter Types ................................................ 59
Audio Pitch Control (SSB mode)........................... 60
Audio Peak Filter ................................................... 60
AGC (Automatic Gain Control)............................. 61
Adjustable Receiver Audio Filter........................... 62
SSB/AM Mode Transmission .................................... 63
Using the Automatic Antenna Tuner ........................ 65
ATU Operation ....................................................... 65
About ATU Operation ............................................ 66
Enhancing Transmit Signal Quality......................... 67
Parametric Microphone Equalizer
(SSB/AM/FM mode)...... 67
Using the Speech Processor (SSB Mode).............. 69
Adjusting the SSB Transmitted Bandwidth
(SSB Mode)....... 70
Transmitter Convenience Features .......................... 71
Voice Memory (SSB/AM/FM modes:
Requires optional DVS-6 and FH-2).... 71
VOX (SSB/AM/FM Modes: Automatic TX/RX
Switching using Voice Control) ............................. 73
MONITOR (SSB/AM/FM modes)......................... 74
Split Operation Using the TX Clarier .................. 75
Split-Frequency Operation ..................................... 76
CW Mode Operation ................................................. 77
Setup for Straight Key
(and Straight Key emulation) Operation ..... 77
Using the Built-in Electronic Keyer....................... 78
CW Convenience Features ........................................ 81
CW Spotting (Zero-Beating).................................. 81
Using CW Reverse ................................................. 82
CW Delay Time Setting ......................................... 83
CW Pitch Adjustment............................................. 83
Contest Memory Keyer (Using the Optional
FH-2 Remote Control Keypad) ....... 84
CW Decode ............................................................ 89
FM Mode Operation .................................................. 90
Basic Operation ...................................................... 90
Repeater Operation................................................. 91
Tone Squelch Operation ......................................... 92
Memory Operation .................................................... 93
Convenient Memory functions............................... 93
QMB (Quick Memory Bank)................................. 93
Standard Memory Operation.................................. 94
Memory Groups ..................................................... 98

Page 3
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
table of contents
Operation on Alaska Emergency Frequency:
5167.5 khz (U.S. Version Only) ................................. 99
VFO and Memory Scanning ................................... 100
VFO Scanning...................................................... 100
Memory Scan ....................................................... 101
PMS (Programmable Memory Scanning) ............. 102
RTTY (Radio Teletype)Operation ......................... 103
RTTY Decode (with Optional FFT Unit)............. 103
RTTY Text Memory (with Optional FFT Unit)... 104
Example of Connecting RTTY Communications
Device................................................................... 104
DATA (PSK)Operation ........................................... 105
PSK Decode (with Optional FFT Unit)................ 105
PSK Text Memory (with Optional FFT Unit)...... 106
Example of Data Communications Device ......... 106
Menu Mode............................................................... 107
AGC Group .......................................................... 112
DISPLAY Group .................................................. 112
DVS Group........................................................... 113
KEYER Group ..................................................... 113
GENERAL Group ................................................ 114
MODE-AM Group ............................................... 116
MODE-CW Group ............................................... 116
MODE-DATA Group ........................................... 117
MODE-FM Group................................................ 118
MODE-RTTY Group ........................................... 119
MODE-SSB Group .............................................. 119
RX DSP Group ..................................................... 120
SCOPE Group ...................................................... 121
TUNING Group ................................................... 123
TX AUDIO Group................................................ 123
TX GNRL Group.................................................. 125
AF SCOPE Group ................................................ 125
DEC CW............................................................... 125
E/D RTTY Group ................................................. 126
E/D PSK Group.................................................... 126
Installation of Optional Accessories ....................... 127
FFT Unit (FFT-1) ................................................. 127
Voice Memory Unit (DVS-6)............................... 128
RF μTuning Kit .................................................... 129
FC-40 External Automatic Antenna Tuner (for Wire
Antenna) ............................................................... 130
SCU-17 USB Interface Unit................................. 132
Specications ............................................................ 134

Page 4
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
accessories & options
Supplied AcceSSorieS
Hand Microphone (MH-31B8) 1 pc A07890001
DC Power Cord 1 pc T9025225
Spare Fuse (25A) 1 pc Q0000074
RCA Plug 2 pcs P0091365
Operating Manual 1 pc
Warranty Card 1 pc

Page 5
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
accessories & options
AvAilAble optionS
MD-200A8X Ultra-High-Fidelity Desktop Microphone
MD-100A8X Desktop Microphone
YH-77STA Lightweight Stereo Headphone
FH-2 Remote Control Keypad
VL-1000/VP-1000 Linear Amplier/AC Power Supply
RF µTuning Kit A For 160 m Band
RF µTuning Kit B For 80/40 m Bands
RF µTuning Kit C For 30/20 m Bands
FC-40 External Automatic Antenna Tuner
FP-1030A External Power Supply (13.8 VDC 25 A)
FP-2023A External Power Supply (13.8 VDC 23 A, USA Only)
DVS-6 Voice Memory Unit
FFT-1 FFT Unit
SCU-17 USB Interface Unit
CT-118 VL-1000 Linear Amplier Connection Cable
CT-39A Packet Interface Cable
CT Cable (MDIN6P - MDIN6P 2m) Antenna Rotator Connection Cable (P/N T9101556)
CT Cable (MDIN10P - Bare Wire 2m) Linear Amplier Connection Cable (P/N T9207451)
MD-200A8X YH-77STA FH-2
VL-1000/VP-1000
RF µTuning Kit DVS-6FC-40
FFT-1 SCU-17

Page 6
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
extending the Front Feet
To elevate the front panel for easy viewing, the front left and right feet on the case bottom may be extended.
Pull the front legs outward from the bottom panel.
Rotate the legs counter-clockwise to lock them in
the extended position. Be sure the legs have locked
securely in place, because the transceiver is quite
heavy and an unlocked leg could result in damage,
should the transceiver move suddenly.
Retracting the Front Feet
Rotate the legs clockwise.
Push them inward while continuing to rotate clock-
wise. The front feet should now be locked in the re-
tracted position.
AdjuSting the MAin tuning diAl torque
The torque (drag) of the Main Tuning Dial knob may be
adjusted according to your preferences. Rotate the skirt
at the base of the knob clockwise to reduce the drag, or
counter-clockwise to increase the drag.
before You beGin
 
 
 
 
Skirt

Page 7
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
[POWER]button
[BAND]keys
[A

M]button
[C.S]button [ENT]button
before You beGin
reSetting the MicroproceSSor
reSetting MeMorieS (only)
Use this procedure to reset (clear) the previously stored
Memory channels, without affecting any conguration
changes you may have made to the Menu settings.
1. Press the front panel [POWER]switch to turn the
transceiver off.
2. While holding the [A

M] button in, press and hold
in the front panel [POWER]switch to turn the trans-
ceiver on. Once the transceiver comes on, you may
release the buttons.
Menu reSetting
Use this procedure to restore the Menu settings to their
factory defaults, without affecting the memories you
have programmed.
1. Press the front panel [POWER]switch to turn the
transceiver off.
2. While holding the [MENU] button in, press and hold
in the front panel [POWER]switch to turn the trans-
ceiver on. Once the transceiver comes on, you may
release the buttons.
Full reSet
Use this procedure to restore all Menu and Memory set-
tings to their original factory defaults. All Memories will
be cleared by this procedure.
1. Press the front panel [POWER]switch to turn the
transceiver off.
2. While holding the [FAST]and [LOCK] buttons in,
press and hold in the front panel [POWER]switch
to turn the transceiver on. Once the transceiver
comes on, you may release the buttons.
iMportAnt note:
When the optional µTuning Kit is connected to the
FTDX1200, disconnect all the cables from the µTuning
Kit before performing the Full Reset.
[LOCK]button
[FAST]button
[POWER]button [MENU]button
[POWER]button
AdjuSting the clock
Use the following procedure to adjust the clock shown at the middle right of the TFT display.
1. Press and hold the [C.S] button until the clock digits
blink.
2. Enter the present time with the number keys ([BAND]
keys).
3. Press the [ENT] button.

Page 8
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
AntennA conSiderAtionS
The FTDX1200 is designed for use with any antenna system providing a 50 Ohm resistive impedance at the desired op-
erating frequency. While minor excursions from the 50-Ohm specication are of no consequence, if the Standing Wave
Ratio (SWR) present at the Antenna jack is greater than 3:1, the transceiver’s Automatic Antenna Tuner may not be able
to reduce the impedance mismatch to an acceptable value.
Every effort should be made to ensure that the impedance of the antenna system be as close as possible to the specied
50-Ohm value. Note that the “G5RV” type antenna does not provide a 50-Ohm impedance on all HF Amateur bands. An
external wide-range antenna coupler must be used with this antenna type.
Any antenna to be used with the FTDX1200 must be fed from the transceiver with 50 Ohm coaxial cable. Therefore,
when using a “balanced” antenna such as a dipole, remember that a balun or other matching/balancing device must be
used to ensure proper antenna performance.
The same precautions apply to any additional (receive-only) antennas connected to the antenna jacks. if your receive-
only antennas do not have impedance near 50 Ohms at the operating frequency, you may need to install an external an-
tenna tuner to obtain optimum performance.
About coAxiAl cAble
Use high-quality 50-Ohm coaxial cable for the lead-in to your FTDX1200 transceiver. All efforts at providing an ef-
cient antenna system will be wasted if poor quality, lossy coaxial cable is used. This transceiver utilizes standard “M”
(“PL-259”) type connectors.
installation anD interconnections
typicAl pl-259 inStAllAtion

Page 9
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
installation anD interconnections
proper ground connection
GND
Linear
Amplifier
GND
TNC
GND
Transceiver
GND
Transceiver
GND
Linear
Amplifier
GND
TNC
"Daisy Chain"
GND
Linear
Amplifier
GND
TNC
GND
Transceiver
GND
Transceiver
GND
Linear
Amplifier
GND
TNC
"Daisy Chain"
iMproper ground connection
grounding
The FTDX1200 transceiver, like any other HF communications apparatus, requires an effective ground system for maxi-
mum electrical safety and best communications effectiveness. A good ground system can contribute to station efciency
in a number of ways:
 It can minimize the possibility of electrical shock to the operator.
 It can minimize RF currents owing on the shield of the coaxial cable and the chassis of the transceiver. such cur-
rents may lead to radiation, which can cause interference to home entertainment devices or laboratory test equip-
ment.
 It can minimize the possibility of erratic transceiver/accessory operation caused by RF feedback and/or improper
current ow through logic devices.
An effective earth ground system may take several forms. for a more complete discussion, see an appropriate RF engi-
neering text. The information below is intended only as a guideline.
Typically, the ground connection consists of one or more copper-clad steel rods, driven into the ground. If multiple
ground rods are used, they should be positioned in a “V” conguration and bonded together at the base of the “V” which
is nearest the station location. Use a heavy, braided cable (such as the discarded shield from type RG-213 coaxial cable)
and strong cable clamps to secure the braided cable(s) to the ground rods. Be sure to weatherproof the connections
to ensure many years of reliable service. Use the same type of heavy, braided cable for the connections to the station
ground bus (described below).
Inside the station, a common ground bus consisting of a copper pipe of at least 25 mm diameter should be used. An al-
ternative station ground bus may consist of a wide copper plate (single-sided circuit board material is ideal) secured to
the bottom of the operating desk. Grounding connections from individual transceivers, power supplies, and data com-
munications devices (TNCs, etc.) should be made directly to the ground bus using a heavy, braided cable.
Do not “Daisy-Chain” ground connections from one electrical device to another and thence to the ground bus. This
method may nullify any attempt at effective radio frequency grounding. See the drawing below for examples of proper
grounding techniques.
Inspect the ground system - inside the station as well as outside - on a regular basis to ensure continued performance
and safety.
Besides following the above guidelines carefully, note that household or industrial gas lines must never be used in an
attempt to establish an electrical ground. Cold water pipes may, in some instances, help in the grounding effort, but gas
lines represent a signicant explosion hazard, and must never be used.

Page 10
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
connection oF AntennA And power cAbleS
Please follow the outline in the illustration regarding the proper connection of antenna coaxial cables, as well as the DC
power cable. The DC power connector for the FT
DX
1200 must only be connected to a DC source providing 13.8 Volts DC
(±10 %), and capable of at least 23 Amperes of current. Always observe proper polarity when making DC connection:
The RED DC power lead connects to the Positive (+) DC terminal.
The BLACK DC power lead connects to the Negative (–) DC terminal.
We recommend the use of the FP-1030A (USA market only) AC Power Supply. Other models of power supplies may
be used with the FTDX1200, but the 13.8 VDC input voltage, 23 Ampere current capability, and DC cable polarity
guidelines described above must be strictly followed.
Note that other manufacturers may use the same type of DC power connections as does your FTDX1200 transceiver,
however, the wiring conguration may be different from that specied for your transceiver. Serious damage can be
caused if improper DC connections are made; consult with a qualied service technician when in doubt.
The 100 V RF voltage (@100 W/50-ohm) is applied to the TX RF section of the transceiver while transmitting.
Do not touch the TX RF section absolutely while transmitting.
Permanent damage can result when improper supply voltage, or reverse-polarity voltage, is applied to the
FTDX1200. The Limited Warranty on this transceiver does not cover damage caused by application of AC volt-
age, reverse polarity DC, or DC voltage outside the specied range of 13.8 V ±10 %. When replacing fuses, be certain
to use a fuse of the proper rating. The FTDX1200 requires a 25 A blade fuse.
Advice:
 Do not position the FTDX1200 in a location with direct exposure to sunshine.
 Do not position the FTDX1200 in a location exposed to dust and/or high humidity.
 Ensure adequate ventilation around the FTDX1200, to prevent heat build-up and possible reduction of performance
due to high heat.

Do not install the FTDX1200 on an unstable desk or table. Do not place in a location where objects may fall onto it from above.
 To minimize the possibility of interference to home entertainment devices, take all precautionary steps including
separation of TV/FM antennas from Amateur transmitting antennas to the greatest extent possible, and keep trans-
mitting coaxial cables separated from cables connected to home entertainment devices.
 Ensure that the DC power cord is not subject to undue stress or bending, which could damage the cable or cause it to
be accidentally unplugged from the rear panel DC IN jack.
 Be certain to install your transmitting antenna(s) so they cannot possibly come in contact with TV/FM radio or other
antennas, or with power or telephone lines.
installation anD interconnections
To prevent damage from
lightning, atmospheric elec-
tricity, electrical shock etc., please
provide a good earth ground.
Use a short,
thick, braided
cable to con-
nect your station
equipment to the
buried ground rod (or alternative earth
ground system).
Check the DC volt-
age and current rating
(+13.8 V, 23 A) of the power
supply before connecting to the
transceiver.

Page 11
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
installation anD interconnections
connection oF Microphone And heAdphone

Page 12
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
key, keyer, And coMputer-driven keying interconnectionS
The FTDX1200 includes many features for the CW operator. These functions will be detailed in the “Operation” section
later. Besides the built-in Electronic Keyer, two key jacks are provided, one on the front and one on the rear panel, for
convenient connection to keying devices.
The Menu selections allow you to congure the front and rear panel KEY jacks according to the device you wish to con-
nect. For example, you may connect your keyer paddle to the front panel KEY jack, and use Menu item “018 F KEYER
TYPE” for paddle input, and also connect the keying line from your personal computer (which emulates a “straight key”)
to the rear panel KEY jack, and congure the rear panel jack using Menu item “020 R KEYER TYPE”.
Both KEY jacks on the FTDX1200 utilize “Positive” keying voltage. Key-up voltage is approximately +3.3V DC, and
key-down current is approximately 4 mA. When connecting a key or other device to the KEY jacks, use only a 3-con-
tact (“stereo”) 1/4” phone plug; a 2-contact plug will place a short between the ring and (grounded) shaft of the plug,
resulting in a constant “key-down” condition in some circumstances.
installation anD interconnections

Page 13
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
installation anD interconnections
vl-1000 lineAr AMpliFier interconnectionS
Be sure that both the FTDX1200 and VL-1000 are turned off, and then follow the installation recommendations con-
tained in the illustration.
note:
 Refer to the VL-1000 Operating Manual for details regarding amplier operation.
 Do not attempt to connect or disconnect coaxial cables when your hands are wet.
To link the FTDX1200 and VL-1000 Power
switches, set the VL-1000 REMOTE switch
to the “ON” position.
Set the front panel’s
INPUT switch to the
“INPUT2”.

Page 14
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
installation anD interconnections
interFAcing to other lineAr AMpliFierS
note
 The TX GND OUT pin (pin 2) of the LINEAR jack
is a transistor “open collector” circuit. It is capable of
handling positive relay coil voltages up to +60VDC
at 200 mA or +30 VDC at 1 A. If you plan to use
multiple linear amplifiers for different bands, you
must provide external band switching of the “Linear
Tx” relay control line from the “TX GND OUT” line
at the LINEAR jack.
 The specied range for ALC voltage to be used with
the FTDX1200 is 0 to -4 Volts DC.
 Amplier systems utilizing different ALC voltages
will not work correctly with the FTDX1200, and
their ALC lines must not be connected if this is the
case.
iMportAnt note!
 Do not exceed the maximum voltage or current rat-
ings for the “TX GND OUT” pin (pin 2) of the LIN-
EAR jack. This line is not compatible with negative
DC voltages, or AC voltages of any magnitude.
 Most amplifier control relay systems require only
low DC voltage/current switching capability (typi-
cally, +12V DC at 25 ~ 75 mA), and the switching
transistor in the FTDX1200 will easily accommodate
such ampliers.
Note
When the FC-40 is connected to the FTDX1200,
TX GND (pin 2) of the TUNER jack and the
LINEAR jack (pin 2) are common circuits.
Therefore, the maximum voltage at TX GND (pin
2) of the LINEAR jack must not exceed +5V.
GND
EXT ALC TX GND

Page 15
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
pluG/connector pinout DiaGrams

Page 16
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
[POWER]Switch
Press and hold in this switch for one second to turn
the transceiver on. Similarly, press and hold in this
switch for one second to turn the transceiver off.
[TUNE]Switch
This is the on/off switch for the FTDX1200’s Auto-
matic Antenna Tuner.
Pressing this button momentarily places the antenna
tuner in line between the transmitter nal amplier
and the antenna jack (The “TUNER” icon will ap-
pear in the display). Reception is not affected.
Pressing and holding in this button for two seconds,
while receiving in an amateur band, activates the
transmitter for a few seconds while the automatic
antenna tuner rematches the antenna system imped-
ance for minimum SWR. The resulting setting is au-
tomatically stored in one of the antenna tuner’s 100
memories for instant automatic recall later when the
receiver is tuned near the same frequency.
Pressing this button momentarily, while the Tuner is
engaged, will take the Automatic Antenna tuner out
of the transmit line.
note:
When the Automatic Antenna Tuner is tuning itself,
a signal is being transmitted. Therefore, be certain
that an antenna or dummy load is connected to the
selected antenna jack before pressing and holding in
the [TUNE]switch to start antenna tuning.
KEY Jack
This 1/4-inch, 3-contact jack accepts a CW key or
keyer paddles (for the built-in electronic keyer),
or output from an external electronic keyer. Pinout
is shown on page 15. Key up voltage is +3.3 V
DC, and key down current is 4 mA. This jack may
be congured for keyer, “Bug”, “straight key”, or
computer keying interface operation via Menu item
“019 F CW KEYER” (see page 113). There is anoth-
er jack with the same name on the rear panel, and it
may be congured independently for Internal Keyer
or pseudo-straight-key operation.
note:
You cannot use a 2-contact plug in this jack (to do so
produces a constant “key down” condition).
front panel controls & switches

Page 17
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
front panel controls & switches
PHONES Jack
A 1/4-inch, 3-contact jack accepts either monaural or
stereo headphones with 2- or 3-contact plugs. When
a plug is inserted, the loudspeaker is disabled.
note:
When wearing headphones, we recommend that you
turn the AF Gain levels down to their lowest settings
before turning power on, to minimize the impact on
your hearing caused by audio “pops” during switch-
on.
MIC Jack
This 8-pin jack accepts input from a microphone uti-
lizing a traditional YAESU HF transceiver pinout.
[ANT]Switch
Pressing this switch selects the ANT 1 or the ANT
2 connector on the rear panel, and allows convenient
antenna switching at the press of a button. The se-
lected antenna jack is indicated on the Key Function
Display shown in the TFT Display.
Advice:
The ANT2 jack may be enabled to use as a receive
only antenna, using the Menu item “033 ANT2 SET-
TING”. See page 114.
[IPO](
intercept point optiMizAtion
)Switch
This button may be used to set the optimum front
end characteristics of the receiver circuit for a very
strong signal environment. Available selections are
AMP 1 (low distortion amplifier), AMP 2 (2-stage
low-distortion RF amplifier), or IPO (bypasses the
front end RF amplifier). The selected receiver RF
amplifier appears in the IPO column of the Key
Function Display on the display.
[ATT]Switch
This button selects the degree of attenuation, if any,
to be applied to the receiver input.
Available selections are –6 dB, –12 dB, –18 dB, or
OFF. The attenuation level appears in the ATT col-
umn of the Key Function Display on the display.
Advice:
The Attenuator may be used in conjunction with the
[IPO]button to provide additional signal reduction
when an extremely strong signal is being received.
[R.FLT](
rooFing Filter
)Switch
This button selects the bandwidth of the receiver rst
IF Roong Filter. Available selections are 3 kHz, 6
kHz, 15 kHz, or Auto.
The selected bandwidth appears in the R.FLT column
of the Key Function Display on the TFT display.
Advice:
 The “AUTO” selection mode selects the optimum
bandwidth of the Roong lter for the reception
mode. In this case, the selected bandwidth in
the R.FLT column of the Key Function Display
glows green (The unselected choices glow Blue).
 Because the roofing filter is in the first IF, the
protection it provides against interference is quite
significant. When set to AUTO, the SSB band-
width is 6 kHz, CW, RTTY and DATA, the band-
width is 3 kHz, while AM and FM is 15 kHz.
[NB]Switch
This button turns the IF Noise Blanker on and off.
Press this button momentarily to reduce short-dura-
tion pulse noise.
Available selections are ON, OFF, or NBW ON. The
attenuation level appears in the NB column of the
Key Function Display on the display.
[AGC]Switch
This button selects the AGC characteristics for the
receiver. Available selections are FAST, MID, SLOW
and OFF, or AUTO. The selected AGC characteris-
tic appears in the AGC column of the Key Function
Display on the TFT display.
Press the [AGC]button repeatedly to select the de-
sired receiver-recovery time constant. Press and hold
in the [AGC]button for one second to disable the
AGC (for testing or weak-signal reception).
Advice:
 The “AUTO” selection mode selects the charac-
teristic of the AGC for the reception mode. The
selected AGC characteristic will glow green in
the AGC column of the Key Function Display,
(unselected characteristics glow Blue).
 The Attenuator may be used in conjunction with
the [IPO]button to provide two stages of signal
reduction when an extremely strong signal is be-
ing received.
 If the AGC receiver-recovery time is set to “Off”
by pressing and holding in the [AGC] button, the
S-meter will no longer deect. Additionally, you
will likely encounter distortion on stronger sig-
nals, as the IF ampliers and the following stages
are probably being overloaded.
[MOX]Switch
Pressing this button engages the PTT (Push to Talk)
circuit to activate the transmitter (the icon in the
LED indicators area illuminates and the “MOX” icon
will appear in the TFT display). It must be turned off
(the icons will disappear) for reception. This button
replicates the action of the Push to Talk (PTT) switch
on the microphone. When engaging the [MOX]but-
ton, or otherwise causing a transmission to be start-
ed, be certain you have either an antenna or 50-Ohm
dummy load connected to the selected Antenna jack.

Page 18
FT DX 1200 OperaTing Manual
[MIC/SPEED]Knob
MIC
This knob adjusts the microphone input level for
(non-processed) SSB transmission.
The display will show the relative microphone gain
level for 3 seconds whenever this knob is turned.
Advice:
Adjust the [MIC/SPEED]knob while speaking in a
somewhat louder than normal voice level, watch the
ALC level and adjust the [MIC/SPEED]knob so
that the ALC level indication just reaches the right
edge of the ALC scale. Then, when you speak in
your normal voice level, you will not be over-driving
the microphone amplier stages.
SPEED
This knob adjusts the keying speed of the internal
CW keyer (4 ~ 60 WPM). Clockwise rotation in-
creases the sending speed.
The display will show the keying speed for 3 sec-
onds whenever this knob is turned.
[PROC/CAR]Knob
PROC
This knob adjusts the compression (input) level
of the transmitter RF speech processor in the SSB
mode.
CAR
This knob adjusts the RF Power (Carrier) output of
the transceiver. For the SSB mode, set the desired
maximum RF Power output via Menu item “177 TX
MAX POWER” (see page 64).
iMportAnt note:
The setting value of Menu item “177 TX MAX
POWER” is applied to all emission modes.
For example: When Menu item “177 TX MAX
POWER” is set to “50”, the maximum RF Power
output for all emission modes is “50”, even if the
[PROC/CAR]knob is set to the fully clockwise po-
sition.
Advice:
The RF Power output setting will be shown for 3
seconds in the right of the TFT display whenever the
outer [PROC/CAR] knob is turned, except when
Menu item “177 TX MAX POWER” is set to 5 watts.
In the SSB mode the [PROC]value will be shown
instead of the RF Power output.
front panel controls & switches