Yaesu FT2DR User manual

FT2DR
Instruction Manual
(APRS Edition)
144/430 MHz
DIGITAL/ANALOG TRANSCEIVER
C4FM/FM
Thank you for purchasing this Yaesu product.
This instruction manual explains information related to the “APRS Function”.
For information on basic operation of the transceiver, please refer to the supplied
FT2DR Operating Manual.
Company names and products in this manual are trademarks or registered
trademarks of the respective company.

1
Using the APRS®Function
Using the APRS®Function............................................................................................. 1
APRS® initial settings ........................................................................................................ 2
Initial setting process for APRS operations................................................................... 2
When operating APRS using the GPS function ............................................................ 3
When operating APRS without using the GPS function................................................ 4
Setting your own station call sign.................................................................................. 8
Setting the APRS baud rate.......................................................................................... 9
Setting the symbol of your own station ....................................................................... 11
Receiving APRS® beacons ............................................................................................. 15
Setting the APRS operating frequency ....................................................................... 15
Receiving beacons...................................................................................................... 15
Description of the APRS STATION LIST screen and operations ................................ 16
Notification of beacon or message arrival in a pop-up screen
APRS POPUP function ............................................................................................... 26
Screen when BND 2 s - BND 60 s is selected ........................................................ 28
Audio notification of a beacon or message received APRS RINGER function ........... 29
Displaying RAW packet data ...................................................................................... 30
Deleting a beacon station from the list........................................................................ 32
Transmitting APRS®beacons ......................................................................................... 33
Transmitting a beacon manually ................................................................................. 33
Switching between automatic and manual beacon transmission................................ 33
Setting the automatic beacon transmit interval........................................................... 34
Setting the SmartBeaconing™.................................................................................... 35
Registering status text ................................................................................................ 37
Selecting a position comment..................................................................................... 39
Setting the digipeater route......................................................................................... 40
APRS® message screen and operating instructions ....................................................... 43
Description of the APRS MESSAGE LIST screen and operations ............................. 43
Description of the APRS MESSAGE LIST detail screen and operations.................... 44
Message edit screen and description of operations.................................................... 45
Receiving messages................................................................................................... 46
Filter setting for messages received ........................................................................... 47
Deleting a message from the list................................................................................. 49
Transmitting APRS® messages....................................................................................... 50
Creating and sending messages ................................................................................ 50
APRS Set Mode List....................................................................................................... 57
APRS Set mode function list .......................................................................................... 61
Table of Contents

2
APRS®initial settings
APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a communication system to exchange
GPS location data and packet messages; it was developed and is supported by
Bob Bruninga (WB4APR). Position data may be entered manually in advance or
automatically from the built-in GPS satellite receiver.
When an APRS signal is received from a partner station, the direction, distance, speed
etc. of the partner station as seen from your own station will be shown on the display of
your transceiver.
Initial setting process for APRS operations
Enabling the GPS function
(P.3)
Disabling the GPS function
(P.4)
Setting the clock of this device
( FT2DR Operating Manual P.44)
Turning the GPS function OFF
(P.4)
Turning the GPS function ON
(P.3)
Setting the position of your own
station( P.5)
Setting your own station call sign
(P.8)
Setting the APRS baud rate and turning ON the APRS
function ( P.9)
Setting the symbol of your own station
(P.11)
Setting the frequency in Band B
(P.15)
Setting the APRS beacon transmission according to your
operation preferences ( P.33)

3
APRS®initial settings
When operating APRS using the GPS function
When the GPS function is activated, the internal clock setting and location coordinates
of your own station will be acquired from the GPS satellite signals automatically. We
recommend that the GPS function be used in mobile operations.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [20 GPS POWER] and touch it
on the display
4Turn the DIAL to select “GPS ON”
GPS ON: GPS function is usable.
GPS OFF: GPS function is not usable.
Reference Factory shipping value: GPS ON
5Press
To exit the set mode and return to the operating screen.
In order to use the GPS satellite data for your own position information, set [APRS] →
[24 MY POSITION] to “GPS”. If [24 MY POSITION], is set to “Manual”, the coordinates
registered in set menu “P1-P10” will be used by your transceiver for APRS operations,
and the acquired GPS data will become invalid.

4
APRS®initial settings
Tips
• The position GPS coordinates for your own station can be registered in 10 memories (P1 - P10).
The registered coordinates can be set as the position information of your own station ( P.75).
• When using the GPS function in APRS operations, be sure to set [APRS] → [24 MY POSITION] to
“GPS”.
• When using the GPS function, the current consumed will increase by about 30 mA. As a result, the
battery standby time is about 20% shorter compared to when the GPS function is switched OFF.
• If dual receive is used while operating the GPS unit, the weak signals may not be audible due to
noise from the GPS unit.
When operating APRS without using the GPS function
When operating APRS without using the GPS function, follow the procedure below to
manually set the clock and position information.
ySetting the clock
If the internal clock of this device is set, the time will be reflected in the time display of
the APRS screen. Please refer to “Setting Clock Time” ( FT2DR Operating Manual
P.44) on how to set the time.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [21 GPS TIME SET] and touch it
on the display

5
APRS®initial settings
4Turn the DIAL to select “MANUAL”
5Press
The GPS clock will be set to MANUAL and the set mode
will be cancelled.
Tips
• You cannot connect a PC to operate the I-GATE and digipeater.
• The unit of the APRS data can be changed using the [APRS] →
[11 APRS UNIT] setting.
ySetting the position information (datum: WGS-84)
Enter the position information of your own station manually.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [24 MY POSITION] and touch it
on the display
The screen for selecting the setting method of the
position information will be displayed

6
APRS®initial settings
4Turn the DIAL to select [Manual] and press the key
A screen to enter the position information of your own
station will be displayed.
Reference Factory shipping value: GPS
5Turn the DIAL to select “LAT” and press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the latitude.
6Turn the DIAL to select “N (North Latitude)” or “S (South
Latitude)” press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the “degree”.
7Turn the DIAL to select [Degree] and press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the “Minute”.

7
APRS®initial settings
8Turn the DIAL to select [Minute] and press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the “1/100th
Minute”.
9Turn the DIAL to select [1/100th Minute] and press the
key
The seconds will be displayed within parentheses.
10 Turn the DIAL to select “LON” and press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the longitude.
11 Turn the DIAL to select “E (East Longitude)” or “W (West
Longitude)” and press the key
The cursor will move to the item for setting the “Degree”.
12 Enter the “degree”, “minute” and “1/100th minute” in the
same way as Step 7-9.
13 Press the key
The position information will be set.
14 Press
To exit the set mode and return to the operating screen.

8
APRS®initial settings
Setting your own station call sign
Register your own station call sign in order to send and receive messages and to
transmit beacons in APRS. Enter the call sign like “JA1ZRL-7”. The “-7” in the call sign
indicates the SSID (Secondary Station Identifier) of which there are 16 types, including
one with no SSID. Generally, the SSIDs shown in the table below are used in APRS.
SSID Description SSID Description
NIL Fixed stations that can exchange
messages
-8 Marine mobile stations, land mobile
stations
-1 1200 bps narrow-to-middle band
digipeater
-9 Using the FTM-400 etc. for mobile
applications
-2 9600 bps digipeater -10 I-Gate station, Internet connection station
-3 1200 bps broadband digipeater -11 Balloons, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.
-4 Digipeater, mobile station, meteorological
station, etc.
-12 1-way tracker station (messages cannot
be exchanged)
-5 Operation station using mobile devices
(smartphones etc.)
-13 Meteorological station (weather station)
-6 Operation station for satellite
communications, events, etc.
-14 Tracking mobile stations
-7 Use of FT2D etc. in handy terminals -15 Digipeater, mobile station, meteorological
station, etc.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [23 CALLSIGN (APRS)] and
touch it on the display
The text input screen will be displayed.

9
APRS®initial settings
4Input the call sign in the alphabet and numeric input
screens
Refer to “Entering Letters” ( FT2DR Operating Manual
P.19) for instruction to enter the call sign.
Up to 6 digits can be entered for the call sign.
[If no SSID is set]
Proceed to Step 6 to set the SSID.
5Press
The call sign will be registered and the display returned to the operating screen.
[If a SSID is set]
6Touch [ ]
7Touch the SSID you want to set
We recommend that the SSID be set to “−7” in this
device.
8Press
The SSID will be registered and the display returned to
the operating screen.
Setting the APRS baud rate
This sets the APRS baud rate. If the baud rate is set to 1200 bps or 9600 bps, the APRS
function will be turned ON. If the baud rate is set to “OFF”, the APRS function will be
turned OFF.
If the baud rate is set to 1200 bps, APRS operations using AFSK 1200 bps packets will
be enabled.
If the baud rate is set to 9600 bps, APRS operations using GMSK 9600 bps packets will
be enabled.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.

10
APRS®initial settings
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [4 APRS MODEM] and touch it
on the display
4Turn the DIAL to set the APRS baud rate
The APRS baud rate can be selected from the following
three options.
“OFF”, “1200 bps”, “9600 bps”
Remark Factory shipping value: OFF
5Press
The baud rate sign will be set and the display returned to
the operating screen.
Caution
If the APRS is not going to be used, follow Step 4 above to set it to “OFF”.
Tips
• If the APRS baud rate is set to 1200 bps or 9600 bps, the receive and save function will stop
automatically.
• If [APRS] → [8 APRS MUTE] is set to “ON” in the set mode, the receive volume (beacon and voice
etc.) in Band [B] will be muted and indicator “A12” or “A96” will flash.

11
APRS®initial settings
Setting the symbol of your own station
This sets the transmit symbol of your own station. The symbol can be selected from
among 48 types.
The default setting when shipped from the factory is “ ”, “ ”, “ ”, “ ”.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]
3Turn the DIAL to select [25 MY SYMBOL] and touch it
on the display

12
APRS®initial settings
4Turn the DIAL to select the symbol
The following four symbol types can be selected as your
own symbol: “1”, “2”, “3” and “4”.
If “4” is selected, symbol characters can be input directly
when “25 MY SYMBOL (User)” appears. * See the
following page on how to enter the characters.
5Press the key
The cursor will move to the “Code” area of the table
below. You can turn the DIAL to change the symbol to a
frequently used one (selectable from the symbols shown
inside the box of P.11).
Remark The default value of each symbol is as follows.
MY SYMBOL Code Symbol
1 [ /[ ] Human
2 [ /b ] Bicycle
3 [ /> ] Car
4[ YY ] Yaesu Radio
6Press the key
The symbol of your own station will be set.
7Press
To exit the set mode and return to the operating screen.
yEntering a symbol character directly
You can enter a symbol character directly if the symbol that you want is not available.
1Press the key for one second or longer
The Set Mode Menu will appear.
2Touch [APRS]

13
APRS®initial settings
3Turn the DIAL to select [25 MY SYMBOL] and touch it
on the display
4Turn the DIAL to select “4”
5Press the key
The cursor will move to the “Code” area.
Reference If “25 MY SYMBOL (User)” does not appear after
pressing the key, turn the DIAL to select “25 MY
SYMBOL (User).
6Press the key again
The cursor will move to the Symbol Table ID (character
on the left side of the code).
7Turn the DIAL to select the Symbol Table ID

14
APRS®initial settings
8Press the key
The cursor will move to the Symbol Code (character on
the right side of “Code”).
9Turn the DIAL to select the Symbol Code
10 Press the key
The symbol will be set.
11 Press
To exit the set mode and return to the operating screen.
Reference Please refer to “http://aprs.org/symbols/symbolsX.txt” and “http://aprs.org/symbols.html”
for the latest symbol table.

15
Receiving APRS®beacons
This sets the operating frequency of the APRS before receiving a beacon.
Setting the APRS operating frequency
The customary APRS operating frequency differs depending on the region and country.
In the USA, the usual operating frequency is 144.39 MHz. Therefore, to begin APRS
operations set the Band B frequency to 144.39 MHz.
1Press the key
Switch the operating band to Band B.
The APRS will operate only in Band B. Check that A12 or A96 is displayed on the
right-hand side of the frequency ( P.9).
2Setting the operating frequency
Reference If the baud rate setting in [APRS] → [4 APRS MODEM] is set to 1200 bps or 9600 bps
in the set mode, the receive and save functions will stop automatically.
Receiving beacons
yDisplaying beacons in the APRS pop-up screen
A “ping pong ( ) ” audio alarm will sound when a beacon
is received on the Band B frequency, and the APRS pop-up
screen will be displayed.
The contents displayed in the “APRS POP-UP SCREEN”
and the “APRS STATION LIST DETAIL SCREEN” to be
explained next are basically the same.
yDisplaying beacons in the APRS STATION LIST detail screen
Touch [F MW] in the frequency display screen followed by
[S.LIST] to display the APRS STATION LIST screen.

16
Receiving APRS®beacons
Description of the APRS STATION LIST screen and operations
yDescription of the APRS STATION LIST screen and operations
⑧
⑦
①
②
③
④ ⑤ ⑥
①Number: Received beacons (up to a maximum of
60) will be displayed, starting with the most
recent one received.
②Character: The station list characters will be displayed.
Refer to the following page for details.
③Station name: The call sign or object name / item name of
the received beacon will be displayed.
④[TOP]: Touch this icon to move to the top of the list.
⑤[REPLY]: Touch this icon to display the “reply
message” text input screen.
⑥:
Touch this icon to display the function
expansion key screen. Touch this when
replying to a message or moving to the APRS
MESSAGE LIST screen and so on.
⑦Beacon auto / manual transmission icon:
Do not display (MANUAL), Display “ ”
(AUTO) ( P.33), Display “ ” (SMART)
(P.33)
⑧Time or date: Time (HH:MM) or date (MM/DD) will be
displayed. The time display will change the
date display on the following day.
• Scroll the screen…Turn the DIAL.
• Move to the APRS MESSAGE LIST screen ( P.43)…Touch followed by
[M.LIST].
• Replying messages ( P.53)…Touch [REPLY].
• Move the cursor to the top of the APRS STATION LIST…Touch [TOP].
• Delete a selected beacon station from the display ( P.32)…Touch followed
by [DEL].
• Move to the “APRS STATION LIST” detail screen ( P.18 - P.26)…Turn the DIAL
to select the beacon whose details you want to see and press the key.
• Set mode ( P.57)… Press the key for one second or longer.
•
Manual transmission of a beacon ( P.33)…Touch followed by [BEACON TX].
Tips
• When [APRS] → [3 APRS FILTER] is set to on, a received beacon matching the filter setting will be
captured and shown on the display. If “OFF” is selected, a “beep ( ) ” will sound and the beacon
will not be captured or shown.
• The receive audio (beacon or voice etc.) of Band [B] when APRS is operating may be muted by
setting [APRS] → [8 APRS MUTE] in the set mode.
• The reception of an APRS beacon is notified by a ringing sound set in [APRS] → [10 APRS RINGER]
in the set mode. If “OFF” is selected, no audio alarm will sound upon receiving a beacon.

17
Receiving APRS®beacons
yDescription of Station List Designators
Examples of 14 types of station list designators are described here. Refer to the description
page listed on the table for the detail screen.
Display Description Page
EMic-E: Displayed when a beacon of a microphone encoder station is
received 18
PPosition: Displayed when the beacon from a fixed station (FIXED) or a
mobile station (MOVING) is received 19-21
pPosition: Displayed when the beacon of a fixed station (FIXED) or a mobile
station (MOVING) is received (compression type) 22
WWeather report: Displayed when the beacon of a meteorological station is
received 23
wWeather report: Displayed when the beacon of a meteorological station is
received (compression type) 23
O Object: Displayed when the beacon of an object station is received 24
oObject: Displayed when the beacon of an object station is received
(compression type) 24
I Item: Displayed when the beacon of an item station is received 24
iItem: Displayed when the beacon of an item station is received (compression
type) 24
KKilled Object/Item: Displayed when a deleted object station or item station is
received 24
kKilled Object/Item: Displayed when a deleted object station or item station is
received (compression type) 24
S Status: Displayed when the beacon of a status station is received 25
? Other: Displayed when a beacon that cannot be interpreted is received 26
Emg Displayed when an emergency signal from a Mic-E station is received 18
Tips
• When the transceiver is turned ON, if the detail screen is displayed before the GPS satellites are
acquired, the position arrow and distance will not be displayed.
• If GPS satellite information is no longer available due to obstructions such as buildings, tunnels,
etc., the most recently acquired coordinates (position arrow, latitude / longitude, distance) will be
displayed. The accurate position information will be displayed again when you move to a position
that can be located.

18
Receiving APRS®beacons
yExplanation of the detail screen display in an Enc (Mic-E) APRS STATION LIST
and description of operations
Turn the DIAL in the APRS STATION LIST screen to select the “ ” station and press the
key to display the Enc (Mic-E) detailed screen.
Turn the DIAL to scroll the screen.
⑩
①
⑬
⑮
⑰
⑱
⑭
⑯
⑪
⑫
②
③
④ ⑤ ⑥
⑦ ⑧ ⑨
⑲
Turn the DIAL
①Character: The station list characters will be displayed.
②Compass (position):
The direction of the partner station as seen from your own
station will be displayed.
③Symbol: The symbol of the radio station will be displayed.
④Call sign: The received station call sign will be displayed.
⑤Type code: The type code used by the partner station will be displayed
(Mic-E, McE-Trk, McE-Msg and model name of the radio,
etc.)
⑥Distance: Distance to the received station will be displayed.
⑦[ ❘◄ ►❘]: Each time the icon is touched, the function of the DIAL
changes.
⑧[REPLY]: Touch this icon to display the reply message text input
screen.
⑨:Touch this icon to display the function expansion key
screen. Touch this when replying to a message or when
displaying RAW data etc.
⑩Message display:
When a beacon containing STATUS TEXT is received, the
“” mark is displayed.
⑪Date: The date the beacon was received (MM/DD) will be
displayed.
⑫Time: The time the beacon was received (HH:MM) will be
displayed.
⑬Speed: The moving speed of the partner station will be displayed.
⑭Direction: The direction of movement of the partner station will be
displayed.
⑮Altitude: The altitude of the partner station will be displayed.
⑯Position comment:
The position comments of the partner station will be displayed.
When an emergency message is received, the message (Emergency!) is displayed and a “pu... ( X12)”
sound will be repeated 12 times.
⑰Latitude: The N (north latitude) or S (south latitude) of the current position will be displayed (DDMM.MM or DDMMSS).
⑱Longitude: The E (east longitude) or W (west longitude) of the current position will be displayed (DDMM.MM or DDMMSS).
⑲STATUS TEXT:
The comments information will be displayed.
• Scroll the screen…Turn the DIAL.
• Switching beacon stations…Touch [ ❘◄ ►❘] and turn the DIAL.
•
Move to the APRS MESSAGE LIST screen ( P.43)…Touch followed by [M.LIST].
• Replying messages ( P.53)…Touch [REPLY].
• Move to the APRS STATION LIST screen ( P.16)…Press the key.
• Set mode ( P.57)…Press the key for a second or longer.
• Move to the RAW data display screen ( P.30)…Touch followed by [RAW].
•
Manual transmission of a beacon ( P.33)…Touch followed by [BEACON TX].

19
Receiving APRS®beacons
yExplanation of the detail screen display in a P (Position: Fixed station) APRS
STATION LIST and description of operations
Turn the DIAL in the APRS STATION LIST screen to select the “ ” station and press the
key to display the P (Position) detailed screen.
Turn the DIAL to scroll the screen.
⑩
①
⑬
⑭
⑪
⑫
②
③
④ ⑤ ⑥
⑦ ⑧ ⑨
⑮
Turn the DIAL
①Character: The station list characters will be displayed.
②Compass (position) :
The direction of the partner station as seen from your own
station will be displayed.
③Symbol: The symbol of the radio station will be displayed.
④Call sign: The reception call sign will be displayed.
⑤Partner station information:
The fixed station information (FIXED) will be displayed.
⑥Distance: Distance with the partner station will be displayed.
⑦[ ❘◄ ►❘]: Each time the icon is touched, the function of the DIAL
changes.
⑧[REPLY]: Touch this icon to display the reply message text input
screen.
⑨:Touch this icon to display the function expansion key
screen. Touch this when replying to a message or when
displaying RAW data etc.
⑩Message display:
When a beacon containing STATUS TEXT is received, the
“” mark is displayed.
⑪Date: The date the beacon was received (MM/DD) will be
displayed.
⑫Time: The time the beacon was received (HH:MM) will be
displayed.
⑬Latitude: The N (north latitude) or S (south latitude) of the current
position will be displayed (DDMM.MM or DDMMSS).
⑭Longitude: The E (east longitude) or W (west longitude) of the current
position will be displayed (DDMM.MM or DDMMSS).
⑮COMMENT TEXT:
The comment’s information will be displayed.
• Scroll the screen…Turn the DIAL.
• Switching beacon stations…Touch [ ❘◄ ►❘] and turn the DIAL.
• Move to the APRS MESSAGE LIST screen ( P.43)…Touch followed by
[M.LIST].
• Replying messages ( P.53)…Touch [REPLY].
• Move to the APRS STATION LIST screen ( P.16)…Press the key.
• Set mode ( P.57)…Press the key for a second or longer.
• Move to the RAW data display screen ( P.30)…Touch followed by [RAW].
• Manual transmission of a beacon ( P.33)…Touch followed by [BEACON
TX].