How To Set Up Digital Modes Operation (Including FT8 / WSJT-X) For Yaesu FT-818/817 Using Digirig Interface
I have ever so slowly been moving away from exclusively phone to other non-verbal modes on Summits-On-The-Air activations. My last peak, a short little walk up Joe English Hill, I brought the digimodes-only Venus DR-4020 transceiver with a 3 ah LiFePO Bioenno battery, and the once extraordinarily cheap (as in $60!) Evolve III Maestro PC laptop to work FT8. That little transceiver with its audio in and out TRS cables for PTT operation of WSJT-X is a fun little creation. BUT!!!! What about when I wanted to switch to cw or ssb? I am out of luck with such a specialized device.
Taking an inventory of my transceivers, my smallest all-band, all-mode rig is the Yaesu FT-818nd. That is the back side of it on the first picture of this post. The 818, much like its big brothers the FT857D and the FT-891, does not have a built in sound card. The 891 differs from the 818 and 857 in that it does have a built in USB port for direct CAT control between the radio and the computer.
I have a Tigertronics Signalink USB Interface that I use to connect both the 857 and the 891 to a PC for digimode operation. It works well enough, but it is a rather large device especially in comparison to the size of the 818. The new Digirig Mobile, a “digital modes interface for amateur radio combining audio codec, serial CAT interface and PTT control”, looked like it might fit the bill as a small portable device for the 818.
I purchased the Digirig Mobile unit with the “Logics Level Default” configuration for CAT control. This is the recommended one for the 818. I also purchased from Digirig a set of custom cables and a USB isolator dongle that would electrically separate the transceiver from the computer. You all should know by now that I am not sponsored by anyone and that I buy all of my own equipment. I just talk about what I want to on this blog…it is not monetized in any way.
The custom cables for the 818 are actually rather bulky though they seem well built. I may build or buy a different, smaller set. It sort of defeats the purpose of such a little device. I did not have to install any drivers for the digirig, perhaps because it utilizes the same driver as the 818. Regardless, here is where you can find more information on installing a driver if need be: https://digirig.net/wp-content/uploads/DigiRig_USBDriverInstall.pdf.
The mistake I did make setting it up though was I installed the cables opposite to what they should be. So: the “DATA” port of the 818 connects to the “AUDIO” jack of the Digirig. And the “ACC” of the 818 connects to the “SERIAL” jack of the Digirig. Trust me, if you put these in backwards, they will not work!!
The other end of the Digirig contains a USB-C port. Simply connect this to a USB-A port of the USB isolation dongle which should be connected to your PC .
Now check the settings on the 818. My complete list is shown below, but the most important ones for this are: #03, #14, #24, #25, #26, #27, and #39. And you operate on “DIG” mode, which will now be USB once you input “USER-U” for menu setting #26.
Time to fire up WSJT-X! I had some trouble making it work correctly with Flrig, so instead I just configured it directly with WSJT-X, although I no longer prefer to run digimodes like this.
Regardless, you can see the settings I used that made this work below.
Of course, you probably by now know to check your Device Manager on your PC so you can see which port the Digirig is using. It will be listed under “Ports” and is the “USB to UART Bridge Controller” (see screen shot below to see where this is located on the PC).
Once done, click the “Test CAT” button on WSJT-X (shown above); eventually it should turn green. Next press “Test PTT” and your transceiver should show itself transmitting. Press “Test PTT” again to stop it.
Finally, if you are connected to the internet, pop up your “Date and Time” settings on your PC. Synchronize your clock by hitting the button shown below. This is VERY important, and inaccurate time is a common failure of making FT8 contacts.
Get on the air and play radio! The Yaesu FT-818nd is now ready to make FT8 contacts.
Even running 6 watts through a very compromised antenna situation in the heart of South Boston, I was able to quickly make some 40M contacts.
Get on the air and have fun!
KM1NDY