Strange FT-857D Problem.

[nay27uk]

Does anyone that has an 857D know about a problem I have and how to fix it.

As you know on the FT-857D the IPO (Pre Amp) works backwards I.E when it is OFF it's actualy ON, turning it ON from the quick menu turns it OFF and you get the little "I" icon displayed on the screen and a little ">" icon next to the word IPO this tells you the IPO is OFF.

Now the IPO turns ON and OFF fine from LW through all of HF up to 50mHz then from the FM broadcast band up it will not turn OFF and I believe this is normal for the radio (or is it).

Ok from FM broadcast up to 70cm it cant be turned OFF and this is where my problem is.

On 70cm I have on the screen the little "I" icon that is telling me that the IPO is OFF but on the quick menu IPO button there is no ">" icon, pressing the button will not get rid of the "I" icon on 70cm.

Anyone know why the "I" icon is stuck on the screen on 70cm and how to turn the IPO back to pre amp mode? it is almost like the IPO is stuck to OFF on 70cm.

Thanks for any help and pointers 2E0LIG

[Tigersaw]

Just looked at mine, can confirm the IPO can be activated on any HF band inc 6m, but not on any band above.
Have you tried the factory reset?

[nay27uk]

Thanks tigersaw.
Not yet mate need to fire the radio PC up first and back up all my memories first, will do that in a bit

[nay27uk]

Sorted now.

What I had to do was.

Download the radio into chirp.
At the top of chirp select special channels.
Find any that are in the 440Mhz range.
Click them to highlight them.
At the top of chirp click on Properties.
In the Properties box click on OTHER.
Un tick the box that says IPO ON.
Do the same for any normal memory you have stored for VHF/UHF.
Save the file on your computer.
Factory reset the radio.
Upload the file back to the radio.

[Tigersaw]

Well done. Not sure how you got the issue in the first place, but good there is a solution

[nay27uk]

Yeah was a strange one defo probably a firmware bug but have never seen a firmware update on the yeasu site so can't update it

[FakeJake]

these radios predate anything like user firmware updates.

Just like they predate usb connectivity.

Glad you got it sorted. I think I replied to this on Reddit

[nay27uk]

Glad you got it sorted. I think I replied to this on Reddit

Uhhh I never posted it on reddit I don't use reddit can you explain

[FakeJake]

You're right. Maybe it was Facebook. Either way, this wasn't the only place you posted about your radio!

[SP5CMW]

Got the same problem today. It looks to be realated to CAT , at least in my case

How to "create problem":
- Set 857D to HF/6m band using 857 band selector (up/dwn buttons)
- set IPO, preamp is disabled, "I" icon appeared
- change the frequency to 2m band using CAT. In my case change to 144.174 by WSJTX --> Ham Radio Deluxe --> 857D - Frequency changed, icon still visible, noise level and nearby beacon signal untouched, it's only matter of the display
- you can change to 70cm using CAT, "I" icon still visible

Hot to fix:
- Set the HF/6m band again using keys on transceiver, disable IPO
- Set 2m or 70cm frequency with CAT, there is no icon. From now you can change band with buttons and everything is ok

The same way we can accidentally switch IPO when changing HF bands with CAT and the effect will be real, beware the IPO mess on HF with CAT

Apparently changing the bands with DWN/UP buttons involving more logic than frequency change with CAT interface.
Simple example:
- Set HF or 6m with buttons
- Change frequency to 2m with CAT
- Press HOME button - surprise, you are still on HF (FT857D has separate HOME memories for HF, 6m, 2m and 70cm)

73 SP5CMW