FT-857D AGC Anoyance
- nay27uk
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FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Hello all.
OK.
On an FT-857D is there any way of getting the meter to actualy work without having to have the AGC turned on?
The radio is far much louder with the AGC turned off but when you turn it off you loose the meter reading (what a stupid idea Yaesu).
So before I try reading the big bible of a user manual I thought I would ask here first, on a FT-857D can we have a meter reading without the AGC turned on?
FAR, FAR To quiet with the AGC on.
OK.
On an FT-857D is there any way of getting the meter to actualy work without having to have the AGC turned on?
The radio is far much louder with the AGC turned off but when you turn it off you loose the meter reading (what a stupid idea Yaesu).
So before I try reading the big bible of a user manual I thought I would ask here first, on a FT-857D can we have a meter reading without the AGC turned on?
FAR, FAR To quiet with the AGC on.
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995
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- Admiral
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Yup, that's a quirk of the 857, best to set the AGC to 'AUTO' rather than 'ON'.
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- nay27uk
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
yeah its on Auto Admiral, It seems to make no difference in volume wether set to on or auto but I leave it at auto.
Just wish the meter worked with it off as there is at least a 50% increase in the volume of the Radio with it turned off.
Just wish the meter worked with it off as there is at least a 50% increase in the volume of the Radio with it turned off.
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- Tigersaw
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
You can get an external meter that plugs into the front panel - I bought the £11 ebay chinese one, bit crap to be honest.
You can turn the AGC off and then change the squelch control to a RF gain control and operate that way if you find AGC action not to your liking.
You can turn the AGC off and then change the squelch control to a RF gain control and operate that way if you find AGC action not to your liking.
- nay27uk
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Nice one Tigersaw do you have a link to that meter or would I just search eBay for FT-857D Meter
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- Tigersaw
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
its this one;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/External-S-Me ... 2510933224
not sure which vendor I bought it from.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/External-S-Me ... 2510933224
not sure which vendor I bought it from.
- nay27uk
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Yep I did see those erler on today.Tigersaw wrote:its this one;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/External-S-Me ... 2510933224
not sure which vendor I bought it from.
Thanks for confirming that for me.
I think at that price I will get one ordered.
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- RadioPixie
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
There won't be a volume difference between ON and AUTO, it's just a time constant - slow for voice modes, fast for cw, and the AUTO just sorts that out for you. Personally I wouldn't have the AGC OFF, can be distorted without using the RF Gain, and defeats the idea of having an AGC for more pleasurable listening.nay27uk wrote:yeah its on Auto Admiral, It seems to make no difference in volume wether set to on or auto but I leave it at auto.
Just wish the meter worked with it off as there is at least a 50% increase in the volume of the Radio with it turned off.
73 from Dave the Pixie - 26CT052 - 26TM552 - CB Radioaficionado
- nay27uk
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Thanks Pixie.
I am sort of getting use to it now and using the DSP and IPO stuff to, still very low volume but with headphones plugged in it is 100 times better and sounds like an old valve radio
I am sort of getting use to it now and using the DSP and IPO stuff to, still very low volume but with headphones plugged in it is 100 times better and sounds like an old valve radio
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995
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YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
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- andymuza
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
The S-Meter on most radios don't show a reading when the AGC is off. Most radios measure the voltage to the AGC so when it is turned off there is no voltage to measure. The AGC prevents strong signals swamping the radio and distorting the audio. With the AGC off you can control this using the RF Gain, as has already been mentioned.
Go into the AGC settings and select fast, see if that helps. Auto sets the AGC to fast on CW and slow on SSB.
You may find that setting the MTR PEAK HOLD when you have AGC set to fast will help you get a better reading of the received signal strength as it holds the display to the signals peak.
Go into the AGC settings and select fast, see if that helps. Auto sets the AGC to fast on CW and slow on SSB.
You may find that setting the MTR PEAK HOLD when you have AGC set to fast will help you get a better reading of the received signal strength as it holds the display to the signals peak.
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Your 5 and 9 bye bye
- andymuza
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Yeah, very constructive and helpful post.marvin wrote:Your 5 and 9 bye bye
I will not be commanded, I will not be controlled.
n+1 the formula for working out how many radios you need with n being the current amount.
n+1 the formula for working out how many radios you need with n being the current amount.
- RadioPixie
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
Have you considered plugging a speaker/amplifier into your 857 and boost the audio up that waynay27uk wrote:Thanks Pixie.
I am sort of getting use to it now and using the DSP and IPO stuff to, still very low volume but with headphones plugged in it is 100 times better and sounds like an old valve radio
73 from Dave the Pixie - 26CT052 - 26TM552 - CB Radioaficionado
- Tigersaw
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Re: FT-857D AGC Anoyance
I've used 857's for a few years. DSP is a waste of time, IPO mainly of use in broadcast band.
As for actual volume level, it should be reasonable but I use an external speaker most of the time.
As for actual volume level, it should be reasonable but I use an external speaker most of the time.