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By Richard G. Johnson, AE3C
26 August 2003
. . . Theory
The FT-817 can be programmed for different countries, personalities, and characteristics by writing logical values
to the rig's EEPROM ("electrically erasable programmable read-only memory"). When the rig is treated
to a master reset, the rig reads the logical values set by the hardware jumpers, or "solder blobs." On
master reset, the rig writes these values to an "address" on the EEPROM, namely 0x04 & 0x05. The
Softjump software "modification" sets the same bits that the solder blobs would set, by writing to the
same address on the EEPROM, but without the master reset. Since the values set by Softjump are the same as those
which would be read by the solder blobs, the Softjump modification results in the same modification to the rig
that the solder blob mod produces. After a Softjump manipulation has been applied, it will take effect upon the
next power-up, and a subsequent master reset will overwrite the Softjump settings, returning the rig to the solder-blob
settings.
. . . DOS Program
The Softjump (DOS) program requires a CAT cable, a computer, and can be found at:
< http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FT817/files/softjump.zip >
. . . Settings
Set CAT to 38400 (Menu 14)
Run " ft.exe " from a DOS window to read (make a note of it) the current value
Turn ARS off (see below)
Run " ft F8 BF " to write to the EEPROM
Please use < F8 BF >
< 00 00 > also opens the radio but results in the loss of VHF-Low (6-meters)
. . . ARS
Repeater offsets (Automatic Repeater Shift) are country specific, so setting the FT-817 as "a rig without
a country" removes the offset function. I found that the rig began to use a 100 KHz negative offset on every
frequency until I turned the 144 ARS on (Menu #1) and the 430 ARS on (Menu #2) with the ARS set to 0.00MHz (Menu
#42). I then entered the specific repeater offsets as custom values in memory channels.
. . . Author
Peter, VK2IT (previously VK2JCG). The difference between VK2IT and VK2JCG is VK2JCG was Peter's call a couple of
weeks ago when he was only 5WPM CW, but now he has passed 10WPM and has upgraded to a full license and callsign
VK2IT.
. . . Actualization History
26 August 2003: Read current data from EEPROM gives: < CE BF >
" ft F8 BF " successful
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