FT 991A / WSJT-X Setup 

Good luck!

Glad it helped

Glad I could help! 73 de Tom, ND3N

Very cool

Glad it was helpful!

Glad it helped

You’re welcome 😊

Thanks Todd - Getting comments like yours keeps me inspired to create more... I have a lot of other videos about the FT-991A that you might want to take a look at. I also have a few about WSJT-X - There's an FT4/FT8 contest this weekend that you might want to take part in. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JPGRmWXm5aY.html 73 de Tom, ND3N

Glad it helped

I’ve got an updated one coming out in a day or so. All the video work done and just work through the editing and post processing….

Thank you Martin. I really appreciate the nice comments and will do my best to keep up. I've been a bit under the weather the last few weeks and am just starting to feel better - so look for more to come. If you want, you can subscribe to my channel so you'll be notified when something new pops up. For now, I've put all my videos (good and bad) into a playlist here: ru-vid.com/group/PLA1sqCS7rel2gxLj81qel7Y7vWjVl3xFU 73 de Tom, ND3N

@@ND3N I do hope you start to feel better soon and make a full recovery. I’ve subscribed and hit the bell, you have a great channel and great information. Thank you.

Thanks Martin - It was just a really bad cold. Never had a fever, but sinus headaches, and body aches. Either I didn't sleep at all, or I slept all day. And keeping up with my real life job and other obligations - there just weren't any brain cells left to dedicate to doing a video - I am feeling much better and will be back to normal in no time.... 73

@@ND3N don’t go pushing yourself. Health should always come first. Im sure your subscribers and viewers understand that. Make a full recovery and I look forward to your next vid. Thank you.

Thanks - I just posted one - post production work was kinky - but still good info (IMO)

No worries!

Thanks Jody - Let me know if there are any problems that you find - or if everything works as advertised. It all checked out on my system, but want to be sure it is valid for more than just me.... 73 de Tom, ND3N

@@ND3N i was able to install it today and i ran into 2 issues, after installing the drivers from the yaesu website i did not restart the computer so when i went to the device manager it did not show the com ports, completely my fault but took me a while to figure that out. 2 after i finished all the settings for the radio and wsjtx when i tried to test the cat and ptt an error came up, it wasn't until i unplugged the usb and plugged it back in that it all started working, again my fault due to my in experience with computers. but again thank you for this video it enabled me to get my ft991 working

Glad you were able to finally make it work... I can usually be found working FT4 (mostly) and FT8 after 10PM most weekday nights. Would love to have you in my log. 73 de Tom, ND3N

Glad it helped

You're very welcome - I have a lot of other FT-991A videos that you may be interested in: ru-vid.com/group/PLA1sqCS7rel1e_ESBnLS9Z42HZuceAmSm 73 de Tom, ND3N

You're very welcome - I have a lot of other FT-991A videos that you may be interested in: ru-vid.com/group/PLA1sqCS7rel1e_ESBnLS9Z42HZuceAmSm 73 de Tom, ND3N

You absolutely can. For FT8, or any digital mode, you want a flat response. So make sure that on your functions screen, your MIC-EQ and PROC are turned off. Then turn them on with your preferred DSP settings for voice.

That is the correct input/output for the 991A internal sound card. Did you set your SSB input to "Rear" Menu item 070? Did you install and verify the USV Virtual Comm port drivers? Did you use the Enhanced driver for your CAT controls and the Standard driver for your PTT (radio tab of the settings) - select RTS for menu item 071. Lots of variables... feel free to give more specific info and I'll be better able to tell you what's happening. 73 de Tom, ND3N

@@ND3N - You answered my question - none of vids show the audio tab Soundcard in the setup with the FT-911A as the Input and Output, everyone shows the computer's usb input mic and output computer speakers... I am having no issues running FT8 - making loads on contacts...(So Apparently in the past I had renamed the USB CODECs to F991A)

Fantastic - I know that in my research I have seen someone rename their codecs - but I didn't include that in the video. Something to include in the future (and to do for my own rigs). 73 de Tom, ND3N

Good question - I'm putting the finishing touches on a video that discusses that further. It should be posted on Tuesday afternoon (6/31/22) Long Story short - make sure that when using FT8, that the MIC-EQ and PROC buttons in your functions are both turned off. Then you'll be using a "flat" profile across your bandwidth.

Glad you found the problem and was able to fix it. I guess that’s the ham radio version of unplug it and plug it back in…

Alan, you want your ALC to read near the top of the blue bar. Any less and you won't be getting your full audio out and any more you'll be clipping your audio signal. The 991A will rapidly clamp down on your audio past the blue line, so when you're adjusting it, bring it down to around 1/3rd of the bar and raise it until you get to the top. Set your input audio at mid-level and use the slider on the right side of WSJT-X to tweak, while watching your 991A ALC reading. You may need to adjust it between bands. All that said, if you're getting good reports with what you're doing, keep it up. I'm not familiar with the Elecraft - though I've used one during RTTY contesting as part of a multi-op station - someone else adjusted everything. Hope this helps, 73 de Tom, ND3N

@@ND3N Thanks, Tom. That is what I have been doing but just needed some confirmation. 73 Alan KZ6B

It shouldn't as the data for WSJT-X comes out of the back of the rig via the USB or RS-232 ports, while the voice is via the mic on the front. The mic is suppressed if the data ports are active, but if inactive, the mic is primary. Try testing it and see if I'm right... hi hi... 73 de Tom, ND3N

That could be happening inside your radio if you don't have a good match. The reflected power from a high SWR would cause excessive heat and your rig would throttle back to keep from burning up. Do you notice the fans come on? Of course, this is a first guess as I'm not sitting at your rig, so my troubleshooting will be limited. I'm sure that its not the WSJT-x S/W, but it could be something in the audio from the computer. 73 de Tom, ND3N

@@ND3N Makes sense. I does seem to change some band-to-band.

Make sure your ALC is set properly as well...

@@ND3N Since I asked this I obtained another radio, same antenna, etc., and this does not happen. Answer: Some radio protection feature in the IC-718.

Your serial port is the 9-pin D-sub port that is located next to where you plugged in your USB cable. It is labeled "GPS/CAT" You'll need a Serial to USB cable or adapter, then just plug it in while watching your settings in Device Manager. You'll see it pop up along with your other comm ports. Set your menu 028 to RS232C, 029 to 9600, and 030 to 100msec. Make sure that port is set to the same values in your Device Manager on your computer. You can then use the RS-232 port for CAT operations (along with your Comm Ports - in your case com 5 and com 6), and is useful if you are running multiple programs that require a CAT control signal. btw - I've added this idea as a new video to do more research and produce sometime in the next few weeks. So, let me know how it worked for you.

I believe you’re talking about the receive indicator bar. Use the RF gain control knob on your rig to turn it down. I try to keep mine in the 45 to 55 range.

It’s in an alternate menu. It’s been a while since I did that, but will check it out tomorrow when I get home from work and let you know. It might make a good video as well, so thanks for the idea

@@ND3N Thank you! And Yes it would make a awesome Video!

So, I was wrong. The answer isn’t in an alternate menu…. It was so much more simple than that. In the list with all the reports and the CQ message, simply edit the CQ message. So the normal CQ is “CQ CALL Grid square.” Edit it to say “CQ DX Call …” It will stay like that until you edit it back or shut down WSJT-x. Upon restart you’ll have to re edit…. To edit click on the screen just after CQ and type your modifier. You can enter a state, country call (DL for Germany, etc)…. Play with it and let me know what you think…

@@ND3N - Wow! Tom, The reason I wanted this is because, I need to make a contact with Alaska to get my "WAS" I have not seen anyone no in Alaska yet on FT8, So I will try CQ AK. Thank you! Tom K1CXS

@@ND3N Tom, I found where you are talking about, but I could not edit the message, I had CQ: none CQ:first and CQ: max dist. none of them would let me retype over them. -Tom

Do you have the latest drivers installed. Go to the FT-991A page on Yaesu.com and select the files tab, follow the instructions there for installing the drivers.

@ND3N I'll have to double check. Strangely enough, everything seems to be working anyway. I've already had a lot of success hearing other stations and being heard on WSPR.

@ND3N Yeah I have all the drivers, still greyed out. I guess as long as it works, I'll leave it.

Check the audio settings on your computer. It sounds like WSJTx is using your computer audio instead of the codecs.

@@ND3N it shows codec c in the audio section of WSJT-X. I can’t for the life of me understand how to change the pc settings. I’ve been trying for a week.

@@ND3N Same problem; I set up my FT-991A exactly as you described in your video. And I use the exact same FT8 settings. I can receive signals and decode them correctly. When I test the settings, the CAT button turns green. But when I attempt to transmit with the PTT button, the PC will key the radio, but no power is transmitted. I disabled the computer audio setting, so it is not possible for the rig to use any output except CODEC. I can appreciate that this is a problem that others have had with this radio, but I have yet to find a solution to this problem. I should note also that I can transmit using the Winlink program. So, I don't think it's a sound card problem, and it is not a USB cable problem as has been suggested by others. Has anyone else had this problem and is there a solution?

Keep chipping at it - it's probably a simple problem. If you have no ALC (hi hi to your alcohol...) you won't get any RF out. Does your rig indicate that it is transmitting? If not, you've got a keying problem - if yes, then make sure your codecs are selected in the setup>audio tab. and double-check your menu settings.

@@ND3N yes on alcohol I see nothing

My typing is bad lol🙏✌️⚓

GridTracker has the option to display the greyline, as does HRD Logger, and many others. (hint GridTracker is free). You can also go to (amongst others) dx.qsl.net/propagation/greyline.html. Just do a search for "GreyLine Map" and you'll get many web-resources I keep a white board above my computer with my video ideas, and greyline is on there. Just haven't taken it past the idea stage yet. 73 de Tom, ND3N

I’m traveling right now, but will try to give you a better answer yonight

@@ND3N Is wanna try Skype or some other video chat thing that I see you and you see me. Chat later will send you what changes to the radio 991a

Did you get this figured out?

@@ND3N yes but thr tes and green for For your position and frequently I can't keep them blind up they got a whole mind of their own and it took me almost 4 hours to make one contact yesterday. Obviously I don't have something right so I don't know thanks

The messages are (for the most part) pre-programmed. You can change these messages, but that's another video (hi hi) 73 de Tom, ND3N

Yes would like to see that as well :)

Good tip. Thanks

Thanks for the additional info - I tried setting up with Data-USB, following several YT videos and research in the owner's manual. Was able to get everything working except when I went into the WSJT-x settings I got good test results for CAT and PTT, but no sound was coming out. So, I did the video as I did and as you noted, my 991A worked with WSJT-x. Will play some more (I have a few thoughts but ran out of time to play) and see if I can get it working to spec... then put out an updated video. 73 de Tom, ND3N

Jorge... You can use either. However, you can optimize your DSPs for SSB and Data-SSB modes individually. That video was made a few months ago, and I've now grown a bit in my knowledge and recommend Data SSB for Data modes. 73 de Tom, ND3N

My pleasure!

Yes - I believe the UID for LotW is already there. I automatically upload all my FT8/FT4 contacts there. 73 de Tom, ND3N