YAESU - FT-8800R 144/430 MHz Dual Band FM Transceiver If you're ready for the best in a Dual-Band FM Mobile Transceiver, the FT-8800R is ready for you! With easy operation, outstanding receiver performance, and crossband repeat capability, the FT-8800R is the new standard of comparison! MY COMMENTS AND ADDITIONS ARE IN RED  Wide Frequency Coverage The FT-8800R provides extended receiver coverage beyond the Amateur bands, so you can keep informed of communication activities in the public safety, commercial, aircraft, and government communications ranges.  Independent Two-Channel Operation The FT-8800R operates as two radios in one, with either 144 MHz or 430 MHz as the “Main” TX/RX band, while simultaneously monitoring the other band. Each band has its own Volume and Squelch controls. And, if you like, you can configure your FT-8800R for VHF-VHF or UHF-UHF operation, too! WORKS GREAT FOR SATELLITES WHERE YOU RECEIVE ON ONE BAND AND TRANSMIT ON THE OTHER  High Power Output To get your message through when it counts, the FT-8800R puts out a full 50 Watts of power on the 144 MHz band, and 35 Watts on 430 MHz. A thermal sensor monitors heat sink temperature, engaging the rear panel’s cooling fan only when needed.  Over 1000 Memory Channels The FT-8800R provides a wide variety of memory resources, including 512 "regular" memories on each band, five "Home" channels for favorite frequencies, ten sets of band-edge memories on each band, and six "Hyper Memories" that store complete sets of transceiver operating status configuration. Frequency Range: RX: 108.000 - 520.000 MHz, 700.000 - 999.995 MHz (Cellular Blocked) TX: 144.000 - 146.000 MHz (or 144.000 - 148.000 MHz), 430.000 - 440.000 MHz (or 430.00 - 450.000 MHz) EVEN LISTEN TO WIRELESS MICROPHONES AND THE FAMILY RADIO SERVICE, BUSINESS BAND, ETC.  Large, Easy-to-Read Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Affording easy viewing from a wide range of viewing angles, the LCD of the FT-8800R features Yaesu’s renowned Omni-Glow™ display illumination, with four illumination levels available for different environments. You’ll marvel at the crystal-clear frequency display and status indicators, whether you’re operating night or day!  Cross-Band Repeat Capability For emergency work, or to extend the range of a hand-held unit, the FT-8800R includes Cross-Band Repeat capability, similar to that pioneered on our popular FT-8100R Dual Band FM Mobile! The FT-8800R can be set up to operate as a full-featured cross-band repeater via a simple Menu procedure. This feature is useful for emergency portable work in a remote area, and for cross-band linking. However, remember these points before using the cross-band repeater function: Check the amateur radio rules and regulations for your country to ensure that this type of operation is permitted. Pick your frequency pair carefully, so as not to cause harmful interference to other users. The use of cross-band repeaters has the potential to cause serious disruption of communications circuits, and the creation of harmful interference to coordinated repeaters is inconsiderate and may be illegal! If you are not sure of active repeater frequencies in your area, a safe rule is to stay off of the repeater sub-bands and use the FM simplex portion of each band. Contact your area’s frequency coordinator for guidance. Remember that the transmit duty cycle will be much higher during repeater service, so we recommend that the transmit power level be set to a Low setting, to ensure cooler operation. Transceiver CTCSS settings (Encode/Decode) may, of course, be selected for each band, allowing selective calling for your repeater. However, keep in mind that if the channels you use are so busy as to motivate you toward CTCSS Decoding, you may not have chosen a good frequency pair on which to operate, as the potential for interference to other users is high. Here is the procedure for setting up cross-band repeat operation: 1. Before enabling cross-band repeater operation, configure both band settings as desired, and set the squelch such that background noise is silenced. 2. Press the [SET] key momentarily to enter the Set mode. 3. Rotate the “Main” band DIAL knob to select Menu #45 (X-RPT). 4. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob momentarily, “XSTART” will appear on the display. 5. Press the “Main” band DIAL knob again to activate the cross-band repeater mode. 6. To exit the cross-band repeater mode, Press the [SET] key again. THIS FEATURES IS GREAT IN EXPANDING THE WORKING DISTANCE FOR YOUR HT TO YOUR CAR WHERE YOU HAVE A BETTER ANTENNA AND MORE POWER REACH MORE DISTANT STATIONS.  One-Touch Band-Pattern To save valuable time while operating a transceiver with the capability of the FT-8800R, the “Hyper Memory” feature allows you to store a complete set of configuration data for the two bands on which you’re operating. Besides the usual storage of frequency and tone data, Hyper Memory will store such setup parameters as Automatic Repeater Shift status, Packet parameters, Scanning mode, and VFO tracking configuration.  50-Tone CTCSS/104-Tone DCS (Digital Code Squelch) Tone Systems Providing excellent performance even under difficult link conditions, Yaesu’s 50-tone sub-audible CTCSS and 104-tone DCS signaling systems ensure that you have full access to repeater and remote-base inputs, and the built-in CTCSS/DCS decoders allow silent listening on busy channels. Plus you get Tone Search Scanning, which will scan for the tone being received on an incoming signal, allowing you to match tones quickly when operating on a new repeater system.  User-Programmable Microphone Keys Four programmable keys on the microphone allow you one-touch access to your favorite command functions. The commands available from the microphone replicate the corresponding front panel key functions, and include Band Change, VFO/Memory switching, Home Channel access, 1 MHz frequency steps, Power Output selection, Repeater Reverse, and CTCSS/DCS setup. Customize your microphone for your personal operating style! 1 PTT Switch Press this switch to transmit, and release it to receive. 2 Keypad These 16 keys generate DTMF tones during transmission. In the receive mode, these 16 keys can be used for direct frequency entry and/or direct numeric recall of the Memory channels. 3 [P1]/[P2]/[P3]/[P4] Buttons [P1] button: Press this button to switch the “Main” band between the “Left” and “Right” displays on the LCD screen. This is the best and easiest way to set the “Main” band to the side you prefer. Pressing and holding in this button for 1/2 second moves operation to the next-highest frequency band on the “Main” band. [P2] button: Press this button momentarily to switch the frequency control for the “Main” band between the VFO and Memory Systems. When the “Main” band is set to the VFO mode, press and hold in this button for 1/2 second to activate the Smart Search Feature. When the “Main” band is set to the Memory mode, press and hold in this button for 1/2 second to activates the “Memory Bank” feature. [P3] button: Pressing this button repeatedly allows selection of the CTCSS or DCS mode on the “Main” band. The selections available are: ENC ENC.DEC (Tone Squelch) DCS OFF ENC ...... [P4] button: Press this button momentarily to select the transmitter power output level on the “Main” band (“LOW,” “MID2,” “MID1,” or “HIGH”). When the “Main” band is set to the Memory mode or Home Channel, press and hold in this key for 1/2 second to switch the memory channel display between the “Frequency” format and “Alpha-numeric Tag” format. You can reprogram the [P1], [P2], [P3], and [P4] buttons for other functions, if desired. See page 53 for details. 4 LAMP Switch This switch illuminates the Microphone keypad. 5 LOCK Switch. This switch locks out the Microphone buttons (except for the keypad and PTT switch). 6 [UP]/[DWN] Button Press (or hold in) either of these buttons to tune (or scan up or down) the operating frequency or through the memory channels on the “Main” band. In many ways, these buttons emulate the function of the (rotary) “Main” band DIAL knob. THIS IS MY FAVORITE FEATURE OF THE RADIO IN THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR RADIO FROM YOUR FINGER TIPS. KEYS REMEMBER ARE CUSTOM PROGRAMMABLE ALSO.  Convenient Remote-Head Mounting Capability With the FT-8800R and its optional YSK-8900 Separation Kit, mounting your radio is a breeze even in the tightest locations. The YSK-8900 includes a 20-foot (6 m) remote cable and mounting bracket for the front panel.