Zero to Hero: Yaesu FT5DR

The radio I used for this was the Yaesu FT5DR, but there may be enough similarities to allow you to use these instructions with many of the contemporary Yaesu Digital handhelds.

There are several parts that you must set up correctly for everything to work the way you want it to.

You may have heard the term CPS, “Code Plug Software.” Before discussing CPS, read what a code plug is. I own and use RT Systems, Inc. “YPS-FT5D Programming Software Only for the Yaesu FT-5DR radio.” This tutorial will use that software for the examples, but other products should be similar. Generally, Yaesu and the software for it do not use the term Code Plug, but you should know what it is. A single entry on your radio in Yaesu-speak is a “Channel.”

According to RT Systems: “The Programmer cannot make the radio do anything that it cannot do from the face of the unit. It makes it easier to set options for the existing functions.” This statement is accurate; however, managing solely from the radio will quickly become cumbersome.

I have borrowed some sections of this tutorial from the FT5DHelp Programmer Help PDF from RT Systems. See that document for more good information.

Hold your Horses (USB)

DO NOT PLUG THE USB CABLE INTO YOUR COMPUTER YET. You won’t thank me now, but you would undoubtedly cuss me later if I did not warn you.

Install USB Driver

This step is where people who did not heed my advice will have gone wrong. Some computers already have the proper drivers for the USB cable. It will not hurt to follow these instructions either way.

Many USB cables are more than just cables; they have circuitry to assist with interface tasks. The RT Systems cable is one such cable. Virtual COM port (VCP) drivers cause the radio attached to the USB cable to appear as an additional COM port available to the computer. The CPS can access the radio in the same way as it would access a standard COM port.

To use this cable under Windows or MacOS, please install the driver on their support page.

Other cables may work; I will not address them here. You should have received a genuine cable when you purchased the software.

Install the RT Systems Programming Software

Install the software as indicated by the supplier. If you need assistance with the software, please see RT Systems’ Support Pages. They also have a Knowledge Base as well as a selection of How To Videos.

Import Intial Program

It is always a good practice to import and save your existing setup from the radio before beginning with additions. This process allows you to return to a known state if you mess something up.

Open the application. Your last code plug may be visible if you have previously used the application. Start with what is in your radio now: Close the tab on your former code plug and select File > New for a blank slate.

From the menu, select Communications> Get data from radio. Next:

  1. Plug the RTSystems USB-68 or the Yaesu SCU-18/19 cable into the DATA jack on the side of the radio.

  2. Press and hold the [Fmenu] while turning the radio on.

  3. Verify the radio displays CLONE.

  4. Click the OK button.

  5. Press and release the SEND button to begin the transfer.

After a couple of minutes, the application will finish transferring the data. The software will tell you to turn off the radio and disconnect the cable. To prevent any timeouts, do that now.

We’ll now create your new code plug (or perform edits to your former one).

Create Hotspot Channel

If you are familiar with DMR or commercial radios, you know that the process is to:

  1. Create Radio ID

  2. Import Talkgroups

  3. Create Channels

  4. Create Zones

Observe that list, think, “That it’s a lot of work for one channel,” then put it out of your mind. Next, congratulate yourself for buying a Yaesu and not having to mess with that.

Your setup now looks like a spreadsheet. If you have programmed your radio previously, it may have many channels. A stock Yaesu will have a couple of generic channels.

Either insert a new channel where you want it or start on an empty channel. You will be adding:

  1. Receive Frequency

  2. Transmit Frequency

  3. Offset Frequency

  4. Offset Direction

  5. Operating Mode

  6. Name

First, enter your Receive Frequency. Remember that this is the Transmit Frequency shown by your hotspot. Be sure not to cross those up in your head. Hit Tab to go to “Transmit Frequency.” Notice that almost everything else has been pre-populated. There’s another point for Yaesu and RT Systems.

If your hotspot “Offset Direction” is “Plus” and is 5.00 MHz, which is somewhat standard, you can leave what’s in there now. If you went off on your own, change these columns accordingly.

Change the operating mode to “DN” for Digital Narrow. Uncheck the box in the AMS column; there’s no need to auto-negotiate the mode with your hotspot.

Finally, give your channel a name like “WPSD.” This name will display on your radio when in use.

Save Your Program

Select File > Save As from the menu and navigate to where you would like to save the file, give it a name you will remember, and “Save.”

Load Your Program (Send to Radio)

From the menu, select Communication > Send Data to Radio.

  1. Plug the RTSystems USB-68 or the Yaesu SCU-18/19 cable into the DATA jack on the side of the radio.

  2. Press and hold the [Fmenu] key while turning on the radio.

  3. Verify the radio displays CLONE.

  4. Press the [RECEIVE] key on the radio.

  5. Verify that the radio shows WAIT

  6. Click OK to start transferring the data.

After a couple of minutes, the software will finish transferring the data. The software will tell you to turn off the radio and disconnect the cable. Do that, and then turn your radio back on and select your hotspot channel. Try to avoid kerchunking; I know you were about to.

Connect to a Reflector

In your WPSD dashboard, under Yaesu System Fusion Configuration, under “Startup Host,” select YSF00001 - Parrot. Now, you can identify yourself; your voice should return to you in a few seconds.

Other Networks

Once you have verified your setup with a Parrot, browse the rest of the Reflectors and see what you find. One of the more common reflectors is YSF32453 - US-KCWide - AMERICA-KCW. If you are searching via the drop-down box, you’ll need to search by the “Description” column, so as you type “AMERICA_KC,” you should see it.

You may have noticed there are two places to change this. The first is in your Configuration page, under the Yaesu System Fusion Configuration under “Startup Host.” That becomes your default host. In your Dashboard, select “Admin” and “YSF Manager.” Here, you can unlink or link to a different reflector. Changing here is a temporary link. When your hotspot restarts (such as during evening maintenance,) it will go back to the default reflector.