Available Software
for the PC - Updated 20 June 2003
Many people ask what software is available to interface with the FT-847. Now
that the rig has been out for nearly six years, there are some products that
support the FT-847. The FT-847 appears unique in its codes for communicating
between the rig and a PC, so you will not be able to pick another, similar,
Yaesu radio in software that doesn't list the FT-847. The listing below only
identifies the few software offerings that I am familiar with and people are
invited to email me with additional
software that works with the FT-847. Please indicate whether you have used it
and know it to be compatible.
I have grouped the software below into seven categories. Some software is listed in more than one category if it supports multiple functions.
Logging with Support for FT-847: Log-EQF, Logger, XMLog, TR-Log, CT-Log, TRX-Manager, FT-847 Supercontrol, Logic 5, Shacklog, DX4Win, Prolog2K, LogWindows
Satellite Tracking Software (controls the rig & possibly your antenna): Station, Kansas City Tracker, FT847-SuperControl, RATS FT-847, LogWindows, SatPC32
CAT Control Software: RATS FT-847, FT847-Supercontrol, TRX-Manager, SuperCAT, FTBasic, LogWindows
Other: Edit, Transpon(der)
Cloning (saves & restores your FT-847 memories): Edit, FT847-Supercontrol, SuperCAT, FTBasic
Interfacing to LDG antenna tuners & OTT-847 interface: FT847-SuperControl
(REAL) TCP-IP remote control: FT847-SuperControl
Update: Nov 99. Eddy has added the capability now to manipulate the memory channels. You can insert a blank channel and push the rest down in the list (losing #78), or you can delete a channel and you have a choice of moving those following up or moving those preceding down a notch. Also, the program returns a byte value that represents the "country identity" of the radio. In order to exchange configuration files, both radios must have the same "country identity" byte.
Getting this software running is a little challenging, so I'll describe how to do it. The following instructions
assume you know how to work with files using Windows Explorer.
1. Get the VB6 runtime software from ZDNet and install it on your machine.
2. Download EDIT.ZIP and put it in a directory of your choice.
3. Unzip the files into the directory. You will see a CAB file and a couple of others. Do not press the Setup.exe
unless you know your PC supports running Setup with CAB files. (Mine did with FT-847 Supercontrol, a similar packaging,
but would not work right with Edit.)
4. Try double-clicking on the CAB file. If your Zip program supports unzipping CAB files, unzip the files into
your Edit directory and go to Step 7. Otherwise, go to Step 5.
5. You need to enable CAB file manipulations. On Windows 95, this can be done by using a Microsoft free product
called Power Toys. Get it and unzip it in a directory of your choice. Find CAB.INF in the list and right click
on it and choose Install. Now you have the capability of extracting individual CAB files.
6. Now, back in your Edit directory, double click on Edit.CAB. On the Edit menu choice, choose Select All, and
all the CAB files will be highlighted. Now right click on one of them and pick Install (it's the only choice).
This will extract all the files in the CAB file into your Edit directory.
7. That's it. Highlight EDIT.EXE and double click it to run the program. Do not run the Setup.exe program.
8. Make a shortcut to wherever you want on your desktop/start menu.
30Jan00 Update: The program now supports any communication speed over the CAT cable, and any serial port you could have on your machine. It also has a nice "spectrum scope" that allows you to scan a portion of the spectrum under a variety of settings and then you can use a pointer to tune to activity that shows up there. The Memory Manager is functional but still has some improvements to be made to it.
Update 26Feb01: Kingsmith Software continues to work on the program. The latest version is 1.3.1. The accuracy of the visual interface compared with the FT-847 is still remarkable.
Update 15Jul01: This program continues to add features, and the latest
version is 2.1.0. The program now supports an interface to Nova for Windows
for proper rig control when using that software (Nova, an outstanding satellite
tracking program, does not directly support any rig control), a major step forward.
RATS also has an interface with Hamscope for digital soundcard operations. It
also supports WinTrak pro for satellite tracking and Doppler corrections. The
program also features a spectrum scope for tracking band activity as well as
a 1000 channel (per file, that is!) memory manager. This program is a virtually
perfect replication of the Yaesu front panel (visually and operationally) that
you can have, given the CAT limitations of the FT-847.
FT847-SuperControl - Updated 18May2003
This software, by Peter DH1NGP, is now in final release 2.3 version. It is
a CAT control program developed specifically for the FT-847. Due to the "spy
and try" idea, every version of FT847-SuperControl can be downloaded as
limited 30 day trial version on www.supercontrol.de
where you can also find the version-log for the past few years. The actual version
provides the following functions:
Full transceiver control via buttons in the software. Frequency and mode will
be polled automatically from the transceiver. So a normal tuning on the transceiver
itself will be detected and shown in the software vfo's.
Full duplex (two-way) crossband repeater with semi repeater-offset. The FT-847 transceiver itself is only able to do one-way crossbanding.
Open memory database with an unlimited amount of possible memories in an overall view. The memory banks of all amateur radio bands are visible and useable with ease at the same time. Several additional memory banks are available. Also memory banks with the possibility to save offset, DCS, DEC, ENC and Easycomm-data are available. The easycomm-data can be sent to another serial port to drive easycomm-compatible hardware like rotors and much more.
Scanning of single memory banks, there is no need to scan all memory banks at the same time. Your FT-847 transceiver has only 100 internal memories, which must be scanned all at once. If you've saved frequencies out of different bands and if you want to scan these memories, you 'll hear a rapid clicking of relais-type-devices in the transceiver. It is not proved, but we're sure, that continuous long time period scanning, will shorten the life of these relais type devices.
Clone data memory-management for the internal memories of the FT-847® transceiver. FT847-SuperControl® is able to read, edit, archive and send back clone files to the transceiver. It's easy to set up different clone files and copy them on your harddrive. If you want to use special setup's in the transceiver, simply send the wanted clone file to the rig. Clone files can be edited with the help of existing FT847-SuperControl® memory banks of course.
Original like copy of the meter bars (s-meter, power-meter, discriminator-meter, etc.).
Support of up to eight different serial ports. These ports are to be used when converting an USB-port to a serial-port as many of the converting software's will take COM5 for the first converted USB to serial port.
Logbook - function
Skedbook - function
Wave recording of qso's or other important signals. FT847-SuperControl® has the possibility to record signals either when the squelch has been opened or on other choosable events. For this feature, a standard sound-card in the computer is necessary. The recorded data will be saved automatically to a special drawer and can be replayed at any time
Internet based telnet dx-cluster logger shows the latest dx-spots in the vfo-display of the software
ARS - detection after modification of the transceiver. It's also possible to set up different offsets in the same band.
Spectrum scope of AF (Audio frequency).
Full featured vfo scanner with software based quick memory bank - function (QMB). It's possible to set up different scan ranges.
Voice announcements of frequency, mode and other important functions.
Configurable homechannels for each amateur radio band
Calculated target frequency’s on two additional VFO-display’s for use with transverter-devices. The software is capable to administrate up to four transverter-devices (for each antenna-jack).
DDE-interface (Dynamic Data Exchange) to satellite-tracking programs (NOVA®, Satscape etc.) for Doppler-correction in satellite mode. The Doppler-corrected frequency will be send to the transceiver, so no manual tuning is needed anymore, when working satellites. RX- and TX-VFO will be continuously updated with doppler-corrected data. Of course, possible calculated transverter frequencies will be taken as source for the final calculation of the doppler shift. So this part is 100% compatible with AO-40 or other super-high frequency satellites. Various possibilities to alter the way to calculate the doppler shift itself are available in the settings.
Priority channel supervision (up to eight Channels at the same time)
Visual band scope with different scan-steps and various possibilities.
EasyComm interface to drive a rotator or other EasyComm-compatible hardware via special memories and the doppler correction function. FT847-SuperControl is able to track a satellite with the Help of NOVA. Azimuthal and elevation data which is also provided by NOVA, can be sent via another serial port to your Easycomm-hardware. So it is possible to track the satellite as perfect with your az-el antenna-rotator.
Automatic 10 minute station id, Contest Voice Keyer
Remote control the FT-847 transceiver via TCP/IP networks possible (also via the internet).
Testing environment for undocumented cat commands.
It is possible to have the Yaesu FC-20 autotuner full functional connected to the transceiver at the same time.
DTMF encoder / decoder, Tone generator / encoder, Dual Tone generator / encoder
Full support for LDG automatic antenna tuners and the W4RT OTT-847 interface.
One-Touch Tune and NO-Touch Tune !
Other developments:
FT100-SuperControl for the Yaesu FT-100 or FT-100/D transceiver,
FT1000MP-SuperControl for the Yaesu FT1000MP & FT1000MP MarkV transceiver
series.
This program is a new "do everything" logging program with an impressive collection of features. It supports a complete and powerful logging system, a very nice PSK31 implementation, DX cluster tracking (the author is "Mr. GOLIST"), support for Telnet connections, CD-ROM callbooks, and many more. It is freeware by Bob Furzer, K4CY. The interface is not standard Windows, but if that doesn't bother you, this software does just about everything. You can download it directly at http://www.itis.net/golist/download.htm. Also, there is a Logger mailing list you can join (after answering some questions about yourself) at http://www.egroups.com/group/logger. Finally, an overview of the features can be found at http://www.guam.net/pub/midxa/logger/logger.html.
Update 26Feb01: The PSK31 module has been removed from Logger.
12/30/99 Update: Paul VE3KBL wrote to report that he installed XMLOG on an old 486 machine at his cottage.
He was impressed that it worked well on a very limited PC and that it supported his FT-847. He uses Logic5 at home
but wanted people to know that this free package worked quite well on the 486.
Ray W8RD heard from Alan G3PMR that Alan's Shacklog provides support for the FT-847 (along with many others). Shacklog is a full featured logging program with rig control. It's a DOS product that can run under any version of DOS from 3.3 on, as well in a full-screen window with Windows 3.1 or higher. Shacklog supports Packet, contesting, and can import logs from other logging programs. You can see Shacklog and download a demo at http://www.shacklog.co.uk/.
Bob N5NJ sent a posting with a message from Peter KK4HD, the author of DX4Win, announcing a number of improvements, including support for the FT-847. Bob did the beta testing for the software. I am not familiar with this software, but I have heard many good things about it. You can take a look at http://www.erols.com/pvander.
Kevin K0KPB reports that Prolog2K now supports the FT-847. He worked with the author to get it working. Kevin reports that Prolog2K is a logging program and is similar to DX4Win. You can take a look at http://www.qth.com/prolog/prolog2k.htm.
Bob G4HFQ has developed a CAT control program. Bob reports, "It does tuning, has 6 banks of 12 memories, 8 definable scan ranges with incremental steps, can scan the frequencies in the currently displayed memory bank, allows 30 ad-hoc frequencies to be noted and recalled. It shows S-meter, PO/ALC meter, squelch, discriminator, DCS match, and RX/TX condition." One aspect of this software that was important to at least one ham was that it runs in a 640x480 screen size. There is no satellite support at this time. You can read about it and download a demo at www.g4hfq.co.uk/ftbasic.html.
Update 03/19/00: Bob has improved this software; current version is 1.2.1.
Update 26Feb01: Bob is still working on this product and is now up to version 1.4.1. The software now supports cloning of your rig's memory channels, so you can save and edit them on your computer screen and reload them into your FT-847. Bob reports that this program now supports the new FT-817 portable rig, as well as the FRG-100.
Randy, W05M, reports on a software CAT control project he was working on about a year ago. As you can read below, the software is free and you can have the source as well. Randy's site is at http://members.home.net/k5drm/.
Randy wrote: "There is SuperCAT. I developed it about a year ago. It's Free as well as open source. I haven't done any development on it in a long while, but you are free to use it and even develop with it(how many programmers will let you do that). It was developed in Visual Basic 6. Both the Source Code and Compiled version can be downloaded at the link bellow. I don't have a fancy site to promote, however it does have some neat features. The features include FULL Cross-band repeat (not just one way), CTCSS & DCS scan, Backup and restore using clone function and more. I originally developed it to give example on how to program using CAT commands. The interface isn't the best, but it is workable. Enjoy. De WO5M(formally k5drm)"
Ron WA9PAM wrote about LogWindows: "Great program and it can be downloaded from their site with the trial
version
which allows about 50 entries and it is a full blown version. You can then purchase it and they will give you a
number to open it up so that you can continue with it. It supports all of the popular radios, had good reports,
has as many different logs as you want, can import data from most all of the other logging programs. I think anyone
who purchases it will be quite satisfied with it. I know that I am and I am using it on both my radios." Ron
helped do the Beta testing of the software, so is probably very familiar with it. You can find it at www.logwindows.com
. According to the manufacturer, LogWindows provides It combines logging, rig control, antenna rotor control, DX
Packet cluster monitoring, QSL manager, and award tracking.