Mars Mod - Blog Posts

Learned about the MIDCARs and the ECARs nets from a Facebook group and tuned in this morning. I was encouraged to go ahead and check in, so no need to just listen in until I feel I've learned enough about them. I heard a call for any stations to check in and I got real excited, grabbed my mic, keyed up and got that TX-Error again. I downloaded the Japanese band plan (because this radio came from Japan - see previous posts) and learned that I will not be able to transmit on frequencies above 7.200Mhz on 40 meters. It's all good, I'll just have to save up and try and get a comparable radio with similar capabilities. Meanwhile, I'll just listen in to these great nets.

I bought this Yaesu FT-897 as a gift to myself for passing the General Class exam last month. I was going to buy an antenna but decided to make one myself to learn more about them, so I made a field expedient, 1/4 wave end-fed. I had gooten into amateur radio with my dad who became a silent key nearly three years ago. After hearing the radio crackle to life with the sounds of a 40 meter net I forgot about how I wouldn't be able to use it on all amateur bands (because it's a Japanese model), and I wanted to run and tell my dad all about it. I wanted to throw my call out but I figured I'd better just listen for now. I was as excited as a boy on Christmas.

I ordered the radio on the right, a Yaesu FT-897, as a gift for myself for passing my General Class exam. I've wanted this radio since it was released in 2002 but as a Technician Class I wouldn't have been able to use but two frequency bands, not to mention it was out of my price range. I got it off of ebay and learned that it's a Japanese version and hard wired to not operate on all U.S. frequencies, even after MARS modding it. I already have the two radios on the left and the handheld (HT) for the 2 meter and 70cm bands so it's not a total loss and the radio still has performance abilities (power consumption wise) that far exceeds modern rigs.

MARS modding my FT-897 hoping to fix the TX Error on VHF and UHF. I was unsuccessful, not because of an error on my part, but I learned that it's a Japanese version and is hard wired to prohibit transmission on U.S. various U.S. frequencies.