[1000mp] FT-1000MP Transmit Gain Settings

[Larry K4AB]

This is a great find from Tod.  Thanks for the post, and thanks to Tom W8JI
for discovering it.  I've had MP's and Mark V's for years and have never heard
of this simple fix.

When I changed my 9-2 settings, most were factory set at "7" to "8"
and all with overshoot out of the ALC meter scale range. I changed them
mostly to "4", but the 29 mHz position I changed to "5".

It took less than 5 minutes.

Thanks again!

73,
Larry K4AB

On 5/6/14, Tod Olson <tod at k0to.us> wrote:
> I found the following on the W8JI website and have copied the text [Tom¹s
> text, not mine] below.
>
> I made the changes suggested by Tom. I checked the output when the 9-2
> settings were at the levels set at the factory and when the 9-2 levels
> were all set to $. There was no detachable difference on a watt meter.
>
> With 9-2 at 4 the ALC value was always less than the maximum ALC line
> scale on the meter when keying or speaking.
> With 9-2 at the original values the ALC value would in some cases be
> greater than the end of the maximum ALC line scale.
>
> ‹‹‹ I have chosen to operate my FT1000MP with the t iF values of 9-2 at 4
> . I have not received any comment from person whom I have worked nor have
> I noticed any loss of performance as a result of the changed. I am
> comfortable that I am not overdriving the the radio as I operate.
>
> I did not look at the output on a spectrum analyzer . If someone has the
> equipment to verify that the clicks and/or splatter of transmissions made
> with the lower t iF values is reduced from those which occur with the
> original t iF values that would be interesting to hear about.
>
> Tod, K0TO
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------
> Transmit Gain Menus
> from: http://www.w8ji.com/ft1000mk_v.htm web site.
>
> The FT-1000 MK V  has hidden transmit gain menus. They are accessed by
> pushing and holding FAST and LOCK while turning the POWER switch on. Both
> of my MK V's  and every MK V serviced here has had the TX IF gain set too
> high. This causes first character clicks on CW and spits and splatter on
> SSB.  Here is how to correct the IF gain to prevent ALC clipping on
> leading edges of CW and voice:
>
>
> 1. Press and hold FAST and LOCK before and during initial POWER on.
> 2. Press FAST and ENT at the same time. You are now in the MENU's and the
> display should say "0-1 GrPI-cH".
> 3. Turn the VRF/MEM CH counter-clockwise to 9-2. The display should say "t
> iF - GA in" This is the transmit IF gain menu.
> 4. Turn the SUB VFO knob clockwise one position to  " t iF - 018". This is
> the 1.8MHz transmit IF gain.
> 5. Press the ALC/COMP meter selector until the bar graph says "ALC".  Set
> RF PWR knob to full power.
> 6. With the radio on CW and a 50 ohm dummy load connected, close the key
> and adjust the MAIN VFO-A knob until the ALC display is about 75-85% of
> full scale on the illuminated bar marked "ALC".
> 7. Press the next band button (3.5), make sure the radio is still  on CW,
> and turn the SUB VFO-B knob clockwise one band to "t iF - 035".
> 8. Again adjust MAIN VFO-A until ALC is at 75-85% of full scale.
>
> Repeat this process through all bands.
> Most radios I have tested require a setting of 2 to 4 on TX IF gain, with
> 3 being the most common setting.
> This change will reduce SSB bandwidth and distortion.
> It will also reduce keyclicks and annoying thumps on the leading edge of
> each Morse character.
>
>
>
>
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