[DXBase] DX Base and the Yaesu FT-847, FT-100D, FT-817, FT-857, FT-897

[Jason Amos (KD4BJW)]

Ok, I am green at reflectors and this is my first ever post to one.

I have a Yaesu FT-847.  I have it working with DXBase.  I will admit the 
847 has some issues with its command set.  The set is very limited and you 
can not take advantage of all the features that are offered with DXBase.  I 
do not use most of those features anyway and I really wanted to be able to 
log my contacts with all the mode and  frequency data automatically.

It took some digging and learning, but I was able to figure out enough of 
the radio.ini file (with verification by Jack) to find the real 
problem.  Yaesu changed how their radios work with the command interface 
when they came out with the 847.  As it turns out the FT- 817, 100, 100D, 
857, and 897 all use this same basic command structure.  (These other 
radios have more info and support more of DXBase's feature 
sets.)  Therefore none of these radios work with DXBase directly.  Each of 
these radios have a slightly different command set from my limited 
experience looking at them.  I know for sure that the 817, 100D and the 847 
are different, but the 897 is very similar to the 817 and the 857 may be 
just like one of the above I don't know.

Now to keep this short, I built a circuit with a microcontroller on board 
that will convert from what DXBase desires and what the 847 provides.  I do 
not have this ready for shipping today, but I use it regularly with my 
847.  It will require some tweaks to work with all the above radios.  I can 
do this, if there is enough interest in such a device I will build 
it.  More info if there is interest.  Also, the circuit I have built 
provides an interface to the LDG AT-11MP auto tuner so that the tuner and 
radio will work together with the touch of one button.  This gives you the 
use of an auto tuner and the CAT interface without some of the tricks that 
people have gotten to work with the FC-20.

Jason Amos
KD4BJW