[NLRS] FT-817 as IF radio

[John P. Toscano]

I just picked up a used FT-817 for use as an IF radio to some of my 
transverters. I am shocked at how vague the operating manual is with 
respect to the jacks on the back that I would use for interfacing to a 
transverter.

There is a DATA jack that has PTT and Ground (and other signals).

There is a ACC[essory] jack that has ALC, Tx Inhibit, Tx Gnd, Gnd (and
other signals).

What are folks using to key their transverters? Are either or both of 
the signals PTT and Tx Gnd bi-directional, i.e., do they go to ground 
when the radio's PTT is pressed, and cause the radio to go into transmit 
mode when grounded, like the PTT line on my IC-706's? Or is there one 
line that signals my intent to transmit (that could be an INPUT to the 
sequencer) and a different one that would actually cause the radio to 
begin transmitting (4th OUTPUT of a sequencer)? Or do I have to play 
tricks with the Tx inhibit to prevent the radio from transmitting until 
the 4th sequencer stage? And what voltages are appropriate for the ALC 
input? On my IC-706, greater NEGATIVE voltage reduces output power, and 
0 volts causes no inhibition of transmitter power. Fortunately, with the 
much lower maximum power output of the FT-817, I may not need to use the 
ALC input at all...

Any other advice on good or bad features of the FT-817 as an IF radio 
would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

W0JT