More power for your ft-950

[w4ass]

YOU CAN MAKE MORE POWER OUTPUT FROM THE 950 HIDEN MENU!!!
YOU START THE HIDEN MENU YOU MUST 1ST TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE RADIO THEN PUSH THE BAND BUTTON1,8,;3,5,7,ANDNTHE POWE BUTTON AT THE SAME TIME ,NOW YOUR IN THE HIDDEN MENU

SO HERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF SETTINGS ABOUT YOUR RADIO ,BUT I SAY YOU ONLY THE SETTINGS FOR CHANGE TO MORE OUTPUT POWER
TURN THE BUTTON (VFOA) TO THIS MENU JO1P1H(THIS IS THE POWER FOR 160M BAND0 change the number you can read from 215 to 235 with the turn the clr/vfob button now press the menu button to change it ( now you have aprox 130w on 160m)
you can change all the band settings and at least you can push the menu button to change all
here you can see the hidden menu for output for all bands

160m=jo1p1h
80m=ko1p1h
40m=lo1p1h
30m=mo1p1h
20m=no1p1h
17m=oo1p1h
15m=po1p1h
12m=qo1p1h
10m=ro1p1h
6m=so1p1h
YOU CAN TRY TO CHANGE THE SETTINGS AT YOUR OWN RISK .NOTE THE ADJUSTMENT BEFORE MODIFYING THEM
I ADVISIE WRITE DOWN ORIGANIAL SETTING BEFORE CHANGING ANY SETTING

[k0spn]

As stated, you do this at your own risk.
However, I would advise against doing this for a couple of reasons.

First, the radio is advertised as a 100W radio, like most other radios today. The 'hidden' menu is more appropriately called the service menu. It's meant to be used for aligning software side of the radio after performing all of the hardware side adjustments.

For power adjustments, you would follow the service manual and adjust the idle current at a couple of stages for specific values in amperes, then go to the service menu and adjust the menu values to output at the proper levels. If the 950 is like the FT-450, there are values for 100W, 50W, 20W, 10W, and 5W.
Having said that, you could adjust the 100W, or any level, for maximum output, and you may even be able to get 150W or more from the radio, but you will most likely be overdriving the PA section, possibly damaging it leading to a nice repair bill. At the least, you will most likely shorten the lifespan of the PA section with increased wear by high current and heat.

So, what if you don't adjust for max output, but something lower, like 120W or 130W?
Why bother?
That extra 20-30W is about +1dB , which would be unnoticeable to almost every operator at the other end of the path.
Sure, if you were running 5-10W and added an amp to get 20-30W output, you'd be adding 4-12(ish) dB, a substantial improvement and worthwhile if you are making marginal contact.

Your best bet, as has been stated time and again in many places is use the best antenna possible for your location and budget.

[W0LPQ]

Dumbest thing there ever was ... golden screwdriver syndrome..! Gotta get them extree whaats...!!

I hope you also realize the radio IS advertised as a 100 watt radio, thus the power supply is designed for that and maybe a little fudge factor.

Go ahead ... get them extree whats....

[KC4RAN]

Why would I want to increase the chance that my rig would create spurious signals? Sounds idiotic for such a small increase...

[kb3laz]

Why would I wanna stress my finals for such a small amount of gain?

[WA9SVD]

Why would I wanna stress my finals for such a small amount of gain?

Make that "unregognizable" or "unnoticed" difference in signal strength at the receiving end.
It's merely a "my radio can put out more power than yours" "power envy" syndrome, often originating in another Radio Service, where there is no understanding of dB's and how much (or in this case, how little) change a few or even a few dozen watts will make at the receiving end.

[W0UZR]

Actually, most radios are capable of 200 watts at the very most that they will go. But they are set at 100 watts. "Well, How Come???" you might say. Just pass it as that the manufacturers are in cahoots with the FCC? And they decide that they want you to settle for the least amount of power output from your rig?

Yeah, Right!

Do you have a 35 amp power supply? Do you take and connect stuff on there that combined will draw 35 amps?

WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT TOO?

What do you think will happen if you put lets say a 50 watt mobile and a 250 watt amp on your power supply, plus another item or 2? and total will be about 35 amp draw? Do you even know? the diode bridge will puff right? If not that then something else.

Then how is your 950 going to be any different? Sell me that radio at a cheap price if you don't want it!

I talked to a friend, a trucker, and he had a Yaesu 100 mobile when they first came out, and he said, "Hay, do i sound better now? I found in the secret menu how to crank the watts up." I didn't really say anything, but I think I told him that his finals might puff. He said, Ahh, no I don't think so. This radio is built to handle it. I talked to him for about a week and I didn't hear from him for a month. I asked him why he wasn't on the air, and he said that he had radio troubles.

Hmmmm........ How Come!!?

[NN4RH]

Why would I want to increase the chance that my rig would create spurious signals? Sounds idiotic for such a small increase...

Why would I wanna stress my finals for such a small amount of gain?


Gosh don't you clueless newbs know anything? It is because that is what we do in the Amateur CB Service. All raydeos must have the "peak and tune" treatment. Splatter and extree whaats gives you that big signal you need!

And by the way, where in the menu do I crank up my echo and reverb?

[n8yx]

Gosh don't you clueless newbs know anything? It is because that is what we do in the Amateur CB Service. All raydeos must have the "peak and tune" treatment. Splatter and extree whaats gives you that big signal you need!

And by the way, where in the menu do I crank up my echo and reverb?

Cue the howls of indignation from The Apologistas...

[W0LPQ]

Quit that Fred ... the new laptop can stand only so much hot tea..!

Noted that the originator is the only one who wants to mod his radio..!

Again, dumbest thing ever was ... go into a menu and crank up them whats...!

Hope the finals fry ... as they most likely will ...


IMD goes to hell in a handbasket, spurious likewise ... don't matter, gotta get them there extree whats..!

[n8yx]

IMD goes to hell in a handbasket, spurious likewise ... don't matter, gotta get them there extree whats..!

Most nowadays don't understand the theory behind those terms. You expect them to actually verify regulatory compliance with anything more sophisticated than an inline wattmeter?

Get real, OM!

"If it ain't over to the pin;

Ya best tune it agin..."

http://www.astrosurf.com/luxorion/Radio/wattmeter-telford-electronics-1000-up.jpg

[KA1MDA]

"would create spurious signals"

You need the spurious signals to give you that big SWING on the ole CB wattmeter after yoyu do the "MARS" mod!

ka1mda

[W4INF]

Dont you guys know anything... the extre 30watts will make it a sure fire pileup buster!

Andrew

PS
I dont have the radio, but I voted "YES" for fun. :-)

[K3ACE]

I voted NO. I don't own a Yaesu HF rig. If this setting was available on my TS-850S, I would still vote NO

[ai3v]

Just in case someone with a IQ above room temp is reading this....

The "Extree watts" the OP "Found" are on every channel EXCEPT the one he is talking on.

Please do not do this to your rig.

You will not hurt the rig. You will just be a boob on the air.

Rege

[CT2JUT]

Indeed the extra 30w won´t ever be noticable on the other side.

I guess that the only fun thing this has is to know your transceiver a little bit more.

It´s nice to play with electronics, but not from a menu really...

There are many things you can change, replace or improve on your transceiver.

Honestly, i think it´s best to keep the 100w as maximum output power, as the entire set was designed for them.

If you like to play with electronics (like i do) you can get an older transceiver to play with.

I´ve got an Yaesu FT-840, and have added a VOX system, an electronic message recorder and have also improved the audio system.

They´re small, and all homebrew. So i´ve placed inside the transceiver, of course with some changes.

It works very well, and i´m pleased with it!

It´s so much fun to run your own made equipment, isn´t it?


So my advise is to go on with the changes, so that you can learn and improve, but not really with the final PA stage...


73 from Lisbon,

Miguel

[KB0YYO]

I think he simply posted how to do it . Not that he did or wanted too.

Just the method to get er done if you so desire to mess up a perfectly good radio.
lots of mods out there, some good, some bad & some still left wanting.

[WA9SVD]

Why would I want to increase the chance that my rig would create spurious signals? Sounds idiotic for such a small increase...

It's a case of P**** (Power ) envy. My radio puts out more power than your radio...:rolleyes:

Also more distortion, and will probably need replacement of the finals much sooner.:(

[W6GQ]

Troll fishing at its finest,

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/6929/trollfishingtr7.jpghttp://img227.imageshack.us/img227/690/trollsxa4.jpg

[SM5JAB]

That is one problem with computers... they are so fun to tinker with. I bet that very few of us would start replacing capacitors or resistors or IC:s for that matter without having a very good clue in the first place?

With computers there is usually another approach: try, try, try until it works. I am pretty certain that menu is hidden for a very good reason - one should not touch it. There are parameters enough to play with anyway, without changing power output or local oscillator injection levels or whatever.

Computers are computers and radios with computers within them are still radios!

/Micke

[PA5COR]

Things are much easier
I switch on and use the SB-1000 wich gives me 10 dB extra 100 - 1000 watts

The rest of the post is too stupid to comment on....