If I knew that, I'd be a happy man. They refused point blank, essentially by ignoring my repeated requests to do so. Perhaps you can take that as an indication of the kind of support you too will receive from Yaesu warranty if the issue (like mine) is one where they determine it "meets factory spec".
"Got my FT-891 today and got it all hooked up and ready for the RTTY contest, only to find out that it has some sort of USB issue. Constant beeping from the internal speaker (external speaker plugged in also exhibits this) when connected via USB and software (N1MM/HRD) is communicating to it.. sounds like coupling between the speaker and USB circuits maybe? Yaesu support has reported that their test units do the exact same thing, and that the beep is a CAT command error beep from utilizing an incompatible instruction set. HRD/N1MM must release a 891 specific command set for their software before it will function properly. " I copied this from another forum. Is this the same issue or a different one?
I think it's separate. The "beep" is not a beep but rather an artifact of the data (it changes form when you slow down or speed up the data rate).
Further thoughts: Blaming it on HRD/N1MM is not the answer. I tried several different logging programs, including ones that have a specific FT-891 command set such as MacLogger DX (specific 891 driver has been coded in since December of 2016 following the FT-891 technical programming manual). Same trouble. I can't say for sure, but that response from Yaesu HQ is strongly reminiscent of "we don't want to fix the problem so we'll make up an excuse". Even a small amount of test time from their engineers would reveal that the explanation is ridiculous, but it seems as if they don't want to expend the effort. That's exactly the same kind of non-answer I got from them on my problem.
Forgot to add this final note to my tale of woe: My serial number started with "6L" and I think that means December 2016. So if others stumble across this thread, check your serial number - if it's in that date range, that could be a clue that your problem is due to a bad run of components, or an earlier PCB version, etc.
I heard from a friend this morning who just purchased a brand new sample of this radio that he is not experiencing the clicking problem. Has there been some sort of serial # threshold at which newer radios stop exhibiting this behavior? I like the rig but operate nearly 100% digital and it makes me nervous to try it. Are there members here who operate digital modes extensively while also using CAT control that do not experience this condition? Thank you, John
Hi John, That would be interesting information. Even more interesting would be to have people open the top and bottom of the radio (really just removing 8 screws or so per side) and looking for a PCB revision number. That would tell you whether a given run is the culprit. However, this might be dangerous as not everyone has access to an anti-static environment (beware ESD). Although I have sold the radio, I'm still interested in seeing whether the problem can be further defined.
I have the FT-891 (bought it cheap off eBay) and happy with it as my first rig aside from the uBitx frankly, but the USB polling noise renders it unusable for N1MM / contest logging or any CAT control in general. Has anyone gone into any effort in trying to figure out where the noise is coming from and how feasible it is to fix? Alternatively, has anyone looked into hacking a alternative CAT control through the MIC RJ45 input connector?
I want to add an interesting update, as I have found with my FT-891.... I was using it in the field this past weekend, and didn't bother to bring the external motorola speaker that I usually run. I bring the external, because I have been unhappy with the poor/tinny sound of the internal 891 speaker. I also happened to bring along a new-to-me used LDG external tuner, for the first time in the field. I placed the tuner on top of the FT-891, and was pleasantly shocked to hear that the audio of the 891 improved tremendously. The tinnyness was gone. There was a much more clear and defined midrange. I have come to the conclusion that this is, perhaps, by design, as the 891 was developed to be placed in a car. If you are unhappy with your internal speaker's audio, try placing something like a tuner on top of it.
I’m looking at buying one however, my philosophy about new ham radio electronics is “never buy version 1.0 of anything”! It has paid off. Most recently the FT-991. When it came out I really wanted to get one but decided to hold off to see what Yaesu was going to do. The FT-991A was introduced. I purchased a FT-991A and I enjoy it. The best HF transceiver I’ve ever owned is the FT-950, I will never sell it. I would buy another one if I could find a brand new one just keep it as a back up .
If you hook up the radio to a PC through USB (assuming you have drivers installed etc) and use the CAT control, there is a audible ticking noise that is audible on all of the audio out sources, as well as RF out (AFAIK). This noise is a result of the polling that happens o the PC side to the rig, if you do some searches on the web & or YouTube you'll find a few videos demonstrating it. It's possible to mitigate it's annoyance by using the highest bit rate and setting the poll rate (in whatever software you use) to as slow as you can with it still being usable. For me that's approx once every 4 seconds or so. That helps, but it's still incredibly annoying to use with CAT control due to the polling noise.
Just updated the firmware in my FT-891. Wow what a difference! Now it retains my settings even after being turned off. Definitely worth doing. Great radio for my mobile CW habit.
ya but change bands and the settings go away, still not right,, maybe the next update they will get it figured out
