FT470.9
 
I've learned that one of the ways to get some of the other, new
Yaesu handhelds to go out-of-band, involves dumping data out of
the clone port, editing the data, and then dumping it back in.
I called Yeasu and asked if the FT-470 could be cloned.  They
said no, so I ignored them.  I haven't figured out how to get
it to dump data, but I believe it will accept data.  The clone
mode is entered by powering up the unit with the F key held
down.  (It's also a neat way to see all of the indicators on
the LCD!)  The data must be presented in the ring ("right
channel") of a stereo 2.5 millimeter plug which is placed
into the mic jack.  This is cryptically marked on the schematic,
anyway.  However, I have no idea what the format for the data
should be.  If you come across this, I'd love to know.  This
may be the trap door to getting the rig to receive and transmit
in more interesting places.
 
Have fun with your FT-470!
 
Yours Truly,
Ed Boakes
 
CAll: WB3FLD
=======================================================--
 
Several interesting things that I have learned since I received this
letter...  According to the guys at Yaesu, the engineers in Japan
appearantly wrote the full UHF rx/tx out of the ROM on purpose.
 
The unit does a very good job as a cross-band repeater.
 
To enable this, turn off the radio, hold the RPT key and turn on the
radio.  Now, anything heard on EITHER band will be re-transmitted on the
other band.  There are, however, a few problems.
 
First, there is no real internal path for the audio to get from the receiver
to the transmitter, so you either have to modify the radio, to provide a
path, or do what I did which is build a short loop back cable connecting the
tip of the earphone jack to the tip of the microphone jack like this:
 
     <=====----/\/\/\/\/\/\/=====---->
                   100K
 
This is the way I did it, others I have talked to have used either just a
resistor like me or a small capacitor, or a combination.  On my radio, this
value of resistor gave me a good range of transmitted audio levels by
adjusting the volume control.
 
The other small problem is that the radio automatically selects low power on
transmit in this mode.  This is probably because of the lack of a real
duplexer.
 
After looking through the service manual, it became apparent that the small
mystery hole on the side of the radio with the rubber plug was originally
intended for an external power jack.  I have not yet asked Yaesu if they will
sell the jack for that spot. I also have no idea why they omitted it.
 
All in all, I still love my FT-470.  Its a great little radio.