How to Program a Yaesu Handheld Scanner
Yaesu hand-held scanners are used by ham radio users. Following these steps, you can program one of the most common Yaesu models, the VX-170 radio/scanner. With the vast array of scanners and radio scanners manufactured by Yaesu, it is impossible to cover all of them in one article; the following steps are most common to the largest variety of hand-helds.
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Things You'll Need
- Cloning cable for Cloning mode
- Microphone adapters (based on your original model)
- List of frequencies
Instructions
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Direct Programming Mode
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Start here to program your Yaesu directly, and not clone from an existing preprogrammed radio. Locate the Function key and the Set key. On the VX-170, the Function key is the F key and the Set key is the 0 key. Press the F key and then press the Set key to enter the Set mode. Once you enter Set mode, release the two keys.
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Turn the dial to select the Set mode item that you want to adjust.
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Press the F key momentarily to enable adjustment of the item you have chosen by turning the dial.
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Turn the dial knob to adjust or select the individual parameter on the item you have selected in the above step.
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When you've finished your selection and/or adjustment, press the "Push-to-Talk," or PTT, key momentarily to save the setting and exit back to normal operations. These steps can be repeated for each item that you want to adjust.
Cloning Mode
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Use Cloning mode if you want to transfer all the presets on an existing radio to a second radio. If your hand-held is a radio/scanner, then it will likely include an option for cloning. This feature is not included on scanners without a radio function. You will also need access to a preprogrammed model identical to yours.
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Turn off both radios. Connect the cloning cable between the radios. In the VX-170 model, this is a cable that attaches from mic/speaker jack to mic/speaker jack.
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Press and hold the Monitor switch while turning the radios on. The Monitor switch is just below the PTT key on this model, and it doesn't matter in which order you turn them on.
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Turn the dial knob on each radio to select "Clone." Press the F key briefly. The display will disappear for a moment, and then the "Clone" notation will appear on the screens of both radios when successfully activated.
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On the destination radio (the one you are programming), press the Monitor switch. The notation "RX" will appear on the display.
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On the source radio (the one with the pre-existing programming), press and hold the PTT key, and "TX" will appear in the display window. At this point, data will be transferred from radio to radio.
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Check for problems. If there was a problem during the process, an "Error" message will display; check your cables and battery charge and give it another try. If it was successful, the "Clone" message will reappear on both displays. When finished, turn off both radios, then disconnect the cloning cable. You are now able to turn on your radios and begin normal operation.
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Tips & Warnings
Ideally, you should search online for a manual made for your specific Yaesu hand-held scanner, since small differences in programming occur from model to model.
Don't remove the cloning cable in mid-operation; you may create a blocked channel and have to manually reprogram that channel.
