Page 38 FT-897 OPERATING MANUALWEATHER FAX MONITORINGMonitoring of HF WeatherFax broadcasts is easily accom-plished using the FT-897.Before proceeding, be certain that the WeatherFax demodu-lator is properly connected to Pins 5 and 2 of the rear panelDATA jack.1. Set the transceiver to the VFO mode, and set the operat-ing mode to “DIG,” setting Menu Mode No-038 [DIGMODE] to “PSK31-U,” as described previously.2. Now, select the operating frequency of the station trans-mitting the WeatherFax broadcast. Note that, in the USBmode, the frequency you should program onto the dis-play is typically 1.90 kHz below the station’s “assigned”frequency. Thus for a WeatherFax station assigned to8.682.0 MHz, tune to 8.680.1 MHz.3. When the WeatherFax broadcast begins, no further op-erator intervention should be needed from the transceiverstandpoint. The audio level from the DATA jack on therear of the transceiver is fixed, and cannot be adjusted.4. Fine adjustments in the gray-scale and the frame align-ment are accomplished using the computer and softwareconnected to your WeatherFax demodulator.TIME -O UT T IMERMost often used on FM, the transmitter’s Time-Out Timer(TOT) feature disables the transmitter after a user-definedperiod of transmission. This feature may be useful in pre-venting a “stuck microphone” (accidental closure of the PTTswitch) from causing interference to other users, and it willalso force you to keep your transmissions short, therebyconserving battery power.To activate the Time-Out Timer:1. Press and hold in the [F] key for one second to enter theMenu mode.2. Rotate the MEM/VFO CH knob to recall Menu ModeNo-084 [TOT TIME].The default setting for this feature is “OFF.” Rotate theDIAL knob to set a new time-out setting (from 1 minuteto 20 minutes).3. When you have made your selection, press and hold inthe [F] key for one second to save the new setting andexit to normal operation.SPLIT F REQUENCY O PERATIONThis transceiver provides convenient split-frequency opera-tion, using the VFO-A and VFO-B, for DX working andother operating situations requiring unique split frequencypairs.The example below will describe a typical split-frequencyDX situation on the 20-meter band, with a DX station trans-mitting on 14.025 MHz, listening 10 kHz higher in the band.1. Set VFO-A to 14.035.00 MHz CW (DX station’s listen-ing frequency).2. Press the [F] key momentarily, then rotate the MEM/VFO CH knob, as needed, until Multi Function Row“a” [A/B, A=B, SPL] appears on the display.3. Press the [A](A/B) key momentarily to select VFO-B.4. Tune the VFO-B frequency to 14.025.00 MHz (DXstation’s transmitting frequency).5. Press the [C](SPL) key momentarily. The transceiver willnow transmit using the VFO-A frequency, and will re-ceive using the VFO-B frequency.“Parentheses” will appear on the both sides of the “SPL”indication, and the “SPL” icon will appear at the upperleft corner of the display.6. To listen to the pile-up calling the DX station (so as toalign your frequency more closely to that of the stationbeing worked by the DX), press the [A](A/B) key to re-verse the VFOs. You will now be tuning in the vicinityof 14.035 MHz, and you can zero in on the DX station’slistening frequency by tuning in on the station in QSOwith the DX. Press the [A](A/B) key again to return toreception on the DX station’s frequency.7. Press the [C](SPL) key once more to cancel split opera-tion; the “Parentheses” and “SPL” icon will disappearfrom the display.TRANSMITTER O PERATION