FT DX 9000 Contest Operation Manual DESCRIPTION GENERAL DESCRIPTION We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your purchase of the FT DX 9000 Contest! The FT DX 9000 Contest is the culmination of a four-year design project. But it also is the product of our company's fifty years of engineering, design, and manufacturing know how. As pioneers in the development of SSB, we have led the technological advances in Amateur Radio communications over the last half century. And now, with the introduction of the FT DX 9000 Contest, we again lead the way with a no-compromise 21st-century design that will make your operating dreams come true. More importantly, it is a radio that will let your skills and experience find expression, as you harness the excitement of HF operating like you've never done before! ABOUT THIS MANUAL. . . The FT DX 9000 Contest is a leading-edge transceiver with a number of new and exciting features, some of which may be unfamiliar to you. In order to gain the most enjoyment and operating efficiency from your FT DX 9000 Contest, we recommend that you read this manual in its entirety, and keep it handy for reference as you explore the many capabilities of your new transceiver. Before using your FT DX 9000 Contest, be sure to read and follow the instructions in the "Before You Begin" section of this manual. CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS MANUAL Please note the conventions, described below, for operational commands and texts included in this manual. NOTE ...........................................This is used for a note as to a particular point of interest. ADVICE ........................................ This is used to amplify or expand on instructions, so as to recommend a way to gain maximum benefit from a feature or function. EXAMPLE .....................................This is used to demonstrate an example of how a feature or function should work or be programmed. NOTE/Q POINT QUICK NOTE QUICK POINT ...... This is used for a brief explanation of a particular aspect of operation. ERMINOLOGY TERMINOLOGY ............................. An explanation of a term or expression used in this manual. FT DX 9000 CONTEST OPERATION MANUAL Page 1 CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS General Description ........................................... 1 About This Manual. . . ......................................................................... 1 Conventions Used in This Manual ...................................................... 1 Advanced Interference -Suppression Features ................. 58 Using the VRF (Variable RF Front-end Filter) .................................. 58 Before You Begin. . . ........................................... 4 1. Connecting AC Power ..................................................................... 2. Configuring Your FT DX 9000 Contest Using the Menu ................. 3. Connecting and Selecting the Microphone ...................................... 4. Extending the Front Feet ................................................................. 5. Adjusting the Main Dial Torque ...................................................... 6. Restarting Power after a Voltage Fluctuation .................................. 7. Resetting the Microprocessor .......................................................... Resetting Memories (Only) .......................................................... Menu Resetting ............................................................................. Full Reset ...................................................................................... 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 Interference Rejection ...................................... 59 ROOFING (Roofing Filters) ............................................................. Contour Control Operation ................................................................ IF SHIFT Operation (SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT Modes) ........................ WIDTH (IF DSP Bandwidth) Tuning (SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT Modes) ......................... Using IF Shift and Width Together ............................................ IF Notch Filter Operation (SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT/AM Modes) ........ Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) Operation ....................................... NARROW (NAR) One-Touch IF Filter Selection ............................ Digital Notch Filter (D.NOTCH) Operation ..................................... IF Noise Blanker (NB) Operation ..................................................... 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 Features .............................................................. 8 Accessories ...................................................... 10 Options .............................................................. 11 Installation and Interconnections ................... 12 Antenna Considerations .................................................................... About Coaxial Cable ......................................................................... Grounding .......................................................................................... Connection of Antenna and Power Cables ........................................ Connection of Microphone, Headphones and FH-2 Remote Control Keypad ............. Key, Keyer, and Computer-Driven Keying Interconnections ........... VL-1000 Linear Amplifier Interconnections ..................................... Interfacing to Other Linear Amplifiers .............................................. 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Audio Peak Filter (APF) Operation ................................................... 68 Tools for Comfortable and Effective Reception .................. 69 AGC (Automatic Gain Control) ........................................................ 69 SLOPED AGC Operation ........................................................... 70 Audio Limiter (AFL) Feature ............................................................ 71 SSB/AM Mode Transmission ........................... 72 Phantom Voltage for Condenser Microphones .................................. 79 Using the Automatic Antenna Tuner ............... 76 ATU Operation .................................................................................. 76 About ATU Operation ....................................................................... 77 Lithium Battery Replacement ........................................................... 78 Plug/Connector Pinout Diagrams ................... 19 Front Panel Controls ........................................ 20 Rear Panel ......................................................... 34 Frequency Display ........................................... 36 FH-2 Operation ................................................. 37 Basic Operation: Receiving on Amateur Bands ......... 39 Operation on 60-Meter (5 MHz) Band (U.S. Version only) .............. CLAR (Clarifier) Operation on Main (VFO-A) ................................ LOCK ................................................................................................ DIM ................................................................................................... B-DISP OFF ...................................................................................... 42 43 44 45 46 SSB/AM Mode Transmission ........................... 80 Using the Speech Processor - SSB, AM Mode - ............................ Adjusting the SSB Transmitted Bandwidth ....................................... Signal Quality Enhancement Using the Parametric Microphone Equalizer .................................... Low- Distortion CLASS-A Operation ............................................... Voice Memory ................................................................................... 80 81 82 84 86 Convenient Transmitter Accessories ............. 87 VOX: Automatic TX/RX Switching using Voice Control SSB/AM/FM Modes ............... Using the MONITOR ........................................................................ Split Operation Using the TX Clarifier (VFO-A Operation) ............ Clarifier Offset Bar Indicator ..................................................... Split-Frequency Operation ................................................................ VFO Tracking Feature ................................................................ Quick Split Operation ................................................................. 87 88 89 89 90 90 91 Convenient Features ........................................ 47 P.BACK (Audio Playback) from VFO-A Receiver ........................... "MY Bands" Operation ..................................................................... Band Stack Operation ........................................................................ C.S (Custom Switch) ......................................................................... Rotator Control Functions ................................................................. More Frequency Navigation Techniques ........................................... ANTENNA SELECTION ................................................................. Receiver Operation (Front End Block Diagram) ............................... IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) ................................................... ATT .................................................................................................... RF Gain (SSB/CW/AM Modes) ........................................................ 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 CW Mode Operation ......................................... 92 Setup for Straight Key (and Straight Key emulation) Operation ...... Using the Built-in Electronic Keyer .................................................. Full Break-in (QSK) Operation .................................................. Setting the Keyer Weight (Dot/Space:Dash ) Ratio ................... Selecting the Keyer Operating Mode ......................................... 92 94 94 95 95 CW Convenience Features .............................. 96 CW Spotting (Zero-Beating) ............................................................. 96 Using CW Reverse ............................................................................ 97 CW Delay Time Setting ..................................................................... 98 CW Pitch Adjustment ........................................................................ 99 Contest Memory Keyer ................................................................... 100 Message Memory ..................................................................... 100 TEXT Memory ......................................................................... 102 Page 2 FT DX 9000 CONTEST OPERATION MANUAL CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS FM Mode Operation ........................................ 104 Basic Operation ......................................................... 104 Repeater Operation .................................................... 105 Convenient Memory Functions ..................... 107 QMB (Quick Memory Bank) ........................... 108 QMB Channel Storage .................................................................... 108 QMB Channel Recall ...................................................................... 108 Customized Option ........................................ 151 About Customized Option ............................................................... 151 Dual Receive Unit (RXU-9000) ....................... 152 Front Panel Controls ........................................................................ Dual Receive ................................................................................... Dial Swap Configuration (AF/RF GAIN Controls) ........................ Changing the Speaker Output Configuration .................................. Adjacent Channel Monitor (ACM) -- CW Mode Only -- ................ RF Gain -- SSB/CW/AM Modes -- ................................................. Using the VRF (Variable RF Front-end Filter) ................................ ROOFING/R.FLT (Roofing Filters) ................................................ CONTOUR/CONT (Contour) Control Operation ........................... IF SHIFT Operation -- SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT Modes -- .................. WIDTH (IF DSP Bandwidth) Tuning -- SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT Modes -- ............................. IF Notch Filter Operation -- SSB/CW/RTTY/PKT/AM Modes -- .. NR/DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) Operation ............................... Digital Notch Filter (DNF) Operation ............................................. IF Noise Blanker (NB) Operation ................................................... Audio Peak Filter (APF) Operation -- CW Mode -- ........................ AGC (Automatic Gain Control) ...................................................... Mute Feature -- VFO-A -- ............................................................... Audio Limiter (AFL) Feature .......................................................... ATT ........................................................................... ...