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Quick Start Guide to the Yaesu FT-65 Radio
by Ken Hansen, N2VIP and Matt Mathews KG5QZO
This document explains to new owners of the Yaesu FT-65 radio its basic operations: how to
program and save repeater frequency pairs to radio channels and how to scan the channels you
programmed. See the official manuals for insight into using other features of the FT-65 handi-
talkie (HT), as well as various web resources (including YouTube.com), and the popular, product-
specific, NiftyAccessories.com guides available from amateur radio retailers.
Yaesu FT-65R/FT-65E Quick Manual
Yaesu FT-65R/FT-65E Operating Manual
Yaesu FT-65R/FT-65E Advance Manual
Your radio is not ready to use right out of the box. Before you can communicate, you must
program at one or more repeater frequencies in your area. With at least a Technician license, you
can legally use the two HAM frequencies available on this radio.
While you can use an appropriate cable (the Yaesu SCU-35) and programming software available
from Yaesu on their website to enter repeater frequencies in quantity, many experienced
operators recommend learning to use the manual procedures such as those shown here – it will
help you gain familiarity with your new radio and someday you may need to program the radio
while on the move.
Repeater basics
A repeater is a radio device typically installed at an elevated location that retransmits (repeats)
everything it hears on an input frequency to a different output frequency. To ensure that the
repeater only repeats transmissions intended for it, many have an associated squelch tone that
radios can be set to transmit whenever you transmit voice. When we talk about “programming a
repeater into our radio,” it means setting its receiving frequency, an offset frequency for
transmitting, and a squelch tone if one is required. We also like to add an identifying label (tag) if
the radio supports it, and the FT-65r does..
Getting familiar with the FT-65 radio
You need to be familiar with a few buttons before we proceed.
F key
is the third button down on the left side of the radio as you look at the front of the radio. It
has two horizontal bars and invokes the Set functions of the radio.
*V/M key
is in the lower-left corner of the keypad. Pressing this key either enters
*
for certain
functions, or switches between:
VFO mode
tuning with the variable frequency oscillator to program a frequency. You can type in
a frequency only in the VFO mode.
