48
FT-857 Operating Manual
SSB/AM T
RANSMISSION
Basic Setup/Operation
1. Press the [
MODE
(
t
)] or [
MODE
(
u
)] key so as to select either SSB (LSB/USB) or the
AM mode. In the SSB mode, if you are operating on the 7 MHz or lower bands, select
the LSB mode. If you are operating on the 14 MHz or higher bands, select the USB
mode.
2. Press the [
FUNC
] key momentarily, then rotate the
SELECT
knob, as needed, until
Multi Function Row “i” [
MTR, PWR, DISP
] appears on the display.
3. Now press the [
A
](
MTR
) or [
B
] key to select the “ALC” meter function (“
ALC
” will
appear above the [
B
] key). You may need to press the [
A
] or [
B
] key multiple times, as
you will be toggling through several selections.
4. Press the microphone’s
PTT
switch, and speak into the microphone in a normal voice
level while watching the meter. The ideal audio input level to the transmitter from the
microphone will cause a few “segments” of indication on the ALC meter. Release the
PTT
switch to return to receive mode.
5. If the ALC meter is too high, or too low, you may need to reset the Microphone Gain:
Ÿ
Press and hold in the [
FUNC
] key for one second to enter the Menu mode.
Ÿ
Rotate the
SELECT
knob to recall Menu Mode
No-081
[
SSB MIC GAIN
]
(on SSB)
or
No-005
[
AM MIC GAIN
]
(on AM).
Ÿ
Close the
PTT
switch, and while speaking into the microphone rotate the
DIAL
until
the proper ALC indication is achieved on voice peaks.
Ÿ
When done, press and hold in the [
FUNC
] key for one second to save the new setting
for the Microphone Gain.
1) The AM carrier level is preset to 25 Watts during alignment at the factory, and
should not require further adjustment. It is important to remember that AM trans-
mission requires that power must be distributed among the carrier and voice sidebands;
therefore, if excessive carrier power is used, there will be insufficient power available for
the information-carrying voice sidebands.
2) The [TONE] switch on the back of the MH-31A8J microphone provides adjustment of
the microphone’s frequency response. Setting this switch to the “2” position will roll off
some of the bass response, resulting in improved “talk power” in many instances. The
“1” position is primarily used in countries like Japan, where vowel sounds are of critical
importance in conveying information; in Western languages, consonant sounds (which
are rich in high-frequency components) are frequently more important.
T
RANSMITTER
O
PERATION
