NOTE: The following information is for educational purposes only. Yaesu does NOT recommend user installation of MTU units. Any use of the material published on this page for installation or any other purpose is at the users own risk. It is forbidden to copy any written information from this page, including photos, without written permission from the author. EMAIL kt4k@bellsouth.net

The FTDX-9000 as used with the 80/40 RF u-Tuning unit

Conventions used: "RF u-Tuning unit" also referred to as "u-Tuning" or "MTU"

Last revision April 20, 2013

That is the MTU (Photo #1 below), I did not receive any instructions or other information to help with installation. Note that this MTU's steel encloser is silver in color; this indicates that this MTU is for the FTDX-9000. The dealer was not sure if I received the correct kit (FT-2000/950 or FTDX-9000). The MTU units for the FT-2000/950 are dark in color. Online postings have indicated that the FT-2000/950 MTU will work with the FTDX-9000 but I CANNOT confirm this. Actually, what the dealer sent was a hybrid kit, one box of parts for the FT-2000/950 and one box containing the MTU-80/40 for the FTDX-9000!

There are only two leads (one green and one orange) and one ribbon cable that connects to the radio. The cable installation was easier than anticipated but awkward; more on this further down.

Photo 1:

unit

 

Steps in photo 2, radio is turned off (front power button) before proceeding. Next, the rear power switch is turned off ("0" position) and then the power cord removed from the radio. Caution: damage to the DMU, CAT or other circuitry and devices can be caused by plugging/unplugging cables while power is applied from the radio and/or external equipment. Therefore, monitor, computer, etc., should be powered off or even unplugged before removing ALL cables/connectors from the radio (I found that my CAT port was still 'live' through my notebook computer's docking station serial port, even when my computer was powered down.)

Three rear/top screws are removed from the radio along with four side screws. Take note where the shorter screws from the side go, for proper reassembly. If the cover is removed without removing the screws on the side, it will likely put scratches in the sides of the radio cover. The back of the cover LIFTS UP (do not slide the cover off), the cover is then pulled up and off the radio.

Photo 2:

starthere

 

Photo #3 shows the area of installation; front of radio should be facing toward installer. Two silver rail supports MUST be removed for the MTU unit to be safely placed in position. There are two end screws for each rail (case is threaded so there are no nuts under the screws to worry about). Care should be taken to not let the rail screws fall into the chassis when removing or replacing. The MTU unit is not yet put into place.

Now comes the 'awkward' part I mentioned previously. The ribbon connector is attached first but the cable 'just' reaches the connector and there is little room to work with the cable after the MTU unit is in place. The way I handled this problem was to have helper person #1 (in my case, myself... not recommended) to carefully hold the MTU level in the installed direction (w/leads facing toward rear of radio but with the bottom/rear of unit resting on the on the top of the chassis (non-painted area near the bottom arrow in photo #3) and far enough toward the front of the radio to allow working room for the cable insertion. See next step for cable insertion. Photo #4 shows closer view of RF Tune board and cable connector.

Photo 3:

area

 

I was concerned about having to force the MTU cable into the RF Tune board connector (the cable is fragile) but force is not necessary. Examine photo #4 w/insert view. The flat cable is delicate, it can be easily crimped and damaged. I used a self closing curved tweezers to gently snug the cable onto the board's connector. To insert the MTU cable, the black plastic cable clamp is simply flipped up to the position shown in the insert. The end of the cable is then laid (colored side up) into the connector, making sure it is squared in place and a similar inserted distance as the same type ribbon connector to its right (dark blue cable end, shown in photos #4 & 5).

Photo 4:

cable insert

 

CAUTION! Connection points on this page only apply to the 80/40 RF u-Tuning unit.

Once the cable is connected, the unit is gently dropped into its final resting position as shown by the drawn white lines in photo #3. The two remaining connectors, plug into their respective positions show in the photo #5 below. I have graphically reproduced some of the round connectors in photo #5 to show how they appear under the foam that covers the top of the RX-Tune board. I did not need to alter the foam, other than gently lifting it out of the way while making the connections.The two remaining connectors (shown in photo #1 above) can be very difficult to plug into their respective board connectors if their projecting endpins are not precisely straight and smooth. I encountered one pin with a very minor bend that would not go into its connector until straightened. Any burrs or bending must first be repaired before pin insertion. The GREEN MTU lead goes to board connector 2A, the ORANGE to 2B. Again, this ONLY applies to the 80/40 unit! To facilitate the procedure, I used a foreceps to grab and then insert each plug while holding the foam out of the way with the other hand (where is that helper #1 when you need them?)

Photo 5:

plugconnectors

The two rails are replaced, carefully lining up the four middle holes in the rails (two on each rail) with the four holes in the MTU before tightening the rail end screws down. Here is where I had a problem. The threads of the four screws provided with the MTU (that connect the rails to the MTU) do not match the threads in the MTU. I'm waiting for the dealer to replace these screws.

When/if the screws are correct, then all that remains is to use them to fasten the MTU to the rails. Reverse the procedure for taking off the radio cover to replace it and with radio and all device power off, reconnect all external devices. Plug A/C cord into the radio if you haven't done so and switch the rear power to ON, then toggle front power button ON and Click here to proceed.

Turning on the MTU

What does the MTU do? Click here!

 


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