FTBCAT2.0.0

FTBCAT is a lightweight software application designed specifically for helping you control Yaesu FT-450, FT-817/ND, FT-847, FT-857/D, FT-897/D, FT-920 and FT-1000MP Mark V, VR-5000, and FRG-100 receivers.The program can be run on a computer that has an available COM port for the connection to the radio and supports the operation of multiple rigs at the same time (each rig may have more than one configuration).

User interface

When you run the utility for the first time, it asks you to select the folder where you want to store your CSV files.The GUI may look a bit overwhelming at a first glance but this is only because the tool embeds a rich set of controls in the main window. For making the layout look a lot cleaner, you can show only the spectrum display.

Configuration settings

FTBCAT gives you the freedom to convert frequency files for Kenwood rigs and the ARRL TravelPlus for Repeaters, enable/disable AGC status monitoring, raise the RS232 Request To Send (RTS) pin, raise the RS232 Data Terminal Ready (DTR) pin, raise the RS232 Request To Send (RTS) pin whenever the rig transmits, as well as start, stop, hold, or resume the current scanning,FTBCAT comes with several tweaking parameters that help you customize the names of memory banks, choose the appropriate COM port number and speed, rig type, and window size, automatically start the connection to the rig when you open the utility, set up the polling parameters, as well as adjust the talk and scan speed.What’s more, you are allowed to record, save and play back WAV files, and work with customizable button faces for bands and memory banks.

Bottom line

All in all, FTBCAT proves be a handy CAT program that comes packed with a decent feature pack, and is suitable especially for experienced users.