How to install the YF-122S Yaesu FT-817ND ssb filter

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The Yaesu FT-817ND is a little and versatile all-band multi-mode portable ham radio transceiver which I am using routinely during SOTA (Summits-On-The-Air) activations. Although the little radio is already quite capable in it’s default configuration there are several tuning options available. One of these is the integration of the YF-122S Yaesu FT-817ND ssb filter with an bandwidth of 2.3 kHz. The advantage of using this filter is the ability to better suppress strong signals on adjacent channels.

Prepare the FT-817ND for installation of the YF-122S SSB filter

The integration of the Yaesu FT-817ND ssb filter is already perfectly described in the manual (one could only wish that manufacturers of other electronic products would provide such detailed instruction manuals) and I do not intend to replicate those instructions here. However, I’ve made a couple of fotographs during the build process which I would like to share with you. Firstly, ensure that the radio is complete without power which requires the removal of the NiMh battery.

Yaesu FT-817ND with battery lid removed
The FT-817ND with its battery lid removed.

Proceed by removing the radio’s top lid. One has to be careful to not put too much strain on the speaker cables unless one wants to risk damage the connection between speaker and PCB.

Yaesu FT-817ND with top case open
The FT-817ND with its top case opened.

Let’s take a closer look at the top main board: the spot for installing the filter is located on the top right corner of the PCB.

The YF-122 SSB filter needs to be installed at the top right corner of the PCB.

Install the YF-122S Yaesu FT-817ND SSB filter

The Yaesu FT-817ND ssb filter comes in a nice little cardboard package which is labeled YF-122S.

The packed YF-122S SSB filter in its cardboard box.

When opening the package I was surprised to find a filter labelled XF-119SN. As it turns out, those two filters are the same in term of package and filter characteristics.

Unpacked Yaesu FT-817ND SSB filter
The unpacked YF-122S SSB filter.

In order to install the filter one has to insert it with the description sticker facing upwards Since there are 3 pins on one side and 4 on the other it is difficult to wrongly insert the filter.

Yaesu FT-817ND SSB filter installation complete.
The YF-122S SSB filter has been fitted into the FT-817ND.

The last step is the activation of the filter within the radios software:

Congratulations, your SSB filter has been successfully activated. When doing portable ham radio operations on SOTA summits I’ve noticed that strong stations on adjacent channels are considerably appear more quiet than they would without the SSB filter. Thanks to this little modification the FT-817ND continues to be a corner stone of my portable ham radio operations.




4 comments

Doug Schwinn 02/04/2021

TNX

    Alexander Entinger (OE5LXR) 03/04/2021

    I'm glad you found the article useful ;) vy 73 de Alex, OE5LXR

Petr Ourednik 08/06/2022

Hi, is it valuable/worthy to buy and install optional SSB Collins filter to 818ND? Stock Muratta -6/-60dB: 2.2/4.5kHz; YF-122S -6/-66dBm: 2.3/4.7kHz… 73 - Petr, OK1RP

    Alexander Entinger (OE5LXR) 09/06/2022

    Hi Petr, Thank you very much for your comment. To be honest, that's a difficult question since I do not have any (measurement) data to back up my claim. My feeling is that yes, having the additional SSB filter in place leads to less of "bleed-over" from strong channel adjacent RF signals. However, since I can not back this "feeling" up with measurement data I'm reluctant to make a clear recommendation (sorry). vy 73 de Alex, OE5LXR




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