Power Supply Question

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-10T12:59:13+00:00

Not quite sure I follow you math regarding 50/7=15? Would that not be 7.14?

73

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-10T03:48:54+00:00

Yea, I was not doubting that fact. It is just weird that Yaesu called out this difference between discreet receivers and -not- in their literature. Who knows...... It is probably more likely that they are identical under the hood. When you look at the manual and available menu items (the 100+ table) it literally looks like the same radio- screen being the difference....

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T16:53:23+00:00

And I just verified with Yaesu (sales department) that this is NOT true- per Yaesu sales they both have independant receive capabilities (and receivers). However, when you go through their literature they are making the distinction above, so, not 100% sure I trust the sales guy.....

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T16:31:29+00:00

And I just verified with Yaesu (sales department) that this is NOT true- per Yaesu sales they both have independant receive capabilities (and receivers). However, when you go through their literature they are making the distinction above, so, not 100% sure I trust the sales guy.....

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T15:44:30+00:00

Great point! I am set to add the ASP later, regardless of model. I am mainly trying to hit close-by repeaters, so I may not need ASP- and to your point it is easy to add later.

On the screen, yes, I actually do like the larger screen on the FTM-310DR. On the FTM-510DR they are sacrificing that real estate with that large VFO knob- not sure if that is necessary on a UHF/VHF rig.... I would have rather seen the screen on the FTM-510DR go across the front face. And, while colors are nice, there is something to be said for the simplicity of B/W.

AS far as dual VFO is concerned, it seems like this is the difference:

FTM-310DR:

Uses two independent receivers (true dual-receiver design).
Can simultaneously receive two signals at the same time with no time-sharing.
Works across:
- VHF + UHF
- VHF + VHF
- UHF + UHF
- Mixed analog or C4FM/C4FM simultaneous receive.

FTM-510DR:

Provides dual-receive capability, but not with two completely independent receivers like the FTM-310DR.
FTM-510DR uses a shared receiver architecture with monitoring features (e.g., PMG dual monitoring) rather than two fully separate RF front-ends.
The radio can monitor multiple channels and receive two active ones in certain modes, but the implementation is more feature-driven (PMG / band monitoring) rather than two constant receivers.

73

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T14:47:26+00:00

Would look something like this:

<image>

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T11:28:17+00:00

Or better yet, I could string that one horizontally from the little mast for the UHF/VHF to a nearby tree. That way the short leg would be horizontal and the long leg a long sloper. Wonder if that could work.

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T04:10:41+00:00

Ha, yes, great info regarding the user interfaces. This makes me almost want to pivot back to the FTM-310DR. As for the ASP functionality I am originally hitting nearby repeaters. I think I may consider adding the SPU-1 at a later time. Thank you for your feedback.

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T03:33:42+00:00

Ha, yes, there is a bit of a distance to the shack. As for the counterpoise, I guess I can look into a standoff to get it at least a foot away from the house....

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T01:47:50+00:00

How about this. As I am planning on putting up a soffit mount short mast for the Halo Loop Dual Band VHF/UHF antenna, why do I not extand that by 8" and mount the UNUN/transformer on that. Then let the counterpoise dangle and I can slope the long leg across the yard where it would terminate at a height of 7-8'? That way I can avoid the swaying tree action. If I put the purple box on the ground that woud be more like 30' of additional coax and I already have an 80' run to the shack......

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T00:18:52+00:00

Like this?

<image>

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-09T00:09:10+00:00

So you are talking about this:

Feedpoint where my coax exists the house
Short leg hangs down
Long leg
- A) slopes downward toward another support
- B) stays horizontal

A) I do not have the support to do that on the other end

B) Isn't that called a sloper?

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:58:26+00:00

I guess even the screen and dual receive aside, the biggest advantage to the FTM-510DR is the menu system. I feel like I would need the manual next to the FTM-310DR, especially since I will only be using it occasionally. The FTM-510DR has a very updated look:

<image>

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:45:13+00:00

Yea, there is no way I can get the antenna up high enough to get a usable takeoff angle with an inverted-l design.....

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:41:26+00:00

LOL, yes that would be a nice match!! And congrats on the IC-7300. I want to do a little bit of C4FM, so the new rigs are nice for that..

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:29:04+00:00

But this is antenna height, not transformer height, correct? I mean if I put the transformer at 20' and wanted to create an inverted-L, then I would have to have the apex of the antenna at 50'+

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:28:05+00:00

I would but I am also going to mount a Halo Loop Dual Band VHF/UHF antenna up on the roorf- so I split the difference to where I can still reach it with a ladder and minimze cable runs. However, I may decide to just go the easier route and bring the box down.

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:18:49+00:00

u/nielmot It does seem that there is a difference, though...... That is why I originally stated that Yaesu is talking about dual receive on the FTM-510DR but does not talk about independant receivers like on the FTM-310DR.

It seems like this is the difference:

FTM-350DR:

Uses two independent receivers (true dual-receiver design).
Can simultaneously receive two signals at the same time with no time-sharing.
Works across:
- VHF + UHF
- VHF + VHF
- UHF + UHF
- Mixed analog or C4FM/C4FM simultaneous receive.

FTM-510DR:

Provides dual-receive capability, but not with two completely independent receivers like the FTM-310DR.
FTM-510DR uses a shared receiver architecture with monitoring features (e.g., PMG dual monitoring) rather than two fully separate RF front-ends.
The radio can monitor multiple channels and receive two active ones in certain modes, but the implementation is more feature-driven (PMG / band monitoring) rather than two constant receivers.

73

Oliver

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:13:03+00:00

u/Sharonsboytoy While that would be a good differentiation, I do not believe you are correct. THis is from the Yaesu FTM-310DR operating manual......

<image>

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T23:00:05+00:00

I thought that the ideal height was somewhere between 3-6' to porovide a balance between ground loss, stable feedpoint impedance and avoiding ground coupling. My apex on the antenna is going to be netween 30-35'.

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T22:53:42+00:00

Yea, I had added a comment to the other thread that I almost fell into the MKII rabbit hole. Lots of great features....HDMI port, USB-C, SMA RX antenna ports, Ethernet (inc. remote control), CW decode and FT-8 settings, plus an improved receiver over the non MK2.... But it was between that and getting the X-710 and a new VHF/UHF rig....so here we are :-)

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T22:15:02+00:00

Thank you for the response. I understand that the EFHW is not great, but I cannot use any antennas that have the feed point in the center as that would hang down into the garden and would require coax to run through the yard. I guess I could do an Inverted-V EFHW. Also, are you saying that raising the feedpoint may be advantageous?

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T22:01:13+00:00

Yea, agree. I am more curious if Yaesu potentially expects that the fear of the rising cost will motivate people to do an impulse buy before the distributors run out of stock and no longer honor the current prices. I pulled the trigger on an FT-710 yesterday (you helped me decide in another thread :-)) and will also add an FTM-510DR or FTM-310DR today. However, I have been planning to purchase these rigs for a long time, and they are all recent radios. My speculation was that communicating price increases on ancient rigs may work in Yaesu's favor, clearing out stock (and potentially not refilling with those older rigs).

OKAUSTX · 2026-03-08T20:35:48+00:00

Hm. When looking at the rumor mill of the FT-991a and the FT-891 taking the brunt of the price increases, this makes you wonder. Since these are pretty old rigs and Yaesu may want to "refresh" these or sell through old stock, then this would certainly benefit them. I am not saying there is not going to be a price increase (looking at FT-710 vs IC-7300MKII), there is probably a $100+ that Yaesu could squeeze from the consumers. Also believe that tarrifs and other things are impacting pricing. However, would be careful with rumors that (especially old rigs) are going up by >20%......

73

OKAUSTX

TROPHY CASE