I have seen a few people getting the dreaded Unknown USB Device (Device descriptor Request Failed) error when connecting their Yaesu FT5 to their PC. I should start by saying the supplied USB cable (YAESU SBR-36-MU) is for FIRMWARE updates ONLY. You will still need the SCU-57 for programming the radio. The PL2303 driver is also for the SCU-57. If you want to program the radio without the SCU-57 you will need to use an SD card.

Firmware update steps:

1. Remove the battery from the radio.
2. Move the switch on the back of the radio to the "Update" position.
3. Plug the USB cable into the radio and your PC.
4. Install the drivers (they are on the Yaesu website).
5. Connect the power to the radio.
6. When you are in the firmware update mode you will see the update screen, open the firmware update software. You can ignore COM port and Baud rate settings — just run UPDATE.
7. Wait. The software will look like it is not doing anything at first but it is. Wait a good couple of minutes and you will see it start to update.
8. When it is done, you're finished.

The manual is as unhelpful as ever, but hopefully these steps help you get your FT5 updated. Good luck!

5 core screened 22AWG 2547 cable: https://bit.ly/3mMJdox

If you are experiencing RTX 3080 crashes to black screen while playing ARK Survival Evolved, here are 12 things to try:

1. Update your GPU drivers — make sure you have the latest drivers from Nvidia.
2. Update your OS and motherboard firmware — ensure Windows and BIOS are up to date.
3. Disable antivirus and GPU software — temporarily disable any overlay or monitoring software.
4. Monitor your temperatures — use HWMonitor to check GPU and CPU temps.
5. Run a hardware diagnostic — test your RAM and GPU for errors.
6. Use proper power cables — do not use adapters or daisy-chain cables.
7. 1000W PSU is barely enough — the RTX 3080 has massive power spikes.
8. Lower your game settings — especially shadows and textures.
9. Verify game files — use Steam to verify ARK's installation.
10. Use a single monitor — multi-monitor setups can cause issues.
11. Remove USB graphics adapters — these can conflict with the GPU.
12. Reinstall the game — ARK is 475GB, a fresh install may help.

I experienced this issue for a whole month before finding a fix. Hopefully one of these steps helps you.

15 way D-Sub to 3.5mm Jack Plug and 8 Pin DIN. Use at your own risk as always — you are licensed for a reason.

What is Wide-banding?

Wide-banding or MARS-MOD is the process of modifying a radio to transmit outside its originally designed frequency range. This is often done to allow amateur radios to operate on other services such as MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) or CAP (Civil Air Patrol).

LAW Issues

Modifying a radio for wide-banding may violate your licence conditions. In the UK, Ofcom regulates radio communications and any modification that causes the radio to operate outside its type-approved parameters is illegal. NOVs (Notices of Variation) in the UK allow certain exceptions but wide-banding is not typically covered.

DAMAGE Risks

Wide-banding can damage your radio in several ways: the transmitter may produce spurious emissions, the receiver may become desensitised, the front-end filters may be overloaded, and the power amplifier may be damaged by operating into a high SWR on frequencies it was not designed for.

MARS CAP Explained

MARS and CAP are US organisations that allow amateur radio operators to communicate on certain military frequencies during emergencies. Some operators modify their radios to access these frequencies.

FREEBANDING Explained

Freebanding refers to operating on frequencies between the amateur radio bands and CB radio (11 metres) without a licence. This is illegal in most countries.

CB / 11Mtrs

CB radio operates on 27 MHz (11 metres) and does not require a licence in the UK. Some modified amateur radios can operate on these frequencies but doing so with a modified radio is likely illegal.

IS LISTENING LEGAL?

Ofcom guidance on listening to transmissions can be found on their website. Generally, listening is legal but acting on what you hear or transmitting without authorisation is not.

Conclusion

Weigh the benefits of wide-banding against the risks. Seek expert advice and always comply with the law in your jurisdiction.

An easy to make, simple amp cable to hook up an amplifier or other device that needs a PTT hook up. Just ensure you do not exceed the permitted current limit of the FT-450, FT-450D, FT-950, FTDX-10, FTDX-1200.

Questions to ask yourself when choosing an RF Explorer spectrum analyser:

• Frequency range needed — what frequencies do you work with?
• Sensitivity and accuracy requirements — how precise do you need to be?
• What measurements do you need to take? — spectrum analysis, tracking generator, etc.
• Handheld vs computer-based — do you need portability?
• Budget — how much are you willing to spend?

Visit rf-explorer.com for more information on their range of products.

Step-by-step guide to wideband the Xiegu X6100:

1. Plug the radio USB C into your PC.
2. Download Tera Term.
3. Find the port numbers in Device Manager.
4. Open Tera Term with the correct settings.
5. Reboot the radio to see the boot text.
6. Type "root" and password "123".
7. Run nano /etc/xgradio/xgradio.conf.
8. Scroll to [mods] and find fullband-tx=dissable.
9. Change dissable to enable.
10. Press CTRL+S to save, then CTRL+X to exit.
11. Restart the radio.
12. You should now see F-TX in red on the display.

Check your local regulations before operating on any frequency!

A Short History

ARK Survival Evolved launched in early access in 2014 and was officially released in 2017. The game has faced controversies over microtransactions but remains one of the most popular survival games available.

Official Maps

• The Island
• Scorched Earth
• Aberration
• Extinction
• The Center
• Ragnarok
• Valguero
• Crystal Isles
• Lost Island
• Fjordur

There are also many user-created maps available via the Steam Workshop.