[amsat-bb] External Tone Encoder to substitute for FTS-8 on Yaesu FT736R etc

[Alan Thoren <ve4yz@xxxxxxx>]

Hi all...

The FTS-8 Yaesu tone board is no longer available.  However, eBay
occasionally has them for sale in the $150 to $200US range - well above
their original cost.

I have googled the web for alternatives without success.  There are several
commercial external tone modules available for less than the FTS-8 auction
prices.

Has anyone successfully used an external tone on something like a FT736r and
do you have a wiring diagram for switching it on/off with the mic and where
the tone should be inserted into the FT736r circuitry?  Some comments on the
web suggest that it can NOT be inserted into the mic circuit as filtering
down the line prior to transmission effects it adversely but rather into
where a packet signal might be.

An alternative would be an out right clone or reverse engineered board to
substitute for the FTS-8.  As they are out of production I'm not sure that
I'm suggesting anything illegal :-)

Any and all suggestions welcome...thanks
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