Yaesu FT-710 AESS + fldigi Setup Guide
Complete setup for Olivia and other digital modes. The FT-710 is Yaesu's compact SDR transceiver with built-in USB audio and CAT control using FTDI drivers.
Quick Reference
| USB Connection | USB-B (rear panel) - CAT + audio + PTT |
| Driver Type | FTDI VCP (not Silicon Labs) |
| Hamlib Rig Number | 1036 |
| Baud Rate | 19200 |
| Stop Bits | 2 (FT-710 requirement) |
| PTT Method | CAT only (recommended) |
1. USB Connection Overview
The FT-710 includes a built-in USB-B port on the rear panel that provides:
- CAT control (radio command/frequency control)
- Audio input/output (digital mode audio)
- PTT control via DTR/RTS signals
Cable Requirements
USB 2.0 A-to-B cable (standard printer cable), 3m max for stability. Add ferrite clamp near radio to reduce RF interference.
2. Driver Installation
Windows 11
- Download FTDI VCP Drivers from ftdichip.com
- Download "CDM v2.12.28.4" or latest (Windows 11 compatible)
- Extract to folder, run installer as Administrator
- Connect FT-710 via USB
- Verify in Device Manager: "USB Serial Port (COM#)" appears
Alternative: Windows 11 may auto-detect FTDI drivers. Check Device Manager under "Ports (COM & LPT)".
macOS
- Download from ftdichip.com (select macOS version)
- Supports Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)
- May require approval in System Preferences (Big Sur+)
- Verify:
ls /dev/tty.usb*should show/dev/tty.usbserial-XXXXX
Linux
Most distributions have FTDI drivers built-in (no installation needed).
Verify: lsusb | grep -i ftdi and dmesg | tail -20
Check permissions:
ls -la /dev/ttyUSB*
sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER3. fldigi Configuration
Audio Device Selection
- Menu: Soundcard → Devices
- Capture (Input): Select "Yaesu FT-710" or "FT710 Audio"
- Playback (Output): Select same device
- Sample rate: 48000 Hz, Bit depth: 16-bit
Rig Control Settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Rig Type | Yaesu FT-710 or Hamlib #1036 |
| Comm Port | COM3 (Windows) or /dev/ttyUSB0 (Linux) |
| Baud Rate | 19200 |
| Data Bits | 8 |
| Stop Bits | 2 (FT-710 requirement) |
| Handshake | None |
| RTS/CTS Flow Control | Disabled |
PTT Method
Option 1: CAT Only (Recommended)
- PTT Method: CAT only
- CAT Timeout: 20ms (or 50ms if flaky)
- Uses radio's CAT protocol exclusively - most reliable
Option 2: DTR Line
- PTT Method: DTR
- RTS: Disabled, DTR: Enabled
4. Radio Settings
Select DATA Mode
- Press MODE button on radio
- Select DATA (not SSB, not AM)
- Confirm selection
DATA Menu Settings
| Menu Item | Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Data Mode | USB | Upper sideband data |
| Data Offset | OFF (0 Hz) | If using AF input |
| Data Gain | 50-70 | Input level from fldigi |
| Data Bandwidth | WIDE (2.4 kHz) | Typical for fldigi modes |
| Data Port Source | USB | Routes audio from USB |
Function Menu Settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| USB Audio | ON |
| RX Out Select | USB |
| TX In Select | USB |
| USB Keying | ON |
Audio Level Adjustment
- Start fldigi TX slider at 50%
- Key PTT and observe modulation
- TX Modulation Meter should peak at 50-75%
- Adjust fldigi TX slider or radio Data Gain as needed
5. Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Radio Not Recognized (Device Not Found)
- Rescan for hardware changes in Device Manager
- Reinstall FTDI drivers (download fresh from ftdichip.com)
- Try different USB port (avoid USB 3.0 hubs, use motherboard port)
- Update FT-710 firmware from Yaesu website
No RX Audio in fldigi
- Verify FT-710 USB Audio menu is ON
- Check Windows/macOS volume mixer - FT-710 device unmuted
- fldigi Soundcard: Capture device matches USB device
- Radio RX Out Select set to USB (not headphone/speaker)
PTT Not Keying Radio
- Verify CAT connection by changing VFO frequency in fldigi
- Try "CAT only" PTT method first
- Confirm baud rate matches (19200)
- Download latest FT-710 firmware from Yaesu
Weak Transmit Signal
- Start fldigi TX slider at 50%
- Adjust radio Data Gain to 60%
- Watch modulation meter while transmitting
- Trim fldigi slider to peak at 75-85% modulation
6. Official Documentation
- Yaesu FT-710 Product Page - Manuals, firmware, ADMS software
- FTDI VCP Drivers
- fldigi Wiki - Rig Control
- Hamlib Supported Radios
Pre-Flight Checklist
- FT-710 connected via USB, device appears in Device Manager
- FTDI drivers installed (Windows/macOS) or confirmed (Linux)
- fldigi Rig: FT-710 selected, Hamlib 1036, baud 19200, stop bits 2
- fldigi Soundcard: Capture and Playback set to FT-710
- fldigi PTT: CAT only method selected
- FT-710 Mode: DATA (not SSB)
- FT-710 Menu: USB Audio ON, RX Out Select USB, TX In Select USB
- Test CAT: Change frequency in fldigi, verify radio updates
- Test PTT: Click PTT in fldigi, verify radio TX light activates
- Test Audio: Tune signal, verify in fldigi waterfall