I have wanted to do a MARS mod on my FT-60 for a couple years now and have watched several videos on the subject but never felt confident enough to attempt it. Your video, however, was so well done and well explained that I finally felt okay giving it a go. And it went perfectly! 100% success. Initially I thought I might have had a problem when I keyed up an FRS frequency to test it out the signal, it had a massive amount of screeching and squealing. I was using the factory antenna and had already been warned that this might happen with that antenna. So I swapped it out with a Diamond SRH77CA and got full quieting. Many thanks and job well done on the video!
Long time subscriber of you, tried doing this on my second FT60 and had the squelching issue. I was freaking out that I might have bricked my radio until I saw your comment here. I wonder if its an issue on newer FT60's. My older FT60 has no issues with factory antenna.
This was very well done. Very step-by-step, with time to talk about what to expect. Lots of information. Very patient. Good photography. Love this. Thank you.
MARS/CAP mod gets its name -- as you explained -- for making the modifications to a radio to let it transmit in other than the amateur radio bands. MARS was a service whereby amateurs were secunded to the military to pass messages and traffic. It was principally HF. CAP -- Civil Air Patrol -- is the USAF Auxiliary and does have a VHF component to its communications service. The channels devoted to CAP are roughly around the amateur two meter band. In the old days, CAP allowed modified amateur (Part 97) gear to be used on their channels but not any more since they are governed by NTIA.
Back for another reference view to do another one. Better safe than sorry. Had an odd situation occur. Bought an older used radio, took it all apart and after looking with my loop, it had already been modded! Felt pretty silly that I didn't check the radio first.
I just bought one of these for GMRS use, so I will be performing this mod as soon as it arrives. I have done the mod before on Yaesu VX-1R and VX-5R radios, so I don't expect any issues. Thanks for the video.
Thank you very much for making this video it’s extremely detailed I have modified a handful of these radios for friends I do not do it often enough to remember so I really like having your video to refer back to I hope anyone doing this procedure knows how to tighten and loosen nuts/screws, I did get a laugh over your lefty Lucy righty tighty comment haven’t heard that in a while 👍🏽
I couldn't help but notice that the final test wasn't a TX from the Yaesu, but from the Motorola. I thought that point was that the Yaesu could now transmit on those frequencies. Am I missing something here?
@orbiquity, He probably knows exactly what he's doing, knowing full well that his modification violates FCC rules, as the radio is only type-certified for amateur radio use. Any use transmitting out of band is illegal.
Hell yes.. Thank you! 🙏 Anybody who is doing this just take your time walk away ect. Plenty of light, magnifying glass.. Re-watch this video. I did it and it was my first time messing with electronics. Note you can buy them already modified both from distributors and on eBay.. I took the risks $50..
Both the MARS and CAP organizations are granted some frequencies within the spectrum that are blocked for US DOD use only. Special permissions must be granted to utilize these frequencies, and that entails being a member of one of these two organizations. Also some authorized (meaning they fall under the command of the states adjutant general) state defense forces, or state guards are also granted some frequencies by the individual state military departments on a case by case method.
Thank you for this tutorial, it is really easy to follow and I might gather the courage to do it on my good old FT-60R. One little thing, though. You don't need the mod in order to tune that freq. You can totally tune and RX 462.5625 MHz on an unmodded radio, like mine. It is needed, though, if you want to TX on that freq. I'm sure you are aware of that, and your test was on RX just to cover your back ;) ... Am I right? Anyway, 73 and thanks again!
Yes, you are correct. Unmodded FT-60 can receive on those frequencies, but will display "ERROR" if you try to TX. This mod unlocks the ability to transmit. Which of course should only be done in a life or death situation and not used recreationally 😉
@17:31 you show the factory specs of the receive being UHF/VHF 137mhz to 520mhz @18:09 you show the ft-60r receiving a signal from the frs radio transmission on ch.1 462.562mhz you are showing the ft-60r receiving but not transmitting on 462.562mhz but the factory specs show that the ft-60r can already receive on 462.562mhz without the mod. why not show it being able to transmit on 462.562mhz? showing it transmit is something the ft-60r should not be able to do without the mod but it can already receive that frequency without being mod
Are you able to clearly transmit with low/med/high power on FRS channels? It seems some channels transmit clearly on low while other work on med or high. I hear feedback/screeching on powers that don't work. Have tried with multiple FRS to test.
@@gary0228 I have found out that the answer is the FT-60 can receive AM on 108 to 137 MHz, but even with the mod, it will not TRANSMIT on Airband AM. Bummer. I wish for a radio that I can use while in flight that does TX AND RX on both Ham and Air bands. Darn.
Hello, when you say this mod will delete ALL your programming, does that mean all the public service channels will be lost as well? Weather, etc? Please let me know. Thank you
Given that I can't remember which way is which, this mod will BRICK your radio in terms of stored frequencies and other magic. If you program with the RKS software, make a "safety" copy of the radio before you start this, and I think you have to reload that first, before trying to use the mod. Apparently the board doesn't recognize the updated firmware until it finds a code in the file to tell it to honor the update. My FT60 is more than ten years old. Right about when the price dropped to just under $200.... My VX150 poofed - turned out to be a bad keypad and some other minor stuff. I sent the radio to Yaesu for service, and the service mangler (that's not a typo) called me to tell me it'd be cheaper to buy a new one - AES and HRO had 'em on sale for about 100. Or grab the FT60R at about $200. I went for the FT60R. No regrets. Don't tell my wife that I was able to fix the old VX150. Both of them share batteries and other accessories. Only one working battery anymore [grin]. I did the original MARS/CAP mod for the VX150 way back when, and the FT60 is a tad easier, although YMMV, depending on your experience with the surface mounted parts. In my case, some conductive silver paint was a good idea. My hands weren't (still aren't) steady enough to fix that without the paint. You can wrap a little bit of #12 wire around your soldering iron tip and get in there (on the FT60R) easily enough to just warm one end of the resistor enough to pop it off with a sharp instrument. Or throw all caution to the wind and break the fool thing with a slightly stiffer knife. On the VX150, there's a trace or other need to require a paint jumper - I forget why. The FT60 has nothing under the resistor. If you're nuts, put a fine dental tool into a moto-tool and cut it in half.... Naturally, I just discovered the Baofeng.... A new battery for either Yaesu costs about twice the price of the Baofeng.... And the Baofeng includes a "desk charger".... Regards, Stu K8LEA
Just so you know....a "bricked" radio is one that is unrecoverable. No amount of anything be it software or hardware can make it work ever again. I think in this case it would be more accurate to say that all memory was either cleared or reset.
If you have not already discovered, the 65 has a code that you can find on the www that allows the mars mod without opening the radio or making any physical changes. It is done in seconds by simply inputting the code. Works great and is a brilliant improvement to the operation required for the ft 60. th-cam.com/video/ztFA_ckgnxo/w-d-xo.html
People. seriously, if your going to do this mod, STEER CLEAR of the razor blade method. Why hams are so cheap and cannot afford the right tools is beyond me.
@@GringoFusilero Tools. Soldering station, and fine tip, plus magnifying glass stand, and light heat and swipe off. Easy if your hands don't shake. Use rosin, the actual rosin, not cheap crap, first on the solder, a small dab, then they come off easy.
Eye-On-Stuff - where can I check for a mod to transmit on the 800 band??? My friend has a tiny ham (I believe it’s baofeng, can’t be sure) that transmits over the entire spectrum. How is this done, AND will this MARS CAP mod somehow interfere with that mod if it’s ever done?
I have wanted to do a MARS mod on my FT-60 for a couple years now and have watched several videos on the subject but never felt confident enough to attempt it. Your video, however, was so well done and well explained that I finally felt okay giving it a go. And it went perfectly! 100% success. Initially I thought I might have had a problem when I keyed up an FRS frequency to test it out the signal, it had a massive amount of screeching and squealing. I was using the factory antenna and had already been warned that this might happen with that antenna. So I swapped it out with a Diamond SRH77CA and got full quieting. Many thanks and job well done on the video!
I’ve had my FT 60 since 2017. I just found this video and made it real simple. I did my mod and my radio works great as well. Good job on the video.
Long time subscriber of you, tried doing this on my second FT60 and had the squelching issue. I was freaking out that I might have bricked my radio until I saw your comment here. I wonder if its an issue on newer FT60's. My older FT60 has no issues with factory antenna.
Thanks. I just did it using your tutorial. I found it easier to use a precision flathead to remove the resistor, however!
This is the only competent example of modding, the Yaesu FT-60 that I have seen. And this video you actually display (clearly) the component.
This was very well done. Very step-by-step, with time to talk about what to expect. Lots of information. Very patient. Good photography. Love this. Thank you.
Thank you very much!! Folks like you are really the best thing about the Internet.
Thanks! Everyone else online says “nOO dOnT dO iT iTS iLLeGaL” but this was helpful!
MARS/CAP mod gets its name -- as you explained -- for making the modifications to a radio to let it transmit in other than the amateur radio bands. MARS was a service whereby amateurs were secunded to the military to pass messages and traffic. It was principally HF. CAP -- Civil Air Patrol -- is the USAF Auxiliary and does have a VHF component to its communications service. The channels devoted to CAP are roughly around the amateur two meter band. In the old days, CAP allowed modified amateur (Part 97) gear to be used on their channels but not any more since they are governed by NTIA.
Gracias. Quedo perfecto, funcionando al 100%. Graciasssss
Back for another reference view to do another one. Better safe than sorry. Had an odd situation occur. Bought an older used radio, took it all apart and after looking with my loop, it had already been modded! Felt pretty silly that I didn't check the radio first.
I just bought one of these for GMRS use, so I will be performing this mod as soon as it arrives. I have done the mod before on Yaesu VX-1R and VX-5R radios, so I don't expect any issues. Thanks for the video.
Thank you very much for making this video it’s extremely detailed I have modified a handful of these radios for friends I do not do it often enough to remember so I really like having your video to refer back to I hope anyone doing this procedure knows how to tighten and loosen nuts/screws, I did get a laugh over your lefty Lucy righty tighty comment haven’t heard that in a while 👍🏽
Woah, that thing is as small as a fine grain of sand. Thanks for the video. 👍
great video.
might think about a better grade of snap-ring pliers for the two nuts?
now to buy the radio.
Piece of cake. Thanks!
I couldn't help but notice that the final test wasn't a TX from the Yaesu, but from the Motorola. I thought that point was that the Yaesu could now transmit on those frequencies. Am I missing something here?
@orbiquity, He probably knows exactly what he's doing, knowing full well that his modification violates FCC rules, as the radio is only type-certified for amateur radio use. Any use transmitting out of band is illegal.
This was nice! - i will get my FT-60 next week, used, will do the mod! - thnx, 73, Levi in Sweden
The belt clip doesn’t have to be removed at all to disassemble one of these.
You are correct! I kinda got used to removing it as part of a full disassembly. Thanks for the comment.
Hell yes.. Thank you! 🙏
Anybody who is doing this just take your time walk away ect. Plenty of light, magnifying glass.. Re-watch this video. I did it and it was my first time messing with electronics.
Note you can buy them already modified both from distributors and on eBay.. I took the risks $50..
Thank you for watching!
Very detailed, worked great. Thank you!
Both the MARS and CAP organizations are granted some frequencies within the spectrum that are blocked for US DOD use only. Special permissions must be granted to utilize these frequencies, and that entails being a member of one of these two organizations. Also some authorized (meaning they fall under the command of the states adjutant general) state defense forces, or state guards are also granted some frequencies by the individual state military departments on a case by case method.
Excellent tutorial. Needed a magnifying glass but it worked fine. Thanks.
It worked. Thank you!
Thank you for this tutorial, it is really easy to follow and I might gather the courage to do it on my good old FT-60R. One little thing, though. You don't need the mod in order to tune that freq. You can totally tune and RX 462.5625 MHz on an unmodded radio, like mine. It is needed, though, if you want to TX on that freq. I'm sure you are aware of that, and your test was on RX just to cover your back ;) ... Am I right?
Anyway, 73 and thanks again!
Just wow 🤦🏻♂️
Yes, you are correct. Unmodded FT-60 can receive on those frequencies, but will display "ERROR" if you try to TX. This mod unlocks the ability to transmit. Which of course should only be done in a life or death situation and not used recreationally 😉
@17:31 you show the factory specs of the receive being UHF/VHF 137mhz to 520mhz
@18:09 you show the ft-60r receiving a signal from the frs radio transmission on ch.1 462.562mhz
you are showing the ft-60r receiving but not transmitting on 462.562mhz but the factory specs show that the ft-60r can already receive on 462.562mhz without the mod. why not show it being able to transmit on 462.562mhz?
showing it transmit is something the ft-60r should not be able to do without the mod but it can already receive that frequency without being mod
Worked like a charm
Excellent work!
Great tutorial!!
I did this mod and it opened up the GMRS frequencies but I am getting a communication error when I try to download from RT Systems. Any suggestions?
Great video! Thanks!
Well done!
Are you able to clearly transmit with low/med/high power on FRS channels? It seems some channels transmit clearly on low while other work on med or high. I hear feedback/screeching on powers that don't work. Have tried with multiple FRS to test.
I had the same problem using the stock antenna. I bought a diamond srh77ca antenna and then it worked great.
@@oliverdeshler Thanks, good to know.
will this let me listen to FM music radio like in my car?
There is no need to take out the two black upper screws in the battery compartment.
Does anyone know of a video for this on the FT-70dr?
My question to you fellow viewers: how many flics did it take for you to take it off?
Why not desolder the component? It is incredibly simple and reversible if you ever want to restore the radio to the original state.
Will this mod open up Tx for MURS 151.xxx frequencies?
Yes, it should. Thanks for watching.
I couldn't even see what I had to remove on my radio I put it all back together without mod
Thanks! Does this mod allow you to broadcast also on Airband frequencies, 108 to 137 MHz?
Those use AM, im not sure a FT-60 can even use AM but I may be mistaken
@@gary0228 I have found out that the answer is the FT-60 can receive AM on 108 to 137 MHz, but even with the mod, it will not TRANSMIT on Airband AM. Bummer. I wish for a radio that I can use while in flight that does TX AND RX on both Ham and Air bands. Darn.
Thank you!
Hello, when you say this mod will delete ALL your programming, does that mean all the public service channels will be lost as well? Weather, etc? Please let me know. Thank you
It does a factory reset.
Given that I can't remember which way is which, this mod will BRICK your radio in terms of stored frequencies and other magic. If you program with the RKS software, make a "safety" copy of the radio before you start this, and I think you have to reload that first, before trying to use the mod. Apparently the board doesn't recognize the updated firmware until it finds a code in the file to tell it to honor the update.
My FT60 is more than ten years old. Right about when the price dropped to just under $200.... My VX150 poofed - turned out to be a bad keypad and some other minor stuff. I sent the radio to Yaesu for service, and the service mangler (that's not a typo) called me to tell me it'd be cheaper to buy a new one - AES and HRO had 'em on sale for about 100. Or grab the FT60R at about $200. I went for the FT60R. No regrets. Don't tell my wife that I was able to fix the old VX150. Both of them share batteries and other accessories. Only one working battery anymore [grin].
I did the original MARS/CAP mod for the VX150 way back when, and the FT60 is a tad easier, although YMMV, depending on your experience with the surface mounted parts. In my case, some conductive silver paint was a good idea. My hands weren't (still aren't) steady enough to fix that without the paint.
You can wrap a little bit of #12 wire around your soldering iron tip and get in there (on the FT60R) easily enough to just warm one end of the resistor enough to pop it off with a sharp instrument. Or throw all caution to the wind and break the fool thing with a slightly stiffer knife. On the VX150, there's a trace or other need to require a paint jumper - I forget why. The FT60 has nothing under the resistor. If you're nuts, put a fine dental tool into a moto-tool and cut it in half....
Naturally, I just discovered the Baofeng.... A new battery for either Yaesu costs about twice the price of the Baofeng.... And the Baofeng includes a "desk charger"....
Regards,
Stu K8LEA
Just so you know....a "bricked" radio is one that is unrecoverable. No amount of anything be it software or hardware can make it work ever again. I think in this case it would be more accurate to say that all memory was either cleared or reset.
Thanks alot I just bought radio yesterday and removed the restisor and now it won't turn on
Chewbacca The pig shure you removed the right component?
@@edvardgjertsen3939 positive
Now its junk. Send it to me. I'll pay shipping.
Hi! Nice video and amazing explanation! I have a question: this work in the FT-65R? Thanks!!!!
If you have not already discovered, the 65 has a code that you can find on the www that allows the mars mod without opening the radio or making any physical changes. It is done in seconds by simply inputting the code. Works great and is a brilliant improvement to the operation required for the ft 60. th-cam.com/video/ztFA_ckgnxo/w-d-xo.html
After this MOD, the radio becomes Tri-Band? What about the quality transmission/reception in 1.25m (219MHz - 225MHz)?
Oh it just kills me to see pulling that off with a razor blade. I'ma do this today but use desoldering (hot) tweezers to do it.
Thanks, I was successful
Easy peasy.
well done! nice tutorial btw. i'll give it a try. ON3MM
Thanks for watching!
People. seriously, if your going to do this mod, STEER CLEAR of the razor blade method. Why hams are so cheap and cannot afford the right tools is beyond me.
What’s the proper tool?
@@GringoFusilero Tools. Soldering station, and fine tip, plus magnifying glass stand, and light heat and swipe off. Easy if your hands don't shake. Use rosin, the actual rosin, not cheap crap, first on the solder, a small dab, then they come off easy.
Cutting the circuit board trace to the resistor is much quicker, and easier!!! just don't cut too deep! :) ~~~ !!!Proceed at your own risk!! ~~~
I was wondering why this wasn't the suggested method, it seems so much easier to do.
Tnx by KD2PNV
Thank you!
Thank you!
Its a disposable "snappy Knife" not a Razor blade. Razor blades are for shaving your face and other hairy bits. Sorry, from a UK Ham.
Thanks for watching
Eye-On-Stuff - where can I check for a mod to transmit on the 800 band??? My friend has a tiny ham (I believe it’s baofeng, can’t be sure) that transmits over the entire spectrum. How is this done, AND will this MARS CAP mod somehow interfere with that mod if it’s ever done?