I have a Yaesu FT-891 as well as the Digirig device (NOT the newer DR-891) with proper cables. I have successfully used this set up with WSJT-x for FT8 and FT4, however my goal now is to try out RTTY. I have installed fldigi and flrig, but beyond trying to play around with settings I have not had any luck. My laptop has two USB ports, one of which is dedicated to my wireless mouse. I purchased a powered USB hub so that I could connect both the Digirig and a USB cable to the FT-891. My assumption is that I connect the Audio cable from the FT-891 ACC port to the Digirig then connect the Digirig to the laptop. Then connect a USB cable from the FT-891 to the laptop so I have CAT control for PTT and other comms. Can someone validate that this is the correct way to make the connections? Also, are there any instructions on configuring the FT-891 for RTTY mode using the Digirig and maybe for fldigi as well? Thanks in advance for any feedback.
i can only help with one of the questions 
however you setup the radio for ft8/4 is the way you’ll set it up for audio driven RTTY.
so if you put the radio in usb and acc audio, then it’s the same.
(sorry i don’t have an ft-891)
you’re basically just using fldigi instead of wsjt-x to create audio tones for rtty.
so looking at your wsjt-x setup, try using the same values in fldigi.
you can skip the flrig portion for the time being, choose no rig or something like that.
(ham radio deluxe old version guy so not up on fldigi options)
same sound device in/out
same comport to drive ptt
obviously, manually tune the radio to get the rtty signal in the ‘waterfall’.
good luck
kb0wlf
Thank you for your response, I was hoping the same configuration for FTx modes was the same for RTTY. I’ve been going through fldigi and flrig settings so I’ll focus on that now. I’ve found lots of videos online so hopefully I can get things set up right. Again, I appreciate your help!
I was unable to get the FLDIGI software to key the radio this weekend as I tried different settings. Note that I have NOT installed FLRIG. I believe my powered USB hub is not working right, so I have removed this as well as the USB cable from the setup. Going back to how I have the Digirig set up for FT8/FT4, I simply have the black cord (Audio) connected from the 6 pin jack on the back of the FT-891 to the Digirig, then the USB cable from the Digirig to the USB port on my laptop. With this setup and using WSJT-x software, I am able to operate FT8/FT4 and the radio is keyed properly.
I’m wondering if I connect the Green plug cable (Serial) to the 8 pin jack on the back of the FT-891 will this provide the CAT control where I can key the radio?
The FT-891 settings in the menu are as follows (this is what I use for FT8/FT4). If I use the Green plug cable (Serial) would these settings also work for RTTY?
DATA MODE (8-1) = OTHERS
OTHER DISP (8-3) = 1500 Hz
OTHER SHIFT (8-4) = 1500 Hz
DATA LCUT FREQ (8-5) = 300 Hz
DATA HCUT FREQ (8-7) = 3000 Hz
DATA IN SELECT (8-9) = REAR
DATA PTT SELECT (8-10) = DAKY
I’ll try some more settings tonight if I have the time and make some screenshots if I still have issues. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated!
Several notes:
- connecting FT-891’s MiniDin8 port to Digirig Mobile’s serial port will not give CAT control. There are no serial lines exposed in that radio’s socket. The use of radio’s USB connection is required for CAT control
- If your computer detects Digirig’s components and radio’s COM port while connected through the USB hub then the hub is doing its job. The PTT situation is related to software settings
- The PTT setting in FlDigi is under Rig Control → Hardware PTT → use separate port, Digirig’s port, Use RTS
Also, beware that it is Very common for the FT891 to have power cycling issues when using a powered USB hub. If the hub remains under power with the PC off, the 891 stills “sees” that powered hub and sees it as a trigger to turn the rig on…which causes the power relay in the 891 to intermittently click on and off.
As for the RTTY interfacing task, I have the DR891 Digirig interfaced with FLdigi WITHOUT using Flrig. What I have been able to determine beyond that is that the 891 requires a hardware connection to key this combination with CW…meaning something like the WKmini CW interface is required as it plugs in to the CW port of the FT891. From there, it can be set in FLdigi, CW modem as a a Winkeyer device.
Denis has done an Awesome job with the Digirig and I am Super happy with his Customer Service!!
Thank you! This was the problem:
I didn’t check the ‘use separate port’ checkbox. Once I did that I was able to transmit. I did call CQ using RTTY and also PSK31 yesterday evening. Decoded some signals but not much PSK31 activity on 20 meters. I’ll keep trying, especially this weekend. I did see myself spotted on PSKReporter last night:
Thank you again - now I’ve got some new modes to explore!
Thanks for that information. I haven’t experienced that issue but it is something I will keep in mind if I decide to use a powered USB hub again. This one that I have does have a problem in that it’s not providing power to the ports now whereas it was working previously. I’ll pop it open and see if its a bad solder joint or something else that I can fix. Not really needed now but this information is good to know.