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3- Configuring the radio

There are a few important setting we must adjust on the radio in order to use the repeater:

  • Downlink frequency
  • Offset
  • Uplink tone

These instructions are for the Yaesu FT-65R radio but they are similar to how most mobile radios would work.

The main source for this page is the Yaesu FT-65R operating manual1. It is the source for all instructions about the Yaesu FT-65R radio on this page, unless marked otherwise.

The downlink frequency is the frequency at which the radio receives.

  1. Switch to VFO mode. Press *V/M to toggle VFO mode
  2. Select the band. Select the right frequency band (in our case, 144Mhz) by pressing the #BAND key until the right value is displayed.
  3. Select the frequency. Use the ⯅ and ⯆ keys or the numpad to select the downlink frequency for the repeater. In our case, 147.12Mhz

At this point, this is usually all one would do to establish contact. When using a repeater, however, it becomes a bit more complicated.

Offset/Shift​

This is how you indirectly tell the radio the uplink frequency (the frequency at which the radio must transmit)

tip

Some radios, including the Yaesu FT-65R, contain an Automatic Repeater Shift feature or a similar feature. This feature automatically calculates and applies the offset for you. While this feature is generally correct and useful, in some cases it may be absent or incorrect. In our case, it could be used, but for some other repeaters it could not be. To cover these cases, we are disabling it in this guide.

If you use the ARS feature, make sure it is ON and skip this section.

  1. Disable ARS (Automatic Repeater Shift).

    1. Enter Set Mode by holding F
    2. Select the item "24 REPEATER" by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    3. Press F to select ARS
    4. Switch to OFF with the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    5. Press F to select

  2. Configure the offset manually.

    1. Select the item "MODE" by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    2. Press F to select
    3. Select the item "+REP" (if the offset is positive) or "-REP" (if the offset is negative) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    4. Press F to select
    5. Select the item "SHIFT" by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    6. Press F to select
    7. Select the desired offset (in our case, 0.600MHz) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    8. Save and exit by pressing the transmit button (PTT)

The options for this feature are described in the Yaesu FT-65R advanced manual and that is the source for that section2.

  1. Enter Set Mode by holding F
  2. Select the item "8 CTCSS" by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
  3. Press F to select
  4. Set the transmit tone, if any
    1. Select the item "TX" (for transmit) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    2. Press F to select
    3. Select the desired transmit tone (in our case, 103.5MHz) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    4. Press F to select
  5. Set the receive tone, if any
    1. Select the item "RX" (for receive) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    2. Press F to select
    3. Select the desired receive tone (in our case, like most cases, there is none so we can leave it as is) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    4. Press F to select
  6. Set the squelch type. This tells the radio if and how to use those tones
    1. Hold F to go back to Set Mode
    2. Select the item "29 SQL TYPE" by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    3. Select the desired mode depending on if the repeater uses transmit tone (T-TONE), receive tone (R-TONE), both (TSQL) or neither (OFF) by using the ⯅ and ⯆ keys
    4. Save and exit by pressing the transmit (PTT) button

Other considerations​

Power​

As always, make sure the transmission power of the radio is both sufficient and not too high to properly reach the target (in this case, the repeater). It is preferred to use the least power that gets you in range3. In my case, 2.5W is sufficient. Refer to your radio's operating manual for how to adjust power if necessary.

Audio volume​

Adjust the audio volume of the radio to be sure to hear the other side when they talk. Forgetting to do this is a good way to wonder why your radio isn't working. On the Yaesu FR-65R, use the PWR/VOL knob to adjust volume.1

Footnotes​

  1. “FT-65R FT-65E Operating Manual Contents,” 2017. Accessed: July 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.yaesu.com/files/4cb43dcb-1018-01af-fa59d5b2edaf2f37/ft-65r_e_om_eng_eh066m105_1710c-fc.pdf ↩ ↩2

  2. “FT-65R FT-65E Advance Manual 1 Ft-65R/Ft-65E Advance Manual,” 2017. Accessed: July 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.yaesu.com/files/4cb43dcb-1018-01af-fa59d5b2edaf2f37/ft-65r_e_advance_manual_eng_1710-c.pdf ↩

  3. “Repeater Operation - Radio Amateurs of Canada,” Radio Amateurs of Canada - Welcome to the Radio Amateurs of Canada Website!, Nov. 16, 2015. https://www.rac.ca/repeater-operation/ (accessed July 17, 2026). ↩