Sending a picture: From your computer.
You cannot currently send a picture directly from your computer through your radio to another station. The picture file must first be converted for use by your radio. There are multiple steps:
- Prepare a photo on your computer for conversion. Although just about any photo can be sent via Yaesu System Fusion (YSF), conversion and transmission will be much easier if the file meets certain criteria:
(a). The picture should be 320 pixels x 240 pixels to match your radio’s screen dimensions. Also 160 x 120 will work.
(b). The picture should be low resolution to make the file as small as possible (< 40 KB). If your photo software has an option to “Save for the Web”, use that to make your photo file size small. This will allow you to send a perfectly readable photo much faster than a larger-filesize version of the same photo.
(c). The photo should be cropped as much as possible, so it is easy to discern your photo subject on the small screen of a hand-held radio.
2. Run the conversion software on your computer. One program that works is FTM400.exe from DC5KW or download from JARA. The instructions for DC5KW’s program are in German, but the program is easy to use. If you don’t know German, here’s the English translation. If you are a visual learner, see a YouTube Video on the process.
To Install the Program.
(a). Create a folder where you can easily find it. It will work fine in your Documents folder.
(b). Run and install the program. It will install to the same folder. This is your work folder.
To Run the Program.
(a). Copy your JPG file(s) to the work folder.
(b). Double-click on FTM400.exe.
(c). You will see any JPG files in the work folder listed. Highlight the ones you want converted.
(d). Right-click while your pointer is in the file list window.
3. Move files to your Radio.
(a). Turn off your radio and remove the SD card.
(b). Insert the SD card into your computer. You may need an adapter if you do not have a micro SD port.
(c). Look in the PHOTOS directory on your SD card and SAVE any photos you want to keep. The next step will remove them from the SD card.
(d). Delete the QSOLOG and PHOTOS folders from the SD card.
(e). Copy the QSOLOG and PHOTOS folders from the work folder to the SD card.
(f). Eject the SD card from the computer using Windows Eject Media utility.
4. Find the Pictures on your Radio.
(a). Insert the SD card into your radio.
(b). Turn the radio on.
(c). Look for the Log: Momentarily press F/MW, then scroll until you find Log.
(d). Pictures will appear in the Log. You may need to toggle from messages to pictures to see them listed. Pictures are marked with a purple square.
There is another supposed conversion program available from NA7RF on SourceForge. I haven’t figured out how to use that one.