Part of our Yaesu FTX-1: The Complete Guide.
I run Ham Radio Deluxe as the hub for CAT control, logging, and distribution to QRZ, LoTW, and eQSL. Getting the FTX-1 talking to it cleanly took a bit of trial and error, so here’s the setup that’s been solid for me.
Driver first, everything else second
The FTX-1 connects over USB and presents as a virtual serial port, but you need Yaesu’s USB driver installed before Windows will assign it a clean COM port. Install the driver, plug in the radio, and check Device Manager for which COM port it landed on. Write that number down, you’ll need it in HRD.
Setting up the rig in HRD
In Ham Radio Deluxe’s rig control, add a new radio and select the FTX-1 from Yaesu’s model list. If it’s not listed yet on your version, the FTX-1F/FTX-1 Optima profile works, since the CAT command set is shared across the Field and Optima configurations. Set the COM port to match what you found in Device Manager, and match the baud rate to whatever you’ve set in the radio’s menu under CAT settings. I run mine at 38400 baud, which has been reliable, but the FTX-1 supports several speeds if you need to match something else in your chain.
Confirming it’s actually working
Once connected, HRD’s rig control panel should show live frequency and mode, and changing the band or mode on the radio should update instantly on screen. Test it the other way too, click a frequency in HRD and confirm the FTX-1 actually tunes there. If HRD connects but frequency reads as zero or frozen, it’s almost always a baud rate mismatch or the wrong COM port, not a deeper problem.
Why this matters beyond just convenience
With CAT control working, HRD logs frequency and mode automatically on every contact, which means my logs are accurate without me manually typing band and mode for every QSO. It also lets HRD’s DM780 handle digital modes if I want to run something other than WSJT-X through the same rig control connection.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Confirm the COM port in Device Manager matches what’s set in HRD, ports can shift if you plug into a different USB port later.
- Match baud rate on both ends exactly, this is the single most common failure point.
- Close any other software that might be holding the COM port open before starting HRD.
- If you’re also running WSJT-X, make sure both programs aren’t trying to grab the same serial port at once, use rig sharing software like Omni-Rig if you need simultaneous access.
Want to control the FTX-1 from your phone over the internet instead of sitting at the desk? See PotaCat and EchoCat: Remote Control Your Radio From Your Phone.