YSF

Yaesu System fusion

This is a very simple guide to aid those confused by YSF

What is YSF?

System Fusion is Yaesu’s implementation of digital radio, using C4FM technology to transmit digital voice and data over the amateur radio bands. In short it is Yaesu's digital mode.

When C4FM (digital) mode is enabled, a digital Yaesu radio can talk to any other Yaesu digital radio or repeater. Yaesu has AMS (Automatic Mode Selection) which when turned on detects if the other radio you are communicating with is using C4FM or analog FM and switches mode accordingly.

Confusion

Confusion seems to creep in when YSF, Hotspots, WIRES X are all mentioned.

A Yaesu C4FM digital radio can connect digitally to another C4FM radio, a C4FM repeater, a Pi-Star hotspot or a WIRES X box.

Radio to radio is simple, you get digital quality audio.

Radio to repeater means you get digital quality voice to the repeater.

Radio to hotspot. Hotspots are not made by Yaesu or supported by them. They have been designed and built by radio enthusiasts to link Digital Voice systems. Hotspots allow you to connect to the internet, connect to the YSF computer servers, which interconnect with other YSF, DMR, D-Star and other digital modes and to join into 'rooms' or 'reflectors' where other like minded people can meet to chat. A list of all the YSF reflectors can be found here.

Do Not Confuse YSF rooms with WIRES X rooms. Some may be linked, but most are probably not!

WIRES X is the official Yaesu internet system (Wide Internet Repeater Enhancement System).

Radio to WIRES X allows a C4FM digital radio to connect to the internet. A WIRES X box (HRI-200) can either be connected to a Yaesu repeater for repeater users to use or it can be connected to a radio users own radio and computer (and from there onto the internet). Yaesu allows WIRES X owners to register 'rooms' for their personal or a group use.

WIRES X is accessed by using a Yaesu digital C4FM radio on the same frequency and in digital mode as a repeater or HRI-200 box. The WIRES X button on the radio is then pressed to connect to the WIRES X service. From there, a room number can be entered or searched from a list. Once in that room, you can talk to other radio users in that room or leave voice messages, text messages or images. A list of WIRES X rooms can be found here.