Amateur Radio Fusion System

 Amateur Radio Fusion System

Fusion is a system by Yaesu that allows digital amateur radio operators to effectively communicate with analog (FM) amateur radio operators without switching to FM mode.

Fusion uses Continuous Four Level Frequency Modulation (C4FM) technology and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) to transmit voice and data from digital to normal amateur radio bands.

Yaesu unveiled Fusion System in the year 2013.

Fusion technologies have the advantage of backward compatibility over technologies like D-Star.

Fusion Modes

There are four modes of operation for System Fusion.

1.      Voice + Digital Mode

This fusion mode uses all the usable bandwidth to produce the highest possible audio quality in voice communications.

2.      High-speed data transfer

Transmission of data in System Fusion is done at extremely high speeds. Data transfer has been clocked at up to 9600 Bits per second.

3.      Analog FM Mode

This mode allows System Fusion to be compatible with all analog FM devices of the past without switching to analog mode. This enables enthusiasts to experiment with digital System Fusion.

This mode has settings that enable the repeaters to detect signals coming in and convert them to analog FM mode.

4.      Automatic mode

This mode helps recognize the type of signal received, whether a C4FM signal or an FM signal.

The system then just switches to match the incoming signal.

This mode is further sub-divided into several other modes;

o   Auto mode: Here, RX and TX mode is automatically chosen to match the incoming signal.

o   TX Manual: RX and TX mode is automatically chosen to match the incoming signal. However, the TX mode can be changed between DN (Digital Voice Narrow)/FM mode by pressing the microphone switch.

o   TX FM Fixed: The RX mode is automatically selected to match the inbound signal, but the TX mode is fixed on FM.

o   TX DN Fixed: Here, the RX mode is automatically selected to match the inbound signal, but the TX mode is fixed on FM.

o   TX VW Fixed: Here, the RX mode is automatically selected to match the inbound signal, but the VW mode is fixed on FM

Advantages of System Fusion

·         Signal quality can be maintained, even over great distances.

·         They are not affected by the solar cycle.

·         They can use the internet instead of traditional antennas. This gives System Fusion a wider range of reach.

·         System Fusion can be integrated into the existing voice-over-internet protocols.

·         System Fusion only requires an amateur radio technician’s license for operation.

Disadvantages of System Fusion

·         They are expensive to install compared to traditional amateur radio communication methods.

·         Long-range communications using System Fusion need to be conducted over the internet.

·         The use of digital components means that System Fusion needs a lot of power for operation.