VX-170 Alignment Menu

WARNING: This is not something to mess with lightly.

You will not damage your VX-170 but you can render it
useless with these settings! Copy all settings from the
radio before you begin...

1. Turn the radio off

2. Press and hold PTT + MON and turn the radio on, this will take
you into the reset options menu.
3. Press up arrow, 022, MR. The radio will reset and come up in
Service mode. Make sure you are in VFO mode.
4. Press the F button to activate the service menu.
5. Press the MR button to cycle through settings.
The settings are...
REF == Frequency Adjustment == 95 (on mine)
TUN == Receive Sensitivity == 69
PWR == TX power. High == AA
Mid == 5E
Low == 24
DEV == Voice/DTMF Deviation == 1A
DCS == Digital Coded Squelch == 88
CTC == Tone Encoder Level == 97
SM == Signal Meter S1 == DN Arrow (See below)
S9 == Up Arrow
SQ == Squelch Range SQ0 == Dn Arrow
SQ15 == Up Arrow
BAT == Voltmeter Calibration == REV

Adjustments....
The Frequency adjustment requires an accurate 7 digit
(or better) VHF frequency counter and a dummy load...
1) In VFO mode tune to 146.000
2) Press F and LOW then set to low power.
3) Press F twice to get to the menu.
4) Select REF.
5) Transmit and adjust to 146.0000 using the tuning knob.
6) Press F to return to VFO

Receiver tuning needs a precision reference signal someplace

near 146.000 mhz...
1) Tune to the reference signal and adjust the generator
to about S3.
2) Activate the menu and select TUN
3) Find the setting giving the highest S-Meter reading.
4) Press F to return to VFO mode.
To set the power levels you will need a dummy load and an
accurate vhf wattmeter... Low power should be .5 watts, medium
should be 2 watts and high should be 5 watts.
1) Select 146.000 (center band)
2) Activate the menu and Press LOW
2) Select high, medium or low power.
4) Press F to go to VFO mode.
5) Press F again to activate the menu and select PWR
6) While transmitting adjust the power output by rotating
the tuning knob.
7) Press F again to return to VFO mode.
8) Repeat 2 to 7 for the other power levels.

Setting the correct levels for DEV, DCS and CTC requires an
FM deviation meter...
Note: Make sure the radio is in FM-Wide mode before entering
service mode.
1) Set the radio and meter to 146.000 (center band)
2) Press F then LOW and select low power
3) Press F and select DEV
4) Transmit and press DTMF 1, using the tuning knob to
adjust for +-4.8khz deviation.
5) Press F for VCO mode
6) Press F then SQTYP and set to TONE.
7) Press F twice.
8) Press CODE and set to 100hz.
9) Press F twice to enter the menu
10) Select CTC.
11) Transmit and adjust for +- 1.0khz deviation.
12) Repeat steps 5 to 8 except selecting DCS and code 23.
13) Press F twice to enter the menu
14) Select DCS.
15) Transmit and adjust to +- 1.0khz deviation.
16) Press F to return to VFO mode.
(Note... some tone-deaf repeaters might benefit from +-1.5khz
CTCSS levels.)

To set SM and SQ you need precision reference signals. It is

best to use a calibrated signal source but in desperation
it can be done off air.
1) Tune to a signal at minimum levels, background noise will
do, activate the menu and select SM or SQ, then press the
down arrow button.
2) Tune to a strong signal, just at full quieting, activate the
menu select SM or SQ and press the up arrow.
3) Press F to return to VFO mode.

To calibrate the voltmeter you must power the radio from a

9.6 volt precision power supply, with the battery pack removed.
 1) Activate the menu, select RV and press REV.
2) Press F to return to VFO mode.
3) Note that the voltmeter should say 9.6 volts if you turn
the radio off and back on.

6) When done turn the radio off and back on to resume normal use.