diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 4e28851a7..f04668579 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Version 5.x -- future
         * Change FT1000MP Mark V model names to align with FT1000MP
 
 Version 4.6
+        * Yaesu rigs can now use send_morse to send keyer message 1-5 or a CW message up to 50 chars (which will use memory 1)
         * rig set level METER can now take SWR,COMP,ALC,IC/ID,DB,PO,VDD,TEMP arguments to set which meter to display
         * reg get level displays meter number=name now
         * Added parm BANDSELECT for Yaesu rigs
diff --git a/doc/man1/rigctl.1 b/doc/man1/rigctl.1
index 80728ac0c..6937cb267 100644
--- a/doc/man1/rigctl.1
+++ b/doc/man1/rigctl.1
@@ -725,9 +725,10 @@ Option returned depends on rig..for Icom is likely the RX only flag.
 .BR b ", " send_morse " \(aq" \fIMorse\fP \(aq
 Send
 .RI \(aq Morse \(aq
-symbols.  For Yaesu rigs use memory#.
+symbols.  For Yaesu rigs use memory#1-5 or up to 50 char msg
 .EX
 Example from command line:  rigctl -m 3073 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 b "CQ CQ DE ME"
+Yaesu example to send message#1: rigctl -m 1035 -r /dev/ttyUSB0 b 1
 .
 .TP
 .BR 0xbb ", " stop_morse "
diff --git a/doc/man1/rigctld.1 b/doc/man1/rigctld.1
index 190556d16..c3491429a 100644
--- a/doc/man1/rigctld.1
+++ b/doc/man1/rigctld.1
@@ -725,9 +725,10 @@ number (\(oq0\(cq, \(oq1\(cq, \(oq2\(cq, ...).
 .BR b ", " send_morse " \(aq" \fIMorse\fP \(aq
 Send
 .RI \(aq Morse \(aq
-ymbols.  For Yaesu rigs use memory#.
+symbols.  For Yaesu rigs use memory# (1-5 for most rigs) or up to 50 char message (which will use memory#1)
 .EX
 Example from rigctld socket:  b CQ CQ DE ME
+Yaesu example to send message#1 frm rigctld socket: b 1
 .
 .TP
 .BR 0xbb ", " stop_morse "
diff --git a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
index 59ba109c6..4cd8c8a45 100644
--- a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
+++ b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.c
@@ -6938,34 +6938,69 @@ int newcat_send_morse(RIG *rig, vfo_t vfo, const char *msg)
 
     ENTERFUNC;
 
-    int chan = 0;
-    if (strlen(msg)==1)
+    char chan = '1';
+
+    if (newcat_is_rig(rig, RIG_MODEL_FT450) && strlen(msg)==1 && msg[0] > '4')
     {
-        switch(*msg)
+        // 450 manual says 1/2/3 playback needs P1=6/7/8
+        rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: only messages 1-3 accepted\n", __func__);
+        RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // 5-chan playback 6-A: FT-1200, FT-2000, FT-3000, FTDX-5000, FT-891, FT-9000, FT-950, FT-991, FTDX-101MP/D
+        // 5-chan but 1-5 playback: FT-710
+        if (strlen(msg)==1 && (msg[0] < '1' || msg[0] > '5'))
         {
-            case 1:
-            case 2:
-            case 3:
-            case 4:
-            case 5:
-                chan = atoi(msg);
+            rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: only messages 1-5 accepted\n", __func__);
+            RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
+        }
+        if (!newcat_is_rig(rig, RIG_MODEL_FT710))
+        {
+            chan += 5;  // 6,7,8 needed for playback
+        }
+    }
+    char *msg2 = strdup(msg);  // copy so we can modify it if needed
+
+    if (strlen(msg2)==1)
+    {
+        switch(*msg2)
+        {
+            // do all Yaeus rigs play back with chan+5?
+            case '1': msg2[0] = '6';break;
+            case '2': msg2[0] = '7';break;
+            case '3': msg2[0] = '8';break;
+            case '4': msg2[0] = '9';break;
+            case '5': msg2[0] = 'A';break;
+            case '6': // we'll let these pass
+            case '7':
+            case '8':
+            case '9':
+            case 'A':
+            case 'a':
+                break;
             default:
             RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
         }
     }
     else
     {
-        RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
-    }
-    if (newcat_is_rig(rig, RIG_MODEL_FT450) && chan < 4)
-    {
-        // 450 manual says 1/2/3 playback needs P1=6/7/8
-        chan += 5;
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        SNPRINTF(priv->cmd_str, sizeof(priv->cmd_str), "KY%d%c", chan, cat_term);
+        if (strlen(msg2)>50) {
+            msg2[50]=0; // truncate if too long
+            rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: msg length of %d truncated to 50\n", __func__, (int)strlen(msg));
+        }
+        chan = '1';
+        SNPRINTF(priv->cmd_str, sizeof(priv->cmd_str), "KM1%s;",msg2);
+        rc = newcat_set_cmd(rig);
+        if (rc != RIG_OK)
+        {
+            free(msg2);
+            RETURNFUNC(-RIG_EINVAL);
+        }
+        chan = '6'; // the channel we use to key msg 1
     }
+    free(msg2);
+    SNPRINTF(priv->cmd_str, sizeof(priv->cmd_str), "KY%c%c", chan, cat_term);
 
     rc = newcat_set_cmd(rig);
     RETURNFUNC(rc);
@@ -10983,6 +11018,14 @@ int newcat_set_cmd_validate(RIG *rig)
     {
         strcpy(valcmd, ";");
     }
+    else if (strncmp(priv->cmd_str, "KM", 2) == 0)
+    {
+        strcpy(valcmd, "");
+    }
+    else if (strncmp(priv->cmd_str, "KY", 2) == 0)
+    {
+        strcpy(valcmd, "");
+    }
     else
     {
         rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE, "%s: %s not implemented\n", __func__, priv->cmd_str);
diff --git a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
index 7e29d894b..30f87d203 100644
--- a/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
+++ b/rigs/yaesu/newcat.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 typedef char ncboolean;
 
 /* shared function version */
-#define NEWCAT_VER "20230927"
+#define NEWCAT_VER "20230930"
 
 /* Hopefully large enough for future use, 128 chars plus '\0' */
 #define NEWCAT_DATA_LEN                 129