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write your own review of the Yaesu Quadra VL-1000.
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K8PVD
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 31, 2010 10:46
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Quadra after one year
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Built like a tank. Weights a ton. Works very well with any modern Yaesu transceiver; more challenging with older transceivers or other brands. Matches with FT-1000MP or FT-2000 exceptionally well. Sometimes tricky using input 2 (except with FT-950 which is designed to use input 2 - more on that later). Runs more than 1000 watts easily 160 - 6 meters. Yes, mine puts out 1000 watts in 6. Like everybody says, the antenna tuner really only works with tuned antennas.. and it is a little twitchy.
Negatives: Power supply must be turned on to get direct antenna pass-through to transceiver on input 1 (even the cheapest amps {whose name starts with an "A"} pass through with the power off. If you use input 2, both the power supply and the amp must be turned on to get direct antenna pass through. That means if you are running an FT-950, a good rig at the price, and use the Yaesu Quadra to FT-950 factory cable, the Quadra power supply and RF deck must always be turned on (or else unscrew coax connectors and by pass the Quadra, etc.) Antenna tuner - not a broad band tuner and you really need to learn to use it effectively... Comes from the factory with 12/10 disabled; you need to pull the covers and short two pins to turn on the "international" version - you'd think given the recent FCC changes, it would have been previously done at the factory. Manual really is not complete enough. You really learn about the Quadra by experimentation and reading reviews in QST, Adam's website ( http://www.ab4oj.com/quadra/main.html ) and here! And like I said, it's heavy. Move the power supply and RF deck once a day and you won't need a gym membership.
Positives: So automatic you quickly get spoiled. Follows right along when you change bands; but defaults to whatever settings were in place when last on that band. It has more ways of remembering things than I do. Well built, very solid - sort of a throw-back to the boat anchor days. You hear the fans when you key the mike, but not objectionable. If it is, move it! It is so automatic you don't need it in front of you. Over 1,000 watts on all bands even 6. Protects itself very well.
Also, for my recent out of warranty Quadra component failure (positive) experience, see:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/review/87812
Quadra hit the market just before the revolution in software upgradable radios began. Obviously was designed as a companion for the FT-1000MP. Now, while it really works very well, it seems like it could use a make-over. If you can live with that, have modern Yaesu equipment, and see one for sale, snatch it up! You won't be sorry.
Got mine from AES in Las Vegas from Julio KP4UZ. I found that to be a very good experience. He is as good as his word! Usually a coupon sale in December or right around Dayton makes the wait worthwhile.
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K4YDN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2010 14:22
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GREAT AMP!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my Quadra for over five years and never a moments problems. I saw one review complaining about the two exciter problem?? I use this amp with my FT-2000 (also used it with the FT-1000 MP) and the second exciter position is used with the Collins KWM-2. I check into the Collins net on Sundays running this setup and have a lot of fun. The idea of using a solid state amp with a 1961 Collins M-2 gets some comments. HI
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VA7OJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2009 19:48
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11 years old and still going strong
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My Quadra has just had its 11th anniversary in my shack, and is still chugging along like the Energizer Bunny. It works flawlessly with the IC-7700 exciter. Please visit my Quadra page:
http://www.ab4oj.com/quadra/main.html
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ZS2DL
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 19, 2009 11:23
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14 months use
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had you asked me 6 months ago what I thought I would say best amp ever. I would have rated it 5/5...However...The VP1000 started playing up. Then it blew a resistor on the input voltage line. The japs do not use fuses but fusable ceramic resistors !!! Sent it away for repairs and it arrived back (repaired with non OEM parts by Yaesu import house) working, 2 weeks down the road , I heard the awful sound of the "degassing" of the resistor again and the dreaded switch off for good relay click out. The Amp itself is brilliant but the issue is paying this kind of money R95000 South African Rand which is nearly 1 years income, and there are no local spares available...Yaesu Japan take up to 6 months to supply OEM Spares to the Yaesu import house, and even though they have admitted to it being component failure will not hear of a replacement unit.
SAD very SAD.
In fact I am busted up about it. As this was my dream amp to go with my FT2000.
It was fantastic while it lasted.
In fact I was within a whisker of getting the FT9000 to go with the 2000 and the Quadra, but am now thinking of switch to being an ICOM fan.
And I will have you know I am a BIG Yaesu fan as I believe their radios RX to be superior to just about everything else.
Sad to say, this Quadra and its silly little power supply has left a very bitter taste in my mouth.
Regards
Donovan ZS2DL
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N0AZZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2009 19:47
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Best amp I have ever owned
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have only owned the Quadra for a little over a year but so far see no reason to change it works great with my Yaesu station, I have only owned 5 amps before this one including one legal limit and one other SS amp. I see no reason to go back to legai limit amp for sure this is just a piece of cake to use.
N0AZZ Fred
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AA1OV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 10, 2009 05:28
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Hefty Price Hefty performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Yes it's expensive. Yes the tuner can be finicky. Yes it doesn't easily interface with other radios other than Yaesu. But mine first on my Mark V and now on my FT-950 works great. No I am not a QSK CW op, but for SSB & especially slower CW it does a great job. And it makes the difference on 6 meters too. I am happy with mine. It is a Keeper.
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W6AAV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 4, 2009 17:25
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Why did I wait so long?
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had the Quadra for a month now and I constantly ask myself "why did I wait so long?". The Quadra is hooked up to my FTDX-9000D and tracks right along from band to band. The tuner works fantastic when needed. I looked into this amp years ago and shyed away because of the cost. I came across a really good deal for this amp that was three days old and returned to HRO because it the person who originally bought it could not figure out how to get it to work. His fustration was my gain! I got a smokin deal for this amp that is a 2009 serial number, band new and no problems! Works great, tuners works great, band tracks like it should and easily does 1000 watts! This Quadra is a keeper in my shack!
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N0AZZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 28, 2009 10:13
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A Great Amp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have owned several amps in the past and none of them matches the quality and ease of use. I have an FT-2000D and an IC-7000 both hooked to this amp with no problems. This is a perfect match for my Yaesu station
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K4ZMV
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 13, 2009 11:31
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Nice amp, but ........
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had the Quadra now for about two months. My intention was to run an FT2000D on Input 1 and a K3 on Input 2. Much to my dismay, I discovered that there are too many hurdles to overcome to use Input 2. This has been well documented on this forum.
What I also discovered was that the Quadra is NOT a real QSK amp. With the 'FULL' setting for the 'BK-IN' parameter, the Quadra will only faithfully follow code speeds up to between 18-20 WPM. After that, it dramatically truncates dots. I called Yaesu and talked to technical support and they verified that my Quadra was working correctly. They recommended I use the 'semi' setting for break-in. That corrected the problem. And, really, the semi breakin is pretty fast so no bad problem.
Otherwise, the Quadra is like having a 1 KW transceiver. The tuner will tune up to 4.0:1 and pretty fast. The amp is smooth and the output is an honest 1 KW. It is a little noisy, but I spend most of my time in the cans so I don't really care. It is heavy, so don't plan on putting it on a card table. Overall, a nice solid state amp with a good auto tuner.
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N1JMS
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2009 19:33
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Nice Looking
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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A little fickle until you get to understand it's idiosyncrasies, however, very strong and reliable once you get it figured out and stabilized. Of course the Yeasu manuals and back-up lack simple detail, as usual. Really a 4.7/5 in my book.
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