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Reviews Categories | Transceivers: HF Amateur (including HF+6M+VHF models) | Yaesu FT-101ZD Help


Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-101ZD
Yaesu FT-101ZD Reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.7/5 MSRP: $$895 (1979-198X)
Description: 180w (input power) SSB/CW/AM HF Transceiver covering 160-10 mtrs plus WWV. Hybrid solid state design incorporating tube 12BY7A driver and 6146B finals. Featured digital and analog display, variable IF bandwidth, noise blanker with threshold adjustment, and RF speech processor, selectable AGC. Considered by some to be the peak of the FT-101 Series.
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GM4ULS Rating: 4/5 Apr 13, 2009 23:04 Send this review to a friend
I can see why it was the flagship  Time owned: more than 12 months
It is 0600 UTC, I have just worked S04R (Western Sahara) on 7.185/7.190 split, using the tx clarifier. The antenna is a short doublet at roof height. This is precisely what I have this rig for - the top end of 40m (from a European point of view).

I love this rig. It was my late father's, and he bought it new in 1981. OK it hasn't got CAT, PSK31, a screen, auto-keyer for bug keys, instant tune on all bands, but it is still pretty wonderful for what it is!
 
VE3PTC Rating: 5/5 Mar 10, 2009 15:22 Send this review to a friend
very nice!  Time owned: 3 to 6 months
i was looking for an ft 102, but this gem came up, at a local swap.in pristine condx, obviously well looked after by previous owner.
definately a trip down memory lane for me. the received audio is superb, with very low noise floor, especially on lower frequency's.
on the transmit side of things, plenty of audio drive, from an old yd 148 mic, and when condx dictate, or that special call comes up, the processor adds real punch to your output.
all necessary controls are very nicely grouped, and function well. easy to tune up. its a delight to operate this golden oldie from yaesu.
 
MI3LVZ Rating: 5/5 Feb 2, 2009 09:28 Send this review to a friend
Memory lane  Time owned: more than 12 months
If you fancy a nostalgia trip down memory lane, well this is the lady for you. Dont expect too many bells and whistle's with this old gal but who needs all that anyway!? These old rigs are probably responsible for the start of many's an amateurs career and are plentiful on the second hand market. Great back up rig or even just for fun to use. The down side is you'll most likely need to reinforce the bench as these old mama's aint no light weight!
 
W3ML Rating: 5/5 Jan 25, 2009 19:06 Send this review to a friend
Great rig even today  Time owned: more than 12 months
The FT 101ZD was my second rig. I still have it on the desktop, but don't use it that much. The last time I used it was when I took it to Field day and we used it. Sure easier to take than the new FT 2000D.

John



 
YY1MFF Rating: 5/5 Jan 25, 2009 17:08 Send this review to a friend
Incredible Rig  Time owned: more than 12 months
I am young , once my rig old and
Yeah it is an incredible rig ...
Rx clean and Tx powerful.
Very stable VFO, I do have the analog model (101Z).
Over 30 years still going and the best service for me .this is best guarantee and recommendation.
I have nothing bad to say about these precious models.
OH! almost forget; the 6146 valves are the same when 1979 ,still given full power for Jan 2009
It is no Incredible ?

I apologize for my English


 
GM1FLQ Rating: 5/5 Jan 1, 2009 04:13 Send this review to a friend
Solid construction  Time owned: more than 12 months
Like this radio but being a good old CBer's favourite it is difficult to get a good unmolested one now and most of the hobby newcomers don't know the first thing about tuning a valve PA albeit foundation level operators shouldn't even be using them.
Mine had an annoying wear spot in the vfo gearing where a previous owner must have rocked the vfo knob back and forth over the same 2 or 3khz for most of it's life.
Along with the FT990 & FT1000D it is probably one of the best radios Yaesu built.
 
M3RTX Rating: 5/5 Jan 1, 2009 00:30 Send this review to a friend
GOT ONE - KEEP IT!  Time owned: more than 12 months
Even qrp this was a great radio! Load of contacts.

 
W5YDM Rating: 5/5 Dec 5, 2008 19:05 Send this review to a friend
30 yrs and still going  Time owned: more than 12 months
I bought one of the early ZD's in April 1979, so I don't have AM or WARC bands. I lost interest in ham radio around 1983 and dropped out of sight until this summer, so my 30 year old FT-101ZD really has only about 4 years use on it. It's just a really good radio and about the only complaint I can come up with is while operating cw (my only mode), the clicking T/R relay drives me nuts, so instead of semi-breakin, I have to lock the rig in transmit. Small annoyance from an otherwise great radio. I especially like it because it has a knob for every function instead of a menu.

Mine doesn't have a drift problem. Never did. The early ones had frequency display drift, so maybe that's what some of you are seeing. Mine had it too and it was a common problem so Yaesu sent me a new display unit, which eliminated the problem. If you have an early FT-101ZD the dimmer control will cause the display to drift so try running it as dim as it will go. Even when my display drifted, it was never as bad as some of you describe.
 
KD5EWF Rating: 5/5 Sep 23, 2008 17:45 Send this review to a friend
I miss mine!!!  Time owned: more than 12 months
My Yaesu 101ZD was my first HF rig. It taught me how to operate a tube-type radio, and though it didn't have all the fancy features of a modern rig, there was a sence of pride when I worked DX of 40 meters split, manually tuning the VFO between my transmit/receive frequency.

It had a digital frequency counter, which I'd prefer, and a classic look.

I no longer have mine and have missed it ever since.
 
CX6AV Rating: 5/5 Dec 24, 2007 18:54 Send this review to a friend
The best of Yaesu!!!  Time owned: more than 12 months
Sin dudas el mejor equipo base de la historia de Yaesu!!! He tenido casi toda la linea yaesu hasta el ft 990, pero no tuve mejor equipo base que el 101zd mkIII, en RX dejó sordo hace años al FT 757 de mi amigo CX5BW, en transmisión la salida valvular sumada al procesador de RF equivalen a tener el mejor lineal...lo operé toda la vida con dipolos y siempre me daban primero la entrada en pile ups aún compitiendo con colegas que usaban lineales y antenas direccionales!!
 
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