|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-950 |
|
Reviews: 96
|
Average rating: 4.6/5
|
MSRP: $1840
|
|
Description: The Yaesu FT-950 is an HF/6m transceiver which features IF DSP as well as 3 kHz, 6 kHz and 15 kHz roofing filters. The transceiver can be interfaced with the DMU-2000 to add additional functions such Band Scope, Audio Scope, X-Y Oscilloscope, World Clock, Rotator Control, and extensive transceiver status displays, in addition to station logging capability. The optional RF µTuning Kits may be connected via the rear panel, providing improved selectivity to protect the receiver from close-in interference on a crowded band.
|
|
More info: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/0950.html
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Yaesu FT-950.
|
SCOLOPENDRA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 17, 2008 05:36
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great value
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I have compared the FT-950 receiver side by side with the same class IC-746pro. Both exibit good IF DSP filtering, the Yaesu being quieter and the Icom a little bit more noisy and sensitive (a different IF gain design?). IC-746pro DNR is my favourite but FT-950 is a overall better sounding receiver. Transmitters are on pair. Ergonomics, look, menu arrangment and display layout are just matter of taste IMHO.
The different street prices must take in account for the IC-746pro being a tribander.
I was positively impressed by this FT-950.
|
|
WA4CM
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Nov 7, 2008 20:36
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Very nice and good bang for the buck
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
First of all, I'm not an avid CW person. Just a casual sideband user, sometime dxer and contester. Now that being said, I have had the rig for about a week and find it to be more than satisfactory for my needs. It is well built and the receive sounds very good to me. Not harsh or muffled.
The variable bandwidth, notch and contour work as designed. My only nit is with the DNR which, for my tastes, sounds too processed on any setting. But I have not found a dsp dnr that I liked.
But being realistic, I would not expect a transceiver DNR, in a rig in it's price range, to be very sophisticated. I have used a number of noise reduction applications in audio and have only found a few of those that I liked either.
WA4CM
|
|
W7OXB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 6, 2008 17:48
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Very Nice
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
This is my first radio purchase. I am a new ham, recently obtaining my General ticket in April. This radio works great, and looks great, but requires a bit of study to take advantage of all the nice features. So take the time to study the manual!!! I have heard of operators who did not find the radio to be what they expected, probably because they did not study the manual. So take some time and you will not be disappointed. I have operated DX all over the world at 100 watts with a wire dipole up about 30 feet. There are a LOT of settings that you can adjust so join one of the FT 950 groups and other owners can help you get dialed in fairly quickly. The audio reports I have received are excellent and I have found the noise reduction system can greatly improve reception. This has a lot of the features of rigs costing $2000-$3000. I think it is a good value and would recommend the radio to others.
|
|
WB4GUD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 5, 2008 18:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great rig
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I don't have much to add when it comes to raves for this radio. For those who complained about not having a convenient power control, go to Radio Shack, buy a RS232 F to F DB-9 straight thru cable, download the free Ham Radio Deluxe software, and there's the power control on your computer screen. My wife said I need to exercise my mind so I don't get old-timers, and learning the radio and computer control software will do that! It's all part of the fun.
|
|
WV4I
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 27, 2008 08:05
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
contest ops
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I've owned my 7Kxxxxxx serial number FT-950 for a little under a year, but had never really put it on for a contest until CQWW SSB this weekend. I was mostly on 75/40m, with 40m especially a challenging environment between BC QRM and split freq ops, all while using an amp. For antennas I presently have a simple 10-40m dipole, and a HF2V elevated in the clear, more gain/efficiency than some, but not as much as the big boys of course.
The receiver in this radio seems easily adequate for casual contesting like mine. I found the DNR to work well for most non-pulse noise sources. For pulse noises, i.e. nearby ignition, the NB works 100%. The IF shift is VERY precise, and do not remember this being the case on the MkV Field or FT-990. I did not need Notch, and found I need to use Contour more to have an opinion on that. On 40m, with even my antennas, use either one or no preamps and plenty of gain. Best AGC settings varied with condx, and apparently settings of DNR? I think the Width is a little busy, and still am a fan of mechanical filters, DSP slope tune, etc., like MkV Field and original MP. I could not find a QRM situation where the Roofing filter setting mattered.
For transmit, I feel xmt audio Monitor is a must, and the FT-950 has this feature. I thought the radio sounded much better, at least for contest SSB, without the Processor, but there exist many settings to tailor xmt audio to be sure. I use a Heil headset with the DX element. For amp use, I simply set the CS button to RF power out, and found this scheme adequate. To get ALC in/out of this radio to amp, must either buy Yaesu cable or build one from the mini DIN, not RCA jack of old.
I found split freq ops to work well, although I hope I don't wear out the A-B/Txw buttons. There is some advantage to hearing the DX station's listen freq while monitoring it's xmt freq, but that would take the FT-2000's true dual receive, another $1k, have to decide if that's worth the $$$s to you. I don't think the Pro III, in that price range, has true dual receive. A used MK V Field would be a better choice at just over FT-950 new money, if dual rcvrs is a must have.
The graphical receiver chain display is easy to quickly read, and is adequate. I heard several stations out of band on 40m split phone, but bright green/red xmt/rcvr LED's minimize the chances of this on FT-950.
For xmt, I would like to be able to see ALC and SWR at same time. Once VOX gain/delay is menu set, you're done there.
I have hooked this radio up via CAT serial port/USB to HRD, etc., just for fun, and it works fine, just not main interest, reason for buying.
The radio has voice and CW memories, but have not used those. Think the external key/control pad would be a must.
I have used this radio for casual CW ops and feel the rcvr features are superb on that mode as well. Looking fwd to CQWW CW to really test it out.
Overall, I suppose the FT-2000 appears to have a few more features, including dual receive, but for most ops, I think the FT-950 is sufficient and far cheaper. It gets a five from me.
|
|
KG4BCN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 21, 2008 11:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Rig
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Purchased the rig 19 Oct 08 and was very pleasantly surprised at the audio right out of the box. As with some of the previous post the transmit quality was just not there to begin with but after making some easy changes I've been getting some excellent reports from everywhere. The FT 950 is not your plug and play type of radio, some of the settings need to be changed a little in the menu to get the transmit audio up to where I was happy but once there it's all fun. The menu layout is pretty good, just read the manual first and it will all make sense. I would suggest joining the FT 950 Yahoo group to help the operator get thru this. Once again Yaesu has met or exceeded my expectations.
|
|
WA1TQQ
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 16, 2008 09:48
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent value great performance
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I dont see why this radio isnot rated higher it should be a 4.9 or 5.0
Excellent build quality ,It has a great recevier and excellent quality transmit audio
I replaced my old ft 990 with rig about 3 months ago and have no regretts.
I operate primarily cw and a little ssb and have had great reports, you narrow the passband down to less 200 cyles with no loss of signal and no ringing. You can setup the transmitter parametric equalizer for hi fi or communication audio with a boost.
You can optimize the dsp and dnr controls depending on band conditons for hi fi audio or qrm and qrn noise cancelling .
In its class its the best value it meet or beats its competion for a mid priced radio
|
|
K6CRC
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 14, 2008 22:23
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great for the money
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I have been a General for about a year and a half. Previously, I owned a IC-718, an FT-450, and now the FT-950. I do only SSB, 40-10 with antenna limitations. The RX is sensitive and quiet, and I get good audio reports with minimal tweaking of the mic settings on transmit. I use the internal tuner with my Cushcraft vertical, and the combo works well. The FT-450 was really all I needed for what I do, but I am learning to appreciate the flexibility of the 950 as my skills rise. I have only two minor complaints. The manual is marginal, so join the Yahoo! based user group and tap into the experience of other 950 owners. Also, the lack of direct control over RF level is a problem for me, as I have a low power antenna setup for 40M. Others may not care about that issue. Build quality is very good, and Yaesu support has been fine so far.
For the money, a great radio! I give it a 5.
|
|
W8STU
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 8, 2008 17:08
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
GREAT RIG AND EASY TO PROGRAM
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I have had mine for a little less then three weeks and I love it. I can't understand why several people left bad reviews just because of the menus. I thought they were easy. I don't mind the RF power is in the menus either. I have set the C.S. button for the RF output anyway. I also joined the FT-950 yahoo group and was able to get tons of information. I even did a side by side comparison with a TS2000 and noticed the FT950 had 3 S units better on receive. I sold the TS2000. I also set up the transmit EQ and I get great audio reports. I am very pleased with the FT950.
|
|
G4RNI
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Sep 29, 2008 15:51
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
OH NO! No RF power control!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
It's a full size rig & a great transceiver but they've hidden the TX RF power control in a menu. Big mistake! Ok, you can programme a button to do it but it's an essential control & needs to be on the front panel.
I can accept menus for such on the 706's and 897's of the rig world but NOT on a full size base rig.
I got rid of mine after a week for that reason but if you don't care about the power you run, buy one!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
