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Author Topic: Yaesu 991A Japanese  (Read 342 times)

KE8SOK

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Yaesu 991A Japanese
« on: January 27, 2023, 06:42:17 PM »

Bought a Japanese 991A on eBay, was confirmed to ship, then the guy contacted me and said that the Japanese radio would have narrower allowable frequencies on each band since it was Japanese. Does this make sense? Seems like the frequency range for Ham Radio would be universal worldwide. HELP!
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K0UA

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2023, 07:20:24 PM »

Bought a Japanese 991A on eBay, was confirmed to ship, then the guy contacted me and said that the Japanese radio would have narrower allowable frequencies on each band since it was Japanese. Does this make sense? Seems like the frequency range for Ham Radio would be universal worldwide. HELP!

But it is not. There are different band plans based on region. The rig likely can be modified to cover the USA band plans. The big differences will be the VHF/UHF ranges.

Mods.dk is one website you can visit to look into the necessary modifications that will need to be done.  Usually pretty easy if you can solder and work with very small circuitry. Radios sold in the European and Asian and North American markets are all different. Probably Oceana also. buyer beware. Good luck.
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73  James K0UA

WA2EIO

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2023, 07:26:24 PM »

Also, even if you can modified,  does it have a choice for an English language menu?
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KC0W

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2023, 07:29:37 PM »

 This question gets asked often over on QRZ. Typically there are a number of drawbacks of purchasing a grey market Japanese HF radio:

 1. You will not have full band capabilities that you would have with a North American version. The Japanese band plan is restrictive on some bands in terms of band width. This is a software issue which is pre-programmed into the radio so doing a MARS mod will not "open the radio up" to full band transmit.

 2. The radios output MIGHT be limited to 50 Watts. Again, there is NO workaround since this is a software issue.

 3. The 60 meter band will not be included on the radio.

 4. The manual will only be in Japanese.

 5. There will be ZERO warranty on the radio should something happen to it 2 weeks after you start using it.

 6. There are several other issues regarding Japanese domestic market HF radios. The above mentioned ones are only the ones I recall off the top of my head. Search QRZ for the many, many threads about this.

 Some amateurs purchase Japanese market radios from eBay due to the slightly cheaper cost. They are then stuck after they receive the radio and find out of the radios shortcomings. Yes, there IS A REASON the radios are slightly less in cost. Again, the majority of people on QRZ who have purchased one of these radios states that a MARS mod will not solve the bandwidth issue nor will let the radio transmit over 50 Watts.

 Buyer beware.


                                                                                Tom KH0/KC0W         
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K0UA

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2023, 07:33:19 PM »

Also, even if you can modified,  does it have a choice for an English language menu?

Possibly. I am not familiar with the rig. It may have it as a choice already loaded or perhaps the firmware could be upgraded. Look on the website for software and see what is available. Usually the mods relate to frequency coverage and usually in Yaesu's case, it is the removal/addition of zero ohm "resistors" across solder pads for the right combination for the region desires. Not difficult if you know how and have some experience. Difficult if you have no experience or confidence to take a soldering iron into cramped space and do precision desoldering/soldering. Likewise, firmware upgrades are no big thing to someone that has done them and understands how to do them, and are a BIG thing to those that do not.
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73  James K0UA

K4GTE

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2023, 03:32:28 AM »

A transceiver built for the Japanese market is never a good choice. For reasons stated above.
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KE8SOK

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2023, 04:05:00 AM »

Thanks Everyone for the fast response! I wont be pursuing a Japanese market radio any further.
Will stick with trusted domestic suppliers going forward. Got lucky the eBay Seller called to warn :)
73's KE8SOK
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K1KIM

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2023, 05:39:17 AM »

Thanks Everyone for the fast response! I wont be pursuing a Japanese market radio any further.
Will stick with trusted domestic suppliers going forward. Got lucky the eBay Seller called to warn :)
73's KE8SOK

Original post states you already bought it.
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So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

KE8SOK

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2023, 09:30:58 AM »

Yes, it was bought and there was a shipping notification, but the seller called me to make sure I knew what this was. So I cancelled it before it actually left the seller thank God. 73's KE8SOK
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K0UA

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Re: Yaesu 991A Japanese
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2023, 10:02:21 AM »

Yes, it was bought and there was a shipping notification, but the seller called me to make sure I knew what this was. So I cancelled it before it actually left the seller thank God. 73's KE8SOK

Sounds like you dodged a bullet. I didn't realize that some of the parameters could not be changed. Looks like not a good deal at all.
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73  James K0UA
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