| VA3BSF |
Rating:  |
2003-12-23 | |
| Great Rig! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've had my 1000MP for about a month now and really love it. The rig is used ...late 96 serial number...cosmetically 10/10. I traded up from an FT-897. Not fair to compare rigs as they both serve different needs. I share the same comments from other users here on the receive and transmit audio...fantastic...so quiet you dont even know the rig is on if there is no activity on the frequency. I use the MD-100 mic with the carrier offsets set to -150 lsb/usb and -50 proc. lsb/usb (tx edsp will cancel these settings if turned on). On air reports are great. I use a multiband dipole (g5rv knock-off) and after adding 20' of extra cable to the existing 70', I can use the internal tuner from 80 to 10 with no problems.
I love the look and feel of a big radio and this one certainly meets all my needs. Used prices are coming down which is great as it makes acquiring one of these babies easier than ever. |
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| N2IM |
Rating: |
2003-12-21 | |
| Excellent contest box! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I bought this radio used and really enjoyed it! I have used it in contest situations and it really shines there! I really liked the size of it, as well as the fact that it has a built-in power supply. It is a great radio. I only got rid of it because I had an IC-756PRO and I couldn't justify keeping both. It has a bullet-proof receiver and performs like a champ. Unless you need/want 6 meters and a cool display, go with the MP and you won't regret it! |
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| KK7AC |
Rating: |
2003-05-04 | |
| 7 years of great service |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought one of the very first MP's that came out in late 1995 (ser# 5J020) and havent looked back. I can't bring myself to replace this workhorse as my primary desktop at the studio. I have drug it thru countless hours of contests, 15,000 plus QSO's, and is on 24/7.
This radio replaced a 1000D that I got rid of about 4 years ago. Other radio's replaced; TS940, TS950SD. Others I've tried; 756PRO, Omni 5, MK2. I just cant shake this one off. I real love the receiver and DSP. I enjoy the warm audio it puts out and the daily comments I receive on it.
I elected to make the radio the "D" or "loaded" version at time of purchase including all Collins filters and TCXO-4 options. Several years ago the inrad was a popular upgrade but I did not do it.
What I like most about the radio (just a few of about 100):
-Built in AC power supply-- what in the hell happend to manufactures using only 12 VDC is beyond me.
-Menus are extreamly easy to use and provide endless combonations for a multitude of features.
-TX audio in DSP provides me with outstanding "broadcast" audio when paired up with the goldline. You really have to hear it to believe it.
-Contour DSP and noise reduction is the highlight of this radio. Never could I hear or knockout so much crud
-One touch quick memory bank is great while contesting. If I hear a station calling and cant get to him right now, I hit the STO button and I come back to him later.
-After all these years and being on nearly 24/7, its frequency is dead on. I did install a TCXO that helps I'm sure, but after putting on a Motorola service monitor about 8 months ago, it is within .001 cycle......super.
-Well written manual. easy.
Some CONS:
-Since day one, sometimes, if the radio is initially turned on from being completly off, the display may not come up until 30 seconds. You can hear signals, you just cant see the display.
-While on the display issue, I hate the "shadows" that are always present. The display is very busy.
-Noise blankers are pretty much non-exsistant. I am luckly where I live I do not contend with manmade noises and such so I never use it. However, there are times an electrical appliance will fire up here in the house and I cant rid it by using the NB's. I've heard others comment about this as well.
-This goes for any radio....I want backlit keys. I often "run in the dark" perticularly in wee morning hours. It would be nice to see the keys instead of having to fire up the lights. I use ceramic tetrodes in the Alpha, so I dont get the glow you know.
- Not a personnal one, but I often hear others saying that it is only 100 watts. If you are concerned about another 100 watts, get an amp. Thats what they are for. I find that about 50 watts drives my 99 to full leagal limit. 100 pushes it into the red zone at 2500 watts. So in my case, Im glad it only does 100 :)
It is the perfect blend of DSP and crystal filters. I am very happy with it, and cant see myself ever getting rid of it. I may someday replace it as my primary rig, but I cant find it yet. Maybe the Orion?.
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| W6VZV |
Rating: |
2002-12-15 | |
| Fantastic for digital! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this radio primarily for the digital modes (Pactor, PSK31, and SSTV) and also for some use on SSB and CW. This review will mainly focus on the digital modes since there are lots of reviews that talk about the other modes.
For digital this rig is hard to beat. It has dual auxiliary ports in the rear for both FSK (the RTTY control on the front) and AFSK (the "PKT" control on the front). The AFSK port is critical, since both Pactor-II and PSK31 require AFSK from the rig. Pactor-1 and RTTY work just fine on AFSK as well.
What makes the 1000MP shine is that it allows you to center the bandpass on AFSK such that the narrow crystal filters (500 hz and 250 hz) work beautifully on PSK31 and Pactor (and RTTY). Once you get a lock on either a Pactor or PSK31 station, you can pop in the narrow filters and maintain the lock, effortlessly. The dual IF crystal filters, combined with the DSP and IF shift capability of the radio, make it very easy to tailor the filtering to enable even the most QRM-plagued QSO to succeed.
The 1000MP is equally well suited to SSTV. It allows you to program in specific parameters (activated by the "USER" control on the front panel) for SSTV. What is more, you can program in memory channels for all of the SSTV channels such that you can simply go to a given memory, i.e. 14.230, 14.233) and the perfect SSTV settings are right there, ready to go. What's not to like?
I've had my 1000MP for almost 2 years now. It has worked flawlessly at all times. I regularly run the full 100 watts on PSK31 and Pactor, and the finals don't seem to mind, and the fan activates only now and then.
Others have written about the various other features of the radio, so I will not bother. Suffice to say that the receiver is excellent, and I really like the way the panel is laid out. If I could change wne thing it would be to move the af gain where the DSP is and vice-versa. Just a personal preference. The receiver is excellent, and I get consistently excellent audio reports on SSB and excellent PSK31 reports as well.
I've tried to talk myself into upgrading to the Mark V, and maybe I will someday. But I am still growing into the 1000MP, and my experience with it is so positive that I don't really want to change. |
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| GW3NCT |
Rating: |
2002-07-21 | |
| Excellent radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned mine since July 1999. Never had the least thing go wrong. Ok, some will say so what? But having heard one or two people yapping about Yaesu service and reliability I just want to show that some, at least, are perfect as far as reliability goes.
Performance is excellent. My only (minor) gripe is there are far too many controls. I notice that the new Mk 5 has dropped the wholly unneccessary (in my humble opinion) dual choice filtering. It certainly seems able to get a difficult to hear signal into the clear.
A minor glitch which I think has been addressed in the new model are the Shift and Width knobs. The new MK 5 has separated them with larger easier to use controls. That sounds like a very good idea to me.
The memeory is complicated, but probably needs to be to keep those people that need multiple memories with loads of choice happy. I only use it as a temp store for the wanted freq to avoid losing a contact if I need to QSY. I might have used it more if it allowed me to enter some station info with the freq.
I chose the Yaesu in preference to Icom because it is physically larger. I like a base station to look like one, not like a child's toy.
The tuning is superb. It is impossible to criticise the tuning. Via the menu, just about any tuning ratio is available, plus that shuffle-jog feature.
If I am truthful, I cannot say it looks as good as one of the oldie classics, such as the Collins KWM-1. I wish someone would introduce a modern version with all that we have gotten used to in the shape of that classic! I can dream.
Bottom line, would I buy another? Absolutely. In fact I have already ordered the new MK 5 Field. I'll offer a report on it after a few weeks usage.
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| N8OS |
Rating: |
2002-05-09 | |
| Great performance radio. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this radio last year before Field Day. It's a great performing radio.
PROS:
1. Great sound from internal Speaker. I also have the SP-5 that matches, and rarely use it.
2. Easy to use interface (except DSP position) the filter selection process is fast and simple.
3. Great rx. DSP helps somewhat, better then other radios I have used.
CONS:
1. DSP knob is somewhat hard to get to. I often bumb the vfo knob while adjusting the DSP. I would have liked to see the DSP knob on the outside edge for less interferance.
2. Switching from AC to DC is a troublesome process. You have to take off all the covers and the face plate to move one little connector.
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| VK2HL |
Rating: |
2002-05-02 | |
| Great rig, some hare brained design features |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Have had this radio just for a few days. The receiver is nice, love the auto tuner and love the way it works with my FL7000. Not totally impressed with DSP though. Wonder if it is worth all the engineering and brain power it took to create. Have not found a signal yet where it saved the day. Works great when you DON'T need it, not much help when the going gets really tough. In fact, there wasn't a signal where it outperformed my old TS930 which it replaces! Maybe I am just too used to the audio on the 930, but in all the tests I did, switching back and forth between the two radios, I did not find a significant difference on weak signals.
Perhaps the award for the most stupid design goes to the way the radio handles AC or DC operation. You actually have to remove the top and bottom covers AND swing out the front panel to change a plug from one socket to another. I thought japanes designesr don't drink. They really must have hit the bottle when they came up with this "feature". I like to be able to switch to DC operation when we have a power failure or in field operation. With this radio? Not bloody likely, you certainly don't want to be in a hurry to change to battery power, and you definitly can't do it in the dark!
Full brickbats for that one for an otherwise nice radio.
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| N2HO |
Rating: |
2001-11-21 | |
| Excellent rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Everything is said already, this radio is a very good performer and I enjoy it for almost 2 years. Bought it from AES and added some filters. One of weak points: noise blanker works good but it definitely makes receiver's IMD much worse.
I suggest a little ergonomic improvement - to swap RF PWR and RF gain knobs. I don't think somebody plays with RF gain knob often (AGC does the work), but Yaesu for some reason put larger knob here. At the same time RF PWR control is often in use and good to have larger and more convenient knob in this place.
To take knob out simply pull it, shafts have the same diameter for both controls.
I am sure you will feel the difference.
73 de George/N2HO |
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| W9JCM |
Rating: |
2001-11-13 | |
| just blows ur mind |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Ok guys I have had all the mid range rigs IE 746 847 etc. Now got my hand on a MP and wow is all I can say. In just playing with it one eve., I had a guy ask me what mic was I using I told him it was just the hand Mic. HEHE He said well its broadcast quality WOW. The rec is great the EDSP is really sweet. I am still learning this rig and using computer control. For some reason I cant get my Logic 5 to interface to it but I can get everyother comp program to. Must be something with logic. GReat rig looking forward to working LOTS of DX. I will go DXCC on this puppy. |
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| N2DY |
Rating: |
2001-08-27 | |
| Excellent Transmit Audio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The MP is an excellent radio. The receiver is quite good but the transmit audio is where the rig really shines.
By adjusting the various menus properly and using the MD-100 mic, it is possible to get that hi-fi sound that so many stations are looking for these days. You can quickly revert to dx type audio by playing with the menus again. I have gone a step further and use the MP with a Heil Goldline and a W2IHY equalizer and get outstanding audio reports. Some real audio officianados have gone even further by adding professional outboard audio gear and have had great results as well.
Another "hidden talent" of the MP is its ability on AM. AM is going through a revival these days and the MP is one of the best modern rigs on that mode. My station is set up in a small extra bedroom and so I no longer have room for the old-time AM gear of the past. The MP is a good compromise. AM audio is quite good for a ricebox and receive fidelity is excellent in the AM mode.
The control panel of the radio is well laid out and reasonably intuitive, although not as easy as my 756PRO. The menus contain a ton of useful features but you will have to consult the manual a few times before you get them all down pat. Having dual receivers is a real plus. It would be nice if they could be used on different bands though.
I was bit surprised to see so many negative postings on this rig. It appears that a bad batch got out of the factory. I have owned mine for 4 years now without an ounce of trouble. It's a shame that the big three, particularly Yaesu, keep having quality control issues.
I have looked at the new MP Mark V and am a bit disappointed. The rig does have 200 wattts output but I have an Alpha amplifier that only requires 50 watts or so for full output. I'm not sure who really cares about 200 watts vs 100 watts, a mere half S unit difference. I was stunned to see that they did not add six meters and instead offer some rediculously priced transverter. It would seem that Yaesu is a bit out of touch. These days most hf rigs come with six meters which is not hard to add. I'll keep my old regular MP. It's been just great so far! |
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