| G4GZG |
Rating:  |
2024-11-02 | |
| Probably the best of the old school Japanese transceivers |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought my JST245 on a bit of an impulse. Years ago in the 1990s I passed up the opportunity of one in favour of an Icom 756 and never went back. So when the opportunity of an 80th anniversary 245 came up again, I took the plunge. Even after nearly 30 years, the build quality of this radio stands out. I have it next to my TS890 and they have a similar quality look and feel, but the JST245 also has a bit of old world charm that the Kenwood has yet to achieve.
OK,so my first experience with the JST245 ended with me selling it to an enthusiast with a full workshop. The radio was showing its age and probable previous abuse and needed some TLC. anyway, as I liked it so much, when another came up for sale I bought it. This one has all the filters and puts out at least 150W. The sensitivity is great and combined with the filters is a breath of frsh air compared to more modern SDR transceivers. The received audio is superb and very good quality . It really does prove to be the best 30 year old transceiver I've used and that includes Yaesu'sFT1000, Icoms 756 series and Kenwoods TS950. Well worth the premium price they still command.
What I really like about this radio is that even if the receive performance doesn't rival modern SDR radios, the lack of menus and focus on traditional front panel controls makes operating a more intuitive and pleasant experience.
The receive performance is still very good as I found during CQWW with wall to wall contest stations. The JST245 performaed admirably with no problem in finding weaker signals among the higher power stations. OK its a 30 year old radio so doesn't have all the bells and whistles but goes a long way towards perfection with trackable notches, passband tuning, built in speech compression and CW keyer, twin VFOs ,Preamp and switched attenuators. Also wide range built in ATU, and general coverage 100Khz to 30 Mhz receive coverage with amater bands 160 to 10M plus 6M.
On transmit it holds its own with over 100W output and good audio reports. I also use it for SW BC listening and the audio through the internal speaker is superb and just oozes with quality.
So, although the JST245 won't replace my TS890, it is a worthy addition to my shack and great to use when I tire of modern menu drivenoferings and yearn for a more traditional radio.
They aren't cheap, despite their age but if you ever see one, buy it . You won't be disappointed.
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| GI0ZGB |
Rating: |
2017-09-14 | |
| Old Gold |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I love old school analogue transceivers, and when the opportunity to purchase the JRC JST-245DXG came along, despite the hefty asking price, I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed, the rig looked like it just came out of the factory, fully loaded with filters and optional extras and had a full service and alignment prior to sale. What a pleasure it is to use a rig without having to navigate multi-layer menus, everything you need falls to your hand. The RX audio is crisp and clear and the TX SSB audio was described as clean and sparkling, and, having heard it myself I have to agree, there is something special about the TX audio that makes it stand out from the crowd. In A/B comparison tests this old timer holds its own with the new digital kids on the block remarkably well. Apart from a few quirky meter selection issues, which are offset by the overall RX/TX performance, this is an astonishing rig given its age, truly a keeper. |
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| G7NKS |
Rating: |
2016-03-11 | |
| So good I have 3 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought my first one in 2009 and since then have acquired 2 more. Excellent radios. The 60v PSU is a known failure mode but the marvellous Geoff at Castle Electronics will repair them. If you see one, buy it. Excellent analogue HF/6M rig.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by G7NKS on 2008-03-20
I have had my 245 now for just over 1 week, having eventually found one on a web auction site. It is excellent and has broken several pile ups barefoot with 150W. My TL922 is having a rest! Lovely quiet RX and very effective ATU with my inverted L, tuning easily from 160M to 10M with only a fight on 80M.
If you see one, buy it! you will not be disappointed
Jim G7NKS |
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| JP1DJV |
Rating: |
2012-12-01 | |
| Good on SSB |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I did comparisons with FT-990, TS-830 and TS-2000 at the same time. I used the same antenna system and watched the same station. I tried to catch signals as weak as possible on both of 20m SSB and CW. TS-830 had the greatest performance in this case. FT-990 was the 2nd and JST-245 was the 3rd. On SSB mode, 245H worked well as TS-830 and FT-990. No problem at all. But my 245H showed the different result on CW. When I used the wide filter, the AF sound through my headphone went worse. It was something like the rumbling of the sea. the Low-frequency sound made S1-signals very difficult to read out.. The rumbling AF sound disturbed me to copy the very weak CW signals, almost impossible to hear. When I narrowed the filter, the AF sound became something like "in a tube " or "under water" sound, like scuba-diving breathing. Frankly speak, I lost the signal, I could hear nothing. Absolutely worthless!! Whenever I use the narrow filter which has a 1kHz or less band width, the target DX signal should be more than S=1.5 on its S-meter. TS-830 could clearly copy "S0(no s-meter deflection) signals" with the 500Hz filter. FT-990 could do it, too. So, JST-245H is good on SSB, ordinary on CW. Besides, TX-controls and RX-controls are mixed up together on the left side of the front panel. More refined layout seems to be necessary. The cooling fan, which runs while the power is ON, is a little noisy. |
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| K4LY |
Rating: |
2012-11-19 | |
| Excellent, but... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Universal Radio sold many of the JSTs in the 1990s. That's when I bought my JST-245. I used it side by side with another excellent rig, the FT-1000D. I preferred the JST-245. Almost 10 years ago the JST-245 main power supply, which provides 60 VDC, died; That was a common problem according to Universal Radio. In fact,Universal Radio at one time attempted to have a third party build new power supplies for the rig, since they couldn't get parts, but that fell through. A few years ago I bought a JST-145 that had low output and some other minor problems. I bought it for the power supply and installed the working power supply from the JST-145 in the JST-245. The JST-245 came alive but with low power output, only a few watts, like the JST-145. I also transferred the Sub Power Supply which provides 13.8 and 5 VDC, but still the same low power problem. Today I once again played with the two JSTs and the power supplies, and once, for a brief moment, got 150 watts, full power output. I don't think the PAs are bad, but maybe the ALC circuit or something else. HELP, DOES ANYONE SERVICE THESE RIGS IN THE USA? I called up Universal Radio and they said that their JRC tech had retired and that they couldn't get parts anyway. I checked the JRC home page and it appears they will service theses rigs unril 2015, but sending the radio to Japan doesn't sound like a good option. The JST-245 was my all time favorite transceiver. Sure wish I could get mine fixed. |
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| PA1Z |
Rating: |
2012-06-21 | |
| The perfect classic transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had the JST-245 for 5 years now, and it has been a superb companion. I don't know what JRC did, but nearly every day I get unsolicited comments about the audio quality on SSB. People tell me it sounds like a broadcast. This also helps me break into many pileups with no problems.
There are still JRC repair centers that can handle repairs and calibration, so this is no issue.
I am so crazy with this radio that I even bought a second as a backup so I can always have one around in case something happens to the service centers years down the road.
Of course, don't expect all kinds of bells and whistles or digital signal processing/filters like we have today. Most of the time I never need that anyway, so I don't miss them in the 245.
For me this is one of the best, if not the best 'old timer' radios around, and the audio on SSB is extraordinary, bar none.
Combine that all with good control placement, a fantastic display and all you need for good DX, and you can't get better than this.
73 PA1Z |
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| W3ULS |
Rating: |
2009-07-16 | |
| Iain's not dreaming! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I just had to comment on Iain's preceding excellent review of the JRC JST-245. I can assure him (and you) that he's not dreaming about the "magical" results obtained with SSB with the JST-245. And that's running barefoot with wire antennas, as the man says. How it breaks pileups, I don't know. But it does.
When I was active, I used a Heil HM-10 mike with the HC-5 component. Nothing fancy,in other words. I think there are two principal reasons why the JST does so well on SSB. First, the output power is rated at 150 watts, and it delivers every bit of that to the antenna port. Second, the signal is very clean (-38dB transmit IMD3).
This is an unheard of figure in comparison to current ham transceivers. For example, I believe the QST lab report on the latest from Icom found transmit IMD3 was -26 dB or thereabouts. That is a truly mediocre number and is typical of what's out there today. (The ARRL uses a proprietary IMD3 standard which no else follows. It needs to be reduced by about 6 dB for comparisons. Another example: the K-3's transmit IMD3 number was found to be so poor in the lab that ARRL queried Elecraft about it, and the company produced a fix on later models.)
I know of only one ham who did not consider the JST-245 to be the very best analog rig, and you can find his review on this thread. As for me, on SSB the JST-245 still has no peers.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W3ULS on 2002-07-26
Summary: If your aim is to make SSB QSO's on the HF bands, the JRC JST-245 is right up your alley.
First, a blunt word about radio amateur transceivers. Face it. There are no outstanding transceivers offered for sale to hams. A good receiver alone (Ten-Tec RX-340, JRC NRD-301a) can cost $4,000 and up and will offer 3d order intercept points of +30 dBm and above. A very few ham transceivers (such as the FT-1000MP Mark-V) offer 3d order intercept points in the mid-20's, but most are in the teens. By military and commercial standards, this is mediocre performance. So even a "great" ham radio rig leaves quite a lot to be desired in receiver performance--not to mention IMD splatter on SSB and key clicks on CW. Bottom line: we hams will not find optimum performance radios on the shelves of ham radio retailers.
Viewed from this perspective, the JRC JST-245 rates a "5" on the eHam.net scale. The transceiver offers 180-6 meter coverage, a built-in power supply and antenna tuner. The tuner, which does not cover 6 meters, works fine with my Carolina Windom (CW-80) antenna on all but 17 meters, where an outboard tuner is required. Transmitter output is rated at 150 watts PEP; my particular unit puts out about 180 watts on CW while SSB voice peaks hit 100 watts. Receive audio is top-notch, but transmit audio is where the JST-245, like Lance Armstrong, pulls away from the pack. On SSB, the JST-245 combines good quality voice reproduction with very high readability (using a Heil HC-5 mike.) I was able consistently to raise more DX contacts with the JST-245 than I was with an FT-1000MP Mark-V that I owned for a time and worked side-by-side with the JST-245. All I can say is there is something magical about the ability of the JST-245's transmit audio to be heard overseas. (Note: the optional transmit monitor unit is very handy for adjusting microphone gain and compression.)
The JST-245's receiver performance--with optional SSB and CW filters installed and utilizing its adjustable bandwidth and passband shift controls--is in the mainstream of high-end radios. (See the review in QST of 9/95.) There was little or nothing that I heard on the FT-1000MP Mark-V that I could not hear equally as well on the JST-245, even during contests. (I do not operate multi-multi, so I don't know how the JST-245 would do in that environment.) And I got more contacts with the JST-245.
I use a Timewave outboard audio DSP unit occasionally for atmospheric noise reduction and for its auto-notching function on unwanted SSB carriers. On CW, the Timewave can provide ultimate selectivity but, because of the dual JRC 500 Hz crystal filters I had installed, its insertion on CW is rarely necessary.
From a design and ergonomic standpoint, the JST-245 is first-rate. Controls are of high quality, are very smooth, and are well-placed on the front panel. The multi-colored numeric display is excellent. You get a well-built all-in-one radio in a relatively small box, and fitted with a carrying handle for easy portable operation.
Things I miss: no "tune" button; no "reverse" button as on the Ten-Tec OMNI VI that allows the operator momentarily to listen in on the other frequency when working "split;" no band registers as on the OMNI VI or "quick memory" buttons as on the Yeasu's; no code speed or CW pitch readouts; no memory for the built-in keyer; and no CW "spot" button. Overall, I must admit to preferring the layout and controls of the FT-920's front panel for ease and useability. This is not to say that the JST-245's front panel is lacking, just different.
But, as mentioned above, what sets the JST-245 decisively apart from the competition is the fact that I have been able to work more DX with the JST-245 on SSB than with any other rig I have owned, including the FT-920, the FT1000MP Mark-V, and the Ten-Tec OMNI VI. (The latter two have found new owners.) Go figure.
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| MM0TFU |
Rating: |
2009-07-16 | |
| Fantastic Radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned my JST-245 for over 3 years, and I still love it. It is in daily use on HF and on 6m. When I bought the radio as part of a SK estate sale, it had a fault with the PSU. I sent it off to Geoff at Castle Electronics in Wales (excellent service), who repaired the PSU and serviced the radio. Since then it hasn't missed a beat.
This is quite an old radio now, production having stopped around 1995 (might be a year or two out!) but it can still hold its own amongst todays models.
JRC only ever built top quality equipment, and this rig is commercial/military grade without a doubt.
There is no "menu" button and the word "menu" does not feature anywhere on the front panel. This may be a concern to some, but will be a definate plus to others, who, like me prefer a button or a knob for each function.
The front panel is very well laid out, and using the radio is an enjoyable experience. The main tuning control is very smooth and all the buttons and knobs have a solid and quality feel to them. There are no cheap plastics used here!
The frequency display is large and clear and it remains bright and readable in all lighting conditions.
This radio has a great receiver and combined with the full compliment of filters, I can pick out the weakest of signals in noisy band conditions. The built-in speaker is adequate, but I also have the external speaker NVA-319 which is an excellent match.
The transmitter produces in excess of the quoted 150w and the built-in fans run quiet. The 245 uses standard 8-pin Yaesu type microphone connections and I generally use a Heil headset with the HC-4 DX insert. This generates many unsolicited favourable comments about the audio quality.
There seems to be something magical about the 245's ability to be heard. I have made many contacts on the HF bands, always running barefoot power, breaking pile-ups with only wire antennas, when in the past using other radios I would not have been able to make the contact. I really don't think that I am imagining this. :-)
The JST-245 is relatively rare on the used market, and recent examples have sold for top dollar prices. Having said that, mine will not be for sale any time soon. If you see one advertised, don't hesitate, buy it. You will not be disappointed.
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|
| WA6JGM |
Rating: |
2007-12-04 | |
| Excellent Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned my JST-245 for 11 years now and I have not been disappointed in its performance. What sold me on purchasing the rig was:
1. +20 third order intercept point
2. > 104 DB dynamic range
3. pre-scaling front end
4. Dual filtering in the 9.455 and .455 I.F., very little white noise in the receiver audio.
5. Very good I.M.D. in the transmitter
6. 100% duty cycle on transmit, 150 watts
7. Easy to use
8. It's pretty
These were the published specs. 11 years ago.
The receive audio is pleasing to the ear, hardly any ear fatigue after hours of operation. The front end does not wilt when in a multiple transmitter setting ie. Field Day. The transmit audio is very very good sounding, the rig here works just as good as the day I bought it new. These radios don't come up for sale very often but if you do run across one up for grabs get it if you can, you won't be disappointed.
I have an S-Line, a set of Drake 4C Twins and a 75A4 and love them all but the JRC 245 sits in a class all by itself and not many rigs of "the day" can touch it.
73
Pat
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| KD5SRW |
Rating: |
2007-10-14 | |
| ABSOLUTELY SUPERB TRANSCEIVER |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had my fully loaded out JST-245 for two years now and I absolutely love it. Accurate and easly to use, the controls make one a better DX'er. I think the on board Pre-Amp,notch control, noise blanker and Pass Band tuning features are among the finest available on any production radio. I also use the NVA-12 JRC optional audio filter/speaker in conjunction with the 245 and am happy to have it as well, great audio and a vast improvement on the less than stellar small factory speaker installed in the 245.That speaker would be the ONLY thing I would improve in the orginal 245, but the NVA-12 takes care of that "problem" to my satisfaction. I also use an orginial JRC Desk Mic which works like a charm...(I will admit that I recently aquired a Heil PR-40 to use with the 245 and look for great things with it as well.)
I do wish that Japan Radio Corp would listen to its legion of happy owners and produce a "second generation" version of the 245, I would have my order in for it the day it's announced. No menus on the 245, but it's military tough and user friendly, to borrow a phrase, "we don't need no stinkin' menus!
Yes, I am a believer! I have owned a number of other rigs and have sold or traded all of them, nothing yet holds a candle to the 245.
If you find one in nice shape, buy it. |
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