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Reviews For: Yaesu FTdx-1200

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FTdx-1200
Reviews: 129MSRP: 1879
Description:
The FT DX 1200 provides up to 100 Watts on SSB, CW, and FM
(25 Watts AM carrier) and a rugged state of the art highly
balanced receiver circuit configuration for top performance
on today’s crowded bands. Similar to the high end “YAESU FT
DX” series, it uses 32-bit high speed floating point DSP.
Yaesu’s acclaimed superior DSP algorithm is highly effective
in weak signal processing and enhancement. The 1st IF
frequency is protected by selectable 3 kHz, 6 kHz and 15 kHz
roofing filters that effectively attenuate interfering
signals.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
42.51294.6
LB6BG Rating: 2015-01-25
Highly recommended Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had this radio on loan for about 4 weeks. Used it mainly in cw, but made some SSB-qsos, too. The rx is distinctly better and calmer than my IC-7200 and my FT-450. It was hardly necessary to look into the manual to understand the basic functions. I got "excellent" modulation reports with the original microphone and factury defaults. I could tune my doublet on some bands with the internal tuner and a 1:4 balun at the antenna outlet. If I should buy a new radio now, it certainly would be the FTdx-1200 !
G6DFM Rating: 2015-01-25
Magic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What can I say that others havent said already.
For the price I cant see how it can be beaten, except for possibly a wider tuning rang on the atu. The way the DSP can dig signals out of the qrm is in my opinion nothing short of magic. Lovely to look at, excellent standard of finish. The addition of the scope facility is very usefull, I use it all the time, just hit the enter button and it updates the display in less than .5 sec and off you go.
Out of the box the setup is great so dont get to carried away and adjust all the preset settings the first day, read the manual, you will need it but it will be more than worth it.
I dont like to rubbish other tranceivers as all have their merits all I can say is the FTdx 1200 is a fantastic rig at any price and Yaesus DSP means the "dx" in the name is truly justified.

John

K5RAF Rating: 2015-01-21
Nice Radio and then some! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only had the DX1200 for a couple of weeks, but, nothing but praises to date. On the receive with my very modest antennas, the ability to pull em in has been fantastic. My transmit reports have been excellent on the audio (MD-100)side as well. The data was easy to set up and I went ahead and added the FFT-1... works fine for setting up my mic as well. Did very little CW/Data but the FFT worked fine when I used it. Overall quality of unit is great from look and feel. I am a bit jaded that I own primarily Yaesu HF units. They work great and will likely keep running fy FT-450 and my FT-100 sets as well!
KO4CH Rating: 2015-01-16
WOW!!!Great Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Yaesu has knocked this one out of the park.
Look at the review ratings and they tell it all.
Lot's of eye candy, great receive and super transmit audio. With the rebate still on it's the best bang for your hard earned dollars.
I use a $12.00 computer head set and it sounds almost as good as the MD100.
I have owned lots of radios since 1961 and this by far is one of the best. Move over Kenwood and Icom, you have been outdone.
The VFO knob is silky smooth and all the other knobs are large and feel good when you turn them.
Try one, you won't be disappointed.
73,
Jerry
KE4ZHN Rating: 2015-01-12
Fine radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently bought an FTdx1200 from HRO. Great folks there, a pleasure to do business with. So far I really like the receiver. Which to me is the heart of any rig. It has a quiet receiver and its very hot. I can easily dig weak ones out of atmospheric noise with no trouble. Selectivity is excellent. The roofing filters actually work. If you like essb this rig will tx and rx out to 4k. Not my thing but it's literally built into the rig no mods required. The transmit audio is great once you get the eq dialed in. The menu system is a bit extensive so you will need to learn this rig for a while. With the holiday sale it's hard to beat this rig in it's price class. A very nice radio that really performs.
KP4MLF Rating: 2015-01-10
One of the best radios I ever own Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got this baby in a good deal thanks to a Yaesu discount and for the price is a very nice rig, first contact was from Colorado to La Habana using just a crappy G5RV. The reception is good and the band scope is very nice
K8FF Rating: 2014-12-17
Excellent value! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it to replace an IC7200 to be used as a backup rig for my FT1000MKV. After about a month in service, I might need to rethink which radio will be the backup. The 1200 works as well as the 1000 in every respect and better is some. The CW performance is fantastic, the display impressive, the RX audio is excellent and the RX is very quiet and hears very well. IMHO this is the best rig for the money available today
W8NOR Rating: 2014-09-05
Great mid-prized rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had this transceiver for about a month now. I'm very impressed with its performance. The controls are placed where I expect them to be. The menu system is easy to use. The receiver has great specs and performs accordingly. I work CW and love the internal keyer as well as features that make hearing and filtering out weak signals a total joy.The display is gorgeous.

I have looked at a number of other mid-prized transceivers and I feel that this one gives me the best value and performance.

The only minor complaint is the inability to connect a computer directly via USB. Consider the cost of the SCU-17 interface when you compare pricing. But the interface also adds other features.

I have not regretted this purchase for even a second. Yaesu has a winner.
N1RND Rating: 2014-09-02
I LOVE IT! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I feel it my obligation to write my review after reading everyone elses before buying the rig. I like to do my research before buying anything, but a guilty of not always posting my own review a getting said item.
I had narrowed down my choice between the icom 7410 and the '1200. I went to HRO Salem, NH and spent a couple of hours infront of both rigs. Nice guys up there, very helpful and not pushy. Athough the icom has slightly better numbers in the lab, I just did not like "the test drive". I don't want to bash Icom, they make great stuff, but the Yaesu looks and feels "warmer and more inviting". Where as the Icom seems "sterile and clinical" like a piece of lab test equipment.
I have only had the rig a short while and have not gotten even half way into what it has for features. My last two main rigs were a FT-1000MP (not mk5) and an FT-990. So those rigs were my baseling. Here is what I noticed so far comparing the 1200 to those.

The internally generated noise of the receiver is much lower. It actually took a while to get use to! I kept thinking I had a selected the wrong antenna or had the attenuator on.

The noise blanker. The NB on the 990 was just okay. The NB on the MP was better, but the NB on the 1200 is amazing, it takes out alot of manmade qrn in my neighborhood. Also it does not get "modulated" too much by strong signals.

The CW tuning feature is much easier to use and works better than the one on the MP. (optional fft board required).

The roofing filters do seem to work. Before I always had about 3 or 4 units of an undercurrent of nise on the other radios.There istwo of two AM radio stations. The 1200 with the narrowest roofing filter selected takes this undercurrent out.
(The two AM stations are about 2 miles away).

The DSP bandwith settings work great, even at 50hz cw mode, there is no ringing.

Another cool feature is the virtual analogue S meter. I thought I would not like it so when I first set up the rig I chose the bar graph option. Later on playing around with the virtual analogue meter display I noticed that the Yaesu engineers gave it bounce and swing. It actually has some of the mechanical limitations of a D'Arsonval meter on purpose to make it seem more real.

I did option my rig with the fft board, voice keyer board and remote keypad. YES, YES I KNOW FOR FEW MORE BUCKS I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE 3000, BUT I HAD TO STOP SOMEWHERE.

I will try to give an updated review after more time using the radio.

73's dave n1rnd.
KE4AMQ Rating: 2014-07-26
i like it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i just got the radio and there is alot to learn, easy to operate. menu's are super easy a great bang for the buck. if anyone has tx audio mastered settings contact me via email ke4amq@yahoo.com.