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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
MI5UTC Rating: 2020-07-14
FTdx-1200 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
OK. This is a fine transceiver. Like any radio you need to READ how to use it to get the best out of it. Engineer your station well and NO radio will give you trouble. The 1200 for me is an excellent radio no longer made so if you see one second hand buy it ! Great RX...superb TX provided you read how to use the Para EQ. I use the standard MH-31 mic and get great audio reports. The radio puts out a clean 100w but the meter deflects lower to make you think power output is low...the meter is reading average power..!! The DNR is THE BEST noise reduction currently out there. Yes there is a lot of menu functions but again, set the radio up correctly and you won't have to delve in there ever again. And a tip for all Yaesu HF radio owners.. read up in your manual about IPO. Listen how your noisy antenna becomes the best one you ever had !
AB8BC Rating: 2019-08-29
excellent! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Couldn't agree less with the OM prior to my post. This is an excellent radio! Bought mine new just over a year ago. Added provisions for an SDR dongle to add a spectrum scope (via HDSDR). My previous rig was a MP1000 and as advanced as it may have been at the time, couldn't keep the noise down enough for me to hear well. Sold it and almost hung up the coat on ham-radio...then I bought this rig. unreal. I could hear again. I would buy this one again in a heartbeat, but it seems they have discontinued. Oh and btw...the carrier level...is in the first knob on the left/bottom called "PROC/CAR". Mine works just fine. Sometimes you need to get the frikken chip off your shoulder to see the daylight...but who am I?--
WM6P Rating: 2019-08-20
Not a keeper. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I sold my 1200 a few months after purchasing new. Just to change power out you had to go deep into menus.
Selectivity was poor. A moderate SSB signal 2kHz away made a QSO impossible.
RF kept getting into the rig and distorting audio. My other rigs did not have this problem.
Plus: Front panel had lots of pretty lights.

----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by WM6P on 2014-06-20

I had an early FTdx1200 and for the price it is a winner. It seemed to lack filtering with adjacent channel signals and got on the air complaints of a wide ssb signal.
I tried a friends K3 and fell in love. After eight months sold the 1200, replaced by the Elecraft. Now in all fairness they are not in the same price class.
For $1500 the winners are the FTdx1200 or the Kenwood 590. Both are good radios.
K4FY Rating: 2019-06-16
After 5 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an update of a previous review a few years back. I have little to complain about with this rig. I've added the keypad for CW contesting and the waterfall/CW decoder. Both work fine. Very good on Receive and Transmit with good audio all around. Solid performer on DX pileups with my ACOM 1010 amp. Overall, I think this rig is a bargain and it's still in production. Five stars.
KA1JFB Rating: 2019-01-27
Great Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ive had my Yaesu FT-dx 1200 for about 3 months and found out its 5 years old but it looks and plays just like its supposta do! I haven't figured out all the bells and whistles yet but its the nicest looking rig ive owned and plays just as good!! You can get a new one now for about $800.00 And I would buy one again altho mine is used No issues! Get one you wont be disappointed! Joe KB1ZA
N3PM Rating: 2018-12-23
Nice for the price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine used with the FFT-1 option 5 months ago and haven't had any problems. It's on 20 hours a week, and operated mostly CW. The internal tuner is fine for trimming up my band specific antennas, and I have used it with an external generic LDG with no trouble.
The mic equalizer combined with an MD-100 mic is very nice.
I like that the most frequently used controls being on the front panel. Once the menu items were set, I went back and tweaked some of them as I used the radio more, but that exercise grew less frequent.
The width, contour/apf, and shift do help on CW. I've hardly used the NR function, so I can't comment on it.
Since I don't operate other modes, I cannot comment on the radio's performance for them.
The scope/audio cut off can be annoying if you run auto refresh, I just don't use it that often.
I believe that at the price (as of today's review) it's a pretty good deal.
W3IRE Rating: 2018-10-21
Not what it's hyped up to be. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio for 2 years now, and although it does transmit and receive well, I have to say it's not is what it's advertised as. I gave it a 2 star rating because it transmits and receives well and the price it is.
Some of the things on the downside for me are that it's too many programming options. A 196 menu options. Hard to get around the menus itself. No real time scope, not a real VFO-B that you can switch to.
My biggest downside to this radio is it doesn't do 100 watts PEP. The most I've ever been able to get out of it is 60 watts. I've tried it on two different antennas as well as two microphones including the stock mic, 60 watts that's it.
I have gotten good reports back on it, which is a plus.
I just don't think this is the radio it's advertised it's supposed to be. You pay for bells and whistles not a Transceiver. The FT-897, FT-857 and the FT-450 are much better radios.
In my opinion save your money and buy a better radio, not bells and whistles.
N2PH Rating: 2018-10-10
Love it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
One thing is very important which I don't find addressed in these reviews-you can have the best radio money can buy, but if you have a poor antenna you are going to get poor results. Do a lot of research on best antenna for your location, put it high and in the clear. To me this is the key to enjoyable and effective communication with whatever radio you choose. That being said here are my comments:

There have been many comparisions between the Icom 7300 and the Yaesu FTdx 1200. I own both radios. I am a CW operator so my commnets only pertain to that mode.

Both radios hear about the same.

However, I believe the narrow filters, notch and IF notch are much better on the 1200. They are much easier to use and seem more effective. I can narrow the passband to 50Hz on the 1200 and all other noise coming from the bands disappears-I can't do that with my 7300. In addition, the Audio Peak Filter enhances the reception of the CW signal, the 7300 doesn't have a similar feature. So these are the areas where I give the 1200 a decided edge.

I also, have the FFT-1 scope installed on the 1200 and while nice it doesn't compare with the waterfall display. The waterfall shows where the action is on the band and I can jump right to it, though I must admit sometimes I feel that I am just jumping around and not really listening.

I also, like the appearance of the 1200 better, but that is just personal choice. If I could buy just one-it would be a tough, tough choice but because I like the filters better on the 1200 I think I would go with that transceiver.
IZ0FYS Rating: 2018-09-18
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's my rig forever !!
100% quality, no bugs, large chassis, made like "a radio".
a very silent receiver, maximum audio quality.
K7UQ Rating: 2018-08-23
great radio for the price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a very nice hf radio, taking in the consideration of the price with the current rebate. No, it is not a SDR radio, but it seems to hear everything my Flex 1500 can hear. I do use a a SDR play to get a continues waterfall display and that sure is handy. The auto tuner is the best of any radio I ever had, matching my 80 meter delta loop to about any band or frequency I want, even 160 meters. There are two negatives to my review. The knobs appear to be very cheap and the radio needs some kind of back lighting to help with all thw buttons. The receive audio is great. For the price I think it is a keeper.