| AB3FN |
Rating:  |
2018-05-27 | |
| Great, but about the clock battery ... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Bought new a few years ago, and its an excellent radio, especially considering the price. But I want to comment on the clock issue.
The clock battery in my 1200 went bad after a couple of years. Yaesu tech support said they did not carry replacement batteries in stock and would have to replace the whole board. I did not get an estimate, but figured that the board, plus labor, plus shipping, would likely add up to at least several hundred dollars. Ridiculous !!!
But look at the schematic - the battery is only for clock backup, no other function. Take off the bottom panel and you can easily see the battery. Several parts companies stock the exact same battery but with a different tab arrangement. Simply leave the board in place, use small diagonal cutters to remove the bad battery, use a low-wattage iron to remove the cut tabs, and you will be able to solder in a replacement cell that you bent the tabs on. All together, an easy fix for just a few bucks.
An annoying problem, of course, but otherwise the radio has been superb. If this one died, I'd buy another without hesitation.
|
|
| KB3GWQ |
Rating: |
2018-05-14 | |
| OK for SSB Starter Rig. CW op not so great. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Our clubsite has a Yaesu FTDX-1200 and at home I use an Icom IC-746PRO. I mostly do CW operation, but occasionally will do some SSB.
Here's the bad:
* My biggest complaint with this rig is that it does not have a built-in memory keyer, or rather it requires the optional remote which is an extra ~$100 new. The 746 allows me to setup CW memory from the menus and also send directly from the rig. This means you can't just setup CQ CQ CQ DE K and setup a wait-time between calling CQ.
* The sensitivity on this is poor compared to the 746 and even my FT-101E. It's very bad at pulling out weak stations and it's AGC performs poorly under spotty band conditions. It becomes a chore, even with running the audio output into Speclab, to finish a quick exchange with CW.
* Noise reduction is a toggle on/off option. There is no fine control over it. It appears to be dynamic and can be aggressive. I haven't found too much reason to use it.
* Bandwidth filters are fixed. You can not adjust them to custom (within reason) levels like the 746PRO. To use narrow (under 500hz) filters you must press the NAR button.
* Clarifier knob is extremely sensitive. It's very easy to over/under shoot where you want to be. There doesn't appear to be a sensitivity adjustment for it.
* The notch filter is very wide. This could be good or bad depending on who you are and the situation you're in. I wasn't expecting it to be adjustable (it isn't). But, as wide is it is this makes it harder to get it set where I want it. Even when using Speclab.
Here's the good:
* The display is nice. Maybe not as good as the new rigs out there, but the resolution is pretty good and the screen is reasonably crisp.
* Band hopping and manual frequency entry are pretty easy to accomplish.
* Working SSB is nice. I don't know about weak stations, but I'd imagine it may suffer some issues there. Standard supplied mic seems OK.
* Built-in clock is a nice touch.
* You can set the front and back CW keyers for whatever type of keyer you need. My 746PRO is limited to changing this on the front. The rear on the 746PRO is strictly for straight keys.
* Allows firmware updates.
* Can be modified for 60m.
Overall:
This isn't a bad radio, but is annoying to use for CW. I can make it work, but if you're planning to do mostly CW op then look elsewhere. This is a great starter rig if you're going to be doing SSB or digital modes. I can't comment on the FFT add-on board or the remote.
|
|
| W0BKR |
Rating: |
2018-02-13 | |
| Good Radio - Update Later |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Well, won't go into rcvr specs you can look those up. I have played with the 1200 for a while and id does require some learning or manual reading. Seems basically pretty good. A couple of nits:
1. With the bands were back lit keys. The legends are small and a bit difficult to read if you don't have the room lighting right on the front panel.
2. The display is okay but to change some settings (i.e. Vox On/Off, etc.) you have to navigate back and forth from the scope, select up or down, and then get on the setting, hit select to turn the function off/on, etc. Then back to scope display or whatever. To me that seems awkward to say the least.
But for performance, I think it is pretty good, but will re-state you have to play with it a lot to get a feel of short cuts and settings you want when operating. |
|
| K2VI |
Rating: |
2018-02-07 | |
| VERY SURPRISED |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I am a Kenwood guy but own many Icoms and Yaesu transceivers . This review is comparing my Kenwood ts590SG And my Yaesu ftdx-1200. I had the radios twined into the same antenna(80m doublet at 80'. Well after 5 days of back and fourth i was amazed at the performance of the 1200. DO NOT listen to anyone who says the 590sg blows away the 1200. It complete and total BS. Sensitivity is equal, Filtering out strong stations 2K up or down is also equal both preform very good with no winner. Here is where the Yaesu shines head and shoulders above the 590sg. DSP on the 1200 is way way better. Noise floor? again the 1200 has a noticeable quieter receive. On 40M band the Kenwood has a S3 Noise level and the 1200 S-0 And the transmitting signal s meter reading is the same so it is not a calibration issue the yaesu is just flat out quieter than the 590sg. And lastly the fidelity , this is a big one. With an 8 OHM bookshelf speaker the yaesu has some serious rumble and with the DSP engaged the sound does not degragate like the kenwoods underwater sounding DSP.Also the yaesu was loud and the Kenwood needed to have the volume full clockwise so the audio amp in the yaesu is bigger as well. If there is some nitpick with the Yaesu it is the front knobs have a cheap feel and the Kenwood seems like a better build. I love my 590sg but it is what it is and the 1200 going for 925.00 with the rebate and the Kenwood at 1379.00 I would suggest the Yaesu. I sure wish the Kenwood won because It was and still is my first choice.
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K2VI on 2014-11-20
for 1179.00 new on heck of a rig. Wonderful rec/xmit audio , great feel and looks. Love the fish finder scope. A true winner. Receiver as good as my ft-950 but much better looking and ergonomics in my opinion. Great job yaesu and the price is outstanding for the quality of this radio. |
|
| WA8KOQ |
Rating: |
2018-01-28 | |
| Pleasure to operate |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
After using this rig more than a year, I am still very pleased. It is truly a joy to operate, the filtering enables many qso's I would not have with out the selectivity. The APF is amazing on CW. I thought I would use the DNR a lot but find that I seldom need it even though it works very well.
I put my OMNI VI on the shelf for now. |
|
| W7KKK |
Rating: |
2018-01-04 | |
| Nice Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought this rig after being cleared for mild RF exposure of my pacemaker/defib unit without the fear of reprogramming it and being off the air for two years.
I have owned many Yaesu products over the years compared to ICOM and had good luck with the Yaesu line over the years. Models owned started with a 101EE, 990,840,897,450,950 and a 1000 Field.
With all the filtering you could want and all the other features I think this radio is a keeper.
I think it's much better than the 950 that I had last too. |
|
| K4TK |
Rating: |
2017-12-24 | |
| About that clock issue.... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I'm updating my review to address the clock issue just mentioned in the VK callsign review below. So now I know it's not just me! Bought my 1200 right around the exact same time you did. And same EXACT thing with the clock! Contacted Yaesu tech folks. It's one of those 3 volt disc batteries used by many modern electronics. Good news, shouldn't leak if we leave the dead battery in. Bad news, yes...it is dead. Yrs, it must be sent back to replace....It's supposedly soldered in? I'm not paying shipping....both ways...and repair....and waiting without a radio. I used to set the clock ever time I turned on the radio (it keeps time while powered on ). No more, I bought an MFJ clock and set it to UTC. Yes, it's a shame about the clock.
I've had my FT DX 1200 over 2 years now. I upgraded from an old Kenwood TS 440. There's of course no comparison....but then....the old Kenwood was about a 20 year old rig! I love MOST of the features on the radio. I will agree as one other review noted....when working contests....or sometimes when working pileups where the DX is working split, I can hear considerable "bleedover" from stations calling the DX....sometimes as far as 3 or 4 khz away on CW. To work around this, I use the Notch filter and also use the Width control ....narrowing the receive bw just a little along with the notch seems to take all the "off frequency" stations calling out....and I hear just the dx then. So yes, it could stand to have a bit better rejection on adjacent freqs.
Another thing I've noted, there's been some confusion when I went to interface new products...like the MFJ 998 auto tuner. What cable to get for automated features is often a guess....as many manufacturers don't yet list the 1200 in their list of supported radios. Likewise, often when I interface the radio with options on my logging program (DX4WIN), they don't have the 1200 listed. I've contacted the support team for the software, and they said (at the time) "you're the first person to try and interface that radio with our software....try some other Yaesu radio settings from our menu....see if you can get it to work, then report back here and share so we can tell others". No problems, I'm an Electrical Engineer with 38 years experience in the Comm world....so I like a challenge. In the end, I've gotten all the products I've added to use with the radio working (DCU3 rotator control, MFJ 998 auto tuner, Ameritron ALS-1306 amp, DX4WIN logging software). All those products work with the rig....just took some experimenting to get remote/automatic control/cables working.
Great radio for the money. I see now where it's on sale for UNDER 1000 bucks. For that money, it's a GREAT deal.
I recently added a Heil PR 781 mic for it....and using the built in parametric mic eq settings, the TX audio sounds FANTASTIC!
One other note....it was aggravating trying to do the firmware updates ...as you would lose the menu/memory settings. But I found there was some 3rd party software that lets you save all those settings. That way, you just save your settings ....then download your firmware upgrades and install them....then use the 3rd party software to restore the menu/memory settings. |
|
| VK2DET |
Rating: |
2017-12-23 | |
| problem with clock not retaining time after switch off |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Hi Ive had my FTDX1200 since (new) 15/10/2014,Ive been happy with its performance ease of use etc etc.
But last few months (approx 8 months)Ive had this annoying problem with the clock not retaining the time!!Ive set it and after switching off,Came back several hours and days later to find clock set at ZERO!!The memory settings for other settings on the rig aren't being effected.
Ive been told to return it to the place of purchase etc etc for replacement of the battery (as it still has warranty)
But its a pain to ship to the dealer etc just for a battery!!.
Im still not convinced its a battery issue as WHY DO THE OTHER SETTINGS REMAIN AS SET???
Ive kept up the firmware updates etc,
I cannot understand why the clock wont stay set
Ive got the FFT Board installed,
The other problem that has just started is the DISPLAY SLANTING TO LEFT ON THE SCREEN,But it seems to of righted itself the other day.
So in summery am I about to sart having MAJOR PROBLEMS ??
Has anybody had similar problems with the OTHERWISE EXCELLENT trx.
Thanks for reading
|
|
| K4DJQ |
Rating: |
2017-12-21 | |
| Great Radio for the money!!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I've owned the FTDX-1200 for a couple of weeks now and have to say that I'm very impressed with it. I've owned several rigs over the 25 years that I have been licensed and have to say that this radio holds it's own against the big dogs!! I've owned the Icom 756, Yaesu FT1000MP MarkV Field Kenwood TS570D and Kenwood TS480SAT just to name a few and IMO the 1200 blows them out of the water. Great job Yaesu on a great radio for the money. IMO the ones who gave this radio a bad review probably should have read the manual before trying to operate the radio, You probably would have had better luck with it!!!! |
|
| N4WRE |
Rating: |
2017-06-10 | |
| Very Nice Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Well I have just owned the FTDX1200 a couple of weeks but I really like it. I have had a lot of compliments about the transmit audio with just a cheap studio mic. The receive is very impressive, the sound out of the internal speaker is great. I don't see how you could go wrong with this rig. I have the matching speaker and have really enjoyed using this rig. Try one for yourself and you will be happy. Not a fan of Yaesu until I bought the 1200. I think it is A+++
73 N4WRE |
|
