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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
K0SNG Rating: 2015-06-30
Excellent Transceiver Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is by far the best transceiver I have owned. I am mainly a CW operator and am totally impressed with the full break in operation, receiver selectivity and sensitivity. The menu is relatively easy to use. I do use a Nifty Manual but I have a small list of the menu items I use most posted at my operating position and rarely refer to the Nifty or Factory manual. For comparison some of my past rigs included; FT950, IC736, IC706mKIIG, and really not comparable were a NCX3, KWM2, 75S3 as they are not really using the modern technology of today. I am planning on purchasing a Yaesu FT991 to replace my IC706 and if the FTdx-1200 is an indication of how the FT991 may perform I'll be happy.
K9ROD Rating: 2015-06-30
An FT-950, but Upgraded! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had an FT-950. Fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I now have the FTDX1200. WOW! It is an FT-950 but upgraded. Lost of bells and whistles for making that contact one of the best all the time. Excellent noise reduction. Then there is the ability to give your signal that unique sound you want. Add the color display and you really can't ask for more. I've made hundreds of contacts with excellent reports on audio quality. Hand mic work really good, but it was also very easy to add a desk mic and make that really good sound quality that you have always wanted. The new color display is wonderful. Very rich and easy to read, unlike the single color drab displays on some other radios. This is the perfect desk size base station. No way it get less than a perfect 5.
WX4O Rating: 2015-06-21
Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've only owned mine about 1 month, but I really love it. I'm still getting used to the setup and menus, but it has a very sharp receiver. I love the display! It's as good as the 756-Pro III (which cost more than twice as much) I had, and has more features. For the price, as has been stated, it's a bargain.
K2EQ Rating: 2015-06-08
Amazing Rig at Amazing Price Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I put my old Swan 350 tube rig on the shelf in December. This is my first “modern” rig and the first Ive used with a computer. I have now owned and operated the FTDX-1200 for six months. I operate barefoot with a longwire antenna. In that time Ive done approx 6,000 qsos (including dabbling in several contests), worked 180 countries and all 50 states. I have found the rig to be immensely satisfying concerning its operation. The SSB audio gets consistently excellent reports with little to no need to improve on the factory set menu items. The only time I got a bad report was when I tried to do just that, as soon as I got back to the defaults, all was FB. Receiver is superior in that the features seem well beyond the pricetag. I can work 99% of those I hear and am continually amazed at how the audio cuts through pileups. Ive had zero problems with the rig concerning reliability, no need for repairs etc. I got the FFT board and while initially disappointed, now do use it routinely and am glad I got it. I bought the extended warranty but the way its performing I should have saved the money. I was licensed in 1966 and had never done WARC bands or digital or HRD etc. For someone like me there is a steep learning curve but between the manual and some yahoo groups, I think Ive got about 90% down. This fall Im going to upgrade the station and have to choose amongst whether to get a higher ‘level’ rig, a tower and Yagi or linear amplifier. Im getting two out of three. Im going to keep the 1200.
ZL1GI Rating: 2015-04-26
Not Disapointed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I decided on a FTDX1200 after reading the reviews on eHam. I have to say this is the nicest HF rig that I have owned. The receiver is amazing and there are stacks of features many of which historically only appeared in higher end offerings. The transceiver is easy to find your way around both on the front panel and in the extensive menu system. The FTDX1200 holds its own for looks in any shack and the coloured TFT display is stunning. If you are a casual operator but are looking for more than a basic rig without spending a fortune then the FTDX1200 must be seriously considered.
AI5JM Rating: 2015-04-06
This is the best one yet. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm 62 years old and have operated many different HF rigs over the years. None looked better. None received better. And none were more versatile. The DSP is amazing. So much of the noise can be made to disappear with the push of a button. Truly a step up from anything I've expereienced with any other rig. I am just beginning retirement and looking forward to many years of enjoyment of the Yaesu FTdx1200. The color display is impressive. I also purchased the SCU-17 and it perfectly completes the setup. I actually like the operation of the band scope better than the SDR dongle panscope I had installed on an FT-920. Very satisfied and happy. Way to go Yaesu.
N7WR Rating: 2015-04-04
Good Value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently purchased a new FTdx 1200 and thus far I am very pleased with it. Excellent receiver and compares very favorably to my TS 590S. Unlike some previous Yaesu offerings the menus are pretty easy to navigate and set up. Many features that I like to have access to are front panel selectable. Took a while to get the Mic EQ set up for my Heil mic and my voice characteristics but easier to do on this radio than on the FT 950.
PB1HF Rating: 2015-02-18
Perfect ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked one up a couple of days ago to replace my FT2000D which was a very nice radio to use. The first thing I noticed was how crisp the audio is !. Bought it with the optional scu-17 unit for digital modes the setup was pretty straight...Over all I think it is a very nice radio with very good receiption and perfect quality audio out with unsollicited compliments on the audio (using MD-100 and eq settings ON from the set)....very good buy for your mony and I can only tell you go get one and try !!!
NG2F Rating: 2015-02-11
Best ever owned Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The FTDX1200 followed a long line of rigs including the Yaesu FT-107M (the full station), Kenwood TS-520, TS-450SAT, 570D. I loved my 107M, but it got hit by lightning (stupid mistake of mine).

Bought this rig to replace my noisy TS-570D, which exhibited inferior performance in noise reduction, with the digital artifacts produced by the DSP algorithms making copy terrible.

So, I picked up the 1200. Great price and was advertised as loaded with advanced features from Yaesu's already impressive line of expensive XCVRs.

I pulled it out of the box, attached my end-fed dipole up 45ft, tuned up on 20m. I tuned in the MMSN on 14.300 and could not believe what I heard. With the 450 and the 570 I rarely heard *anyone* on frequency. Suddenly I was pulling most stations on frequency in, and they were intelligible.

So, I turned on the Digital Noise Reduction. Took my noise level way down with NO digital artifacts. Very impressive.

CW is even better. Never had such a great front end. I love the rig, particularly with the FFT modules installed. If you can't afford a 'big rig', get this one. It outperforms anything in its class, easily.

I've now owned mine for several months and can't see ever letting go of it.
K0KVR Rating: 2015-02-07
Additional Comments Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have now had my FTDX 1200 for a little longer and continue to be amazed at it's performance. I have arthritis in my hands and it makes it difficult for me to use a key so I installed FFT unit with the FH-2 remote key pad to send CW. It took all the stress out of keying for hours to get DX at 25 WPM plus. Also, I was not sure how to get RTTY working since I use an MFJ Sound Card Radio Interface. Finally figured it. I use the CAT interface thru a RS232 serial adapter on my windows 7 PC and MMTTY is on my PC to monitor signals. The setup controls PTT fine, but I run RTTY using LSB mode. In the first three days, I worked K1N on all bands all modes using dipoles and a tribander for 10/15/20 up 44 feet. Granted it is not that far from New Hampshire to Navassa, but also was able to work EP6T 2 times and FT4TA 4 times with the same setup. They key was being able to pull out K1N from the jammers.