| AD4BG1944 |
Rating:  |
2004-03-30 | |
| Excellent |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I have had this radio for several months it is a super radio it does everthing its not lacking in any field but i am sure others will have there own opion would not mind haveing another |
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| FORMER_K0PD |
Rating: |
2004-03-25 | |
| It Grow's on you...... |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I bought my 920 used from AES about 3 month's ago and was impressed with it's appearance right away.But i was not satisfied with it for no other reason than it's large size.I have 2 other smaller radio's but thought i wanted something in between in size so i attempted to trade or sell it.Never had a offer that made me jump and now glad i did'nt.The darn thing just grow's dailey on me and right now i can not imagine not having it.
Like other's have said it is one heck of a great buy and the performance is outstanding and it offer's just about all the operating conviences that the more higher priced radio's offer.Will i keep it forever??Well i'd like to think so but heck if somebody offered me a Ten Tec Orion in trade straight up well then it would be bye bye 920.....but we all know that will not happen....I've owned and operated many many radio's and this one the 920 seem's so far the best i've owned and operated yet,and it is a bare bone's job..... |
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| K0KAV |
Rating: |
2004-03-03 | |
| My second one, It's great |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I purchased one new when they first came out. I used it a few months and then moved on to something else. With the price decrease, I couldn't resist getting another one (at significantly less than I paid for the first one)and now that I have it, I'm glad I bought it. It really is probably one of the better buys on the market now in it's price range. I "think" I'll keep this one quite a while. |
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| K9WQ |
Rating: |
2004-03-03 | |
| A solid classic |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This rig is an excellent value. It's a solid, full-size rig with a great receiver and a highly competent audio DSP.
Several reviewers have commented on what a good-looking rig this is. I've not heard anyone mention, though, that the design is art deco. Look at the subtle curves in the LCD frame, or the way the metal case curves up and over the main tuning knob. The lines are very similar to the art deco lines in classic cars from 1929 to 1933 or so. I suspect that Yaesu engineers were consciously trying to produce a classic, both in form and function.
Nor does beautiful design lead to sacrifices with ergonomics. The controls are well-placed, and one never needs to resort to a menu for everyday operation. The only ergonomic problem, I believe, is that the knobs for keyer speed, etc., are a little too small. But at least those controls are out there on the panel, not in a menu.
It's amazing how this rig can tighten in around a CW signal. The high-cut low-cut control is very effective and easy to use. The Yaesu CW filter works fine. Read the specs on this receiver in the QST review. It beats anything in the price range.
With an external speaker, SSB audio is good. The auto notch is amazing.
RTTY using MixW is working fine, but setting up for digital modes with this rig is a bit more awkward than it is for later-model radios such as the FT-897. There's a good array of ports in the back, though, including two antenna ports, a port for a receive-only antenna, and even an extra keyer port. The internal tuner works well and seems capable of tuning antennas outside its rated range of 1:3.
I haven't removed the top panel, but one must remove the bottom panel to install the FM board and filter. Inside it's sturdy and uncrowded.
I believe this rig will become a classic, especially for CW operators. |
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| VE3XYD |
Rating: |
2004-02-26 | |
| It's a keeper! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I got mine last year october 2003.
Build very well, all knobs and switches are solid. VFO very smooth and easy to navigate.
Display is easy to read either in a dark or light conditions. No sub-menus so all the functions are located in the front face of the radio. Looks great in a shack as well.
Great transmit audio. I always get comments about my great smooth audio. DSP Microphone unit is very punchy. Internal speaker is ok for listenning but external speaker is the way to go. DSP filtering is very good, no need for extra filters at all. ATU does the job if you are using reasnable antenna.
I have done the mod on mine for 60m band. The mod works no problem. Easy to do and the rig operates without any trouble on 60m band.
I pleased to say, It is a "PRO RIG", definetly a keeper if you get your hands on one of those, no questions asked. The best bang for the bug!
ciao |
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| KA6SGT |
Rating: |
2004-02-22 | |
| Excellent Performance/Value Ratio! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
After considerable research and a limited budget, it was time to step into a new HF radio. I've been using an FT-ONE for many years and was quite familiar with its strengths and weaknesses. It was a reliable workhorse but I had the opportunity to try something new. I didn't have a lot of money to spend and ruled out the Kenwood TS-570 series. The ICOM IC-746Pro seemed like a good unit, until I read the eHam reviews with units being return for one defect or another. I decided not to take any chances. I bought the FT-920 new from HRO with the bonus FM-1 board.
Since I operate almost exclusively CW, I was torn about the filter. Should I get the Yaesu CW? Or should I get the INRAD 400Hz replacement? Several of the reviews here on eHam were very helpful in my decision to purchase the Yaesu CW filter. I have not been disappointed even with the intense conditions of contesting. I used to use an FT-ONE with both 500Hz and 250Hz CW filters on board and thought I'd miss them. This has not been a problem to date.
I'm very pleased with the operation of the radio. The menu system is easy to use so long as you keep the manual handy. The CW tuning scope is really slick and handy in helping with the spotting function and detecting adjacent signals. The switchable IPO feature present some interesting advantages when operating under noisy band conditions typical of 80 and 160 meters. During the last contest, I found the IPO feature helpful even on 15 and 10 meters.
The radio interfaces with my computer just fine. I haven't tried PSK yet, but available documentation on the web suggests this is going to simple. It's nice to have switchable A and B antenna terminals.
Compared to my FT-ONE, this radio presents no detectable phase noise at all. After reading the ARRL technical review of the FT-920, I was expecting to hear something. The receiver is very quiet. DSP is new for me and I'm still learning the best ways to use it. There have been several instances where I've been able to "pull" a week signal out using the DSP. I like the controls too - just like to the bandpass controls on my FT-ONE. Nice!
This was my first experience with an automatic antenna tuner and admittedly I was a bit nervous about it. Having used a Pi-Network tuner for almost 20 years, I knew how to work just about every band with the lights off. Reading the specs for the internal tuner, I knew the tuning range would require close antenna resonance. The first antenna I hooked up was a homebrew 15-meter dipole up 12 feet from the ground. The ATU in the FT-920 tuned it clear into 40 meters with no problem. My first QSO was a ZL2 using only 10 watts. Nice!
Then I tried my 600-ohm feedline G5RV. I couldn't tune anything. Then I heard about the MFJ-914 ATU Extender. I ordered one with a dummy load and installed according to instructions. What a difference! Now I can work everything on that G5RV with full power - no exaggerations. Now I'm going to try the '914 on my vertical doublet.
To wrap up this review, I spent a lot of time and energy researching my options for a new radio. Without the financial capacity to break the $1500 barrier, I am very happy with my FT-920 and look forward to years of reliable and fun use.
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| WA9DGM |
Rating: |
2004-02-12 | |
| 3-4 |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| dsp nr excellent, out of box n.b. imd problems,auto ant tuner erratic operation went to factory to fix 3wks lost. after about 4 months of operation, spun main dail one day 2 seconds after it stopped had a loud data burst from the speaker, duplicated it several times. sent to factory for repair. yeasu had for 1/4 year could never fix. got money back. factory filters poor, dsp high/low cut off very poor. |
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| M0DCM |
Rating: |
2004-02-08 | |
| Superb! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've now owned my FT-920 for over 12 months now, and are still amazed at the robustness and the quality of the rig.
I used to own the Kenwood TS-570DGE, but only had this rig for 6months, and then was told about the FT-920 and all the extra's that were on it. The main reasons for purchasing it was the ease of use of the rig and also the look of the radio, it's a beauty!!
It's the poor mans FT-1000MP but with 50MHz.... |
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| N9SZC |
Rating: |
2003-12-24 | |
| Awesome Radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I got mine 4 years ago.
It is a very good radio.
DSP is great.
I recommend it highly!
I will NEVER part ways with mine.
Texas towers has it for $999 with free shipping
How can you beat that?
check it out |
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| K2JX |
Rating: |
2003-12-24 | |
| For the money, Great ! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Like many Hams I have more than one HF rig.
This is my favorite, sure there are a couple of things I don't like, but for the money this is a great radio. Pull off the cover and see the build quality,solid. I have installed the stock Yaesu narrow SSB filter and the wide AM filter.
When condx are poor on 7.290 AM, I switch in my 920, hit the DSP NR, and the sigs jump right outta the noise! 73, Jack K2JX
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Earlier 5-star review posted by K2JX on 2002-03-29
This my second Yeasu, I have an '847 which I love for 6 and the Sat's. The new FT-920 with both Yeasu filters and "free" FM unit for less than $1200 from AES was hard to beat. This rig works better than any I have ever used in 25+ yrs of hamming. I also own a Ten-Tec Paragon 2,which I love. One complaint here the 920's QSK via relay is annoying to a Ten-Tec op'. However everything else works as advertised, thats a big plus in my book. BIG as in cabinets is also a plus, few teeny tiny knobs or confusing menus. A real tuning knob for human hands !
I work mostly CW & PSK, but I may try AM since the audio quality with the optional MD100 mic is outstanding ! The stock mic is a jem also !
I am amazed at the block of aluminium and rf shielded fan that only runs on TX !
Good job Yaesu!
Could the '920 be improved, sure, but for my money, like the '847 you get a lot in a small, well maybe medium size box !
Even my picky-picky EE, Ham, Brother-in-Law seemed impressed with the FT 920!
One other comment, go to Radio Shack buy thier cheap wall mount 8" P.A. speaker. Plug it in to the rear ext speaker jack for really good audio. The internal speaker is awful.
73 to all, cu on 30 ! |
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