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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-920

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-920
Reviews: 162MSRP: 2299
Description:
Yaesu FT 920 HF/6M Transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.wm7d.net/hamradio/ft920/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001624.7
K5DZE Rating: 2008-12-05
OUTSTANDING! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I primarily operate QRP, but when I want to operate with more power, I use an FT-920. It has an excellent receiver, great audio, great 12" easy read display, and at 16" w x 6" h, it has over 70 controls at your fingertips without calling up a menu! In my estimation, the FT-920 operating features and larger physical size make it more fun rig to operate in the shack than many of the newer, smaller, multiple menu driven rigs.

I sold my first 920 to get a couple of additional QRP rigs (IC-703 and KX-1)...I quickly found that I missed the FT-920 so much that I bought another one. I have been a Ham for over 50 years and I am convinced that the FT-920 is an exceptional radio and a really great value for today's Amateur. It certainly is a favorite in my Shack. If you need a great HF rig, get a Heil mic and do what others have recommended...find a nice one and buy it! You won't be sorry!
KP4CAT Rating: 2008-11-10
The baby of the shack Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got mine about 2 years ago. Actually the mic setting is Behringer B1 mic with the Xenix 802 equalizer from Behringer too. The reports that i get are excellent about my modulation. This setting is the pile up breaker, any time i get on the air i don't have troubles breaking the pile ups. This radio is better than the Ft 950 and is really like the Ft 1000 series. For my is the last marvelous that Yaesu ever produce. If you find one RUN!!!!!!!!!! and buy it.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KP4CAT on 2007-07-16

I have mine about 2 years ago and it's the best radio I ever had. Recently I heard a ham operator speaking about his new ft 2000 and he was admiting that his 920 don't have nothing to envidiate to the ft 2000 model. I also owned an Icom 706MKIIG and this was taken out of the shack, to upgraded to a new FT 857D and definitely I become a yaesu guy thanks to my experience with my 920. If you are reading all these reviews because you are planning to buy one don't hesitate and waste your time thinking. JUST RUN AN BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!
KI4CRA Rating: 2008-11-01
What a radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a radio! Picked up this beauty about 3 weeks ago, so this is just a first impression review, will post another review in several months.
First impression are wow, I have an Icom 746Pro, I gotta say that the receiver on the 920, is on par if not better than my 746Pro. Weak signals? No problem, this rig will pull em out. The DSP on this radio even though it is audio and not IF based is nothing short of awesome, when using the high/low cut, once set, you shouldn't need to reset them.

At first I wasn't all that certain I wanted an "older" radio. This rig from what I have been able to determine is either a 2000 or 2001 model. By the time this particular rig hit the market most if not all the bugs should have been fixed. I haven't had ANY of the problems some of the other posts have had. My unit does have the 2.4 Hz SSB filter, the AM filter, and the FM board. I am also using the MD100 desk mic. I have found through trial and error and a QSO with another 920 owner who has an identical rig. Finally got my Xmit audio set to a "T".

I really, really like the dual VFO on this radio, a push of a button and you're on another band or working split, great feature on the 920. I guess you could call this the poor man's FT-1000MP, has a lot of the same features as the MP. Maybe not all the bells and whistles as the 1KMP but all in all a great rig.

My 746Pro went to the shop for some updates just before last weekends CQWW contest, and didn't have the buffer relay to hook up my AL-811, so I really didn't participate in the contest. Having said that the week before the contest a lot of DX stations were tuning up readying for the contest. I worked a bunch of em OK1's VU2's, YO4's, what with the notch and the IF shift, if I could here em I could work em, guess I shoulda worked the contest.

Anyway, in closing, for only having this rig for 3 weeks, I am thoroughly enjoying this rig. Yea my Pro is back got back earlier this week. and its doing great. Although most of my HF work is done out back in my shack proper, and the 920 being my Lazee Boy HF station,(see my profile, or my qrz bio) this is the right rig in the right spot at the right time. I have had a lot of rigs in the past 5 years, culminating I think with my 746Pro and the Yaesu FT-920. Again WOW what a rig! Catch you on the air.



73 de Mark
AI4HO
KD8BUV Rating: 2008-11-01
Great rig, Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just sold my FT-950 I purchased in March and replaced it with the FT-920. In my oppinion, the FT-920 exceeds the 950 hands down. Some times newer is not always better. The FT-920 is more user friendly than the Ft-950 and the recieve is far better. I do not regret selling the 950 to get the FT-920. The audio reports are far better than the FT-950. I did keep my MD-200 mic which is a great match for the FT-920. If you have a chance to purchase a FT-920 don't pass it up. You will be pleased.

K8PMN
EI3GRB Rating: 2008-10-26
value for money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Goood realible rig

I like the layout, starting to age a little & seems to be overpriced with the dealers with regard with the ft950 etc

still you can (like I did) pick 1 up for a reasonable price in a private deal

to get the most from the radio I think it needs the filter switch board mod, hence the 4 rating for the basic rig.
N7IC Rating: 2008-08-29
Maybe its just me? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OoOoohhhh do I love the layout on this radio!!!! Sexiest radio I've ever owned. Featured packed for sure. Love all the bells and whistles on this rig. A seperate "big" knob for RIT/XIT/second VFO is great. DSP selectivity is really nice.

Ok, the reasons why I am giving this radio a 4. Because I couldn't give it a 4.5. HI

Maybe its just me, but this rig has a rather slow QSK. Dits start becoming truncated at 30wpm. I sure wish the Japanese manucaturers would put pin diode switching in their rigs. No reason not too. So am forced to operate semi-qsk with fast relay drop out times.

Noise floor is a bit higher than I would have expected. Still not bad though.

The noise blanker works ok but it does degrade the incoming CW signals when adjusted high.

Still with the bummers about this radio, I still like it very much. A good bargain now days on the used market. Your getting a whole lot of radio for the price. Do yourself a favor and get filters installed though. It helps a lot!
VK2TWM Rating: 2008-04-15
Extremely nice equipment Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hi there
I've owned this radio for about 6 months. Mine was purchased secondhand for $1300AUD and was in pristine condition when it arrived. I have been extremely impressed with its capabilities. I previously owned a FT-857D and was'nt very pleased with the performance of the receiver in it. Even though my model had DSP.Plus I like the idea of having the dual VFO readouts. I'll sure be keeping mine.
In a nutshell! If you can lay your hands on one of these 920s? I say grab it! you won't be sorry!
Cheers
VK2TWM

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VK2TWM on 2007-07-12

I picked up a secondhand FT-920 for $1300 aussie dollars. (Worth every penny)I must admit the noise cancelling abilities of this rig are truly awesome. It's ability to pick weak stations out of mud is fantastic. 6m receiver is also fantastic. Audio quality is superb.
This one is difinatly a keeper.
I'll post another reveiw a little further down the track, when I've had a chance to really put it through its paces.
Cheers VK2TWM
WK9L Rating: 2008-04-06
Simplicity at it best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a 920 when they first came out,And used it for several years and loved it. I sold it and moved on to others, after buying another one I dont know why I sold the first one! This a fine radio, very easy to operate and has a great receiver and the NR works better than any radio I have owned. It is not a MK-V but for the money a very good radio. I am keeping my MK-V but I think I will keep the 920 around for a long while also.
K9NZ

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WK9L on 2001-12-30

I have had my 920 since Oct. of 98 and have had a great relationship with this rig. I also own a
Icom IC 746 and Kenwood TS570s and at the time I bought the 920, A IC 756 the 920 in my opinion
has surpassed them all, the best receiver I have ever owned and a N/B that works great. Compared to the 746 the DSP is 100% better I honestly do not know Icom can compare their dsp to this?
I do have the Inrad 2.1 ssb and 400hrz. cw filters which realy make a differance.But for the money, one of the buy on the market right now
KB3LAZ Rating: 2008-01-30
FT-920 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not a bad rig. Iv owned mine for a little over 4 years since b4 i was a ham. It was my elmers radio. Could not pass up the price 400$ ohya. Nice audio, rx and tx. the filters are a must have or it is to narrow. I gave it a 4 because there is no 4.5 and because of a few small issues i seem to have with it. Like the auto tuner is picky if its over a 2:1 before u tune forget even trying. And i seem to get out only about 75w pep on ssb any band. But a simple mod fixes this issue. Or using an external amp lol.
1 nice thing is that the accs are still available. Most of them any way. All in all if u can pick one up for a reasonable price they make a good starter or backup rig.
EI2GLB Rating: 2008-01-04
all ok here Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the 920 about 5 years now bought it before i even did my exam got it on ebay when there was bargins to be had on it its still worth more than i paid for it.

it does everything i want very easy to use looks the part and has not missed a beat i leave it turned for days at a time and it never get even warm.

its an excellent allrounder i use it on ssb and digital also use it on 6m

was tempted to sell it but there is nothing i would replace it with for the preice that would work/look better.

if your after a really good first/backup rig you cant go wrong