Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu FT-991/991A

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-991/991A
Reviews: 186MSRP: 1699.95
Description:
The FT-991 is the next generation in all mode, all band MF/HF/VHF/UHF
transceiver with C4FM (System Fusion) Digital capability. The FT-991
includes multi-mode operation on CW, AM, FM, SSB, and Digital Modes
(Packet, PSK31, RTTY and C4FM), with 100 Watts of HF/50mhz Capability
(50 Watts VHF/UHF). High-resolution full color 3.5" TFT Touch panel for
superior operability and visibility, High Speed Spectrum scope with ASC
(Automatic Spectrum-scope control) built right in. Internal High Speed
Automatic Antenna Tuner included in the package.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=D24F60F33816ED8BE5568D7E2B5E2131&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
63.31864
KG7QYJ Rating: 2015-04-21
Very happy with it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Mine came with the latest firmware which seems to have eliminated the issues others are having. The user interface is actually quite intuitive. If you're coming from an FT-897D it will be easy to learn, although it's not the rugged portable the 897D is..... so there's room for both in your shack. Great scoping even if it's a snapshot type and not active like a DMU-2000 or something. Overall very happy.
SM2FYZ Rating: 2015-04-18
Excellent receiver and real cw rig. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got the rig about 2 weeks ago. It is having a very hot receiver and have everything you need if you like cw DX hunting. First Rig which i can hear more than i can work (antenna should be higher up on my side!). The built in antenna tuner works great and is silent. So many filters and noice reduction options i have not seen before in a small radio during my 40 years as a small pistol DX hunter.

SSB reports is great even with the standard supplied microphone. And use the monitor function which is built in to hear your own sound for setting gain anf freq response in real time.

Like the small size and ergonomics with the new touch screen.
You can set up your touch screen for different modes and working conditions. You get more effective and can controlle different working conditions easy.

Latest firmware was installed from beginning and even a N contact for the high bands. Everything works as told in the manual, read it and learn more everyday when using this radio.

I recommend this rig, it is a new Rig with future built in. It is a radio which give you fun when contacting the World.

73 de Ulf/SM2FYZ
F6DEX Rating: 2015-04-18
Nice DSP, perfectible UI Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have my FT-991 since about 3 weeks. It works great.
PRO : A lot of features including a tuner in a small package ; very good for portable operation. DSP is nice and selectivity is perfect with no ringing even with a bandwidth of 50hz. APF filter is nice too. RX Audio is good better than with my previous FT-950. TX Audio with the stock mic is OK but requires you adjust the TX EQ (detailed settings are available on the net). Screen is very nice (to see) and while the scope is a pure gadget, it can be useful sometime.
CON : the touch screen is small (to touch) and despite that you can configure up to 4 keys according to your need, there is always a lot of key press to access any basic function (example to change the mode, you need to press at least 3 keys and "3" is generally a minimum). IC-7100's interface is better in this regard. NB is fully configurable but does not work very well whatever your settings and even adds its own noise... FT-950's NB1/NB2 was better. There is no jack in the rear panel for the CW Keyer but only a 3.5mm jack on the left of the front panel ! You have to find a right angle 3,5mm jack otherwise it occupies a lot of volume and it could mask the screen...
Overall it is a very good transceiver with a lot of functions and very good capabilities but the user interface should have been better ; but this is probably the price to pay for its small size.
My technical rating is somewhere between 4 and 4.5. Given its reasonnable price I give it a 5.
W4KQB Rating: 2015-04-18
Very fine product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have had the FT 991 in use now for nearly 60 days without any issues. Having been in the Yaesu family with many radio models in the past and still in use-FT 7900r, FTM-400 DR, several HT's and the FT 2000D model, the FT 991 has the most selective and sensitive receiver I have ever listened to with fantastic audio reports on transmit. I am using the Heil PR 781 mic on all bands with excellent results. Also quick and easy to program without any software from computer.
I recommend anyone looking for that next radio-oh-and compared to the FT 2000D footprint, I now have space for more goodies on the console.
N3ALN Rating: 2015-04-15
Just what I wanted and more! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the FT-991 a few weeks ago and wanted to try it out a bit before my review. I have read what many have written and I wanted to make my own mind up. First, the radio has a great receiver! I was so impressed, I was able to pull out many weak signals that I could not do before. The radio is quite intuitive to use. The controls are well organized and the menu is easy to navigate. I love that I have HF/VHF/UHF in one small package! The radio interfaces perfect with all my all my logging software: N1MM+, DXLab, Lldigi and VQlog. I have also found the Yahoo Yaesu FT-991 Users Group very useful too. I really like using this radio and so far NO issues at all!
N1JAO Rating: 2015-04-11
Sad ending Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I received a 2nd unit from HRO and had the same issue (see below). Sadly I returned both units today and got a full refund.

According to them, several units have been returned for various issues. I'm told, "we sell 5 and 4 get returned. Yeasu- you are releasing units too soon! WE ARE CONSUMERS NOT BETA TESTERS!

Remember your ft450 fiasco? C'mon guys- do better than this because you are losing business!

Bob
N1JAO
VK3AKC Rating: 2015-04-06
Excellent Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Some minor points need attention but otherwise a first class unit.
1. The Memory Groups are only capable of holding 20 memory channels. This is not enough if you want to put all your local 2m & 70cm repeaters in one group for scanning at least the FT-450 has 50.If the number of channels can not be increased in firmware upgrades how about being able to scan more than one group at a time.
2. The grouping of the function menu buttons need some attention to group the commonly used ones on one page specially setting repeaters into memory. Selecting TONE/DCS on/off and frequency selection require page changing for each selection.
Either make them movable or more thought into the groups.
3. Being able to edit memories without having to re-enter all parameters
K0XY Rating: 2015-03-29
...another winner from Yaseu ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
..the FT-991 has a 'great set of ears' similar to the FTdx3000 and the FTdx1200...I know because I have all three on the operating desk, and yes, I A,B and C them all the time...great receivers, period...it's a toss if I can truly differentiate between the three, but the 991 might have a slightly lower noise floor

...two main differences separate the 991 from the 3000/1200...a touch screen that plays quite well and is waaay quicker than scrolling thru menus, not as quick as dedicated knobs but interestingly competent...the second difference is the physical size...way smaller than the already mid-sized 3000/1200...although smaller the 991 will not fit into a jacket pocket...

...one item missing is the Tx/Ground Jack, the simple RCA style female connector used on the 3000 for opening and closing to ground for switching an external generic linear amplifier relay or relay box, or whatever...instead, the 991 makes you configure, purchase or materialize an 8 pin mini cable/connector to provide this very simple function...all I can say is GRRRRRR !!!

...but once around the amp switching scenario it is smooth sailing with the 991...oh goodie, me like !!!
K3OX Rating: 2015-03-26
Going to the Guru... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I found myself climbing the misty path to the mountaintop QTH of the Master DX’er, a spiritual being, and DXenlightened Guru. He could see by the look in my eyes that I was agitated and was coming to him for counsel. I quickly told him I needed some advice on rigs.

He started, “It is truly said that the Great Way is easy for those without preference. But the DX way requires a preference for a good receiver, effective antennas and a reliable amplifier.” I replied that I was confused by the reviews that the new Yaesu FT-991 was getting. The ancient one replied, “Yes I know of this, a good rig with a quite decent receiver. And priced reasonably for the impecunious DXer. I have a soft spot for the poor DXer, for as the prophets said, ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to work 9 band DXCC’.”

I replied that I too think it is a good rig, but what about the bad reviews on eHam? He responded dismissively, “Review opinions are like a flock of birds, watch them as they fly away.” But the Master could see that this wasn’t solace to me, so he continued. “Go ahead son, what are your concerns?”

Well, people report that the AM modulation is poor and that something called C4FM doesn’t work right. “Ahhh, AM modulation, a tribute to the long ago past of DXing. And as I understand, C4FM is a digital voice mode. Both are used these days by dilettantes and ragchewers and are of no concern to us.”

OK, people also complain that the rig has only one receiver and cannot simultaneously monitor VHF. “To quote a sainted West Coast soul from the past, ‘VHF is where the DX aint!’ To monitor VHF is to listen for a call that will never come.”
And the clicking relays on CW? “One’s ears should not be occupied by externals, in this way, only with headphones can true hearing be experienced. The existential purpose of the clicking is to let others know we are not to be disturbed in our holy CW quests.”

Heck, one guy says the IC-706 has a better receiver! “It is an unfortunate truth that proper perception is not a universal property, many an accidental untruth has been propagated this way, alas.”

How about the non-realtime spectrum display? The great man answered at first cryptically. “The ancient wisdom received from the Native American was to always leave a flaw in things as ‘perfection mocks the Gods’. Acknowledging that nothing is perfect, let me now ask a question of you, what do you perceive as the most troubling lack in the 991?” I replied that, in my mind, it was the non-provision for external receiving antennas. The OT smiled. “Ah yes, you have spoken well my son! As all good DXers know, seeing is not believing, hearing is. And in hearing lies DX salvation.”

As always, the Guru puts it all into perspective, but please forgive his HF DXcentric view. I left the mountain with a new understanding that the FT-991 is best at what is most important, good HF performance at a reasonable price along with enough “gingerbread” and flexibility to appeal to other, more earthbound (normal?) hams.
VK2KON Rating: 2015-03-26
Finally Success with FT-991 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received my 4th FT-991 after returning the previous three for reasons as posted on this thread. Refer previous postings.
Yaesu released the fourth firmware release as is now available for download on Yaesu website under files for FT-991.
I can say after a month I am actually using this radio and its really good to work with. IT WORKS!!
No more problems like NIL TX PO on HF or burning finals on VHF/UHF. Only one small issue still but has only occurred twice through this week and that is returning to HF from VHF/UHF audio is muted. You need to turn radio off and on and all is good. Not a major problem as I have used VHF/UHF and returned to HF and problem does not always appear.
There will I am sure be further firmware releases and when you install unfortunately you must re-enter all settings and memories manually. But in all honesty after I nearly gave up on this radio and went for the ICOM equivalent which would have cost more, the FT-991 is truly a nice piece of gear with advanced technology and superior RX features. Not forgetting to mention a great looking color touch screen with permanent band scope at bottom. I still though cannot forgive YAESU for releasing the FT-991 prematurely without supportive firmware and putting me through agony for a month. It does not seem like YAESU does it?
Well it doesn't but that is what YAESU did. Released the FT-991 without testing it!
Anyhow I will say with the latest release of firmware the FT-991 now is fully operational. A couple of slight issues but nothing major, Before it was a disaster on previous version firmware. I founfd AM TX on some HF bands now to be 50Watts in lieu of the specified 25W.
NOW ITS A NICE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL TRANCEIVER. Yaesu take note in your Quality Control from now on!!!!!!