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Reviews For: Yaesu FTdx-101D

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FTdx-101D
Reviews: 50MSRP: 4000
Description:
The FTdx-101D is utilizing the latest SDR Technology and classified as our High-End HF line, the FTDX series, which amateurs have come to know represents quality, A Few Of The Remarkable Features Of The New FTdx-101D Are: YAESU High-Class HF/ 50MHz 100W Transceiver SDR Technology and Waterfall Display Large Touch Panel precision color display Active Band Monitor enables rapid band changes with LED illumination of the operating band Independent control of the Main and Sub Bands allows effortless operation for the serious contester needing to move quickly between the amateur bands High-Q VC Tuning Front-End Main tuning dial for Main and Sub Band frequency control includes an Outer Dial for clarifier, VC tuning, fine tuning or custom settings Hybrid SDRs (Narrow Band SDR & Direct Sampling SDR) 2kHz RMDR 123dB+ 2kHz BDR 150dB+ 2kHz 3rd IMDR 110dB+ 400MHz HRDDS (High Resolution Direct Digital Synthesizer) 2kHz Phase Noise -150dBc/Hz VC-TUNE (Variable Capacitor Tune) signal peaking 3DSS (3-Dimensional Spectrum Stream) visual display Narrow band SDR & Direct Sampling SDR Emphasizes Basic Performance and Hybrid SDR Functionality Includes Digital Processing Generated Real-Time Spectrum Scope In addition to the Narrow band SDR receiver, that boasts overwhelming Basic Performance, the Hybrid Configuration Digital Processing with Direct Sampling SDR permits inclusion of the superb Real-Time Spectrum Scope. *300Hz and 1.2kHz roofing filters (Optional) PC control software performed remote operation of the transceiver from a remote location via the LAN or the Internet is available.
Product is in production
More Info: http://yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=959169DE998192AB87295E90077D740D&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
54.4504.1
RA4RT Rating: 2023-04-01
mediocre Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's funny to read puppy delights. In this transceiver there is nothing that could please. Not only that, it does not receive what the neighboring TS 990 hears.
As we say in Russia, the third grade -not marriage.
Another amazing thing: I had and have 950sdx, 9000D, 7700, K3, ts890 990 on all of them cats sleep with pleasure. Not a single one has climbed 101. What is this technical idea made of? From what kind of waste?
F1BAV Rating: 2023-03-30
Top Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The FTDX101D open a new era in HF transceivers performances. The selectivity is very high. The crystal form filter at -6dB -60dB is 1,3. 2 kHz third order IMD dynamic range is 110 dB. 2 kHz RMDR is 125 dB. The Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) is extraordinary. The transmit phase noise is very low. The modulation and compression are very good. The ADC chip work with 18 bits. Each receiver has his proper FPGA and DSP 32 bits, (total 2 FPGA and 3 DSP). The reception is quiet and clear.
W9BB Rating: 2023-02-25
Unbelievable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned Anan radios (200d/7000dle mkII) Flex radios (6500/6400/6300) and many other brands by far the ftdx-101d has the quietest receiver I ever owned and the filtering is amazing ! Don't get me wrong Anan, Flex are great radios but I am amazed with what I have been missing (Receiving)..Let your ears be the judge.. We are all very lucky today because of the radios that are manufactured today .There is something for everyone. 73
KX2T Rating: 2023-02-18
Competition Grade Performance Worthy of Every Dollar! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this radio in November 2021, I already owned a FDX10 for 9 months and figured it would be just more of the same but I was blown away, this radio is one of THE BEST HF RADIO's out today!
I sold two radio's to pony up the investment for this rig, one was a IC7610 and the other was the FTDX10. I really liked those two rigs but this one is a cut above the rest, the receiver is just outstanding, you can slice between two contesters on 20m band during SS and have a rag chew with a VK4 on the long path, its like a knife with butter, every selectivity control works like there on steroids', they just perform far better then anything I have used in 50 plus years. This radio amazed me on 20m SSB were I was running station in the lower part of the CQWWSSB with big signals all around me yet I was able to carve a hole 1Khz apart between them and run some EU from my very modest station here in SW Florida.
As far as handling strong signals while your trying to copy a weak signal on the same frequency its like a walk in the park, I have copied every single word from a S5 EU stations breaking in while someone is talking on a net on 75m that is +20 over, there is NO SIGHNS of OVERLOAD at all, its just incredible.
Just remember one thing when you look at those lab numbers which are excellent on the 101, if you live in the wester location of the USA you may not need such
a bullet proof front end radio but if you live on the east coast or Europe and have to contend with a tremendous amount of close in QRM those higher numbers in this radio do make a real world difference. Please I am not saying the other radio's are bad but I have seen these differences between lets say the IC7610 and the FTDX10 and the 101D is even a slight bit better.
The NR is one of the best I have used and maybe not far behind the one in the Anan, I have heard a recording of the Anan 7000 series played back to me via an e mail directly from the station radio and the same slight artifacts are present but the noise is gone except for static crashes, the 101D works about the same. The NB is the only area they might use some improvement but that is the same with any radio, they work but if strong signals are within the passband every single NB introduces some slight distortion, some more than others, the 101D is not bad but the Anan NB is better. The 3D display on the Ten was ok but this 101 displays real time and elapse time which sometimes is useful but I prefer the spectrum display which is REAL TIME, yes no averaging but you get used to it.
I love the control layout, everything is laid out clearly for the two receiver's, all sperate controls so you don't have to remember what you last did on which RX section, so much better for a DXer or Contester or if you just wanna listen to two bands at the same time. Band selection is far easier than other two RX section rigs, clear and to the point between main and sub plus the controls once you get the radio in your shack is set up with enough space between everything plus having two VFO knobs is slick.
There is only on VC tune in the main RX but it works far better than the Digi Select cause it make a real dent in any close in crud that you don't wanna receive. The Notch, APF and Contour work outstandingly well, here again better than any I have used.
There is only a few things on my wish list if Yaesu Engineering read these reviews and that is if they could add averaging on the spectrum display. I had a talk with the guys manning the Yaesu booth at Orlando this year, they said the reason for no averaging is so you can see very weak signals with the spectrum/waterfall display but he could not answer why they had the average option on the remote control option, go figure.
Maybe add being able to record a QSO(or part of) then be able to play it back on the air like the FTDX10 could with adding the FH2 remote option. Also maybe if Yaesu would allow users to install the optional filters which to me is no different then what we did many years ago with proper steps on our service bench but haven't seen the need for any yet and that was even during the CQWWCW. As the last reviewer stated the FTDX101D/MP is a worthy Successor of Yaesu Best of the Best, in today's market I would consider it Top Gun!
G8FXC Rating: 2022-11-21
Very impressive performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm an urban ham fighting a massive noise floor from a thousand cheap electronic devices dotted all around me. I've been running an IC-7300 which has done a decent job, but my accountant told me to "go out and spend some money", so I decided to try an upgrade!

The decision really came down to a choice between the IC-7610 and the FTdx101D - both excellent radios and almost the same price. My local dealer set the two up close together for me and left me with a supply of coffee to compare them - a couple of hours later, I paid for the FTdx101D. The reason? Quite simply Yaesu Noise Reduction which is head and shoulders above the same function on ICOM radios. Turning up the NR on the IC-7610 just reduced the hiss, adjusting the algorithm on the FTdx101D deleted it along with a lot of electronic mush.

There's no doubt that ICOM ergonomics are better than Yaesu, and the Yaesu firmware still has a few quirks - though not as serious as some will paint them. I would love Yaesu and ICOM to get together to put the FTdx101D electronics into an IC-7610 case and let the ICOM QA team finally clean up the bugs in the firmware - but that's not going to happen! So, the answer is Yaesu - despite the fact that I went along to the showroom really wanting it to be ICOM... I find it easier to live with Yaesu ergonomics and firmware oddities than the noise!

Follow-up : since I wrote the above, I've been experimenting with low-noise dedicated RX antennae on the FTdx101D - and the results are amazing. I installed a small, non-resonant loop at the furthest point of my garden with a low-noise, high gain amplifier at the feed point. I run this back to the Ant3 socket on the radio, configured as an RX only antenna input. I also turn on the pre-amp in the FTdx101D. The result is incredible - the S9 noise floor I often get on the main antenna (dipole) is reduced to an S3 but without any loss of strength in the real signals that I'm trying to receive.

Martin
DH3RD Rating: 2022-05-22
Satisfied Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Positive:
excellent hybrid sdr receivers
good audio from the build in speaker
much of connections possible like a if-sdr, external display etc
good modulation possible with the standard microphone if u setup equalizer
extended CAT options and still RS-232
USB Audio


Negative:
no pin diode rx/tx switching for fast qsk without loud clicking possible
no remote cw operation with the additional SCU-Lan10 interface possible
no eq for rx audio
no playback from the voice keyer with the eq settings possible


PA0LUX Rating: 2022-05-19
Still one of the greatest toys Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I wrote my first review of the FTdx101D when I had it for 2 months. That is more than 2 years ago, so it's time for a second review. Final verdict? To me it is still a great radio and I would buy it again.

My transceiver was one of the early ones so it suffered from the ALC overshoot. It was sent back by the importer to Yaesu UK and fixed with no costs at all.
The presently sold transceivers already have this fixed. I never have had an issue with this or anything else since it was fixed.

Yaesu uses something called AMC to prevent overdriving the audio path in the TRX. One has to get used to the settings, but once understood, it works fine.
But you have to follow the instructions supplied by Yaesu to get it right. Information how to set up things can be found at the Google.io group.
I do a lot of FT4/FT8 with JTDX and WSJT-X (and JT-alert). Doing this with the FTdx101 is not difficult. In a software update Yaesu introduced the "Preset" mode. It is intended to be used for FT8. In my opinion this is only a confusing mode and I do not use it. I just use Data-U mode for FT8/4.

One of the reasons that I am writing this second review is because of the information which is sometimes spread in reflectors about the FTdx101. There is a lot of talk about bugs and change requests, which are ignored by Yaesu (they say). There is a large bug and wanted features list and there is also a website where all of this is mentioned/listed.
Most of these bugs and requested features are probably valid. But there is none which would make me change my mind about buying an FTdx101 again. There is no radio which incorporates everyone's wishes.
And though one may expect a manufacturer to update software once and a while, they have to keep earning money with new stuff too. My car was 10 times the price of the Yaesu and it has had not one free update yet. Just to see things in perspective.

I recently also got a Kenwood TS-890. Another great radio, but a lot more complicated to learn than the FTdx101 and it has ten times more settings than the Yaesu. And also, not perfect. As said in my earlier review to my surprise the amount of menu settings in the FTdx101 is less than expected and finding the right settings is not difficult. Though it is kind of an SDR, it has the look and feel of a conventional Transceiver, apart from the display.

Around the VFO knob there is a large ring which turns very smooth. It can be used to control 5 different functions, one of those 5 can be user selected (like power).
Switching between those functions is fast, but it takes some time to get used to it. There is also the possibility to put a function under the Multi button.
I usually have the Level setting for the spectrum under that button. But you can switch quickly to another function. The menu structure is not deep and user friendly.
The touchscreen is of high quality and works fine, the most important functions can be selected directly on the screen for both receivers.

In the beginning I mostly used the 3D display, but actually this is more a gimmick. The regular waterfall is now mostly used. I noticed that the contour function works different than with my FTdx-3000/2000. On the those it is always on, to get the best results. On the FTdx101 I seldom use it.
In my previous review I mentioned that the frequency display for Data was 1500 Hz off. However, that is now fixed with a software update, so your FT8 frequencies (i.e. 7074) will read correct now.

The only things I still mis, is a setting for tune power and averaging for the spectrum display. But one can deal with that.

It is a great pleasure playing with it. It is still a real HAM toy.
N2MDX Rating: 2022-03-05
What a Fantastic Transceiver I Love My FTDX-101D! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have Owned my fair share of Radios in my time.
And I know a great Receiver when I hear one.
With that being said this Radio The FTDX-101D is up there with the best.
I am big into SDR running rigs like Anan and Flex on a nice surround sound you really get to hear the quality of the receiver and its flaws.
And in comparing to other receivers I had in the shack i was really impressed.
Here are a few things that stood out for me.
I notice the DNR is very close to the FTDX5000 and works FB!
When in engaged it will suck down the noise and bring the person you are trying to work to the front so the DNR is excellent.
The NB is ok just has to be adjusted correctly for SSB and on AM.
VC-Tune Which has Been the topic lately.
How I utilize the VC-Tune, when the band is very noisy I put on the 3D Waterfall turn on VC-Tune as you adjust the VC-Tune you will see the dirt drop off the sides and it will focus on the signal you are trying to work.
It will Fine tune to the optimum point that attenuates the strong signal and when in 3D mode you can see the VC-Tune working.
I love it and it works for me.
Transmit- 4K Bandwidth for Rag chew is great
SSB AUDIO is Excellent once the EQ is adjusted properly.
AM AUDIO is flat sounding out of the box you can try to adjust EQ for AM or just use outboard AUDIO gear for the AM.
For me the The layout is simple and easy Everything is up front the more buttons and knobs the better.
The screen, Big Beautiful Crisp Clear Display with Zero Lagging!
Extended Display I am running a Acer Monitor on it with DVI-D to HDMI cable no issues.
FT8 VIA USB is Plug and Play and works great.
CW/RTTY Decode-works as it should fast and crisp.
Both Receivers in the radio are identical less one VC-tune unit for standard "D" Model.
Thanks for Reading my Review.
You can check out some of my Videos on YouTube.
73's...N2MDX
G0EAT Rating: 2022-01-28
Yaesu must try harder - or it’ll suffer the consequences Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
UPDATE - A MYSTERY UNSOLVED.

My FTDX101D was returned to me yesterday (January 27th, 2022) after more than a month in the repair workshop.
An engineer was unable to replicate the high-SWR-on-every-band issue and, for good measure, he “checked the PA driver bias and the appropriate settings in the service menu. They are all correct and did not need any adjustment.”
The rig, as of today, is functioning normally and both Steve, the extremely fastidious technician/engineer, and I, the so-called end-user, are frustrated that no fault was identified.
I’m delighted, of course, that the FTDX101D is now back on my shelf, but disappointed that my polite e-mails to Yaesu in Britain and the USA have not elicited a single reply.
I had written to the company detailing my woes, especially as I have been a loyal customer for five decades, and pointing out that, morally, I should be offered some form of compensation for having been without the equipment for more than a quarter of the time since its purchase last February.
The retailer, too, is not inclined to dig into its pockets.
Sadly, Yaesu’s apparent lack of concern for good client relations appears to be the norm nowadays - a poor reflection on those who rely on US, the BUYERS, for their very existence.
And, for once, Covid-19 should shoulder none of the blame for this unfortunate state of affairs.
—————————————————————————————
I had a Yaesu FT101ZD for 10 years - it developed one minor fault (a frequency jump).
I have had a Yaesu FT290R since 1984 - it has developed one minor fault (the dial lamp blew four decades ago).
I have had a Yaesu FTDX101D for 10 months - it has had three faults, so far, and has been at the repair workshop over the whole Christmas and New Year period with no indication when it will be returned to my shack.
The transceiver’s first two malfunctions concerned the rear keyer jack which decided to send “dits” only, necessitating lengthy spells away last spring within just weeks of purchase.
All was well until November when the rig developed the high-SWR-indicated phenomenon on 70mHz. Thanks to a Google search I discovered that, in theory, it was probably a software error that could be negated with a few antenna and band changes involving both main and sub VFOs.
This work-around, which I achieved after a firmware update - don’t get me going there! - proved successful for at least half a day until the 5:1 standing wave ratio problem migrated across the entire frequency spectrum.
Despite external meters indicating near-resonance with every antenna, the FTDX101D display insisted that high SWRs were present everywhere.
So, reluctantly, the transceiver has been sent packing yet again.
I’m told on this occasion that “the PA bias needs re-aligning and the ALC and TXG settings in the service menu then need setting up”.
To add insult to injury, the retailer/repairer has offered me £1,850 in part-exchange for a new rig. To lose almost half the original purchase price on equipment that I have had in use for less than nine months is beyond unreasonable.
So I face a difficult decision.
Do I hope the XCVR, when/if repaired, proves reliable at last or do I try to sell it privately and, for example, buy a Kenwood TS-890S which had initially been the number two choice on my what-to-purchase list?
Amateur radio had been a source of enormous satisfaction for me. Right now, in what has just become the fourth year of Covid-19, it is a source of financial frustration that I had not anticipated when I made that FTDX101D versus TS-890S decision less than a year ago.
Perhaps gardening would prove less stressful…
WX3B Rating: 2021-11-15
Outstanding radio, a worth successor to the FTDX-5000 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been joyfully using Yaesu HF radios since 1976 and have had the FTDX-401b, FT-101E, FT-1000mp, FT-1000mp Mark V, FTDX-5000 and I now own several FTDX-101(d) radios and one FTDX-101(mp).

I originally borrowed a 101d from a friend and tried to set it up without consulting the user manual. For about an hour, I truly struggled with the radio.

The next time I sat down with the 101, I also pulled up the on-line manual and got to know the menu system. There is plenty to criticize with respect to this menu system, and many have already done that prior to my review. Thing is, once you get the radio set up, and you get used to the menu system, the pain quickly fades compared to the sheer joy of using this radio.

The build quality (fit and finish) is exceptional, and the front panel layout is very natural. The VFO and controls on this radio feel solid and tight. Having a vividly colorful, fast acting bands-scope is a welcome addition.

I particularly like the VFO concentric ring for RIT and VC Tune adjustments. Most of the day-to-day functions needed as a contester are right there on the front panel, WITHOUT going into a menu!! The receiver is a delight to listen to, very quiet, "tight" sound, and it is a lean mean machine on your QRM-laden run frequency. Having the ability to shift your passband, narrow it, and VC-tune it to reduce splatter form someone 1.5Khz away from you is VERY HELPFUL!!

For those that operate SSB and like the older FTDX-5000 series as I did, you will find this is a very natural upgrade. In fact, the transmit audio section of this radio is remarkably similar to the 5000, right down to the sound levels, and 3 band parametric equalizer available (I use the same settings I had on the 5000).

All my old legacy Heil microphones (HC4, HC5, Proset Plus) work GREAT with this radio, and so does Heil's new Proset 7 with the HC-74 mic element.

In the CW mode, this receiver is the best I have experienced in separating out signals of a rather enthusiastic pileup. It is also less fatiguing to listen to hour after hour.

Some of the little gripes I have about the radio do NOT detract from the long run joy of using it, however, here they are:

#1) The band scope needs to have an averaging function.

#2) You need to be careful with your level of recording voice messages to play back, otherwise they are easily distorted (simple: lower the gain significantly during recording, or talk far away from the mic while recording).

#3) The CW side-tone monitor suffers from a lack of clarity when the monitor volume is turned up. Solution: Keep it at a nice low volume and it sounds great.

#4) The pop-up menus that disappear are laughable, like changing meter functions. Solution: You'll get used to this and after a month and it will cease to bother you.

And my biggest "complaint", easily solved with CAT commands, is the lack of a dedicated button to engage a receive only antenna while transmitting on another antenna.

This takes two pushes of a software menu as opposed to one instant "click" on a dedicated RX antenna like the old MP and 5000 have. To be sure, it's a minor nitpick, and fortunately it has a simple solution if you can pass through CAT commands to your logging software like I can with N1MM+ logger (email me if you want details).

The bottom line is this: The unique combination of new features combined with bringing forward what was most loved about the old FT-1000mp and FTDX-5000 series radios makes the 101d (and 101mp) a true winner!!

73,

Jim Nitzberg WX3B