Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu Quadra VL-1000

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - HF & HF+6M

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 Quadra VL-1000
Reviews: 87MSRP: 4000
Description:
Solid-state, automated 1 kW HF/6m linear amplifier
Product is not in production
More Info: https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=261A83CAF673084AAC58C6801013F76F&DivisionID=65&isArchived=1
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25874.3
N1JAO Rating: 2016-06-25
1 Year Later Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A little over a year of use and still as happy as the day I bought it. Just an amazing amplifier that always works perfectly. Vey grateful to have such a wonderful piece of equipment, and would buy it again without hesitation.
KU4FX Rating: 2016-06-24
a great amp plug in and play Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have only had this amp for about two weeks in that time I have fallen in love with it. 1 kw all day long and still runs cool. I give it a 5 because it runs flawless hook it up and forget about. I have not used any other transceivers other than my FT450-D and FT991. Just turn your rig on and the amp is ready to go.
K2EQ Rating: 2016-06-17
Outstanding amp Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Six months in daily service now and flawless operation. Using with FTDX 1200, thought I would upgrade to the 3000 or 5000 but cannot find a good reason. Smooth easy operation band to band freq to freq. Panel could have better contrast and be brighter, current settings are dim and dimmer. They make you open up the unit to modify and get 10 and 12 M, why, I havent a clue unless they want to force you to see first hand the wonderful quality of the build. Not close to the cheapest but close to if not the very best. If lightning strikes and makes it toast, I will buy another.
K5WL Rating: 2016-03-22
Great if you are careful Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this unit for a little over a year now. In that time the resistors have failed twice. The power supply came direct from the Yaesu repair shop where it was fixed at least once. The two times it failed for me were once when the breaker was thrown with the power supply power switch on, and once when the power to the house failed and came back on with the power supply power switch on.

The second time, I had a buck transformer hooked up. I won't forget again, but really it's a design flaw. The price you pay is to do a lengthy repair procedure to get to what are essentially fuses.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, it's an excellent amplifier which has been responsible for some rapid multipliers during contests and some good DX without having to think about it too hard. It suits my ADD style of operating where I just click and play.
WD5JOY Rating: 2015-09-13
SUPERB VALUE - OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi Guys! I purchased mine USED from a ham in Colorado who quite honestly "needed quick cash" and offered a deal I could not decline! Less than 50% of the "new price"! He had it gone through about eight months back and had all the applicable paperwork to back up his claim. It TRULY was a "once in a lifetime" find!

It took ME a while to become comfortable with the operation and not worry at every turn; the amp is amazing! I learned one step at a time, did not rush, asked questions on the web and in a month I or so I was an "OLD pro"! I have NOT looked back!

Running 550 and 1100 watts (+/- 5%) and this jewel runs COOL and runs PERFECTLY! I could not ask for more!


I AM AMAZED when I see "1-STAR" ratings and one line reasons "why"
the review was so poor. One caught my eye and I cannot help but wonder if the guy purposely goes off in search of "bad equipment"? No way THIS EXAMPLE is TRUE! NO WAY! The guy is fibbing and likely does NOT even have ONE piece of Yaesu equipment unless it is an AM-FM receiver that plays music to calm his soul!

BUNK FROM --------> KG6JYK

Rating: 0/5 ..... April 21, 2003 01:07

"Junk!"

Time owned: 0 to 3 months

"Arrived DOA Power supply producing high voltage. So far I have send 6 out of 8 Yaesu products back. All of them failed on arrival."

SORRY "KG6JYK" - but YOU "sir" are blowing smoke! No way so many were 'DOA' unless you deliberately hacked them up! NO WAY! WHY do you have the need to LIE? Did "mamma" beat you when she discovered you lacked the ability to wipe your own "behind"?

Perhaps it because "da' wife" insists SHE make the decisions because YOU make such POOR CHOICES and supposedly but 'DOA' equipment time and time again??

It's simple: THE DUDE IS NOT TRUTHFUL! PERIOD!

Old Man Donnie

COME ON DUDE! THIS IS THE TRUTH SO POST IT!
KC1MR Rating: 2014-06-09
Love & Marriage ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The QUADRA & FTdx 5000d Are plug & play . I have
the latest version of the tuner (7) so i get 1000w
out both with the tuner in or out . I had to remove the cover to get 12 & 10 ,the build quality
is OUTSTANDING with genuine MICROWAVE ASC. MRF 150 s NO shortcuts here . I put in an INRAD 2.4K filter in my FTdx5000D & the results are a much sharper receiver (3.0K is just too wide fer me).
I went with Federal Pacific model SB12N.500F &
Wired it fer 240 volts in with 220 out just to be
on the safe side. The latest Tech Manual wants 200,220 & 232 volts fer the VP-1000 . Latest version is on the internet.
VA3TS Rating: 2014-05-30
Great Amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my Quadra for 4 years, picked it up used from a ham in California. Had the resistor issue at the begining, replaced those and have had no issues since. I live in a rural area and power fluctuations, dropouts can happen anytime especially in winter. So I use a contactor relay to drop out the power to the amp if there is any dropout of the utility power. This one is a 220v relay with a pushbutton. Press the button to pick up the relay and seal it in.(just like a stop/start station) If the power drops out, then the relay drops out too and keeps the poser off till I reset it. You can add surge devices also if you like. I have a similar thing for 120vac to protect the FT5000. The whole shack , used as a complete system is hard to beat, along with the DX-view software and any who come by are impressed with the level of automation. Others my not like that, but I do, this is a winner.
WK9U Rating: 2014-04-05
An incredible design with ample features ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this Quadra System for nearly a year and don't regret nor feel any remorse for selling my Alpha 9500. The Yaesu has a great number of internal memories that make instantaneous band switching, amplifier tuning, and antenna tuning possible.
If you have up to four antennas with SWR readings of less than 3.0 within your usable allocations, the amp will be a dream come true. I have this amplifier mated to the two input selections for both my Yaesu rigs and between the automatic bandswitching i can't think of anything faster, more efficient, and having less clutter in the shack for a true KW amplifier that covers 160 through 10 meters including the 12 + 15m warc bands as well as a KW at 6meters.
I've had no issues whatsoever. Plug and play. It's that easy.
AB4D Rating: 2013-07-04
5+ Years of Trouble Free Operation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As an update to my previous review. The Yaesu Quadra in my station continues to serve me well after 5+ years of use. I have been completely satisfied with its trouble free operation.

I continue to use the amplifier weekly with a FT-1000mp Mark-V. I really enjoy using that combination and its operation is seamless. Once turned on, the amplifier does not require any further attention from the operator.

The amp is well protected if you have everything set up and calibrated correctly, especially the ALC. I never worry about the amplifier being damaged, because it will fault out if something goes awry. That allows you to concentrate on hamming and less about the status of your equipment.

If you have a Yaesu HF rig, and you want to add an amplifier to your station, the Quadra is the logical choice.

73
N1EJH Rating: 2013-06-07
The best I've owned Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I,ve had my Quadra for 17 months, bought new HRO. This is a sweetheart. Turn it on and go. No warm up. It delivers considerly more power than rated for.The builin tuner works perfect,band switches as soon as you hit the key, if connected to a Yaesu transceiver. I also use mine with an Icom 7600 it takes a couple more steps to get it going. No Issues!!!!