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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-1000(D)

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-1000(D)
Reviews: 116MSRP: 4000.00
Description:
200W HF allmode transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/amateur/ft1000d.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001164.8
K7QZ Rating: 2002-01-20
Still king of weak signal DX Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using my 1000D for three years now and during this time have tried several other rigs alongside the 1000D including the 775DSP, 746, 756 Pro and a recently a Mk V. I should have a Pro II here in a few weeks to play with. I admit, I've always been more of an Icom fan but the 1000D is my exception. I've sold the others, but the big Yaesu still occupies the position of honor in my shack.

As various technical points have been well reviewed already on this thread, I won't bore the reader with a re-hash of the amazing technical performance of this flagship of the Yaesu line. I'll try to look at more practical issues instead.

My primary interest is DX and I've tried real hard to learn to love the aforementioned rigs. Let's face it, DX is all about hearing and being heard. Pulling those weak signals out of the muck and piercing through that pile-up jumble with crisp audio. Of the rigs I have tried thus far- none can beat the 1000D at this game and I just keep coming back to it.

For those times that DSP seems required in CW, I've interfaced a Timewave 599zx. This is a slick combination !

The newer rigs have more bells and whistles than the Yaesu but IMO these come at the expense of DX operator convenience. I have never liked teeny buttons and pull down menus in a fast and furious pile up situation. On the 1000D, the function buttons you need (and use) are thoughtfully laid out right there on the front panel, all within easy reach.

Let's face it, my grandfather worked DX using SSB phone and CW just like I do. Practically speaking, the state of this art just hasn't changed all that much. Thus digital hasn't made alot of impact on DX and me.

The only DX downside that I've encountered with this Yaesu is on DXpeditions. This rig is built like a Mack truck and weighs a ton! For starters, take the cover off one and look at the size of those switching relays! The 1000D was designed to endure in the harshest of operating conditions.

In summary, if you work mostly the digital modes, maybe a Pro II will be to your liking instead. IMO, alot of the ops that rave about these new digital rigs have never spent serious time behind a 1000D. To each his own I guess -

If basic workhorse DX is your game however, the 1000D is still king.

73 & Good DX -
Mike
K9RT Rating: 2002-01-15
Still the best!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It's all been covered before so I can add very little to the comments already written other than a few subjective remarks.
I've owned or used most all of the mid and high line rigs in the last 10 years, and after owning 4 1000D's I still keep coming back to them. The all-DSP rigs sound great and I can't knock them, but when it comes to the crunch in a crowded band during a contest or weak signal reception, none can beat the 1000D. I just don't believe that DSP has been perfected yet to have the brickwall selectivity that stacked filters in the IF will yield. At least not in the consumer grade equipment presently available in the ham marketplace. Until they get it right, the "D" will be my favorite and used prices make them as affordable as a newer DSP only rig. It's a keeper.
K8KAS Rating: 2001-12-04
Great Transciever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you want a stereo receiver buy a Bose. If you want great receiver with selectivity, you know the stuff thats pulls the weak ones out, the FT1000D can't be beat. My TS 870 sounds nice in the stereo(WB) mode but it sure lacks a real selective filtering system. The so called DSP filtering is second rate at best,desspite the marketing BS you hear. You need real filters/crystal or mechanical at I.F. The FT1000D has what it takes to receive signals on crowded
bands and under poor conditions, as I said, "if you want stereo buy a Bose".
W6FVI Rating: 2001-12-04
Way overrated! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought used for $2300. What do you do with a transceiver the most? RECEIVE! What is the lamest part of the FT-1000D? 2.4K bandwidth. Maybe I am spoiled by my ICOM-756PRO (3.0k BW) or my Kenwood TS-870 (6.0k BW), but sheesh, the FT1000D sounds bad. Very muffled and poor s/n ratio.
9K2CA Rating: 2001-11-30
NO. 1 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I,VE MY FT-1000D FOR MORE THAN 6 YEARS ITS THE BEST

OF THE BEST
AA7IH Rating: 2001-11-10
FT-1000D Love it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my FT-1000D for about 1.5 years. I Love it! I plan to keep it forever. It is a solid performer. It's only negative feature is it's inability to operate from batteries. But then that's what my FT-100D is for. Love it too and it does a few amusing tricks like inserting a new band randomly. The FT-1000D's Sub-receiver brings a whole new dimension to DXing.
73
Ray, AA7IH
N5RXF Rating: 2001-11-10
IN A FIELD OF ITS OWN Time Owned: more than 12 months.
FT1000/FT1000D
What can I say that has not been said, it's hard, I can't. Most xcurs try to compare, they can't. This radio is in a field of it's own. By the way the FT1000 is the same radio as FT1000D. We get hung up on the D. Let me explain, you can buy a FT 1000 and later buy the plug-in filters XF-455K-251-01, XF-455k-202-01, XF-455K-501-01 plus the BPF-1 and the TCX0-1 and guess what you have a 1000D. All of those item's can be purchased from YAESU and all filters are for CW. What am I tryig to say if you work phone you don't need all the extras. I own both and looking at them you can not tell which is which.
KB9IV Rating: 2001-11-10
Still The One!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It's hard to believe the FT1000/D is 10+ yrs old. Most new xcvrs try to compare in the
receive dept but fall short. I've carefully compared a FT1000mp (loaded) and a Omni 6+
on the air, both clearly had poorer receivers. On 10 meters with the same G5RV used
the clear edge to the "D", for marginal signals in the noise.
The 1000D is a handsdown choice overall and built with quality and care. Mine is a
92 version, not many bells & whistles......add a Timewave 599zx, a real champion!!
The fan has a growl but keeps the xcvr cool at 200 Watts output.
1000/D's can be had for about $1800 - 2100 used, why pay higher for a LESS
performing radio? Try one and you'll keep it.
K3PZ Rating: 2001-10-28
Still the radio to beat! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I won't bore you with the specs on the FT-1000D as most of us know about this legendary piece of equipment. I own both the FT-1000D & the FT-1000 MarkV. I'm not a contester so bells, whistles, and DSP arent a big concern to me. I have compared these two radios side by side for a few months now and IMHO, the FT-1000D has the edge on receive. It's darn close but if I could only keep one of these babies, it would be the FT-1000D. Short and sweet...the "D" is still the radio to beat!
N7NOG Rating: 2001-07-12
Great old radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this D used. It's an early model with few mods.

I was immediately impressed with the quality of the receiver. Reasonably quiet (some hiss on some bands) -- at least as quiet as my Icom 740, which is a quiet receiver.

I have found the dual receive useful for diversity reception. I use a yagi up 50 feet and a roof mounted vertical. The two antennas "hear" differently, as we all know. Listening on both at once has frequently provided the edge I need.

Selectivity is wonderful. The cascaded filters do most of the heavy lifting, and the shift and width controls take care of the rest. The notch is very sharp and very helpful. The audio peak filter makes cw "pop" out of the background. Even the noise blanker seems ocassionally helpful. This is an amazing radio.

On the transmit side, I found there is a lot to control. It took me a while to get clean signal reports, although everybody tells me I'm loud. The Heil H4 element combined with the speech processor is apparently overkill for local stations, who have complained of splatter -- but the DX always come back with good reports.

200 watts mean I can run barefoot without feeling left out of the pileup. It's fun to have the DX answer my first call once in a while.

I suspect dsp would be a handy accessory on this rig, although I'm enjoying it fine right now.

The fan is audible but hardly objectionable. I don't see the beef some of the others have mentioned with the fan.

PSK is very easy to set up and run. RTTY is almost as simple, although the higher duty time means more fan noise.

I like the access to the 73 MHz IF. A band scope should be easy to do, perhaps through a sound card.

Overall, I love this radio. It provides a predictable, high quality ride every time out - like driving an old Cadillac.