| K0RS |
Rating:     |
2001-05-23 | |
| Yaesu FT-1000 (D) |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
This radio is a mixed bag for me. I've had a chance to use two different units, both on extended loan, so I don't feel a need to justify an expensive purchase. First the plusses:
200 watts. No doubt about it, having this much power on tap is great. The linear rarely gets turned on.
Size. It's big. Built for adults. The control panel has lots of room, no tiny knobs or confusing, arcane menus to access to run this beast. This ain't your kid's sub-mini IC-706 or FT-100. Very intuitive, so anyone with experience with a full featured tranceiver will be up and running in short order.
Dual receive. Any DX'er will understand, how did we get along before?
Smooth QSK. Puts the 'MP to shame. By the way, you can key any linear with a low voltage keying line (like an Alpha) via the band data port and turn off that damn relay so you don't have to listen to it clatter.
Good, solid basic performance. The receiver is bullet-proof. To Yaesu's credit they spent their development Yen on building a good RADIO, not on including a bunch of glitzy features.
Is that it? Well, yes. Now the negatives.
Man, that fan is LOUD. Even with 'phones (never operate without 'em). It will drive you crazy. And it's on a LOT.
Tuning speed is WAY too fast. Someone suggested that was nit-picking. I don't think so. This is supposed to be a dx/contest radio, and it costs a bundle. It should have a tuning speed suitable to its alleged purpose without having to resort to spending even more money on someone's after market modifications. With 500 Hz filters on, you can tune right past a CW signal and never hear it.
Audio seems to be hissy with a lot of white noise component. Disconnect the antenna and you can really hear it. The 'MP was notorious for this too. Once again, INRAD to the rescue, at least in the case of the 'MP. I don't know as there is a mod for the D to address this. Interesting so many people resort to using outboard DSP's with this radio. More $$ on accessories.
Skimpy manual. Wow, seems like a comic book after the 'MP manual. Some tortured English, too. Good thing this box is easier to operate than the complex 'MP.
Dippy DIP switches and hidden conrols. Setting the CW tone via DIP switches under an access panel seems positively archaic. Should be continously variable control on the front panel. When are manufacturer's gonna learn the VOX controls need to be on the FRONT of the radio? The linear relay switch (if you can't use the band data port) is INSIDE the radio! You gotta take the covers off to turn it on/off. Jeez! Several other switches buried inside, too.
Low audio on the headphone jack. Not a big thing, I plug my 'phones into the external speaker so I can use the audio filters in the speaker. But, why?
Price. Man, are they proud of this thing. As a write this, the D model can be had for $3795 in the US, discounted from a more typical $3999. Maybe Yaesu's finally trying to blow out the last of their remaining stock. That's a pile of dough for 15 year old technology.
Well, that's about it. A good radio, but not good enough to displace my all time favorite, the Kenwood TS-950-SDX. And not good enough to make me choke up that kind of dinero. If you get really lucky and find a used one reasonably, it will make you a great radio. You can work around (or tolerate) the short-comings, maybe they aren't a big deal to you.
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| GW0EIK |
Rating:      |
2001-05-20 | |
| none better |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Hi, I have owned my "D"for a year now, I had it side by side with my 1000MP, the MP was sold!! The 1000D really does perform well, I use the JPS NR-10 with it, mainly for the auto notch, and I have looked at many other radios, as we all do, but there is just a feel of quality that you don't find anymore, the rec is A+++,and tx with most mics is very clean and punchy, it's on the end of a Cushcraft X-9, and does it for me!! Get one, and you will be hooked, sell it, and I bet you will want another!! 73 gd dx. |
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| VE6SH |
Rating:      |
2001-05-17 | |
| Still the Best |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I had owned a FT990 and jumped at the chance to pick up a FT1000. It was not the D model, but came with the BFP and TCXO. I added the diode mod, the rest of the filters and the slow tuning mod. What a radio! I had been usim=ng a FT100 and 817 for so many months I haf forgotten what a treat it was to use a full featured radio. Paired with a Timewave 599zy(in the SP5 speaker)I dont think you can get any better than this!
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| G4VGO |
Rating:      |
2001-03-21 | |
| Best Transceiver I've Owned! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have all the Inrad second IF filters, the slow tuning mods in the main and sub receivers, and this rig is GREAT!
The receiver closely compares with the Sherwood modified Drake R4C I had been using as my main station receiver on 160 metres.
The 200 watts output makes a linear unneccessary except for big pile ups.
Using firmware version 6.0, it interfaces with all my logging programs (TR and DX4Win). With the International slow tuning modification, it really makes using the cascaded 250 Hz filters easier for weak signal CW DX.
I had an FT 1000 MP and used them side by side, needless to say the 1000MP went to a good home, and I kept the FT 1000.
The W8JI noise blanker mod and the factory pin diode upgrade keep this 11 year old rig in the 21st century and if you are looking for a used Rolls Royce for the cost of a new Ford....buy one!!!! |
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| K5ZP |
Rating:      |
2001-02-05 | |
| True HF Standard |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I picked up the FT-1000D just because I missed the "big rig" features lacking on my current DC to daylight wonder rig. Ron at HRO San Diego made me an offer on the FT-1000D that I just couldn't refuse. In nearly thirty rears and thirty transceivers I've never a rig that performes so well. It is the best rig at doing it's designed purpose (SSB and CW communication)during a wide variety of band conditions. It doesn't sing or make coffee but it sure does make the contacts.
I've also learned that the cascaded IF crystal filters (there's eleven of them in the FT-1000D!) plus true dual diversity reception and quad conversion is far superior than any DSP available. You will actually hear all of those DX stations on the other end of the pile up. Additionally, the 200 watts out really helps barefoot and while driving those power hungry 3-500Z's and 4-1000A's.
On the used market the FT-1000D is the best value out there (street price $1800 - $2500). Mine was on the top end of the scale but had been back to Yaesu recently for a total alignment and upgrade service. I met the previous owner and he told me that he was extremely happy with the rig. In fact, he stated that the only reason he was selling it was to be the owner of a new rig when he went SK (he was in his eighties). What a Ham! |
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| W9YP |
Rating:      |
2001-01-23 | |
| Top Of The Line |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
This rig stands second-to-none! Without a doubt, this rig is one of the finest transceivers ever made. Even considering that the FT-1000D is an 11-year old rig in terms of its design engineering, it is still top-of-the-line in terms of overall performance, reliability, and ease of use.
When comparing this rig with newer modern radios, DSP or no, the FT-1000D can more than hold its own. I have had several of the best modern transceivers and they come close, but simply cannot compare to the "D". For example, the 1000D can outperform ANY other radio including the FT-1000MP Mark V and the ICOM-781 in pulling a weak CW signal out of the mud when using the narrow 250Hz optional filter on the main receiver.
I really have only one complaint - fan noise. The fan noise is an annoyance and it is hard to believe that Yaesu engineers didn't notice this problem while testing the prototype. Also, it is hard to believe that no other hams complained about it when the rig was field tested in Japan. But although it is irritating, it doesn't affect performance especially when operating with phones.
Other operators complain about such minor issues as the tuning is too fast or the noise blanker doesn't work as well as it should. It appears to me that they are trying really, really hard to find even the slightest little insignificant thing wrong with the rig because every rig has got to have something wrong with it, right? But these insignificant complaints do nothing to affect the transceiver's next-to-unbelievable performance when that rare DX is on the band and you HAVE TO MAKE THE CONTACT.
So in my opinion, this radio is the standard by which all others should be judged. It is the best of the best. I'm sure that someday, someone will build a better transceiver than the FT-1000D, but today, this 11-year-old rig is king of the hill.
Tony |
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| W7JBB |
Rating:      |
2000-11-21 | |
| The Best |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Been a ham for over 40 years and have used a very large number of ham transmitters, receivers, and transceivers over that time.
Have also used and rebuilt large amounts of government and NASA receivers, transmitters and transceivers, and operated them for many hundreds if not thousands of hours.
For my money the FT 1000D is the best of the lot when it comes to the amateur rigs available today. |
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| KC0W |
Rating:      |
2000-11-12 | |
| Great rig. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I had a FT-990 before I bought a new 1000D. The 990 is a very nice rig, but the 200 watt output and better cw filters on the 1000D make it a hard radio to beat.
In this age when HF rigs come standard with DSP & 6 meters built in, the 1000D is a little "behind the times". In my case, I have another radio that has 6 meters in it for when that band opens.
The SUB VFO gets little use here......I'm not a DXer, but could see where the SUB would help when you must monitor a few KC's up the band.
Believe it or not, I have a 1ØØ watt light bulb on the roof of the house that gets used as a QRP antenna with this rig. It's internal tuner will "tune" just about anything that I throw at it! I'm pretty sure the 990 and the 1000D use the same tuner, though.
Built well and so far so good with the rig. Have owned it for 4 years now. |
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| WB6MYL |
Rating:      |
2000-09-23 | |
| Still the benchmark! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
First of all, despite living in the same city as headquarters for Yaesu (Cerritos, Ca), I am not one of their big fans (read my review of the Ft-3000M). Only my opinion, I think most of their stuff is built flimsy (that cheap case and DSP tuning knobs on the 920 are an embarrassment) and have been using Icom (781/761) mostly because of the great machine quality of their rigs (mostly just rag chew).
The 1000D is an exception. It feels well made, straight forward, and a very intuitive radio. The receiver is excellent and fidelity is warm (no, not like an S-line, 75A4 or even the SX-115) which is important to me as ear fatigue is diminished or delayed; audio reports are always superb and 200 watts is more than enough for most rag chewing (very seldom use a linear).
There is little to compare with the "shift/width" controls of the 1000D (IF passband adjust); it works great and tailors the fidelity of the signal (somewhat); bought the Timewave DSP59+ with the rig but seldom use it (do not like the way that and most of these DSP distorts the signal). A superb rig and still the benchmark on comparing other equipment.
The previous review of this rig makes some good suggestions for improvement which I can relate to; may I add: that it would be nice to have the vox adjustments on the front panel instead of the top as these have to be continually adjusted as I use different microphones with the rig; It would be a nice option to have rack-mount handles on this rig, which is another reason why I (generally) favor Icom.
An outboard spectrum/monitor scope would really add a lot; I cannot imagine how many more 950's Kenwood sold on the mere fact that it had that SM-230 dedicated spectrum analyzer (as did the 940's had the SM-220) (Icom/Yaesu are you listening?)Good luck!!
Phillip W. Harris, PhD.P.C. |
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| WB9YCJ |
Rating:      |
2000-09-22 | |
| A Classic! Improve and market it again! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
A True Classsic! Almost as fun as an IC-781 !
Here are some improvements for Yaesu Musen to ponder for any new and improved version of the 1000"D" (knock on wood).
1. Lower fan noise.
2. Selectable PL tones (Ten FM).
3. KEEP analog S-meter (dont even think of those
funky l.e.d.s).
4. Put a RCA or BNC jack "break" in the receive
line for user's bandpass filters, etc (done on
990, and MP right?).
5. Selectable Receive preamp (dump memory scan?).
6. FT-990 style mic audio processor.
7. Receiver tone control.
8. SCAF receive audio filter (990).
9. Keep dual TRUE CROSSBAND receive.
10. Tough Rack Handles and Spectrum Scope.
11. Six Meters.
The 1000D would have been "TOPS" had it had these features from the begining.
Thanks again Yaesu. -Ken
P.S. I dont really expect to see this materialize.
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