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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-990

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-990
Reviews: 141MSRP: 1995 ac 1795 dc
Description:
Yaesu FT-990
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/yaesu.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
251414.8
DJ9XG Rating: 2003-09-26
A good radio for most situations Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own this radio since 1994... had no defects up to now... the only minus is the performance of the receiver if you have other strong stations nearby. I live only few miles away from a several 100kwatts radio AM station... this is making high rf-levels here... to cover this situation I have changed some parts on the front end of the receiver (documented on www.mods.dk). Next thing I will do, is to use the antenna tuner also for reception. That will improve the front end against overloading,too.
In summary a good radio with everything in one box.. very seldom today.
Uwe DJ9XG
A44G Rating: 2003-09-26
Age is Showing Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this new worked great the first 9 yrs now it showing to have weakness I haveing peoblems with the tuner now
KX5F Rating: 2003-09-06
Excellent Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine new in 94, have had no problems at all. Sent it back to Yaesu about 18months ago for a general check-up, and they called and said no problems, but wanted to replace the TCXO to the .5 version for 35.00$ while it was there, I of course jumped on that, radio is used 99% on c.w. and have given thoughts on buying a newer radio, but have had good luck with this one. I have the FT-990AC with the 500, 2.0 and 2.4 filters. 73s Pat KX5F
WV4I Rating: 2003-09-05
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was surprised to read any negative reports on this model radio, but apparently the writers acquired their FT-990's used, and therefore with an unknown service, hacking, etc. history.

Prior to my acquiring my FT-990AC w/AT, 2 CW, and 1 SSB filter, I owned an FT-102 for roughly 15 years. Both are superb radios with truly outstanding receivers. Since acquiring the FT-990, I have operated several FT-1000 MP's, and an IC-756 Pro II in contest condx, and quite frankly the only perceivable difference is the really optional features, i.e. dual receive, bandscope, respectively, etc.. The auto tuner in the FT-990 has a wider tolerance range than the Icom's, and the receiver, especially with the Yaesu filters installed is equal to both rigs insofar as selectivity and sensitivity is concerned. I would just as soon use my FT-990 in severe contest condx as any rig I've used or owned, unless the dual receive capability of the MP is desired at over twice the selling price....
I'll probably own my FT-990 for at least 15 years also, while I'm sure many other second radios will come and go from my shack. Find a nice one, that's been well cared for, and you won't be sorry.
W1JIM Rating: 2003-09-05
Wonderful rig!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm sorry that HI4HI has had trouble with his FT-990 but I have owned mine for about 7 years and it has been wonderful! I have had zero problems with it and would buy another in a flash if I was in the market for another rig.
W1JIM
HI4HI Rating: 2003-09-05
No Way Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this rig about 7 years ago the man that i bought from is a silent key he was the original owner, I have had nothing but trouble with mine, when i transmit i am going up and down the band i have had the display light go out two seperate times and had to replace them, and the saga goes on and on i have spent over 600.00 in repairs over the years,never had this trouble with any other radio
N0XE Rating: 2003-08-31
Superb radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is probably one of Yaesu's best, I wish those who would rate any product on this review site would stop and think before giving out a 0 to 2, or even a 3, if 99 % of the other reviews are showing a solid 5 and the radio is being compared to very high end radio's like the FT 1000, Kenwood 950SDX, Icom 775 and pro's, and Omni VI, I think it would be an excellent indicator that your paticuliar radio probably has a problem. The 990 is a gem and holds up very well in contest conditions, but no matter what radio you have, it could have a problem. These are electronic devices and they can fail no matter who makes them. Even Collins, Harris, King Radio, SGC, Motorola and many other expensive commercial radios can fail and that is why there are repair services. A properly working FT 990 can hold it's own with just about anything on the market, and the reviews from not only individual owners but Qst, CQ and many other organizations which have reviewed the rig with professional test gear clearly bears this out. Using a radio for a short time and if not working properly, is not a 100% indicator that the radio is junk, I had a friend of mine whose FT 1000MP failed, he had to have it repaired, he is very happy with the radio and since repair it has operated perfect with out a hitch. It would have been easy for him to say this rig is junk and I am never buying a Yaesu again, the only person he is really hurting is himself as a properly working FT 1000 series radio is a true force in ham radio and if you think not then just look at all the major contest stations and the Dx Expeditions that use them. I have seen similiar failures with the new Icom Pro's, things can happen, but for the most part these rigs are all superb radios and a cut above anything ever offered to ham operators in the past. If you look at the radios of today, and compare them in the right categories, low, mid, high end, most are pretty close to each other and you are really getting in to the Ford vs Chevy thing. We are all going to have our personal favorite radios and brands, and that is what makes it great as we have so many choices today as compared to those who came before us. The radios today are very complicated and in some instances a component can fail, these are not simplier old tube rigs and it is going to happen from time to time, so try and be fair when you put a review number to a paticuliar product. It will serve this site and ham radio much better. I sold my FT 990, but if I had to pick one Yaesu radio I wish I had back it would be that radio.
73 N0XE
NONE4 Rating: 2003-08-31
Fair I have seen better Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Not a bad rig but i have seen better the receive is not the best, easy to operate i have had this for about a 1year
KB5DPE Rating: 2003-08-27
Excellent! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with David, if you don't like your 990, it probably was abused. I bought a used one about 1 1/2 years ago. Someone had replaced one of the built in filters ane lifted several traces on the IF printed circuit board. The radio worked OK, but to head off trouble, I bought a new board from Yaesu. This kind of "tinkering" seems to be common in used equipment, I've seen it many times, but the radio can't be blamed for that. "By the way, Yaesu still has a good selection of parts for the 990.

73 Tom
PA1HR Rating: 2003-08-27
Perfect! Time Owned: more than 12 months.

I did had a FT-990 for nine years and enjoyed it almost every day!

It has a perfect receiver and excellent ergonomics.

Even these days with very innovating DSP-rigs the 990 is still one of the better transceivers you can buy (if you are able to find one).

After nine years FT-990 I bought a second hand FT-1000D...