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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
K1MMI Rating: 2001-03-03
Dollar for Dollar a Winner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the 990 over 8 years and has proven to be a very reliable and easy to use radio. The auto tuner is rated to handle 3:1 SWR but has no trouble matching even higher SWRs. I've added the 250hz and 2K filters plus the Timewave DSP-59Y to the radio and it does a very good job dealing with QRM.I also added a homebrew digital recorder which was easy to interface to and plug directly into the back of the 990. With a RS232 interface the radio can be controlled via a Computer. Overall, the 990 has exceeded my expectations given its price tag.
VE4HAZ Rating: 2001-03-01
VE4HAZ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just upgraded to the FT 990 from a Kenwood TS 820S and I am very impressed with the whole radio. The receiver is excellent with the digitial filter, notch filter and the shift has made digging out the weak stations a dream. All the bells and whisles and non of the big dollars. We will give it a good run this weekend on the ARRL DX Contest. There are very few of these radios available out in the marketplace and now I know why. Everyone are keeping them! If you are looking for a good used radio and come across one in good condition grab it. You will not regret it.
K4NNN Rating: 2001-03-01
Excellent Rig! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this rig recently and have been duly impressed. The unit has all the bells & whistles for a lot less money than most of the new rigs on the market. The unit is extremely easy to operate and the built in ant tuner is a dream. The dual VFO's are easy to use and the built in memories make band hopping very simple. It runs very quiet and cool and loads into my loop antenna with no problem. I have also found the built in audio filtering to be a great feature. I would recommend the SP-6 and the optional filters if you can get them. The going price seems to be about $900 used for the FT-990AC, less for the DC. The SP-6 is going for about $90-$100. If you are looking for a great quality, good performance rig and don't want to spend a small fortune check this rig out...
KC0W Rating: 2000-11-12
A mini FT- 1000d. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sold my FT-990 to "upgrade" to the FT-1000d....If you don't mind not having 2ØØ watt output & a few other bells and whistles....Stick with the 990 and save yourself a bunch of money.

There is a reason why they get $4000 for the 1000D, but from what I remember when I took the cover off the 990, the 1000D and the 990 share a lot of the same internal parts & circuits.

I had nothing but good luck with the 990.
GI4LKG Rating: 2000-07-09
Agree with KF0FX re FT990 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am in total agreement with KF0FX in that the FT990 is going to become one of the classic radio's from Yaesu. Its a lovely radio to use. I would recommend it to anyone. I use it for lots of modes ie SSTC,PSK,RTTY,Heil etc and run it at 40watts.....in summary.....

Its a great Radio.

73 de Victor gi4lkg@qsl.net
KF0FX Rating: 2000-07-08
Will become a classic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an excellent radio. I love the receiver. It's a nice all-in-one radio if you purchase it with the built in switching power supply. Everything is in one box (radio, PS, tuner), and you're ready to go - albeit slowly since it does weigh more than 20 pounds. I've used it on PSK31 with great success. The PA is rugged and it not put off by an SWR under 3:1. RF speech processing is great. You can modify the mic connector so that +5 volts is provided to the Yaesu desk mic. I never installed the TCXO - never needed it. The radio is amazingly stable as it comes from the factory.

Gripes:
I'd like to use the packet connection for PSK31. Sadly, you don't have control over the sideband selection.

If you're thinking of an HF rig, and you can find one of these in good shape for $1,000 or less (more if it includes the optional PS and 500 Hz filter), snap it up.
WB9YCJ Rating: 2000-05-16
Sold 990, Bought 1000D Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had a FT-990 for about 3 years and it was outstanding! There was never any performance hesitation. When you pushed a button or turned a knob it always did what it should. If you told it to jump, it would ask "how high?".
I would however like to inform any future 990 owners of 3 design dis-appointments.
1. Factory diodes used in front end RF board
reduced IMD performance. Cure: Yaesu in
Cerritos sells upgrade (pin) diodes.
You can send them the board and they will
install the diodes (appx 20) for a fee.
2. F.M. subaudible (P.L.) tone non-adjustable.
Fixed at 88.5 Hz. Cure: inject your own
external tones after disabling theirs.
Appliance operators seek help.
3. Receiver audio annoying or FATIGUING to
those with acute hearing. Please refer to the
ARRL Nov 91 QST review; " the radio's IF and
AF amplifiers emit moderately annoying high
frequency hiss, only the IF part of which can
be filtered out by the SCF ". In other words,
you would lose the high end content of the
desired audio (speech, music) while
getting "hissed" at. This was also caused by
the " 990's receive audio response rolling off
at high frequencies ". Sadly, I often became
fatigued when using headphones with this neat
radio. If you do obtain a 990, also get two,
yes two, SP-6 speakers if possible. Place one
on each side of the radio and run 'em in
parallel. It looks great and you wont ask
other stations to repeat things as much.

In summary, if you can get a "mint" 990 for under $990 go for it. Maybe you served in artillery and wont mind the audio short comings. If you can't
find one, and are a Yaesu fan, save our money and get a clean (or new) 1000MP with its "let's shove this down their throat" S-meter. Wanna stray from Yaesu? Consider a JRC-245.
73, Ken (Yaesu Musen Fan since Hiroshima 1980).
Arigato Nay.
NZ8X Rating: 2000-05-16
FT-990 - I concur Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I concur with Uri, however, make sure you have a "good" earth ground and if you can afford a few extra dollars, send the radio off for the pin diode modification to the receiver. You will get a whole new radio back. I did this not only to my 990, but my 890, and will have these radios for a long time. I would rate the radio a 4 before the mods, a 5 is worthy after.
N2RIU Rating: 2000-05-16
FT-990 - simply great!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been owning Yaesu FT-990 for several years and still feel surrised how convenient all the controls are, and how effective its filtering is. I've ordered it equipped with all the filters (i.e. got optional 500Hz and 250Hz) and TCXO-2 for stability. My problem is lack of a good antenna - but I've worked DX successfully - using no other than rig's built-in antenna tuner! - on 5 ft whip and on 15 ft piece of wire. My local area is swimming in QRN, which is between S5 and S7. I owe my ability to operate to this radio. I've been using this rig in most all the modes: CW, SSB voice, RTTY, AMTOR, PacTOR, listened to AM (HF) broadcast stations in the Middle East (yes, on that nice 5-ft whip!). Do I need to add that RF ground in my shack isn't what most of you would call "good"? All in all, I can't say enough nice things about this radio! [A better TNC though is in order :-].
N0HF Rating: 2000-03-10
FT990: Great rig that has it Time Owned: unknown months.
My experience with the FT990 has been great. This transceiver has many mods available
to make it even better. My 990 has been modifyed for 200W out on CW, signal diode
replacement in the front-end with new PIN diodes to further reduce unwanted adjacent
signals in the passband. I have this rig connected via computer control to a logging
and conesting program which will control the various interfaces like RTTY/PACTOR
and the 990 itself through the CAT system.
The digital filter and a combination of IF shift and notch filter does work well.
I recommend getting the optional 250Hz CW filter for contesting. I have taken
1st place in Colorado several times during contests with this rig.
For some reason this rig's used price is way low, I talked to a guy who just paid $450
for a used one in mint condx.