| K7LZR |
Rating:  |
2021-02-22 | |
| I had forgotten how well these radios can perform..... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I recently re-acquired an FT-101B from an old friend. I had forgotten what a good performer these radios can be when properly aligned and tuned.
The particular unit which I have is in excellent condition, totally unmodified, and was always well cared for. My friend was the 2nd owner. It still has the original driver and Toshiba 6JS6C PA tubes from the factory and they still show full output.
I've had a few other FT-101 series radios over the years, and I once owned this particular rig for a couple of years in the early 2000s. It went back to my friend, and I upgraded to other, newer radios and forgot all about these rigs until recently.
These rigs are brimming with quality: Plug-in circuit boards for much of the circuitry. Jackson Bros. reduction drives for main tuning, preselect & PA tuning. Heavy metal everywhere. Exact fit & finish. The list goes on. Thousands are still in daily use nearly fifty years after production.
These radios still perform very well even in today's ham radio world. The receiver is quiet and sensitive. Selectivity is adequate under most circumstances. The transmitter puts out a consistent 100+ watts. RX & TX audio are good on SSB, and the transmitter can be made to sound very nice on AM.
After having the latest digital & SDR rigs for a few years now, I find the FT-101 to be a refreshing trip to yesteryear. No processors. No push-and-hold buttons. No touch screens. No endless plethora of options & menus. Just reliable radio communication.
Perhaps best of all, these radios are easy to repair if needed. Most parts and components are standard, off-the-shelf devices. Many can still be purchased new. Used & refurbished replacement PC boards are easy to find also. No surface mount technology here.
Even after all these years, This is still a good and useful radio for many. |
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| 9A5BMK |
Rating: |
2018-05-04 | |
| Still in good condition! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've got mine more than 10 years ago when I got my HAM licence. Bought it second hand from very carefuly HAM, and it was in shape "as new" which is still today the fact. However, rig needed readjustmens what I as an electronic technician, done according manual. Later I bought several other radios, but I still operate with 277B. I made one modification. I replaced original noisy fan with 12 V computer fan, and connected it (with diode rectifier) in parallel with heating voltage. Now the fan works only when "Heater" switch is on, when TX is ready, so I don't need to hear rather noisy original fan even if I listen the receiver only. And, of course, the radio gives much more than 100 W. Most other transistor rigs puts out 100 W only, if even they can. And also, radio has very useable preselector, which eliminates interferences both RX and TX, this is especially advantage where strong RF signals are present nearby, which is the case in my second location, where other radios suffer from interferences, showing S 5 or more. And finally, I don't need any additional power supply, because the P.S. is included in the radio, just connect antenna and put the AC plug into wall socket and You're on the air! I never tried to operate on 12 V supply, although radio has that feature. |
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| G0UCH |
Rating: |
2014-09-03 | |
| My first proper HF Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have to confess mine was the Sommerkamp FT277B- the rebadged version of the FT101B intended for sale in Europe.
I bought mine from a former ship's radio officer turned IT Engineer in Hemsby on the coast of Norfolk.
I tried it out before buying it and enjoyed a CW contact with a Dutch station. He did not have a microphone for it, but quickly soldered one up and we managed an SSB contact with another Dutchman.
I parted with my cash and brought it home.
Prior to this, since passing my CW Test in 1993 I had been using transverters to get onto HF.
It was wonderful to be using a proper (albeit Non WARC)HF radio.
My first morning on 40 Metres secured several British stations on CW. The rig was fitted with a CW filter which made life easier.
I worked all over Europe on it as well as East Coast USA. All mainly on CW although I did have some SSB contacts as well as joining a local net on Top Band.
The rig had three problems. From time to time it would get "stuck" between transmit and receive. This would go away after ten minutes.
The cooling fan would also seize up from time to time. This was cured by unscrewing the housing and oiling the fan .
Finally, 40 Metres was very noisy at night. By that I mean there was a lot of interference from broadcast stations all over the band. I've not had a rig since that suffered in the same way.
Tuning the valves didn't bother me, I photocopied the relevant page from the operating manual and kept it in a plastic sleeve in my log.
It was a lovely first rig for HF. |
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| WB4AUW |
Rating: |
2009-10-20 | |
| Wish I still had it |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This was my first rig, complete with cw filter to do my novice work in 1975. Had the matching external vfo, speaker, phone patch and desk mic. Why I ever got rid of it, I don't know. After I upgraded I had a Dentron MLA 2500 that this rig really drove well. Made many dx contacts on a tribander Th3. It was a great, dependable rig. |
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| LU1ALF |
Rating: |
2009-07-25 | |
| Wondefull transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I had this transceiver from 1991, when I buy to a old radio ham that buy this equipment in Miami but he never used it.
I had aprox. 25000 qso whith this transceiver and more of 300 countries. Is a wondefull transceiver, never never I had a problem whit it.
Now I use modern equipments, but in sometimes I used again the memorable 101 ZD, and all the times you arrieve first, the signals with the 170 watts are first than with modern transceivers. Reception is excellent. Is a First Class transceiver,obviusly manufactured in 1975, but, a numer one. |
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| VA3VY |
Rating: |
2009-07-08 | |
| Should Of Kept It! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This was my first HF Rig. It was VERY forgiving for a new ham, great signal, great modulation. I am still trying to figure out why I sold it. |
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| KE6N |
Rating: |
2008-05-31 | |
| I've had mine since 1985 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I picked up this radio when I was a novice back in 1985. It has always been reliable and puts out plenty of power. Someone before me did a mod to the radio and spliced out the receive line with two RCA jacks on the back of the radio. This allows me to either jumper them with a short length of coax or run a receive preamp in line (that came with the radio.) The receive preamp does not have a RF sensing relay, hence the spliced out receive line. Boy, does the radio wake up with the preamp!
I've only replaced the original Toshiba tubes once with a pair of GEs. I'll likely always keep the old 101b for a spare if my other HF radio flakes out. |
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| EX_AA5JG |
Rating: |
2008-03-25 | |
| Great Memories |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this rig used as a novice in 1981 from Memphis Amateur, and kept it until 1985, after upgrades to General, Advanced, and Extra. I had no plans on replacing it, but a deal for a Kenwood TS130 came along that was too good to pass up.
I worked a lot of DX on this radio, ran quite a few contests, and just had a blast with it. Tuning it up becomes second nature, and it had a very nice receiver on it. I ran it with an Astatic D104 and got good audio reports. I did do a mod once to put it on 30m, but it lowered the power on 20m so I undid it. If you do the mod correctly it will get you on 30m and keep 20 ok, not sure what I did wrong.
These rigs are built like a tank and pretty bulletproof. Would love to get another one some time to use for old times sake!
73s John AA5JG |
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| KG7D |
Rating: |
2008-03-25 | |
| Still working 33 years old |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| My wife bought this rig for me new in 1975 from a radio shop in Kennewick Wa. It had been sent to a shop in Arizona and had a 4 digit digital display installed in the analog dial window. I used it to study code, license, used it 2 years as a novice, and untill 1995 as Genral, stored for 10 years in the attic, reactivated in 2004. The old toshiba finals finally died so modified the neutralizing circuit to use RCA or Sylvania tubes. It has never failed to work well, however it drifts a little now untill it gets good and warm, more noticable now because of most hams have solid state PLL freq controlled radios. It is my back up rig, and I use it at least once a month to keep the spiders out of it. Puts out 125 watts pep with very good audio. Overall it is an excellent rig, could be modified for warc by installing the right crystals. An old and dependable rig. |
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| YB1TDL |
Rating: |
2008-01-04 | |
| Unbeliveable |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I found my Yaesu 101B in my garage a month ago. Tested and WOUUU...Still working.Imagine more than 20 Years ..26 to be exact ..Tried to contact with friend 2000 km away on 7mHz great 20db over S9. But of course the frequency up and down... Its Great Radio. any way...it has a 12BY7 and double 6JS6. Its also has a 11 meter(CB) SUPERIOR .My Radio has a Serial NO:4F107951
Thanks YAESU your radio is GIANT
Agus
YD1TDL |
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