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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-950

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-950
Reviews: 277MSRP: 1840
Description:
The Yaesu FT-950 is an HF/6m transceiver which features IF DSP as well as 3 kHz, 6 kHz and 15 kHz roofing filters. The transceiver can be interfaced with the DMU-2000 to add additional functions such Band Scope, Audio Scope, X-Y Oscilloscope, World Clock, Rotator Control, and extensive transceiver status displays, in addition to station logging capability. The optional RF µTuning Kits may be connected via the rear panel, providing improved selectivity to protect the receiver from close-in interference on a crowded band.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/0950.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
152774.6
W0DV Rating: 2011-07-22
Great Buy, Very Happy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned the FT-950 for 2 years and this is my second HF rig. My first was the FT-840. I am very happy with my purchase. The radio is fun to operate, I especially enjoy playing with the EQ settings. The FT-950 is packed with features for the price that is paid. I use an MD-100 mic with the radio and have always received excellent audio reports. No regrets!
N4NYY Rating: 2011-07-10
Nothing can touch it in its price class Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this in Nov 2009, and has been wonderful. Love the receiver. I use about 40% of the rig and only for SSB at the moment. I will address most of the common complaints on this rig.

1. Color menu - I actually find this a pleasure as the colors quickly let me identify what is going on, especially in the case of high SWR or such. I know which filters are on and so forth. Mono-color menus are a bit difficult to read for some people.

2. 3 KHz roofing filter. If you contest, maybe you should get the www.ac0c.com upgrade roofing filter. If not, I don't miss it. Not a deal breaker for what I do. The remaining interference measure work splendidly.

3. Menu driven settings. There are utilities that allow you to save and reload your settings from PC. Complaints about how difficult it is to change or reload settings are utter nonsense. Most settings with the exception of RF power, are set once and forget.

5. RF Power knob hidden in the menus and not easily accessible. True, but I use Ham Radio Deluxe, and it is right there in from of my face. In fact, if you use the FT-950 with Ham Radio Deluxe, you don't even have to mess with the rig. The controls are on the PC. Still, it is a minor inconvenience if you have to use the menus.

6. Antenna tuner is a bit noisy and so what? No one have ever heard of relay chatter? This is an antenna tuner, and not a submarine. It will make noise. It works, and the noise is only a few seconds. Who cares what it sounds like.

7. No USB port. This is correct, and easily solved by getting a USB-serial converter. Cannot believe people complain about this.

8. Cheapness/weak dials and knobs - Utter lies and fabrication. You can easily check and try these beforehand at HRO or other stores. It is a joke that people take this home and think it has a cheap feel, without trying it out. This is every bit as solid as my Icom 746.

9. Receive audio - Perfectly fine and very adjustable. People who complain about it are likely using the default settings. How about learning the radio? Set the Countour menu (069) to +10 db. The radio will sound far better than the -15 db default.

The firmware updates on this are fantastic. It's is too bad that firmware updates are a new thing nowadays. Too they weren't around to the general public 15 years ago. Anyway, they have pretty much ironed out all the bugs by now.

Overall, again, you are talking about a $1,300 cost (I paid $1,244). There is nothing in its price class. Icom has released 3 radios from about $3,500 - $8,000. No, they just released the 7410 and it is $1,900. Clearly, Icom doesn't feel the economy affects Hams. And based on prior experience with the 746 series debacles with the IC-151, drivers, and backlight problems, and their handling of them, I would never go back to them.
W8NVC Rating: 2011-07-02
GO get ONE Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hello, w8nvc here in Ohio.
i got a new ft 950 in feb 2011. I replaced my beloved ft 990. The 950 so far is an awsome radio for the money, Now i have to say this, Read Read Read,
do the reviews, as this radio once set up correctly is an audio Monster with the right mic, great audio reports all the time. The on board Eq in conjunction with the audio processor are in short incredible.
Another Plus, I have a plasma TV, with my old ft 990, the noise was so bad i couldnt copy anything on different parts of each band , The ft 950 has 2 noise blankers, Yes 2, you just hold in the button to activate 2, Now with these options if nb 1 dont do it,nB2 does, it wipes the noise right out.
once you set it up in the menu for you situation and mic, and environment it makes for super Ham radio enjoyment. Now i wish it had a analog meter like the ft 2000 But i can live with it. another issue is, i wish it had an rx antenna button,
my 990 had an input for just a rx antenna, i would transmit on one antenna and receive on another, the ft 950 does not have that feature. it does have inputs for 2 antennas But, it wont rx on one and Tx on another, you would have to do this manually via ant button. oh well you cant have it all, on less your rich. i am Not. But Yaesu did a great job with the ft 950. my advice to anyone that buys one, read the instructions, go online and join the ft950 group on yahoo. Everyone has a tale to tell about there experience with the ft 950. also. type in google, yaesu ft-950 reviews and read. 9 out of 10 Hams love it.
Most of us hams are on a shoestring budget, im sure theres way better radios, but if you want great tx audio, superb Receive, great DNR and DSP for under 1.400 new, then this radio is just for you. I just LOVe Mine. On a scale of 1-10 i give it a 10 for the money.... Just my 2 cents,
73' happy 4th of July America,
K0XY Rating: 2011-06-20
...The NS/AC0C Roofing Filter and the FT-950 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm 99% CW. I had the NS/AC0C roofing filter installed in my '950 and I LIKE IT !

...To me, a stock '950 was always a tad noisy (CW), and after several hours the noise floor was a bit irritating...it was a bit fatiguing...well, I installed the NS filter and the noise floor was much less pronounced (much similar to my FT-2000 with the VRF engaged)...I LIKE IT !

...so, if you want your '950 to be a top shelf CW radio you may want to consider the NS Filter...I did, and I am pleased with the results !
NG9W Rating: 2011-06-03
The best of traditional and SDR combined! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Allow me to outline for you how I got to this point. I got fascinated by the SDR revolution after reading about FlexRadio's FLEX-5000A and FLEX-3000 software-defined radios both in print and online. However, at $3600 for a FLEX-5000A with RX2 and ATU, I shrunk back from making the plunge. Even $1700 for a FLEX-3000 seemed a little steep for what you get.

Then I read about TelePost's LP-PAN Software Defined IQ Panadapter and how it could add SDR capabilities to the K3. But a fully decked out K3 with dual receive and filtered up was pretty pricey as well. But I kept reading and learned that it was possible to use LP-PAN with a Yaesu FT-950. So I bought a pre-owned FT-950 S/N 7K030453. It had the latest PEP firmware installed.

To use it with LP-PAN requires installing RF-SPACE's IF-2000 board in the place where the Yaesu DMU-2000 board goes. When I went to install it, I discovered the previous owner had retained the 14-pin ribbon cable with his DMU-2000 board, so I waited several weeks for a replacement to come from Yaesu Japan (P/N is T9207437). Meanwhile, I got well acquainted with the FT-950 as a traditional rig.

Besides the IF-2000, you also need a pro audio sound card. I chose the Creative E-MU 0202 USB sound card.

The SDR software I chose to use was none other than a modified version of FlexRadio's PowerSDR, namely, PowerSDR/IF v 1.19.3.5 maintained by W2UX and W1CEF. Other SDR software is usable, including SpectraVue 3.01 and TRX-Pan. I haven't read about whether Simon Brown's SDR-RADIO will work or not, but I intend to at least try it since it promises to work with all RF-SPACE radios, and the IF-2000 board is an RF-SPACE product. My computer is a home-brewed Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66GHz with 8 GB RAM running 32-bit Windows XP.

Probably the most tedious part of setting this up is calibrating the IF Frequencies for each mode in PowerSDR/IF. Using WWV on 5 MHz and 10 MHz, I set my AM offset to 0 Hz, and this gave me a Global offset of 10360 Hz for the WWV AM carrier to be centered in the passband and the audio from the E-MU 0202 to zero beat with the audio from the FT-950. The CW-L offset is then 700 Hz and the CW-U offset is -700 Hz (assuming the default CW pitch of 700 Hz on the FT-950). I haven't done the USB/LSB offsets yet, but its just a matter of time before I get to them as well as FSK-L and FSK-U. Even though this is a little tedious, its still easier than using a service monitor and aligning a rig.

LP-PAN with PowerSDR/IF can be used for more than just a panadapter. It is also a receiver with dual receive channels (the Multi-RX feature). Those two, plus the one in the FT-950, give me a triplex receiver. So now I have most of the features of the FLEX-5000A with RX2 and ATU but at less than the cost of the FLEX-3000.

The '950 is a well-rated 4.7 here on eHam. This is currently better than the F3K's 4.6 and a little shy of the F5K's 4.8. But consider what you get for your buck!

If you decide to also go this route, read, Read, READ everything about Flex's PowerSDR on www.flex-radio.com, PowerSDR/IF on www.wu2x.com, LP-PAN on www.telepost.com. Also subscribe to the LP-PAN Yahoo! User's Group.

73,
David, NG9W (formerly KE1IN)
K9XOK Rating: 2011-05-28
K9XOK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just was able to find a like new FT-950 on QTH.Com the place to find the best used ham gear.
(Better than any hamfest)Should be able to find one for a little over $1000.00 shipped.Im comparing it to a Icom746 pro I had I like the ft-950.
Too many issues with the 746pro AND 756PRO DISPLAY AND PA SECTION.I send something out to get repaired only once.The Yaesu 1000mpmkvfeild is a fine rig but they should have added 6mtrs to the rig.By not adding 6mtrs, I would compare it to a 4door sedan without rear door handles.Then there is the ft840.The ft-840 dose not even have a rf gain control although its a good rig but save your lunch money and buy a ft-950.The ft-950 compared to my kenwood 2000 and kenwood ts950sx there very close but the ft-950 like the ft-450at has better AM.Dont buy a rig with a built in power supply.Go on ebay and buy that simple 45amp switching supply from china.It is a very well filtered supply and will run any of the 100watt rigs with plenty of headroom.Also it makes it easy for feild day and power failures when you need battery power.Also the rig is heavy enough without the weight of the internal supply.
Yes the FT-950 is a fine rig and really not too much more expensive on the used market than some of the low end rigs from several manufactures. Find a good used one.I did :-) Also the mars mod is easy on the FT-950
Thank You
KK4CV Rating: 2011-05-17
excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Do not understand some of the reviews I've read..
The CW is on this rig is great. It is as good as any other rig I have owned. Kenwood, Icom. TS 850, 940, 520, 480, 746nonpro, 706. The only difference is the TenTec Jupiter no relay clicks period. The CW RX is bar none on all bands with a
quality antenna.
W0CKI Rating: 2011-05-10
Not that great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Great RX on SSB, a lousy CW radio. On CW it has a hollow sound. The ATU is crappy and noisy. It simply can't keep up with my 30 year old Kenwood TS 830S. Some good features, DSP is very good, but overall, only a average radio.
W8DTW Rating: 2011-05-10
Terriffic Radio!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been operating a Yaesu FT-950 for over a year. It is with out a doubt the finest piece of electronic equipment I have ever purchased. The key to getting everything out of this radio is to stick with it. After a year I am still learning what it is capable of doing. The programmability of the unit is tremendous and it has features and functionality that other comparably priced radios are lacking.
CX8BR Rating: 2011-05-10
very good radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
hi all, I have my FT950 for 5 months and the only thing I have to say is goodness, and had other transceivers which would be the only comparable icom ic751a and Ts830, but today I am really very happy if any changed for my ft950.
The audio problem mentioned by there for me was no problem, only with the proper adjustment of the filters gives a very clean audio, and especially with the important characteristic of interference rejection and the ability to get stations are below the noise.
I'm pretty demanding on the issue of filtering and good reception( 90% CW..), and find that the FT950 transceiver is not to qualify first, first you should read the manual carefully and above all know that it does and for each option, otherwise it could take a bad impression because it is not for everyone. Today I live in a place full of interference and so far the only transceiver that has been run without additional accessories was the FT950, I understand that if for a transceiver to work properly you have to add external accessories performance is not as good and that the FT950 is no need to add it all, although I understand very well the addition of Microtuning module if you live in a place surrounded by nearby stations. My rating for the FT950 is 5 / 5, highly recommended unparalleled price / quality ratio.
73 Alex
CX8BR