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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
W5LV Rating: 2011-03-17
Great Receiver Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have owned other Yaesu radios, FT-840, FT-897D and the FT-950. The 950 has a good receiver and lets the weak signals come through. I've owned this rig for close to a year and have many days of quality hamming. I get lots of "outstanding audio" reports. I use the Yaesu MD-100 desk microphone,FP-1030A power supply, and the SP-2000 Yaesu speaker. I use mostly SSB but do love PSK-31 and RTTY. The FT-950 does a great job with both modes. I love this rig and especially with the Yaesu updates.
IZ7KVM Rating: 2011-03-10
yes SSB, no CW Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.

I've been using the FT-950 for well over six months, i think that it's a good radio for SSB and Digimodes operations but not for CW. I operate most in cw and i have found that her receiver is noisy in the low bands particularly when you use narrow filter . With the APF function, the noise is reduced slightly but the problem persists and NR dsp is almost useless ,because it weakens the CW-signal as well. I believe that all this, is produced by the high phase noise of the receiver. The best condition for listen cw with FT-950 i think it's : filter 500 hz, AGC slow,APF, RF-gain about 3db and sometimes ATT – 6db.
A side by side comparison in cw with my icom IC-7400, FT-950 is most noisy and less selective. Aesthetically, the ft-950 I really like,it has an excellent front panel for CW.
Before selling it , i will wait until next upgrade firmware.............. will change something ?
K6CU Rating: 2011-03-02
Like it so far... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I looked long and hard at various radios to replace the trusty old Kenwood TS-850s that I've used for the past 15 years.

The FT-950 specs and features all sounded like the perfect fit for me, a 99% cw operator. I bought the FT-950 about a month ago, and so far it's all good.

The radio compares very well to the TS-850s, and based on the manuals and specs I read on many different radios, the FT-950 seemed the best choice.

My first instinct was that since this is a digital radio with "firmware" I would be looking at a steep learning-curve. I'm delighted to report that was NOT the case.

I ordered the radio on a Sunday from AES and got it on the following Wednesday. In the interim, I re-read the manual (I would suggest reading the manual BEFORE buying any radio!).

By the time it arrived I was pretty much able to get it on the air right away. Just a few menu settings adjusting to my preferences was all it took.

Some of the nagging problems on the TS-850 (no adjustment of cw monitor on front panel; multiple switching to get to the narrow cw filter, etc.) are now a thing of the past.

The ONLY suggestion, especially for us older hams with marginal eyesight, would be to make the band button numbers brighter. Other than that, I'm perfectly happy and have no regrets on buying the FT-950.
W8GP Rating: 2011-03-02
Excellent radio , great value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I won't go over all the specifics but I will say that after almost 3 years, I am more than pleased with this radio. It was my first menu driven and I admit that it took a while to warm up to it.The xmit equalizer was frustrating at first but once I got it dialed in it was great, I often get unsolicited reports of good audio from DX stations. Most of the settings are set-it-and -forget-it and once I got used to the menus I came to appreciate the rig's flexibility.I'm a casual contester and DXer and this rig is as good as anything I've had, including the legendary OMNI 6.I recently ordered an NS roofing filter from AC0C and if it does what claims, then I will probably keep the rig a long time. It is hard to find fault with this radio.
KI5II Rating: 2011-03-01
Just OK Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had the FT-950 for a year and, I must say, I did not care for it. I operate CW and it never had a good sound, to me. It was a little noisy and playing with all the controls, frustrating. Could be a good rig for SSB but not CW.
EI5JZ Rating: 2011-02-17
Not good enough fot the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Traded my TS-480SAT in for the FT-950. Have it now for 1.5 years. Lots of buttons. I use only a few of them. For real contesting you need better/tighter roofing filters. Like the new TS-590s. I got the impression that the TS-480SAT sounds better. Nice to have a second VFO/Clarifier knob. The radio looks rather dull and the knobs cheap. Is quite big and heavy. If I had the money I would buy the Ten-Tec Eagle or the Kenwood TS-590S. DSP NR for CW useless, because it weakens the CW-signal as well.
K7CID Rating: 2011-02-06
Nothing compares in this class of radio for the money! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Excellent receive and transmit capability. Nothing comes close in this price category. I added the voice module. Everything else comes standard.
KC2SIZ Rating: 2011-01-11
Very solid rig, excellent value for $ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the FT-950 for well over a year now. Many say they don't like the rig's ergonomics. There are some things I don't like, but I'm okay with the ergonomics overall and the rig definitely offers solid performance. While it's not designed for CW the way a lot of Ten Tec rigs are, my operation has been almost exclusively CW and I find that the FT-950 is excellent at digging out weak signals. The receiver is really very good and the rig has just the right bells and whistles (e.g., contour tuning) to let you work the weak ones. I have also received compliments on my audio on SSB even though I have never used this rig with anything other than the stock microphone. Long story short: I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this rig to anyone, and for the money I really don't think it can be beat.
KC8WAR Rating: 2011-01-07
learning BUT! Love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I been learning my New 950
so far I love it!!!! its great radio with all the new toys
glad I didnt buy the 2000d I got more for my bucks
and the speaker 2000 is the best
anyone thinking about buying one
GO FOR IT!! make sure you get the speaker 2000 also
K5RIX Rating: 2011-01-07
'950 redux Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Yes it is possible to squeeze the CW bandwidth very small, but the noise comes right along. The rig itself is great and easy to operate. These reviews are by definition subjective. I stand by my opinion the FT-950 is capable of good audio only with a lot of fussing on CW and AM BC. Who cares about a bunch of pre-programmed SSB NR presets, regardless their adjustability? Nobody here is looking for a "volume control and an on-off switch."

If the operator is willing to accept this complication, fine. I am not. For what I need, I guess I must admit the '950 is simultaneously overkill and inadequate. It is a drag to have to adjust/ program the rig for each imaginable situation. Bless y'all who love the rig! I hear them on the air from time to time on CW (I think thrice last year). 73 Ric K5RIX