| KC9RNK |
Rating:  |
2018-04-25 | |
| Good Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| only thing better is FT-5000. I have DMU 2000 AND Yaesu MTU-160, -80/40 and -30/20. Learn how to use every tool given to you! |
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| TI2TL |
Rating: |
2016-11-02 | |
| Under rated radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Well let me tell you this I have tested a lot of radios in my time and I have to say that the FT-2000 is a great radio. It isn't perfect obviously but for the price it is pretty good. In this moment of my life I have an Icom-7300 and I wanted something that could be a real base station radio (thing that the icom is not) and still could be good enough to compete with the IC-7300.
After a lot of deliberation I decided that the only radio that I could buy that didn't cost me more than $1500 and could maybe perform something like the IC-7300 would have been the FT-2000.
I went and purchased the unit and when I got it online my first impressions were very good but not great.
I thought that the radio had very good ergonomics, probably one of the best I have ever tested. I thought that the looks of it where superb, but the materials used to make the knobs and buttons feel a bit on the cheap side compared to Icom.
Never the less the radio looks and feels good.
On the T/R side the FT-2000 performs very well but not out of the box. As everyone stated the radio needs to be adjusted (I don't even understand why the default settings are so bad). You need to adjust most of the receive menu as well as the TX ones, but once you have done so you have a very silent receiver, with a pleasant warm modulation, and an incredible transmitting audio.
I have to say that the IC-7300 has a better Noise Blanker and because of that is't sometimes better for low signals, but truth is that the audio is much more metalic and cold, and 95% of the time I just rather work with the FT-2000.
So what if I had to keep just one radio? Probably the FT-2000 would win my heart.
Wish I had a chance to test the FT-5000, maybe in the future when prices go down...
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| CE3DNP |
Rating: |
2016-10-12 | |
| Very happy with this rig |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| A few months ago I bought a FT-2000 with no use, she had been stored for several years. I did the firmware update and it really is a fantastic transceiver. I have had several: FT-ONE, FT-920, FT-1000, FT-817, TS-830, TS-850, TS-870, TS-590, however, and IMHO I think this is the best, by the moment. |
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| VE3TMT |
Rating: |
2016-07-24 | |
| Totally Satisfied |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've had an FT-2000 in the shack for a few weeks now and am totally impressed. It has the "PEP" firmware update. Yes the 3 KHz roofing filter is a joke, but I am not a hard core contestor, so it works for me. Won't repeat all the features, too many to list. What I do like is the 4 KHz receive and TX bandwidth (if needed, I use 2.8 KHz) Great display, dual receivers, great TX audio using a Koss SB40 headset. 6m is noce at 100W.
Now it isn't an IC-7300, TS-590 or FT-991, but if I want to drop my power to run the amp, I don't have to go digging for the setting in a menu. All the most often used controls are on the front panel, where they should be.
As I write this, I just worked Puerto Rico on 6m...fun fun fun.
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| K5VSH |
Rating: |
2015-12-09 | |
| Great Transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've owned the FT-990, FT-950, and have a FT-450 in my RV. This Transceiver combines the best attributes of the old 990 with the new 950 Plus. I also have the DMU-2000 that I'm not impressed with. |
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| VE3WCQ |
Rating: |
2014-09-01 | |
| From 3000 to 2000D |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Well just like the title says I had purchased the FTdx-3000 just over a year ago and I did a review stating on how much I love the radio and the big thing for me was the Audio on TX and RX was nice. I started to compare the 3000 with my TS-590 and did a lot of flipping back and forth and I guess in the last few months I found my self running the 590 more often, It is such a simple radio to use and it performs well, time after time I would find a signal say 20 over and put both radios 2kHz away and start from a 2800 BW which I tend to run and the 590 would eat the 3000 every time would like wipe out the signal when I hit 1800 BW, with the 3000 it would still be there even with the 3000kHz R.Flt. Well I had seen that a used 2000D came up at the Radio store, I phoned and found out it is a 2010 production but was bought new in 2013 and the Gentleman traded it for a 5000. I had to go see and it was mint and sounded fantastic. I did the same little test with it as I did with the 590 but with a 3000 that was on display and in my eyes and the friend that came with me the 2000 won. We switched back and forth and the 3000 almost seemed like it spent so much energy filtering that that we could not hear the station that was 1 to 2 S units where as the 2000 almost took the Light House Station out but we could hear and make out the 1 to 2 S unit station. His comment to me was " what the F--- Mike I thought you had one of the best Radios going " I said so did I. I had a hard time with this. How dose a Radio that placed 31st on the QST test chart beat the 6th Ranked Radio?
Well the trade was done and I even had the Tech say that I was downgrading. I don't think so, it has a better Recv. Ya I don't think so. I have not missed the 3000 and I also no longer put all my faith in those numbers that the Labs get. Just goes to show GO AND COMPARE AND LISTEN AND LISTEN AND LISTEN just like Bob Heil says people just don't focus and listen.
I am vary happy with the 2000D and I would do it again in a heart beat.
All the best!
Mike
VE3WCQ |
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| WC4R |
Rating: |
2013-11-08 | |
| A real keeper |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I gave this a rating of 5 because the FT2000 (PEP) is a great rig (not perfect). I tend to compare this radio against my IC746PRO, Drake R4C w/ Sherwood mods, TenTec Orion, & Flex 5000A.
It stacks up very well and I use the Yaesu at least 50% of the time. The radio has all the normal features any ham will need. It does not have the features or performance of my Flex but for the cost, it stacks up very well. The only weak area is the 3KHz filter which is hardly any better than the 6KHz filter. Of course you could do the mod for the AC0C filter if needed to fix that.
I do not use a DMU as I do not see the value of that expensive option. Beside, my Flex blows that part of it away. Not a fair comparison.
TX audio is outstanding. Even AM performance is very good. For voice, CW, digital, casual or DX, this radio is a real keeper. Simple to operate, and ergonomically pleasing. Wonderful for Field Day. The fit, finish, and overall feel is top quality.
It is a real shame it has been discontinued. The newer 3000 model does not perform as well and that band scope on the 3000/1200 is a joke.
The latest firmware has eliminated virtually all the old issues of the original units. Yaesu's support has been very good.
For a main stream, better than average HF radio, this is the one to grab. |
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| KB3OKT |
Rating: |
2013-11-05 | |
| Well balanced radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I am highly satisfied with my FT-2000. It is very user friendly with respectable performance at a competitive price. The receiver is relatively quiet and easy to configure to my preferred parameters. Although I enjoy my other radios (FT-817, TS-480. TS-590) the 2000 has the best combination of performance and good ergonomics. In five years of ownership It has given me zero problems. In spite of the roofing filter issue it provides an outstanding radio experience. |
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| W2FDH |
Rating: |
2013-04-03 | |
| Still a GREAT radio! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I just purchased my second FT-2000 after selling my original (also PEP-2000 enhanced), and this radio is every bit as good, if not better than my original. I considered getting the new FTDX-3000, and after a side by side comparison, I would have had to give up too much (ex: built in PS, 2nd RX, etc.).
One thing I did notice with my "NEW" FT-2000 is, the display's brightness has been turned down a little (SN: 3D95XXXX). This was probably done because, if like me, you leave your rig on 24/7, the bright green parts of the display would darken some after time, as it did on my first FT-2000.
If you have been considering getting this rig, now is the time. HRO Delaware, Universal Radio as well as several international dealers are reporting that this radio has been discontinued.
73 de Frank/KB2VYZ
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KB2VYZ on 2009-12-15
Well, it has been just about a year now, and this radio just gets better with time. I have never experienced the problems a few others had mentioned, about having problems with crowded bands, or 20+ signals, getting through the radios filtering. This radio is a solid performer both in TX and RX. Super low noise floor on RX, that allows you to hear the weakest of stations. And the TX, second to none. I get plenty of unsolicited reports of excellent sounding audio from this rig (and I only thought that could be accomplished with a Kenwood). This radio has reintroduced me to Yaesu. So unless Kenwood can match or surpass the quality of the FT-2000, at, or close to the cost of the FT-2000, looks like my Kenwood days are over. Don't take my word for it(or what anyone else says) about this GREAT radio, Go to any reputable ham dealer, and operate the radio yourself. Once you get past all of the eye candy that this radio has to offer, you will find the performance of this rig is spectacular. |
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| PA5COR |
Rating: |
2013-04-03 | |
| good for the money |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Owned the FT 2000 - D for 20 months now, took some serious reading of the manual and sites of owners to set it up exactly as i wished it to be.
As already stated not the transceiver you buy, switch on and use, there is a manual going with it, READ it, go online and read up on users sites and make use of their experiences.
I'm the casual user, have decent antenna's mostly on 160 but not forgetting the other bands up to 50 MHz.
Using the DSP and VFR and roofing filter gets some experimenting to do, but works as described.
Using the EQplus, MD-1 microphone on a boom, it works as a charm.
Is it the best transceiver out there? no, but it won't cost you the bank as well, 95% of the users don't really need more.
Just if you can spend it do so, but in reality the top transceivers are for most casual hams overkill, spend the money on antenna's and feedlines etc.
Ergonomics are excelent, audio reports are glowing that i receive, not for my voice i think...
Used daily for lots of hours, no problems detected or popped up, it does like the former FT 847, switch on and use it.
I noticed i run the Heathkit SB - 1000 a lot less, 200+ watts mostly does the job, no need to fire up the amp.
Factory set output is 225 watts mostly i use 100 to 200 watts if i need more the amp will do fine.
Looks i got myself another workhorse for the next 15 years.
Value ffor tthe money paid is excellent, don't compare top rigs with middle class rigs that cost 1/3 of the top line stuff, i had a FT 9000 here and with the 2000 i work the same stations with just as much fun and ease as the FT 9000.
I had a lot of stuff here Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu, but this one is staying here for a long time.
See you on the bands,
73,
Cor |
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