| WS7X |
Rating:  |
2005-12-04 | |
| Great Radio but..... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I love my MK V, but either I have a lemon or Yaesu just didn't get some things right in this radio. I've owned mine now for just over a year and it has gone back to Yaesu for repair twice already for the same problem - a receiver that suddenly goes deaf. That is just too frequent a failure rate for me to accept. After almost 20 years being a fan of Yaesu radios I'm so very disappointed with the radio's failure rate that I must now consider looking at other brands in order get the reliability that I expect in a radio. Yaesu obviously now only caters to those who can pay 5-10K for a rig. People who have a couple laying around and don't mind having to send one back every few months. I don't mind paying a little more for a good rig but it must also be reliable, something that now seems to be lost in Yeasu's latest radios. But, when the rig works, its the best I've ever used in my short ham career of just about 20 years.
I foolishly thought that as long as this radio has been on the market, Yaesu would have corrected its failings by now. But not so, you'll see the same issues from early models as you'll see in a brand new one. That says a lot about what to expect if you decide to buy one.
Noel
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| VE4DJB |
Rating: |
2005-11-10 | |
| One of the Best |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I bought my Mark V from Burgharts.It was a refurbished radio from Yaesu. It is quite a radio. The first thing I noticed when I got the radio how selective it was. I could hear signals that I could never hear on My Icom 706 Mark II G. I must admit that this radio took a little getting used to. Finding out what every setting is for and how to use it. I have learned how to use some of the features but I am still learning how to use this radio and don't know if I will ever truly know what all the features are for or how to use them. I also put the Yaesu Sideband filters in and did the inrad front end mod. The sideband filters make quite a difference and make the radio even more selective. The inrad front end mod also get rid of a lot of the front end hiss that was rather noticeable before being installed. I run this radio with a Butternut HF 6V vertical. I would not have a problem recommending this radio and 3 friend have also bought this radio and they are also quite pleased |
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| G0SXC |
Rating: |
2005-10-12 | |
| 1 year later |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| well its not good i bought a new mk 5 from the usa and took it to the uk .. 4 weeks on the fp 29 blew i talked to yaesu and the said send it back i dont want to send it back im 2000 miles away and i will post the circuit out of th ps29 no they say we want it all back ok just send the parts i need to repair it im an electronics eng they said no so i havent had it repaired yet its now one year on and i wount buy yaesu again and i have spent 5k in radios over the years from yaesu ill stick with kenwood they have much beter backup |
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| 8P6SH |
Rating: |
2005-08-02 | |
| Outstanding transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This rig is outstanding value for money with all the features you could want for a discriminating dxer or contest op.
I've owned a FT1K MK5 field for just about a year, while I've had a field for almost 18 months now.
Over that time I've done the following mods:
Inrad Keyclick mod
K9AN cw audio mod
Inrad Roofing Filter
Inrad Crystall filters in all slots
Inrad 2.1khz filter replacing murata in 2nd RX
Inrad 400Hz CW filter replacing OEM 500Hz in main RX
Noise blanker mod
These mods have really made an outstanding radio, incredible. They take time, but can be accomplished by anyone with some soldering skill and the patience to check and double-check everything.
I've used this rig on RTTY, SSB and CW with thousands of Q's in contests and pile-ups.
I've also used it on 6m with the FTV-1000 transverter. Together, this represents one of the best 6m receivers available.
The standard rig is excellent in terms of combatting QRM, but I've added inrad 2.1KHz filters in the 2nd and 3rd IF, and they make a great receiver absolutely outstanding. I've also added a pair of 250Hz filters for CW and RTTY contesting. I did not think I would have needed them (see my review of the field) but they became necessary to keep rates high on RTTY.
I still believe this rig represents some of the best value for money in ham radio today. Whenther you go for the FTdx9000 or the Orion or Icom 7800, you'd need twice the funds to outperform this rig.
Still a great deal. |
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| W9SN |
Rating: |
2005-07-03 | |
| Comparison from a CW op's point of view |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I have owned 3 of these (2 fields and 1 Mk V 200 watt) over the past 3 months. I am primarily a CW operator and also do a little PSK / RTTY on occasion. 26 years into the hobby, and operate alot. So my review is based primarily on CW. I have had these for many months without any modifications done to them. And now with the modifications done. I have to say, do the mods! Before and after is amazing. I have had alot of rigs over the past 4 years. Including the Icom Pro series, nearly all the Ten Tecs (not an Orion yet). While they are nice rigs and served me well. These Mark V's are very different and better in many areas. Yes, I do miss the Icom band scope, however after months of playing with both, I lean towards the Mark V.
The mods done to mine include:
Full line of Inrad filtering (all slots)
Inrad 70Mhz IF low noise board (instead of the roofing filter)
W8JI keyclick mod
KL7J noise blanker mod
K9AN cw audio mod
Yes, I know, who wants to buy a high end radio(yes I put this in the "high end" class) only to get the soldering iron out?
We are hams aren't we?
I liked these rigs before the mods. And I just love them now. The band noise is nearly gone now. When copying a station that is S9 or better, it almost sounds like an FM station, even with fast AGC engaged. Many times on 40 meters (where I live most of the time), I can now see S0 to S2 band noise. However, rolling the dial, stations just pop out at 30 to 40 over. The selectivity is awesome. With mods done, I can be only 1 khz away from a 30 over 9 station and can listen to a station that is S3 without even hearing the loud one up 1 kc. Try that with other rigs. These rigs use an assortment of DSP, crystal filtering, PBT, and 2 ranges of audio filtering in a nice cascade. As one guys states: Mark V's war on QRM. Can this rig be better? Probably, but for what you can buy these for, you would have to spend nearly 5 times more to get only a little better.
One note I must include, I find the Field has slightly less selectivity from the Mark V 200 watt. Now this is my personal experience with just my rigs and not a lab results or lots of test equipment. YMMV, however, with just putting these side by side with all the same mods done, same filtering, same antennas, I conclude that (and it is very slight). It is very minor and both sound very good. It is really splitting hairs. Other than an extra 100 watts and a power supply sitting on my desk, that is about the only difference between them. Yes I have both and plan on keeping both, and don't miss the band scope of the Icom enough to justify going back. Now I understand why alot of top contesters have these.
I have not had any display, or any other problems with any of the 3 of them.
(Don't you hate it when a guy has an isolated problem and gives it a low rating based solely on that, which has nothing to do with the performance ?)
In summary, Yaesu made a few design errors (that's why there are mods) but has engineered this radio to compete in the heavy-wieght class, and it holds it's own there. Even without the mods, I liked it over the others. If your looking to upgrade from a medium range to high end rig, this has all makings and price to be just that. |
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| VE7RF |
Rating: |
2005-04-11 | |
| Perfect |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this xcvr Dec 2003.. 16 months ago.... for the express purpose of modifying it for wideband SSB.
I installed 2 x 6 khz Inrad filters in the '2.4' slots. I also installed 2 x 2.8 khz Inrad filters into the '2.0' slots.
### I also installed a 500 hz CMF into the 455 slot.... and also a 250 into the 8215 slot... and also a 125 inrad in the 455 slot.... and another 500 cmf in the sub rx.
The TX audio after mods is superb. It blows away the DSP 100-3100 mode hands down. Incidently, even before the mods.... when toggling from TX DSP-100-3100 mode to 'off' (menu 7-7).... while listening in a 2nd rx 3' away... (with mic gain fully OFF, and MOX ON).... the broadband TX noise floor DROPS 15-20db... just like Inrad saw on a spectrum analyzer.
It's not that dsp has better cxr suppression... it's the nosie floor zooms up... and u can't hear the cxr... cuz it gets masked.
The RX is superb with the pair of 6 khz inrad filtes.... and fully adjustable with the width control from aprx 3.4 khz to 6 khz. The shift/width menu item HAS to be changed from default '10' to ...'20'... otherwise width will only go from 5 khz to 6 khz.
### Overall TX bandwidth is controlled by external EQ "chop off filters". I can dial any bandwidth I want.
### The processor works superb. Yaesu calls it 'RF envelope compression'. It's actually RF clipping..done at the 8315 IF.
### I'm going to install a Jensen Xfmr inside mine (JT-11P1)... and feed the analog balnaced modulator directly... bypassing the entire mic input section.... plus a xlr will be mounted on rear apron.
### I also junked the stock 2.4 ssb filter in the sub rx... and replaced it with a inrad 2.9
### also on the list is directly coupling the ssb product detector pin.. via a 220 uf bi polar cap... directly to a new rca connector on rear panel.... which happens to be line level....ditto with sub RX..... and 2 x more rca's for EACH AM demodulator.
### Then the RX audio is flat from 0-6000 hz... and no hiss hum ultra clean.
### This is a very simple xcvr to modify for ESSB...... and stereo ESSB is mind boggling if you have never heard it before.
Later... Jim VE7RF
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| K6SBA |
Rating: |
2005-04-11 | |
| Second Time Around: I Still Love It! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
In an unexplainable fit of restlessness, I sold my first MKV (purchased in '01, sold in '03). The foolishness of my ways soon hit me and a bought another one, used but fully loaded (purchased early '04). I have had absolutely zero problems with either rig. My radios have not had any display brightness problems that seem to affect some folks (appears to be a temperature related condition; the MKV doesn't like cold hamshacks!). My antenna tuner works faultlessly, especially once I adjusted the length of the 450-ohm ladderline and installed a wonderful DX Engineering 1:1 "tuner-rated" current balun. I was able to even find a match on a bit of 160-m during the last ARRL contest; this with a center-fed 100-ft doublet at 30 ft. Had contacts in 10 states during the contest; I'm not complaining!
What I really love about the MKV beyond the performance is the ergonomics. This is an individual choice, but I find the front panel layout and controls placement to be the best of any modern rig I've owned, including the wonderful PROII that I owned for a short while. If you are sold on the color LCD of a PRO, nothing else is going to make you happy. In my case, using both the MKV and PROII side by side left me favoring the MKV. As they say, your mileage may vary.
If you are willing to spend a little time learning the menu system/choices, it is not a daunting task to use them.
Sure there are some problems but they have easy fixes; the key clicks mod being the most difficult. Filter this baby up, do the key clicks mod and add an INRAD roofing filter. You now have a $2500-3000 radio that will give my operating skills a run for the money for a long time to come.
I have been very happy and lucky with the performance of the many Yaesu and Icom rigs I have owned. The performance of any of the mid-to higher-end rigs from these manufacturers is probably greater than my operating skills. |
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| AC5PM |
Rating: |
2005-04-11 | |
| Great sounding radio |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I love it so far. The display gave me a scare by not coming on until about 30 seconds one day but other than that I have really enjoyed it. The last radio I owned was a IC 765 which in my opinion was a good radio but this one blows it away with its different features. I have a hard time hearing and with the dual receive I can adjust each ear in the headphones or stereo speakers and it helps me alot. For the money I paid I am very satified. The extra 100 watts of power has helped and with a simple double bazooka dipole I get some good results. I'm glad I decided on the Mark V instead of the Field. |
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| G0YLM |
Rating: |
2005-04-10 | |
| Great Receiver, but lacking a lot of nice touches! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
The receiver on this radio is wonderful and the filtering is great, although i dont use a lot of the dsp filters, finding that shift and width are adequate.At the moment i haven't added any additional filters but may do at a later date!
On the downside...
For a radio of this quality one would expect Yaesu to have pulled out all the stops. The display is very dim and sometimes takes up to 30 seconds to come on. The built in ATU is crap and i dont trust it at all. The keyer is not a patch on the one on my old Kenwood ts870, which was out of this world, you can't even reverse the paddles or turn the sidetone down in the menus.
Apart from the negative issues i have i find the radio really easy to use and its a joy to pick out those really weak signals. The 200w has been a big plus and i have not used my linear since i bought this radio. The big test will come when i replace my old hygain beam with a force12 c3ss in the next few weeks and start working serious dx again, it will mean i can compare it with the ts870 i ran for a very happy 9 years. Lets see how it goes!
73 Linda |
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| K1NVY |
Rating: |
2005-03-10 | |
| wish list... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I am CW op and have not attached a mic to this rig in the 20 months that I've owned it. All comments relate to CW.
I've had no problems with the rig, everything has worked fine since opening the box. I do have a wish list though:
1. Speed control needs more resolution. The slightest rotation of the control makes a huge change in WPM. Is there a mod out there for that? I went back to my W9TO keyer for the ability to control speed changes.
2. The keyer ON/OFF LED is buried under the second VFO dial and one must lean sideways to check the indicator. Now that I am using the TO keyer, that is not an issue.
3. I would like ANY manufacturer to display code speed on the display. Maybe Icom or Kenwood does but Yaesu does not, at least on this rig.
4. I would like to see an "atomic" clock on the display, UTC, 24 hours. I know it's out there but with today's technology, there is no excuse not to include that gadget on every rig.
I added the Inrad roofing filter which works very well, the 'audio response' mod to the main receiver and the noise blanker mod which now makes the blanker actually work. I am most impressed with the NB mod. I have not yet added the key click mod but will get around to it.
Would I buy this rig again, sure but I also would like to try a side-by-side comparison with the Orion. Icom?? No thanks, been there, done that. My first Yaesu was the FT1500 2 meter rig followed by the MP and FT857 for mobile work. Overall, I am very impressed with their products. |
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