Yeasu FT-950's

[WB2WIK]

How did it do on Field Day? I'm looking for a better Field Day rig, and that one's on the list. I'm looking at a couple pricier radios, but my innate cheapness may force me to go for the best 'bargain'. I want a rig with a quiet receiver that won't object to nearby transmitters.

When it comes to "not objecting to nearby transmitters," for FD I still use my TR-7 although I have smaller and lighter rigs.

The TR-7's front end bandpass filtering is amazing. Very similar to what they did with the modern FTDX-5000, but they did it 34 years ago. I can operate 5' away from a 100W station on any other band at FD and cannot even notice they're on the air, at all. Drawback is the current drain for battery power operation: It sucks up a lot of juice due to tons of TTL circuitry. But it's sure immune to interference, and is probably the best FD rig I've ever used.

[K6OK]

I see a lot of these for sale both here and on Ebay. I was seriously considering getting one back around Christmas but held off. I've seen reviews of them and they all appear to be positive so what gives? Why are so many of these for sale? If you have or had one, I'd like to hear from you.

I've seen some mixed reviews of the FT-950. Some say the receiver is not that great. Take a look at this chart which summarizes all of the lab measurements that were reported in QST magazine: http://www.remeeus.eu/hamradio/pa1hr/productreview.htm

Two things jump out at me: one is that the Kenwood TS-590 has a much better receiver than the FT-950 yet the TS-590 only costs $200 more; second, I was surprised to see that the FT-450D actually performed slightly better in some of the tests than the FT-950.

One of these days I'm going to have to depart with my beloved Yaesu FT-990. As much as I'd like to keep it in the Yaesu family, if I was buying today I'd opt for the Kenwood because the receiver numbers are so compelling.

[WB2WIK]

I've seen some mixed reviews of the FT-950. Some say the receiver is not that great. Take a look at this chart which summarizes all of the lab measurements that were reported in QST magazine: http://www.remeeus.eu/hamradio/pa1hr/productreview.htm

Two things jump out at me: one is that the Kenwood TS-590 has a much better receiver than the FT-950 yet the TS-590 only costs $200 more; second, I was surprised to see that the FT-450D actually performed slightly better in some of the tests than the FT-950.

One of these days I'm going to have to depart with my beloved Yaesu FT-990. As much as I'd like to keep it in the Yaesu family, if I was buying today I'd opt for the Kenwood because the receiver numbers are so compelling.

Don't be misled by numbers unless you have huge antennas and need every dB of performance.

The FT-990 is a very good rig, one of the best I've ever had. And I've had a lot of them.

[AC0FP]

Thanks guys! I really dig them and they look great. I'm really not sure what I'm going to get. There are some many nice rigs now a days. And part of me wants to go old school too. Choices choices!

I have a FT-950 and I really like it. I bought it at a store so I knew how heavy it was when I bought it. Yes, it has a handle on the side but I don't see it as a "portable" radio. To those who buy out of a catalog, I can see how you might have some remorse. The local amateur radio store's selection of relative "new/used" radios yesterday had a TS-590 and a FT2000.

fp

[KJ4VTH]

"As much as I'd like to keep it in the Yaesu family, if I was buying today I'd opt for the Kenwood because the receiver numbers are so compelling."

I've been using a FT-857D for the past year and almost bought an FT-950 but went for the TS-590S instead. Just seems to me to be a step or two ahead.

[AC0FP]

"As much as I'd like to keep it in the Yaesu family, if I was buying today I'd opt for the Kenwood because the receiver numbers are so compelling."

I've been using a FT-857D for the past year and almost bought an FT-950 but went for the TS-590S instead. Just seems to me to be a step or two ahead.

I would hope so for the price difference! The used TS-590 in the store yesterday was priced higher than my FT-950 was new.

fp

[KJ4VTH]

Shop around. Price difference here was around $200.

[AE7UT]

I just bought a Ten-Tec Eagle and also have a FT-950.
I love the 950 and think it has as good a receiver as the Eagle. (comparable specs to the 590)
950 for SSB Eagle for CW.
Perfect combo

Stan

[KA1NMF]

This has been very helpful! I have a lot to think about. I may save my money up a little longer and get the 2000, but the 590 is a nice rig too. What really stopped me in my tracks from getting a rig was the FT-1000 Mark V Field. I had seen one for sale at a reasonable price so it caused me to pause and do more research.

[N0AZZ]

I had a 590s on my bench that I bought thought I might replace my IC-7000 for my Motor Home and Field Day radio but after comparing it to 5 other HF/6m radios in the shack using a Bird 74 coax switch. Al were hooked to a Mosley Pro-67 C3 @ 60', HyGain HyTower, 270' OCFD. yagi for 6m. Radios FTDX-5000,FT-1000MP,IC-9100,IC-703 Plus,IC-7000 all of these were used for receive purpose only from 6-160m. Let me add that I have owned 2 FT-2000's one a D model and a 950 in the past and not to long ago I borrowed a new Ten Tec Eagle from a new ham that I had tested for a upgrade he had antenna problems.

These are my opinions only in real world testing on my antennas no test measurements only what you can hear and what filtering does or doesn't do. First the FT-950 it does have a somewhat better receiver than the FT-2000 but a newer design also negatives only one receiver same for the 590 but better filtering for weaker signals but only if you have very good antennas. The FTDX-5000 was not in the same category it was so far ahead of the 590. FT-1000MP MK-V Field was loaded with filters and very close to the 590 but still a little under. Surprising the IC-703 Plus with W4RT duel filters installed was very close also and I have thought that it had a better receiver than the much newer IC-7000 which did fall below the 590 in receive. When I finally got to the IC-9100 that I really bought for UHF/VHF weak signal work was that the filtering and receiver were as good as the 590 but it also had the 2 extra filters installed.

In the end I kept the IC-7000 ans sold the 590 it seemed to have a cheap feel and look to it and not really fit to be used as a rig to be in a Motor Home of Field Day rig as far as heavy duty built. Since that time after trying out the Eagle I'm tempted to buy one of those and see for myself how it holds up for some carry around usage. Ten Tec has a good name for repair as does Yaesu and Icom from what I see posted I wonder about Kenwood.

I might ad that there are still more FT-1000's in contest stations around the world than any other radio. The MK-V loaded up is still a world class radio and I used mine in a SO2R setup for a while with my FTDX-5000 as the second radio. I still use it for all digital modes using a microHAM keyer.