[1000mp] Yaesu FT1000 CAT complaint

[Ronald Long]

This probably doesn't apply to the majority of folks on the list but read on.

I wanted to use my FT1000 MkV to receive the AO-40 satellite (convert from 
2401MHz to 145MHz and then 145MHz to 29MHz. This is so I could use all the 
features that VHF multi-mode radios lack - DSP noise reduction and better 
filtering.

Well this worked just fine until I wanted to implement computer control for 
Doppler correction. Each time a frequency update command is sent to the 
FT1000 there is an interruption of the audio output!

This might be only annoying for infrequent frequency updates, or if you are 
only interested in grabbing the current dial setting for logging. But for 
my purpose there will be many frequent commands sent to keep the radio 
tuned to the satellite QSO. And for receiving digital telemetry from the 
satellite these audio blips are disastrous.

Some years ago the Kenwood TS-790 satellite radio had a similar problem and 
Kenwood came up with a hardware modification to fix it after many satellite 
ops complained. I guess Yaesu doesn't listen.

My Icom vhf multi-mode radios (IC-275 and IC-475) do not have this problem.

I think it is apalling that Yaesu has such a poor CAT implementation. You 
recall when the FT1000D first came out the CAT was so bad that Yaesu 
finally came up with a new ROM.

Although I sort of like the MkV, and paid a bunch of money for it, before 
the  recent price reductions, I will now see what HF radios Icom has. Does 
anyone know if there is a new Icom about to be released? In that case I 
would wait a bit.

Also I will look at the TenTec Orion. They have always used the Icom LAN 
CAT system. The Orion looked pretty impressive at Dayton.

73, ron w8gus.