[1000mp] No more Yaesu

[W5FKX - Don]

It pains me to say that after over 30years, I am giving up on all Yaesu
equipment, despite the fact that I really liked most of the features of my
FT-1000MP (as I felt about my original FT-101, one of the first in the US in
the early '70s). Here's what happened ...

During the CQ WW 160m DX 'test early this (Saturday) morning, while trying
to hear a weak YU, I inadvertantly increased the audio gain control beyond
the 75% position ... whoa!! BIG lapse in memory and BIG mistake!! A strong
station came on calling the YU and, poof!!! no more audio output. I knew
immediately what error I had made ... trying to get a little more
(sufficient?) weak signal audio output in the presence of strong signals.
How did I know this? Well, it has happened twice before, resulting in a
component failure in the audio output section (G3334448E, G3328127F xstrs &
G1090769 IC). Fortunately (pained smile as I try to inject a bit of humor )
, the initial two incidents, identical to this last one, were within the
first 6 months of the original warranty period  in 1998, so then it it
"only" (!!##&&+++) cost me $120 ($60 US each time) to ship it to Yaesu, then
weeks of waiting . Of course, Yaesu had then " ... never heard of such a
failure ..." (even after the 2nd occurence!), implying that it was an
isolated occurence. Well, here is "random occurence" #3!! Oh, well, if you
spent over $3K for the rig you would be expected to shell out some extra
change to correct any of the manufacturers mistakes in order to enjoy the
priviledge of using "the most popular rig" ... right?? Boy, those guys have
really learned American marketing!!

Well, this recent failure was the final straw ... if I had mis-used the rig,
I could accept the consequences; however, to have the 3rd failure due to
turning up the volume is just beyond the pale! After 30 yrs of being a
"fan", I will no longer  tout, and will certainly NOT buy, Yaesu. I'm
looking at the TS-870S, IC-756ProII and the TenTec Orion ... one of these
will be my next rig ... not that anyone at Yaesu cares!

At least I was able to work a new one in the 'test before the rig failed!
 ; -)

73,
Don W5FKX
Delta DX Association
http://www.qsl.net/ddxa