[1000mp] Re: No More Yaesu

[1000mp@mailman.qth.net]

Reflectees:

I purchased an MP Mark V Field in May, 2002 and will say, even with its numerous
flaws, it is still the best transceiver I have ever owned. I won=92t comment on
the many
things I don=92t like (other than to admit that I use my Timewave DSP-599zx with
it) but observe that in comparison to the two other transceivers I have (a TS-850s
and FT-901DM), the number of necessary modifications are very few in number.
Other than
filters, these are the mandatory key click mod, the beneficial 70 MHz IF mod,
and maybe one or two others like the noise blanker.

When I first hooked the MkV Field to an antenna, the radio was so quiet that
I thought there was something wrong. The first signal heard was ET3MPW on 160
meters. After a week of studying the controls and integrating it into the operating
position, working the ET3 on Topband, using the dual RX and TX capability, was
a =93snap.=94  I thought that the price paid at Dayton 2002 was a steal compared
to what I paid for the other transceivers.

In 1978, I paid $1280 for the FT-901DM. That=92s about $2,600 in today=92s dollars
at 3% annual inflation! I immediately joined the FOX-TANGO Club to get its newsletter
which published all of the necessary fixes and modifications and put every one
of them in. The number of modifications that made it better are too numerous
to list and fill a large binder. Incidentally, the 901 had key clicks, too (easily
fixed)!!

This reflector is the modern day equivalent of those newsletters. My point is
this =96 the
F-T newsletter was aimed at improving Yaesu radios, and almost always, its ham
contributors led the factory in developing and refining the modifications. All
complex transceivers are compromises, and the MP is no exception. But for the
price, it is a superb value compared to the technology I paid much more for
24 years ago.

Let=92s commend and thank our ham colleagues who have been developing workable
improvements for the rest of us who are willing to pop the covers off, learn
how to use a small soldering iron, and solder in a few parts to make a very
good transceiver even better. This is the way ham radio has always been!

Dennis, W0JX
Milan, OH

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