[1000mp] FT-1000MP Mark V Complex

[Thomas Giella KN4LF]

I bought a Mark V Field a little more then a month ago. The rig does have a steep learning curve and it took me a two weeks to figure out how to operate it fully. I find all of it's QRM/QRN reducing bells and whistles to be useful and I'm personally very happy with it's performance so far. It's the best rig I've ever owned and I'm contemplating buying a second one, this time a Mark V as backup to replace the backup FT-840.

As far as complaints I think the manual is poorly written and the RF power knob is to small and hard to get to. Also setting the rig up for AF digital modes through the "Packet" jack was aggravating, because it's not explained in the manual how to place the rig in USB while in PKT mode. Also the menu setup is pretty antiquated in that the settings are not in plain English. And the MARS mod requires popping the cover and moving an SMT, really stupid compared to the Mark V. Last but not least the LED type display is pretty poor as unused segments are visible.

Bottom line though is that it's a heck of a radio performance wise for $1730 but still not a replacement for an FT-1000D.

73,
Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF
Retired Space & Atmospheric Weather Forecaster
Plant City, FL, USA
Grid Square EL87WX
Lat & Long 27 58 31 44N 82 09 51 98W

NWS Tampa Bay, FL SKYWARN Observer # HIL-249
Citizens Weather Observation Program #CW2111
SWFWMD Rainfall Network Observer #574 Thackery
Weather Matrix Member Since 1999 
PODXS 070 Club Member #349

FL Space & Atmospheric Weather Institute http://www.kn4lf.com/fsawi.htm
KN4LF Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm
KN4LF HF/MF Radio Propagation Theory Notes http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf8.htm
KN4LF160-10 Meter Amateur Radio Resources http://www.kn4lf.com




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