[1000mp] Subjective Comparison of FT 2000 to Mark V

[Mike Schatzberg]

Hello Frans:

Your email is pretty extensive, and I see that no other members here have
provided any response to your
laments regarding the Mark V, so I thought I would take a shot at what I
know from my seven years experience
with this radio.  Please see my comments to your points below, sorry for so
much bandwidth here:

> Hi all,
> Since I only see comparison info between the FT2K and the FT1K I would
like
> to add my part as well.
> All seems to speak hallelujah about the FT1K mk V, but I have my
> reservations.
> First the compressor FT1K, I 'm not so sure that it is as good as it is.
For
> example looking to the compression meter and alter the compression level I
> can only observe a change until 12 hours knob setting. Which shows approx
> 10db compression.

There is an interplay between the mic gain, and the compression level.  If
your microphone can not drive the mic preamp
well enough, you will not be able to raise the bargraph all the way to the
end of the scale.  Select the proper display for
the microphone gain, and check your bargraph.  If the reading is low, you
have insufficient drive for the preamp.  Either
your mic itself is not suited impedance wise, or just has low output, or the
microphone preamp is defective, it is hard to say.
Make sure you have a 600 ohm microphone with suitable output.

> Secondary, the mike gain shows the same, it stops at 12 hours.

Please see above.  Typical microphone gain settings are between 9 and 11
o'clock.  The processor setting should be around
10 o'clock or so for about 3 to 5 dB of compression, which is more than
adaquate.  Of course, your other selections in the menus
have some bearing on this.

> The AF circuit has a poor performance on the headphone outputs, in level
and
> sound.

The level of the audio output in the headphones, aside being related to the
headphone impedance and efficiency, can be adjusted
in the small PC board in the top of the radio thru the little door.    You
can tailor your headphone output there.

> The monitor sounds poor in quality.

This may be due to your headphone impedance choice also.  If the main audio
output from the main receiver sounds poor, then so will
the monitor, this is only to be expected.  You are listening to the output
of the second receiver while monitoring.

> I have been comparing with several FT1K, m V's and MP's, all the same as
> described above.

If you have been comparing all the radios, and find them all to be
defective, perhaps the same headphones and microphone have been
used in evaluating all Yaesu radios.
>
> I had to open my FT1K m V due to a defective MAX232 and became quit
> disappointed about the way the radio has been assembled.
> The wiring looks like a mess, shortest way between two points is a
straight
> line.

My radio is about 7 seven years old, and is an original Mark V.  It uses
wiring harnesses with appropriate breakouts.
During modifications, I never had a problem to remove the necessary boards,
by moving the harnesses aside, and unplugging
appropriate connectors.  This radio is not assembled with boards which
require board extenders and adapters to work on the
radio.  Perhaps this is what you would like to see in the Mark V.

> My FT1K m V is only two years old, I had also peeks in the FT1Kd, in al
> those years Yaesu
> didn't changed there way of assembling. Which indicates that they are
still
> amateur radio producers and not professionals like Icom or Kenwood (in the
> past). Mechanically the Kenwood radio's are still superior, nice cast
> aluminium frames solid circuit boards.

I think if you check the number of Kenwood TS 2000 radios sold, versus the
Mark V
radios, you will find the statistics interesting.  The Kenwood sales are so
low, that one
might suspect they are not very interested these days in the Amateur market.
Perhaps
you feel that their frames are superior in some ways to the chassis and die
cast panels
in the Mark V, but I don't think that the performance of the TS 2000
outshines the Mark V.

The 756 Pro III is like a sports car, with many bells and whistles to
augment your operating.
Side by side comparisons seem to fall both ways.  Most people who have the
room in their station,
prefer the ergonomics of the larger radio also.

A modified Mark V, with Inrad roofing filter, and
proper alignment, is an outstanding performer, with greater quietness,
selectivity and dynamic range.
It remains one of the best bargains in amateur radio.  I do not like the
Mark V audio DSP, and find
it ineffective.  I use a BHI DSP module to provide the ultimate in
quietness, and outstanding MDS.

The ICOM IC 7800 is almost in a special class by itself, with literally no
competition.  Yaesu's attempt
in the FTDX 9000 has not been successful as yet.  I have a FT 2000 on my
work bench now, in which
I just installed the new firmware update.  As of this writing, I am not
ready to retire my Mark V.


> If you look how the FT1K radio's have there filters mounted.just on
plastic
> clips.. where Kenwood uses decent screw mounting.

The plastic clip system is excellent.  The connectors work as well as all
the other connectors in the radio.
There has never been a reported failure with one of the filter boards that I
am aware of.  The installation
of extra filter is quick and simple, no tools needed.  That is a bad thing?
>
> I know I'm shitting my own nest but had to write it of my chest due to the
> fact that people praise the Yaesu rigs to heaven.
> Sadly Kenwood stopped producing decent radio's. so value for money at the
> moment is Yaesu, I'm not saying they are bad radio's I own one, but please
> stay realistic with two feet on the ground.

Hang in there, Kenwood may come through for you yet.  There is some talk
about a new upper end
Kenwood soon.  In the meantime, I have been unable to find superior
performance in this price range
to my modified Mark V.

If you want to compare radios, have a look at the Sherwood Engineering data.
You will notice that the
IC 7800 is indeed an outstanding performer, but that the modified Mark V
rates highly in his testing evaluations.
Look here: http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

If you have a large budget, I would certainly recommend you look at the
upgraded IC 7800, with the additional
roofing filter,
but the improvement
will not be measured by a quantum leap, it will be only incrementally
superior.  But you may enjoy all the additional bells
and whistles.

73 and Happy DXing,

Mike
W2AJI


 Nice weekend,
>
> 73 Frans
>
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