[1000mp] possible 1000MP upgrade - FT-2000? NO!

[John Tait]

Hi Hans..

Hans Remeeus wrote:
>
> Hello John,
>
> Very interesting. I had the MP, Mk-V and Field, and I had the 1000D. For
the time being I use the 920 (which IMHO is a very good rig!) and now
considering the 2000 or 950.
>
> Can you please tell us in which way and on which specific points you find
the 2000 best of the three?
> My main interest is the quality of the receiver.
>
> Thanks!

OK Hans.. First of all, it is mechanically a bit like the FT1000D... a rig
with which you have more than a nodding acquaintance!! {:o)     It's not 
as good as the 1000D in that department, but it is  superior to most others
that I've come across.
It is very well laid out, and easy to use. The knobs and switches are
clearly labelled, with good spacing between them...Very like the 1000D in
that regard, and superior to the MP. The main tuning knob is almost as good
as on the 1000D...which is the best that I've seen.
  The display is large and easy on the eye over long periods. It displays a
lot of information, but doesn't look too "busy". It's laid out in a very
logical manner, so you're not searching with your eye for the information.
       The first thing that struck me about the receiver, is how quiet it
is. I noticed that the 1000D was quieter than the MP when I got it , and I
thought that it'd be hard to find a quieter one, but the 2K is really
quiet. I work a lot of CW, and the DSP filtering is very good. On other DSP
rigs that I've used, the filters sounded rough and edgy, and could not
compare with either my 1000D, or my MP, with their INRADs. The 2K is the
first DSP rig that I've used, that sounds as good. The break-in is very
smooth, and better than my 1000D . The turn-around time could be better,
and if you're a fast CW op, the break-in may not be able to keep up.
  I like to get a little involved in contests from time to time, especially
on the Low Bands, and so far, the RX hasn't shown any sign of strain.
Occasionally I will deliberately point my quad straight at the biggest
signal I can find on 20m, and do A/B comparisons between the 1000D and the
2K. So far, I have not been able to find any advantage between the two,
even though the 1000D should have better (on paper anyway) strong signal
handling capabilities because of the W8JI NB mod, and the INRAD roofing
filter. In these conditions, you can hear the difference between the 15kHz
and 6 or 3kHz roofing filters, although hard to tell much difference
between the 6 & 3 kHz. The VRF is useful too.
       Chasing weak signals on Top Band is interesting... If there's not
much static around, the 2K is very good. The "Contour" control is great for
squeezing out the last drop of information. (Just like the APF on the
1000D, except the "Contour" does it on SSB as well)  BUT!! if there's lots
of static, I will usually go to my 1000D, as the AGC on the FT2K is too
agressive in these conditions..even after I've "tweaked" the AGC setup on
the FT2K for best performance.   As the cognostii have pointed
out,(Sherwood et al) this is a problem with most, if not all of the current
crop of DSP rigs, and not specific to the Yaesus.
  . There are a couple of things about the 2K that annoy me... Yaesu came
up with an excellent DSP notch, and the fantastic Contour control, and then
they put in a DNF which is mostly useless..Why??  they had already done it
successfully on the MP and MKV... why re-invent the wheel and make it
square?  The NB is a bit of a puzzler.. Most Noise Blankers that I've met,
make some impression on nearly all noise sources, better on some than on
others. The 2K blanker seems to work either 100%, or not at all..depending
on what kind of noise it is. When it finds a noise that it "likes", it
takes it out completely, and without residual artifacts. If it meets one
that it doesn't "like"....then you're stuck with it I'm afraid. 
   I don't know if I've been specific enough Hans, but when we're
operating, it's the overall picture that we see. The picture may have
blemishes, and the FT2K  has a few, but I like this one very much.  I can
look at, and listen to this rig for hours on end. It is the least tiring
rig I have ever used.  Even though I use the 2K most of the time these
days, I find it very hard to part with my 1000D.. That is one beautiful
rig.
   Summation RX..FT2K                                 1K/MP
   Very Quiet RX                                   Beats 1KD/MP
   Very good filtering                         Tad better than 1K/MP
   Shift/Width perform very well               Tad better than 1K/MP
   Excellent manual notch                          Beats 1KD/MP
   Good 2nd RX                                     Same/same?
   DNR OKish..needs too much tweaking                 MP better?
   Contour  Brilliant and unique                   Beats 1KD/MP
   DNF   Crap                                       MP MUCH better
   VRF works well if required (handy on 160m)       same/same MKV?
   NB Very good or very bad.. depends on type of noise         ?????
   Roofing filters   Yes... they work. little difference between 3 and
6kHz. Should be better. See PA5CA's crusade on this (non?)issue.INRADs
probably better, but non switchable
    Tip... Use the RF gain control a lot.
                           
     I'm trying to ignore a strong urge to buy a K3 or an FT950. The K3 is
brilliant, but I think maybe a bit small for me. The 950 is a cut down
FT2000, although the RX figures are a tad better, and it's probably the
best "bangs per buck" around at the moment. Why doesn't someone put the
guts of a K3 in a FT2000 box, with FT1000D build quality..then we'd all be
happy.... I would anyway!!   {:o)
 Vy 73
    John EI7BA


>
>
> 73,
> Hans Remeeus (PA1HR)
> http://www.remeeus.eu
> Communication is about people, the rest is technology.
>
>
>
> John Tait schreef:
>> I would disagree.. I have a 1000D and an MP side by side with an FT2000.
My
>> MP is for sale.. The 2000 is now my main rig, with the 1000D as second
>> string. Both the MP and 1000D have the W8JI mods, INRAD I/Fs, and
roofing
>> filters. Great rigs, but I find the 2000 best of the three.
>>      Vy 73
>>          John EI7BA
>>
>

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