[Yaesu] FT890-initial impressions

[John Geiger (NE0P)]

I got the used Yaesu FT890 in today about 15 minutes before having to go back to work, so I had very limited time to try it out (and was a little late to work).  Here are my initial impressions of it.

2 things that impressed me:
1. The feel of this radio is top notch.  The controls feel like a high quality rig.  The Kenwood TS690 I have feels pretty cheap in comparison.  One AES add called it the mobile version of the FT1000.  I wouldn't go that far, but it does have the same fit and finish as the FT1000, and some very similar type controls.  Very impressive for a middle range mobile rig.

2. I have heard some people say that the FT890 has the best internal tuner ever made, and I have to agree.  It matches up things my LDG Z100 won't.  It matched my dipole on every band I tried, except for 160.  It matched the miniquad on 12 and 17, where that antenna isn't resonant.  I don't know why they can't put this type of internal tuner in every modern rig.

One downside was that the Noise Blanker is similar to the one in the TS690, which means adequate at best.  It didn't do a whole lot for the line noise I get here, but using the NB along with turning off the preamp (turning on the IPO) quieted things down enough.  After turning on the IPO it was quieter than the TS690 with its AIP on (their version of IPO).  I am sure it is sensitive enough that it really doesn't need the preamp on.  Still, the NB is a far cry from the one in the FT100D or TS2000.  Wish they could put that type of NB in every rig.

The CW filter sounded good.  Didn't really find enough crowded band conditions to really try it out though.  And it has a real manual IF notch.  Much better than those stupid autonotch filters they put in rigs today, or the AF notch the TS690 has.

Overall, an impressive rig so far, especially given what I paid for it.

73s John NE0P 

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