[Fwd: Re: [Yaesu] Yaesu question]

[Ron Youvan]

 > Yaesu then produced the 747-757-767-series and later the FT-1000, with the
 > FT-990 as a scaled down FT-1000, but not as good as the FT-1000.

   I many ways the FT-990 is better than the FT-1000, because of
technical improvements that occur with time.  IMMHO

   The RF (pre) amplifier in the FT-990 (a special design) is so quite there
is no way to turn it off or bypass it, there is no reason to.
The RF gain control is actually a (PIN diode) voltage variable attenuator
ahead of the RF amplifier.  Reducing the gain (manually or from AGC action)
decreases the possibility of front end cross talk from intermodulation
distortion like no receiver before it.
The FT-1000 comes with a pre-amp. on a plug in board and that is the first thing
that gets replaced, with a better one from Inrad. (as I recall)

   The FT-1000 is rated at 200 Watts out, the FT-990 100 Watts.
Output intermodulation raises with drive and output power.
The FT-990 at full power out has a cleaner output (with it's 13.8 Volt VCC
output transistors) than the FT-1000 has at half power (100 Watts, with it's
50 Volt VCC output transistors) additionally, the FT-990 does not need or use
an inverter to make the 50 Volt VCC.

   The FT-1000 most frequently gets it's crystal filters replaced (again with Inrad
parts) I have 3 original Yaesu filters in my FT-990 and I can not find anything
wrong with any of them, there is no detectable leakage at either end of any of them.
(I have all but the 250 Hz filter.)

   The FT-1000 is triple conversion dual receiver and the FT-990 is a double
conversion single receiver transceiver.
Conversions are added to eliminate images and birdies (spurious responses
from within the receiver its' self.)
   The FT-990 has none.  (I never owned a FT-1000, so I don't know about this.)
   The FT-990 is built like a IBM clone computer.  Everything other than the
120/240 Volt power supply (I own a DC version that doesn't have a internal
power supply) the front panel and RF amplifier deck is on about 10
plug in daughter cards. * The connectors that plug into the "mother board"
are first rate, the best I have ever seen.
   I have know OM's that upgraded from a FT-990 to a FT-1000 that said the
FT-1000 receiver is better than the FT-990.  I don't know if any parts had
were upgraded or not.

   I have always heard that TenTec rigs are the best rigs made, but EVERY OM
(and XYL's too) that I ever met that owned them or had owned them, told me
to my face (when I asked: are they better, is their audio better?)
I have heard that also, but I don't know what they are talking about, I
can't tell any difference.  (most or all also owned one or more other late
model rigs simultaneously)
   Most of the specification for the FT-990 are better than the FT-1000 in
the ARRL lab tests.  (in QST, I compared them years ago)
   I can't help but wonder how impartial users can be when they spend $ to
up grade from the FT-990 to the FT-1000.

   I am simply pleased to own a FT-990, I couldn't afford it and I am lucky
to have it. (bought it USED just a few months before they were discontinued)
   The only reason I was able to get it was I never stopped bitching to my XYL
about how much I need it, es how screwed my SB-301 and SB-400 were.  I never
quit crabbing until I was given the cash to get it.  I also got the matching
desk mic, every ham should own one, it is the best place to store your CANS
when you don't need them.  (I am a CW guy.)  (It has a hum bucking coil to
cancel magnetism from nearby transformers, fluorescent lights and etc.)

* a module extender was sold for $25.
-- 
    Ron  KA4INM