[Yaesu] RE: best tube rig

[Walter A. Hutchens]

Brian Carling quoted and wrote:
> 
> > The Tempo One (FT-200) is an all-tube radio
> 
> Yeah, it is IF you pull out the EIGHT TRANSISTORS!

> Deon ZS1ZL
> Oops, so that makes the Tempo One a hybrid too.

Yep.  Actually I think the only all-hollow state radio of those mentioned 
here is the FL-100B/FR-100B pair.   An excellent rig for the time, once you 
get past the QC problems.   I don't remember all, but there were two or 
three bad solder joints and at least one more problem in mine.  The TX still 
awaits disassembly of the VFO to correct a failure to tension the spring 
loaded gears -- it has too much backlash to be usable as-is.  Both RX and TX 
went dead (and were shelved) so quickly that they still had all-original 
tubes that tested as-new.   Rotten quality control.   

The FTdx 400 through 570 are hybrids too.   I couldn't lay a hand on the 
schematic right away but I think the calibrator and VFO are solid state and 
the rest, vaccum tubes.   

The FTdx-100 looks like what happened as the result of a one-night stand 
between the FTdx-400 and the FT-101 but is actually the predecessor to 
the latter -- lots of socketed solid state.   Easily the least fun of old Yaesu 
sets to work on because of access problems.   Ever wonder whence came the 
idea for the plug in boards of the -101?   

There was I believe one Yaesu ham set earlier than the FR-100B/FL-100B -- 
an exciter perhaps?  There's an excellent early Yaesu history web site out 
there someplace that has many of these details.  

Walt Hutchens
KJ4KV