Yaesu ft-950 info wanted

[W6PJJ]

Greetings:

I recently decided to add another all band transceiver to my system. I have been reading a good deal of information on the Yaesu FT-950 and like what I find from the user reviews. I have downloaded some information from Yaesu and several dealers but I still have one question gnawing at me. There is copious amounts of print on the Data Management Unit describing all the features, bells and whistles... But, I cannot determine if one can use a standard keyboard and monitor with the DMU or one must purchase specific keyboard and monitor designed to operate with the DMU. Maybe I should point these questions directly at Yaesu... but, starting here is as good a place as any.

[AB3NK]

I believe that the answer is that there is a program which you can use, such as ham radio deluxe, which can control your receiver.

I have seen those options for your radio, but do not know if there is a CPU internally which can be used to do what you are asking.

I believe that it has to be used - along with some type of home computer in order to get all of the bells and whistles you are talking about.

I know you did not ask about the particular radio - as per it's performance, but I will add my own two cents.

When I became a ham, I sought a Elmer to teach me some things I did not know about Ham Radio.
I was lucky to find a man who was retired and suffering from Stage 4 cancer - hence he was home all the time and had nothing but time on his hands.
Before he died, he had bought a brand new 950 and had all of the options for it.
I was a regular at his shack and used it several times until he had issues with his microphone - which he blamed on me, even though it was not him talking, but the cancer. So I am not going to hold it against him.

My comments about that radio are pretty simple.
The radio has a good receiver - when it works.
Let me explain this a little further.
The built in antenna tuner matches the impedance of the antenna to the radio for the transmit - but does absolutley nothing for the receive.
Unless you have a resonant antenna for the frequency you desire to receive - it doesn't listen very well.
I believe that it has a built in pre amp, the secret is - don't use it in a contest enviroment.
There is not adequate protection to the front end of the receiver when the pre amp is on and it will burn out things in the front end, which will make it even harder to listen to what you want to hear.
Furthermore - the built in antenna tuner will tune in some antenna's as long as the mismatch is not too bad, but it refused to tune in a long wire antenna in the guys backyard that the antenna analizer said was withing the normal limits of operation for 1.8 mhz and 3.5 mhz.
So basically it was ok for 40, 30, 20, and 10 - but wasn't very good on 75 / 80 and did not work at all on 160.
I could give you depositions of people who operated on the same bands at the same time with as good as or worse antenna then what this guy had - and his situation was much better then those other people - he lived on top of a mountain and had a clear view in all directions for 10 miles. Technicially he could hit two meter repeaters 90 miles away as if they were in his backyard, yet had problems with the 950 trying to check in on the sun belt net at 7 - 8 PM at night.

As I said, the radio was only a couple of months old and the gremlins were already coming out.
I had the opportunity to buy that radio and did not.
I had the opportunity to buy that radio at a reduced price at his estate auction and quit bidding on it at $700.00
I knew it had issues and that it was not as good of a transceiver as what most people thought.
I can honestly say with no reservations that my brand new Kenwood TS 590S is a much better radio - right out of the box then his 950 was.
If you have a unlimited amount of money to spend and don't care if it works or not and will not be dissapointed if it does not work well and just got it because someone gave it to you - then it is not a big deal. But if you have to plunk down hard earned cash to buy this radio and expect it to be a contest grade rig - then you are going to be very dissappointed.

Yes you can shut off the Pre Amp in a contest type enviroment - but all it takes is one time in your shack with multiple radios turned on to have a over load problem which will wipe out the front end on your new radio.
So my suggestion is - don't buy it.

I have the computer cables for the interface in my toy box, along with a packet controller for it that I bought at the estate sale, which I do not have any use for, but bought it because no one else bid on it.
I'm probably not going to use it, but won't give them away.
The monitor is a nice option, but does not make the radio any better.
Yes you would have to buy a Yaesu monitor and hardware and software if you do not use a prepherial device such as a home computer to control it.

[W6PJJ]

Thank you for the detailed reply. From the hundreds of replies I have read over the past week yours is the first that is on the negative side. From what I have read this radio is very complex and one must read the manual a number of times in order to understand the complex settings allowed by the unit. A number of comments I read about the TX audio always resulted in the proper settings correcting the issue. I have run complex radios' for over 20 years now and understand the importance of making the correct settings on most any radio that is CPU driven. I have owned Yaesu radio's for over 30 years now and have had minimum issues. When one considers the complexity of such radio systems there is bound to be a few issues that require some reading of the manual. My question is a simple one... I just need to know if the radio interface can run with a standard keyboard and monitor. I would believe that this is the case but I have been fooled by vendors who like proprietary interfaces and equipment... it keeps the Marketing Winnies happy. Thanks for your reply, I will continue to monitor this post and maybe even look for a special forum for the FT-950 users so I can zero in on the answer.

73's

Don
W6PJJ

[G6NHU]

It's worth checking Yahoo groups because there's probably one dedicated to the 950. I know there are groups for other wirelesses there and I'd be surprised if there's not one for the 950.

[2e0sql]

Greetings:

I recently decided to add another all band transceiver to my system. I have been reading a good deal of information on the Yaesu FT-950 and like what I find from the user reviews. I have downloaded some information from Yaesu and several dealers but I still have one question gnawing at me. There is copious amounts of print on the Data Management Unit describing all the features, bells and whistles... But, I cannot determine if one can use a standard keyboard and monitor with the DMU or one must purchase specific keyboard and monitor designed to operate with the DMU. Maybe I should point these questions directly at Yaesu... but, starting here is as good a place as any.

I've got a FT-950 got it when it first came out and I'm very happy with it, with the DMU you can use any keyboard/monitor doesn't have to be a Yaesu one