No Way! The FT-920 I had included VOX and 2 connectors for a separate
receive antenna. Front end dynamics were excellent. You could definitly
add/change filters in the rig although the Yaesu OEM units are marginal.
I'm told the IRC filters are much better. That's probably the main problem
with the radio for contest use. You might be thinking of the FT-847 which
is quite a bit more marginal for HF contest use.
-- W8KX
>
>Bill,
> One of the transceivers provided by Yaesu for the XZ1N DXpedition
>to Myanmar last fall was the FT-920.
> In brief, no member of the seasoned group of operators was
>impressed by the operation or of the FT-920.
> To start with, the unit does not have VOX. The only way to key the
>radio without the hand microphone is the front panel MOX button. We were
>using headsets with boom mikes so the hands would be free to computer
>keyboard log, etc. In order to get this radio on the air on SSB, we had to
>sandwich a J-38 hand key between two heavy pieces of cardboard and hold it
>together with duct tape to make a foot switch.
> It does not have any extra filters or facility for adding extra
>filters. This lack was extremely evident during the CQ WW CW contest and
>the many times this radio was used on CW during the tree week stint in
Yangon.
> Don't read this wrong. It is a decent, all in one radio. We made
>over 300 6 meter contacts with it, both SSB and CW. And it made perhaps
>6,000 SSB contacts and 4,000 CW contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12, & 10 Meters.
>It was never used on 160, 80, or 40 Meters as it has no facility for a
>separate receive antenna input.
> I would not recommend this transceiver as a serious DXpedition
>radio nor as a serious contest radio.
> If you would like a deeper analysis of various other deficiencies
>and shortcomings, E-mail me and I will put you in touch with the individual
>that did the in depth wring out of the radio. This includes the CW and
>computer interface, the receiver analysis, and the amplifier interface.
> 73, es GL de Milt, N5IA
>
>At 07:38 PM 3/18/99 -0600, Bill Aycock wrote:
>>
>>Many of you answered me query about the FT-920, some on the list- some
off.
>> I am answering them, but a summary is in order.
>>
>>Except for one person, the most negative thing was "it isnt as good as an
>>FT1000". One person said I should forget it- go ahead and bite the bullet-
>>get a 1000.
>>
>>Two people recommended a web site that was very helpful- gave specifics of
>>the manual faults, and the radios quirks.
>>
>>Most answers were quit positive. I am reinforced in my choice- I thank you
>>all.
>>
>>Bill- W4BSG
>>-
>>Bill Aycock --- Persimmon Hill
>> Woodville, Alabama, US 35776
>> (in the N.E. corner of the State)
>> W4BSG -- Grid EM64vr
>> baycock@HiWAAY.net
>>
>>
>>--
>>CQ-Contest on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
>>Administrative requests: cq-contest-REQUEST@contesting.com
>>
>>
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW: http://www.qsl.net/k7on/yaesu.html
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>Problems: owner-yaesu@contesting.com
>Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>
>
--
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