Yaesu love affair

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

Hi,

Does anybody know of a good/reputable outfit that can service an
FT101ZD Mk II?

Hopefully, I should be the proud owner of a working version within a
week. I have never homebrewed anything, but would like to start by
buying a working version of an old rig (I love Yaesus, I don't know
why) and replacing old/failing components, aka electrolytic
capacitors. I have looked around and there are kits with full
instructions available for this.

I would just like the service details incase I FUBAR the rig.

I would really like to get my hands on the rig with which I started my
amateur "career", an FT200.
--

73 de Guy G4DWV/4X1LT

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Guy G4DWV 4X1LT" <no-e...@tardis.com> wrote in message
news:vd0kmc1ha2lcoeod9...@4ax.com...

My love afair with my Trio TS520SE ended when she took up smoking
.........and turned out to be an effervescent tranny ........

[lordgnome]

Do you require the 'reputable' services before or after you get inside it?

Les.

[Jerry Stuckle]

I would love to get another TS520SE. I loved my old one; should never
have parted with it (other than a guy I had roofing my house clipped a
guy wire with his truck and threw my tower into a 7500V line).

One of the best (of many over the last 50 years) rigs I've ever owned.

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry, AI0K
jstu...@attglobal.net
==================

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Jerry Stuckle" <jstu...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:okdrnu$sn5$1...@jstuckle.eternal-september.org...

well I am in love with two Inoue twins now.....got a couple of IC728
rigs.....only rig you can fully operate mobile or in the dark by feel
.......a real control for every function ...

[Brian Howie]

I used to use Holdings (Harry Leeming G3LLL) for spare parts for my
FT560 and FT102 ( both of which I still have); I fitted his top-band
mod kit for the 560. Somewhere out there he wrote an alignment
guide for the FT101 . I think he's still around and writes for PW.

Brian GM4DIJ

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Brian Howie" <Br...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gk3mmchitplqbjrau...@4ax.com...

I bought a s/h ft101 Mk1 without top band in 1973 for £180 a year later I
sent for the LLL 444t mic and his rf clipper...the version that had to be
wired into the board and not just the rear socket....I sold it for £250 and
bought the original first model E with built in RF clipper which was rubbish
because the output level could only be adjusted on the board.....I then
bought the later model which had the output level control concentric with
the RIT... I then moved on to a very nice FT101Z then a ZD Mk3 with FM....I
then defected and went TS520S which I liked better.....had a TS820S then
back to a TS520SE.......then TS530S which I hated...had an FT75B which was
nice and a TS130S which had a bad rx... then on to a TS430S which had faulty
omron relays from new.......then went icom with the IC725 in 1989 ......sold
it 17 years later and went DX77 and pair of IC725 RIGS....lately I bought a
FT450D which I don't like much and is crap for /m and /p because of the bad
reverse LCD and the NB is rubbish ......think I missed out a few rigs there
but that was about it....I know what I like and I like the IC728 closely
followed by the DX77...... I missed out the original IC756 with the mono
screen sold that before the screen went faulty as they all did .....Oh and
the TS130S on which the multi function knob went faulty within the first
year... had an FL200B amp for a while but didn't like high power much ......

[Brian Reay]

On 15/07/2017 12:56, Guy G4DWV 4X1LT wrote:

I would be surprised if there isn't a dedicated Yahoo group for the
FT101 series, if not the ZD version. That would be a good place to look.
You may find at least someone who knowns the radio very well.

A service manual will almost certainly be found as a pdf on the
internet, mods.dk is always a good place to start.

Also, don't forget the 'Fox Tango' site, which is dedicated to the 101
series.

The Z series are 'getting on', I recall them being around when I was
still at Uni (not sure which version MKI or II). I'm pretty sure that
was the radio I build an external VFO for a friend for, it plugged into
the socket for the memory unit and allowed split operation.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

I bought a s/h ft101 Mk1 without top band in 1973 for £180 a year later I
sent for the LLL 444t mic and his rf clipper...the version that had to be
wired into the board and not just the rear socket....I sold it for £250 and
bought the original first model E with built in RF clipper which was
rubbish
because the output level could only be adjusted on the board.....I then
bought the later model which had the output level control concentric with
the RIT... I then moved on to a very nice FT101Z then a ZD Mk3 with FM....I
then defected and went TS520S which I liked better.....had a TS820S then
back to a TS520SE.......then TS530S which I hated...had an FT75B which was
nice and a TS130S which had a bad rx... then on to a TS430S which had
faulty
omron relays from new.......then went icom with the IC725 in 1989
......sold

it 17 years later and went DX77 and pair of IC728 RIGS....lately I bought a

FT450D which I don't like much and is crap for /m and /p because of the bad
reverse LCD and the NB is rubbish ......think I missed out a few rigs there
but that was about it....I know what I like and I like the IC728 closely
followed by the DX77...... I missed out the original IC756 with the mono
screen sold that before the screen went faulty as they all did .....Oh and

the TS140S on which the multi function knob went faulty within the first
year... had an FL2000B amp for a while but didn't like high power much
......

sorry got a load of those model numbers wrong ..visited Holdings in
Blackburn in the late 70s and found harry leeming to be a nice chap ....

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Sun, 16 Jul 2017 09:44:39 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, Brian Reay <no...@m.com> disturbed my reverie and wrote:

>I would be surprised if there isn't a dedicated Yahoo group for the
>FT101 series, if not the ZD version. That would be a good place to look.
>You may find at least someone who knowns the radio very well.
>
>A service manual will almost certainly be found as a pdf on the
>internet, mods.dk is always a good place to start.
>
>Also, don't forget the 'Fox Tango' site, which is dedicated to the 101
>series.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for those links and details. They will be most useful. I have
already d/l the documentations and have found that 'my' ZD is a Mk II.
It is working, which is the main thing for me. I have also found out
how to get such an old rig to work with data modes.

I am looking forward to getting it. It would be like driving...I would
get more enjoyment driving a Morris 1000 than a modern medium class
car (eg Mondeo).

My main rig is an IC-7300. I cannot wait to get on the air with
valves. I'd really love to get my hands on an FT200, working
preferably, as my diagnostic skills are quite rudimentary in this
field to say the least.

[Jerry Stuckle]

I can understand that. They are nice rigs. But I don't do mobile
(other than 144/440 Mhz) any more; Just no room in the car and no place
to mount an antenna without drilling holes (which wouldn't make the XYL
happy). Even the VHF/UHF rig is mounted on the passenger's side of the
center console. Not real handy, but as long as I don't have to change
CTCSS tones I can manage.

It would be nice to have an HF rig on the 1100 mi. drive back to Iowa,
though. 16-17 hours gets long and boring, especially if the XYL isn't
along.

But for a home rig the 520SE was great. Not all the bells and whistles
of the newer rigs, but totally dependable.

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okgm9d$kne$1...@jstuckle.eternal-september.org>, Jerry Stuckle
<jstu...@attglobal.net> writes

>But for a home rig the 520SE was great. Not all the bells and whistles
>of the newer rigs, but totally dependable.
>

There were at least three 520s at today's McMichael Rally!
http://blog.radarc.org/about/mcmichael-radio-rally/
--
Ian

[Jerry Stuckle]

Yes, I've seen several 520's on the market. But recently only one 520SE
- and I was too late on that one. :(

And although the McMichael Rally looks like great fun, it's a little too
far for me to travel :)

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address

Jerry Stuckle, AI0K
jstu...@attglobal.net
==================

[Brian Reay]

On 16/07/2017 14:30, Guy G4DWV 4X1LT wrote:

> My main rig is an IC-7300. I cannot wait to get on the air with
> valves. I'd really love to get my hands on an FT200, working
> preferably, as my diagnostic skills are quite rudimentary in this
> field to say the least.
>

The FT200 is prone to relay problems. I recall fixing several over the
years. Otherwise they are good radios for their time although not as
common as they could be. I suspect they weren't produced/sold for as
long as other models.

A local G4 used to be/is a great fan of them. I've not seen him in a
few years, I should pop in and see him.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Guy G4DWV 4X1LT" <no-e...@tardis.com> wrote in message

news:lbqmmcp304clehvg9...@4ax.com...

the ft200 was a carry over project from when yaesu musen bought the Star
radio company of Japan.....It was unlike the other yaesu models for that
reason ...

[Brian Reay]

Now you mention it, that would explain several things. The underlying
design isn't 'typical' Yaesu, the quality wasn't up to Yaesu's normal
standard, plus it seemed to be a 'short lived' design' which wasn't
followed up- although that could have been for other reasons.

Unlike the 101 series, it isn't really one of the 'classics' but I
think Guy's interest stems from his personal history, which is as good a
reason as any for wanting one. I've often thought of buying an old PCR
receiver, far from a 'good' receiver in terms of performance, but I had
one as a lad and derived great fun from it. Likewise there was a
particular Eddystone I wanted but couldn't afford. I've only seen one
like it since but missed it. I'm not even sure of the model- I think it
was a 'Cabin' model rather than a 'proper' communications receiver.

[Graham.]

What was Sommerkamp then? Was a Germanic sounding name more acceptable
to the American market?

--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Brian Reay" <no...@m.com> wrote in message
news:okipqo$k45$1...@dont-email.me...

nostalgia has a lot to do with it ..........I found an Eddystone S640 under
my parents bed when I was 15 and I have one sitting here today.......works
well

[mm0fmf]

Sommerkamp were a Swiss company ISTR.

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Mon, 17 Jul 2017 20:04:22 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, Graham. <graham...@mail.com> disturbed my reverie and wrote:

>What was Sommerkamp then? Was a Germanic sounding name more acceptable
>to the American market?

http://www.yaesu-museum.com/sommerkamp.html

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okj48o$p5v$1...@dont-email.me>, Jim GM4DHJ ...
<kinvig...@ntlworld.com> writes

I've still got my R107, bought in 1958. It's an arm's-length from me.
It's almost like new, and was working last time I tried it, several
years ago. [Next time, it'll be wind-up-the-voltage with care.]
>
>

--
Ian

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okipqo$k45$1...@dont-email.me>, Brian Reay <no...@m.com> writes

>I've often thought of buying an old PCR receiver

There was one yesterday at the McMichael rally!
>
>
>
>

--
Ian

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

> What was Sommerkamp then? Was a Germanic sounding name more acceptable
> to the American market?
>

They were a company in Switzerland that branded not only yaesu but many
other manufacturers with their name fed the 11m pirate market... don't think
they sold much in the USA.....some yeasu and kenwood models were branded
Tempo in the USA by the importer Henry radio ......

[Jerry Stuckle]

I never realized that's where the Tempo brand came from. But then
information wasn't as easily available in the 60's as it is now :)

I knew several people who had Tempo One's and almost bought one myself.
Interesting history!

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address

Jerry, AI0K
jstu...@attglobal.net
==================

[Graham.]

I got mine 9 years later from NW electrics in Manchester (Fred, G3MAX)
Sadly I've only got a couple of photos of it now.

Not sure if you'll need a variac, IIRC the biggest capacitor was 8uF
paper+oil and no electrolytics.

I've still got my FT200 though, don't tell Guy ;-)
73
G3ZVT
--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

[James Stewart]

> I've still got my FT200 though, don't tell Guy ;-)
> 73
> G3ZVT

I had an FT200 for a short time....drifted like a boat as it got far too hot
due to no extract fan because it was all valves...no top band...had the same
kind of jackson drive as the ft101 though ...stupid old fashion mic socket
that went to transmit momentarily when you plugged it in....stupid
calibration control because usb and usb need adjusted every time you changed
.....but you could swop the tx amp valve and the audio valve
though........rose tinted glasses anyone? ......

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okj980$a7t$1...@dont-email.me>, Jim GM4DHJ ...
<kinvig...@ntlworld.com> writes
>

I have (in the loft) the Sommerkamp FT500 TX and FR500 RX matching pair.
I think they're essentially identical to the Yaesu FT and FR400. The RX
covers 160m, but the TX only goes down to 80m.

The RX sensitivity dropped off rapidly as you went up through the bands,
and was little better than a crystal set on 10m. I therefore decided to
completely re-build the front end - with FETs, a diode ring mixer, and
diodes for the band switching. I got as far as snipping a lot of wires,
and it remains a round tuit project.
>
>

--
Ian

[Brian Howie]

On Mon, 17 Jul 2017 11:34:13 +0100, "Jim GM4DHJ ..."
<kinvig...@ntlworld.com> wrote:



>
>the ft200 was a carry over project from when yaesu musen bought the Star
>radio company of Japan.....It was unlike the other yaesu models for that
>reason ...
>

Some of the early Yaesu rigs were re-badges as "Sommekamp" including
the 200.

Brian

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

> I have (in the loft) the Sommerkamp FT500 TX and FR500 RX matching pair.
> I think they're essentially identical to the Yaesu FT and FR400. The RX
> covers 160m, but the TX only goes down to 80m.
>
> The RX sensitivity dropped off rapidly as you went up through the bands,
> and was little better than a crystal set on 10m. I therefore decided to
> completely re-build the front end - with FETs, a diode ring mixer, and
> diodes for the band switching. I got as far as snipping a lot of wires,
> and it remains a round tuit project.
>>
>>

I had the FTDX400 twins the rx had 2m and 6m modules and top band ...the
later models had the jackson bull drives and were quite nice ......

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okki4o$ei5$1...@dont-email.me>, Jim GM4DHJ ...
<kinvig...@ntlworld.com> writes


>>>
>>>

>I had the FTDX400 twins the rx had 2m and 6m modules

My RX didn't have the 2m and 6m modules.

> and top band

> ...the
>later models had the jackson bull drives and were quite nice ......

IIRC, the tuning drive has a lever so you can add a bit of friction - of
even lock it. Another nice feature is the bridged-T IF notch filter -
tuneable and variable depth. I really should have a go at continuing
with the rebuild, but I don't really have the time.

For 160m TX, I made a 14-to-1.8MHz transverter with 6146 PA (in SWM, I
recall).

The TX's own PA (2 x 6BE6???) ran red hot, but a 240V mains fan bolted
on the back, and fed from the centre-tap of the primary of the 120/240V
mains ran silently, and kept it really cool .... man.


>
>

--
Ian

[Peter Crosland]

If I recall correctly the joint UK importers of Yaesu operated a cartel.
A few dealers imported Sommerkamp badged rigs to circumvent this. A
similar situation existed with Trio and Kenwood. Interesting to see that
despite EU legislation a few emporia still calim to be the "sole" agents.


--
Peter Crosland

Reply address is valid

[Brian Reay]

There was certainly 'something going on', with much 'bad mouthing' of
grey imports (I'm not sure if that term was used at the time). I bought
a Kenwood TR2300 from a company that imported them. As I recall, the
only difference was the name an that you got 'free' NiCads with it for
about £10 less. I still have it. I can't remember the exact price but
something like £160, about the same as I'd paid for my TR2200GX a few
years earlier. This would have been about 1980/1 (the 2300 purchase).

At the time, that was the 'basic' radio so the price of the entry basic
radio has fallen in real terms dramatically over the decades, even if
you don't count the Chinese ones. I bought an FT60 before the Chinese
radios really took hold (if they were even around, I'm not sure) and it
was only about £140 at the time. According to an online inflation
calculator, £160 in 1981 is £632 now, £140 is £553. I suppose it would
have been a bit less when I bought the FT60 but I'm not sure when I
bought it, may be 5 or 6 years back. (2011 would make it £468.)

Take salary in 1981 vs salary (or even pension) now and the difference
is even more dramatic).

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:EAsVFoA1...@brattleho.plus.com...

far too modern for me ...when I came into the hobby in '67 bandit bill was
flogging the sommerkamp ft/fr100 twins with burner..

I drooled over the FT100 in '73 which I made a cardboard mock up of ...the
front panel of which I still have....(embarrassed)

http://foxtango.org/FTDX-100/images/FT-100.jpg

..my first radio when coming back to the hobby on '73 was an FR50B which was
not very good ......drifted and dial calibration was bad

http://www.yaesu-museum.com/a_FLFR100-serie.jpg

have to say I loved my xtal controlled FT75B...if you kept the rf gain down
and sooked the heat out from the two valves .....

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4c/59/9e/4c599eceac816169818973b626352a02.jpg

I replaced it with a brand new FT7B which I hated....calibration slider
under vfo and easily knocked.....terrible Rx .....top and bottom covers
cracked the front panel surround if you lifted them up before sliding them
out......
http://radiopics.com/By%20Make/Sommerkamp/TX/Photos/Sommerkamp_FT-7B.jpg

like old cars like the '66 mustang I had we tend to look at them with
emotion rather than if they were any good .....

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Peter Crosland" <g6...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:JbCdnW6sI8Z9ePDE...@brightview.co.uk...

I remember Lowe were told that if they wanted TRIO they had to dump
Inoue....Mr Inoue was angry and said he had no friends in the UK ........

[Brian Reay]

I was told, although it may not have been valid, that was for markets
which were 'less keen' on Japanese products.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Brian Reay" <no...@m.com> wrote in message

news:okkssl$h0p$1...@dont-email.me...

I remember the grey imported Trio's badged Kenwood had their serial numbers
removed and a stick on piece of paper substituted ......

Ham gear these days is so inexpensive a £500 ft101 in the 1975 was a lot
more expensive than a FT45D in 2017 ...It should cost .£2952.49

[mm0fmf]

Best £5 I spent in a long time was on a TR2300. I still need a genuine
microphone and power plug if anyone has a spares they wish to sell.

[Brian Reay]

I don't have a spare power plug but I believe another source is/was the
AOR scanners- it may be worth looking for one described as being for one
of those.

I have a couple of 2200GXs lurking and a VFO30G as well. While I will
keep one of the 2200GXs (my original one), I should really dispose of
the other and the VFO30G, they aren't being used.

[Graham.]

No, it was what it was, a simple entry-level 5 bander for people who
couldn't afford a 101.

And the VFO was transistor (but it did drift).
--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

> I have a couple of 2200GXs lurking and a VFO30G as well. While I will
> keep one of the 2200GXs (my original one), I should really dispose of
> the other and the VFO30G, they aren't being used.

museum pieces these days I'm afraid....I have sold off my 2m museum pieces
recently...shame as they were so well made compared to modern gear.......I
would have kept them but there are no contacts to be had up here on 2m
...... everybody just wants HF these days .....

[Ian Jackson]

In message <okldpl$4tq$1...@dont-email.me>, mm0fmf <no...@invalid.com>
writes

>Best £5 I spent in a long time was on a TR2300. I still need a genuine
>microphone and power plug if anyone has a spares they wish to sell.

I bought my 2200 for £2 at an ordinary village car boot sale. 12
channels, one pair of crystals missing, and a single TX crystal missing.
Had original mic, but no battery or power connector. At the same sale,
my Amstrad 901 was £5.

There was a 2300 (all there) at Sunday's McMichael. All VGC, and I think
the seller was suggesting £40.
--
Ian

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Tue, 18 Jul 2017 01:10:35 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, Graham. <graham...@mail.com> disturbed my reverie and wrote:

>I've still got my FT200 though, don't tell Guy ;-)

Envy, envy, envy!

Get it hooked up to some wire for a QSO, hi hi. My QSO is very poor
for northern contacts as I live on a hill that rises W->N->E.

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Tue, 18 Jul 2017 22:15:12 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, "Jim GM4DHJ ..." <kinvig...@ntlworld.com> disturbed my

reverie and wrote:

>.I would have kept them but there are no contacts to be had up here on 2m

I'm sorry mate, but that is not reason for a chap to get rid of his
radio kit.

Mrs G4DWV has been trying for ages for me top get rid of my old
computers. My oldest is a Dell P133c that had Win 95 installed on it.
I have stood fast with each of her attempts, blurting out some
technical terms silences the siren, hi hi. "I will need it for... a
mail server...a DNS server etc etc.

Some earlier PCs did not withstand her efforts, for which I hang my
head in shame.

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Tue, 18 Jul 2017 11:41:39 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, Peter Crosland <g6...@yahoo.co.uk> disturbed my reverie and
wrote:

>If I recall correctly the joint UK importers of Yaesu operated a cartel.
>A few dealers imported Sommerkamp badged rigs to circumvent this. A
>similar situation existed with Trio and Kenwood. Interesting to see that
>despite EU legislation a few emporia still calim to be the "sole" agents.

Don't get me started on the state of play in the current amateur
market.

I may be wrong, I was wrong once in 1967 so I'm due to be wrong again,
but the current situation is also a cartel.
When prices are the same, to the penny, in each store, what else can
it be?
They claim not to be in a profitable business when one asks for a
discount, but they can manage to invest serious amounts of money in
their infrastructure. If somebody told me that the markup was less
than 100% I would not believe them.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Guy G4DWV 4X1LT" <no-e...@tardis.com> wrote in message

news:hn4umc14lcf2ehb4f...@4ax.com...

come on now guy ham gear has never been cheaper and prices are the same
because they are all cutting to the bone......when the ts50 came out it cost
the dealer £460 and they sold it for £1000 now THAT is a mark up .....

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 11:50:38 +0100, just as I was about to take a
herb, "Jim GM4DHJ ..." <kinvig...@ntlworld.com> disturbed my

reverie and wrote:

>come on now guy ham gear has never been cheaper and prices are the same
>because they are all cutting to the bone

C'mon now Jim, not every retailer's overheads are the same so if they
are cutting to the bone, there should still be a difference. Same
prices are very suspicious.

[Paul Cummins]

In article <r07umc10m50i4uk0b...@4ax.com>,

no-e...@tardis.com (Guy G4DWV 4X1LT) wrote:

> Mrs G4DWV has been trying for ages for me top get rid of my old
> computers. My oldest is a Dell P133c that had Win 95 installed on
> it.
> I have stood fast with each of her attempts, blurting out some
> technical terms silences the siren, hi hi. "I will need it for... a
> mail server...a DNS server etc etc.

I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest machine currently
running is a Toshiba Libretto C50, with an 840 MB (yes Megabyte) hard
drive.

--
Paul Cummins - Always a NetHead
Wasting Bandwidth since 1981
Free 40 satoshi/min bitcoin mining
https://btcprominer.life/260604

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

"Guy G4DWV 4X1LT" <no-e...@tardis.com> wrote in message

news:r07umc10m50i4uk0b...@4ax.com...

my first PC was a windows 95 machine....I set it on fire out the back garden
... I felt better afterwards.....but got another one a few months
later.....I hate computers and have no sentimental attachment to them ......

[Brian Howie]

On Wed, 19 Jul 2017 11:50 +0100 (BST), agree2...@spam.vlaad.co.uk
(Paul Cummins) wrote:

>In article <r07umc10m50i4uk0b...@4ax.com>,
>no-e...@tardis.com (Guy G4DWV 4X1LT) wrote:
>
>> Mrs G4DWV has been trying for ages for me top get rid of my old
>> computers. My oldest is a Dell P133c that had Win 95 installed on
>> it.
>> I have stood fast with each of her attempts, blurting out some
>> technical terms silences the siren, hi hi. "I will need it for... a
>> mail server...a DNS server etc etc.
>
>I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest machine currently
>running is a Toshiba Libretto C50, with an 840 MB (yes Megabyte) hard
>drive.

The thread is wandering onto reminiscences of old computer hardware.
Old radios are fine.

Brian obo uram moderators.

[mm0fmf]

You're wrong. Advertised prices are the same. The price you pay varies
and depends on how good you are at negotiating with the dealer.

[A. non Eyemouse]

I had a similar setup. Did you ever get comments on the audio quality on
top band from Len G3ONT? I found that the 6146 PA in that design lacked
any screen regulation so I fitted a string of zeners to stabilize it. I
also added an ALC detector and fed it back to the FL400.

I also found my FR400 to be deaf on 15m but it was fairly sensitive on
10m. I worked all over the world in 1981 on 10m with a dipole and CW.

--
Mouse.
Where Morse meets House.

[Ian Jackson]

In message <et9qus...@mid.individual.net>, A. non Eyemouse
<some...@work.invalid> writes

>On 18/07/2017 11:23, Ian Jackson wrote:
>> In message <okki4o$ei5$1...@dont-email.me>, Jim GM4DHJ ...
>><kinvig...@ntlworld.com> writes
>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> I had the FTDX400 twins the rx had 2m and 6m modules
>> My RX didn't have the 2m and 6m modules.
>>
>>> and top band
>>
>>> ...the
>>> later models had the jackson bull drives and were quite nice ......
>> IIRC, the tuning drive has a lever so you can add a bit of friction
>>- of even lock it. Another nice feature is the bridged-T IF notch
>>filter - tuneable and variable depth. I really should have a go at
>>continuing with the rebuild, but I don't really have the time.
>> For 160m TX, I made a 14-to-1.8MHz transverter with 6146 PA (in SWM,
>>I recall).
>> The TX's own PA (2 x 6BE6???) ran red hot, but a 240V mains fan
>>bolted on the back, and fed from the centre-tap of the primary of the
>>120/240V mains ran silently, and kept it really cool .... man.
>>
>
>I had a similar setup. Did you ever get comments on the audio quality
>on top band from Len G3ONT?

Not that I recall. It WAS in the 1970s!

> I found that the 6146 PA in that design lacked any screen regulation
>so I fitted a string of zeners to stabilize it. I also added an ALC
>detector and fed it back to the FL400.

I didn't do anything like that.

>
>I also found my FR400 to be deaf on 15m but it was fairly sensitive on
>10m. I worked all over the world in 1981 on 10m with a dipole and CW.

Despite carefully tweaking up the receiver tuning, I failed to get any
improvement in sensitivity at the HF end. 160m was far too sensitive.
40m was probably about right. 10m was absolutely dim as dishwater.

>

--
Ian

[Roger Hayter]

Wouldn't the fact that published prices are all the same but lower
prices can be negotiated tend to prove he is right? Otherwise an
obvious move would be to lower the price to increase turnover, if there
is any margin to sacrifice.

--

Roger Hayter

[Brian Reay]

Not really. Most people don't 'haggle', or only do so a bit. Plus the
dealer can offer a 'special' which is not that 'special'. Much the same
with cars, you need to really 'push' to get a good deal from a main
dealer- having an offer from a broker is a good way to get a main dealer
to drop his 'best deal' and bring tears to his eyes. ;-)

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On 19 Jul 2017 15:00:26 GMT, just as I was about to take a herb, Huge
<Hu...@nowhere.much.invalid> disturbed my reverie and wrote:

>It's very hard to distinguish between cartels and price matching, especially
>these days when it may be automated.

Price matching usually relies on the customer to alert the retailer
that their price is the higher. I never shop at those with higher
prices, preferring to support those with the cheaper prices in the
first place.

[mm0fmf]

No.

I've never been refused discounts on the listed/marked price even when
paying with a credit card. Obviously you wont do deals on something
that everyone wants and nobody has any stock. Such as when a new and hot
radio is released. But if it's in stock and the dealer believes you'll
pay then there's always movement. The bigger the item, the more the
discount. People in the UK just don't like doing the (vulgar) act of
asking for discounts or freebies.

This complaint that dealers are lavishly profiteering just don't stand
up to scrutiny. You don't see dealers eating Quails eggs and drinking
Cristal whilst relaxing on the deck of their yachts. Or swanning about
in Ferraris.

I mean, if there was so much money to be made as suggested then it would
seem to be a no-brainer for those complaining to give up their current
occupation and open a radio shop. They'd only need to work 2 or 3 days a
week and would make enough to retire in a few months. They could sell
their super successful business on to the next person who thinks making
money from amateurs is easier that taking sweets from a child :-)

[Roger Hayter]

Everything you have written below makes me think that a better answer
would be yes.

>
> I've never been refused discounts on the listed/marked price even when
> paying with a credit card. Obviously you wont do deals on something
> that everyone wants and nobody has any stock. Such as when a new and hot
> radio is released. But if it's in stock and the dealer believes you'll
> pay then there's always movement. The bigger the item, the more the
> discount. People in the UK just don't like doing the (vulgar) act of
> asking for discounts or freebies.

But in almost all other retail consumer fields the competition is done
on advertised price, not on how far the dealer is prepared to haggle.
This has been true ever since retail price maintenance was made illegal
in about 1974.

>
> This complaint that dealers are lavishly profiteering just don't stand
> up to scrutiny. You don't see dealers eating Quails eggs and drinking
> Cristal whilst relaxing on the deck of their yachts. Or swanning about
> in Ferraris.

I didn't say the dealers were lavishly profiteering, I said they were
forced to quote fixed prices either by a cartel or, more likely, by the
manufacturers. That doesn't necessarily mean they make a big profit,
indeed the manufacturer could use price fixing to take most of the
excess profit themselves. Resale price fixing is allowed in some
industries (notably cars) on some technical excuse. I don't know if
this applies to AR equipment. I must say as I have neither the time nor
the geographical advantages to haggle with traders I would much rather
they be allowed to compete openly on price, including special offers and
short duration sales and all the other devices that enable retailers to
make a living while competing on price.

>
> I mean, if there was so much money to be made as suggested then it would
> seem to be a no-brainer for those complaining to give up their current
> occupation and open a radio shop. They'd only need to work 2 or 3 days a
> week and would make enough to retire in a few months. They could sell
> their super successful business on to the next person who thinks making
> money from amateurs is easier that taking sweets from a child :-)

Again, saying that they appear to be constrained to quote a fixed price
is not an accusation of profiteering. If anything, it is a feature of
the monopoly[1] power of the very few manufacturers.

[1] generallly a monopoly can exist when one or more manufacturers have
at least 30% of the market.


--

Roger Hayter

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

> I mean, if there was so much money to be made as suggested then it would
> seem to be a no-brainer for those complaining to give up their current
> occupation and open a radio shop. They'd only need to work 2 or 3 days a
> week and would make enough to retire in a few months. They could sell
> their super successful business on to the next person who thinks making
> money from amateurs is easier that taking sweets from a child :-)
>
>

The problem in opening a shop means you have to deal with radio hams
haggling and trying it on....any dealer I have spoken candidly to can't
stand their customers...it is just a fact of life .....

[Jimbo]

"Jim GM4DHJ ..." <kinvig...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:oki3jp$858$1...@dont-email.me...

>
> "Guy G4DWV 4X1LT" <no-e...@tardis.com> wrote in message

> news:lbqmmcp304clehvg9...@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 16 Jul 2017 09:44:39 +0100, just as I was about to take a
>> herb, Brian Reay <no...@m.com> disturbed my reverie and wrote:
>>
>>>I would be surprised if there isn't a dedicated Yahoo group for the
>>>FT101 series, if not the ZD version. That would be a good place to look.
>>>You may find at least someone who knowns the radio very well.
>>>
>>>A service manual will almost certainly be found as a pdf on the
>>>internet, mods.dk is always a good place to start.
>>>
>>>Also, don't forget the 'Fox Tango' site, which is dedicated to the 101
>>>series.
>>
>> Hi Brian,
>>
>> Thanks for those links and details. They will be most useful. I have
>> already d/l the documentations and have found that 'my' ZD is a Mk II.
>> It is working, which is the main thing for me. I have also found out
>> how to get such an old rig to work with data modes.
>>
>> I am looking forward to getting it. It would be like driving...I would
>> get more enjoyment driving a Morris 1000 than a modern medium class
>> car (eg Mondeo).
>>
>> My main rig is an IC-7300. I cannot wait to get on the air with
>> valves. I'd really love to get my hands on an FT200, working
>> preferably, as my diagnostic skills are quite rudimentary in this
>> field to say the least.

>
> the ft200 was a carry over project from when yaesu musen bought the Star
> radio company of Japan.....It was unlike the other yaesu models for that
> reason ...
>
>
>

shame Star went bankrupt...probably developing the FT200 that did it ......

http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=7713

[Paul Cummins]

In article <0anumcti8dfusafuk...@4ax.com>,

Br...@nospam.demon.co.uk (Brian Howie) wrote:

> >I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest machine
> currently running is a Toshiba Libretto C50, with an 840 MB (yes
> Megabyte) hard drive.
>
> The thread is wandering onto reminiscences of old computer hardware.
> Old radios are fine.

I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest RADIO is a Uniden 2830,
and a Harrier CBX, but I'd love to acquire an FT847 ir similar.

[Brian Howie]

In message <memo.2017090...@postmaster.cix.co.uk>, Paul
Cummins <agree2...@spam.vlaad.co.uk> writes

>In article <0anumcti8dfusafuk...@4ax.com>,
>Br...@nospam.demon.co.uk (Brian Howie) wrote:
>
>> >I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest machine
>> currently running is a Toshiba Libretto C50, with an 840 MB (yes
>> Megabyte) hard drive.
>>
>> The thread is wandering onto reminiscences of old computer hardware.
>> Old radios are fine.
>
>I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest RADIO is a Uniden 2830,
>and a Harrier CBX, but I'd love to acquire an FT847 ir similar.
>

The rig I use at the moment is an FT847. It works well and covers 4m to
70cm. It replaced my FT102 ( which I still have) plus 4 transverters.

I've rarely used it on the short waves. The only gripe is that it's a
bit deaf on 4m and has an output of only 10W at low efficiency. Buying
an IC7300 just for 4m would be a bit extravagant.

A DSP based radio that covered 4m to 13cm would be good, but there's
nothing on the amateur market and probably unlikely to be.

Brian

--
Brian Howie

[Paul Cummins]

In article <ggbRFeJc...@b-howie.demon.co.uk>,

br...@b-howie.demon.co.uk (Brian Howie) wrote:

> A DSP based radio that covered 4m to 13cm would be good, but
> there's nothing on the amateur market and probably unlikely to be.

TBH, I seriously considered a Kenwood 480SAT a while back, with the 23cm
module. Decided ultmiately that it wasn't worth it.

13cm is overrated... I remember when we had a high UHF CB band, and that
wasn't good either.

[Brian Reay]

On 01/09/17 20:15, Brian Howie wrote:
> In message <memo.2017090...@postmaster.cix.co.uk>, Paul
> Cummins <agree2...@spam.vlaad.co.uk> writes
>> In article <0anumcti8dfusafuk...@4ax.com>,
>> Br...@nospam.demon.co.uk (Brian Howie) wrote:
>>
>>> >I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest machine
>>> currently running is a Toshiba Libretto C50, with an 840 MB (yes
>>> Megabyte) hard drive.
>>>
>>> The thread is wandering onto reminiscences of old computer hardware.
>>> Old radios are fine.
>>
>> I'm always happy to rehome ancient tech. My oldest RADIO is a Uniden
>> 2830,
>> and a Harrier CBX, but I'd love to acquire an FT847 ir similar.
>>
>
> The rig I use at the moment is an FT847. It works well and covers 4m to
> 70cm. It replaced my FT102 ( which I still have) plus 4 transverters.
>
> I've rarely used it on the short waves. The only gripe is that it's a
> bit deaf on 4m and has an output of only 10W at low efficiency. Buying
> an IC7300 just for 4m would be a bit extravagant.

The 847, while sold with much hype as covering 4m, was- as you infer-
less than impressive there.

4m is sadly under used, even the availability of cheap Chinese radios
covering 4m (admittedly just FM generally) doesn't seem to have
stimulated the level of use I'd like to see.

[Andrew Marshall]

In message <memo.2017090...@postmaster.cix.co.uk>, Paul
Cummins <agree2...@spam.vlaad.co.uk> writes

>I remember when we had a high UHF CB band, and that
>wasn't good either.

It was deliberately hamstrung by TPTB with the antenna size
restrictions; a great pity IMHO. I used it, and within its imposed
limits it was very effective.

23cm would work well with vertical polarisation for local FM QSOs, but
it's completely dead around here apart from some SSB activity during the
monthly UKACs and other contests that include 23cm. I'll be taking the
23cm 47el. horizontal loop-Yagi off my North Mast, and replacing it with
a 2m dual-polarisation X-quad, as soon as I can find enough circular
tuits; the former antenna isn't earning its keep, and TBH hasn't really
ever done so.
--
Regards,
Andrew Marshall, G8BUR, M0MAA.

[Andrew Marshall]

In message <ooe0g2$q2t$1...@dont-email.me>, Brian Reay <no...@m.com> writes

>The 847, while sold with much hype as covering 4m, was- as you infer-
>less than impressive there.

I certainly STR reading that the 847 drew a very large current on 4m for
the low power it produced on that band.

>4m is sadly under used, even the availability of cheap Chinese radios
>covering 4m (admittedly just FM generally) doesn't seem to have
>stimulated the level of use I'd like to see.

I have a Chinese radio (Anytone 5189) on 4m at home, connected to an
end-fed half-wave vertical at about 23ft. AGL, and it does pretty well
with its 25 watts of RF, both on simplex, and through the MB7FM
'parrot'. When I'm in the shack, I'm almost always listening either on
70.45 MHz, or on the 'parrot' on 70.4375 MHz with 77 Hz CTCSS, and
there's usually someone to be heard on one or other of those
frequencies.

[Brian Reay]

After many years of using converted PMR radios on 4m, I invested in the
Anytone 5189 when they first became available. As you say, the work
rather well. The one 'niggle' is the limited flexibility of the
labelling of the display. I'm not sure if the limitation is due to the
programming SW or the firmware in the radio, the display itself would
seem have more flexibility than you can access.

I'm curious re this 'parrot'. Does it get much 'serious' use?

[Andrew Marshall]

In message <oof1ki$4nn$1...@dont-email.me>, Brian Reay <no...@m.com> writes

>After many years of using converted PMR radios on 4m, I invested in the
>Anytone 5189 when they first became available. As you say, the work
>rather well. The one 'niggle' is the limited flexibility of the
>labelling of the display. I'm not sure if the limitation is due to the
>programming SW or the firmware in the radio, the display itself would
>seem have more flexibility than you can access.
>
>I'm curious re this 'parrot'. Does it get much 'serious' use?

I'll start another thread for this ("MB7FM 'parrot'; 4m FM activity"),
as this one is drifting a little OT.

[Guy G4DWV 4X1LT]

On Sun, 3 Sep 2017 12:21:11 +0100, just as I was about to take a herb,
Andrew Marshall <ne...@y-ddraenog-goch.org.uk> disturbed my reverie and
wrote:

>I'll start another thread for this ("MB7FM 'parrot'; 4m FM activity"),
>as this one is drifting a little OT.

Sorry I am too late with this contribution to get the thread a bit
more on course.

Does anybody know of somebody who is experienced in realigning Yaesu
rigs? It is not something that I can do as I do not have the necessary
test equipment. It would be reassuring to know that all is well in
that department before I start my refurbishment.