Yep, Billy, a product recall is a product recall,
and I labeled it as much on FT reflector, but
got a flame, of course. Yes, I am happy
Yaesu has the guts to do a recall (PEP),
but, yes, I had to pay all the shipping (just
under $800 it appears) because I am not
in Yaesu's coverage area (USA etc). At least,
the upgrade is "free."
I have found that my updated (at factory) K3
and my old version 9000d to be about the same.
The d lacks as good DSP and the auto notch
is absent function, but the K3 DSP (with a host
of possible adjustments) is very harsh on ssb
(absolutely great on CW) and auto notch is ok.
Basically: selectivity, same.
Sensitivity, same.
Fun to use: hands down the 9000d wins!
When both are in front of me, I always choose
the FT and only go to the K3 for long CW
sessions and avoid the K3 for ssb.
When I had a tweeked Orion 1, I really
liked it, too, but found a slight edge to
favor the K3 (had no FT at that time) and
the Orion 1 occasionally did flakey things
that I had to recycle the off button to fix.
All my test methods are subjective and go
like this:
Antenna switch, identical speakers.
Find a really weak CW and A/B the two
rigs; and then a weak SSB and do same.
Find two very loud sigs vy near each other
on both modes and A/B the selectivity options
on both rigs.
Wait for big local or propagated noise (usual
wait for that is under 5 seconds) and A/B the
rigs with best and worst adjustments possible
on both (u-tune filters on FT beat K3 easily).
As a proud appliance operator and a new
member of the Second Class Operators Club,
my bottom line is FUN and the FT-9000d
tops them all in that catagory.
(Tip: look for "B stock" FT cheaper from
Ham Station, Evansville, IN--I did.) 73,
Charles Harpole k4vud@hotmail.com
> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 01:03:44 -0400
> From: aa4nu@ix.netcom.com
> To: tentec@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] TT and the rest of us
>
> An interesting rant Charlie ... Especially as you
> are waiting for Yaesu to FINALLY address the known
> problems of your FT9K ... How long before they have
> it back to you? And weren't you complaining about it
> not that long ago as to *IF* they would include yours
> as you are outside the USA? I recall your sour grapes.
> Did they agree to pickup all the shipping $$$ for you?
>
> And how will it compare to the real top tier radios by
> today's standards? Using the technology from the FT2K
> <and it's low reputation> to try and patch up the FT9K
> platform is well, interesting, if not desperate really!
>
> I don't recall any TenTec rig/platform ever requiring a
> DEFECTIVE PRODUCT RECALL program, hidden of course under
> the marketing label as a "PEP" ... really slick there.
>
> Now, let's see what they do about the many more FT2K
> owners who thought they were purchasing a platform that
> had diversity receive and roofing filters that actually
> worked as advertised ... I am sorry Charlie, when did
> you say those problems will be corrected? "What problems"
> has been Yaesu's response to date on that platform ...
>
> Is Yaesu not capable of this "because that is all that
> they can do"?
>
> SMILE
>
> BTW, that internal antenna tuner does not do one much
> good if one is using an amplifer now does it? What?
>
> They might just have a need for ... oh I don't know,
> perhaps a legal limit tuner AFTER their amp ... What?
>
> I forgot, what are the NEW HF products from Yaesu this
> year? They are still to "fix" the FT9K, which was, IIRC
> announced at Dayton last year ... and still very much in
> denial about the FT2K's receiver's lack of performance.
>
> Is Yaesu not capable of this "because that is all that
> they can do"?
>
> Check out their firmware revision history as to what can
> happen when you release things without testing ... as in
> the two updates in the last week, the second to fix the
> problems created by the first "update" which is still
> trying to resolve DSP problems that have been there since
> day one with that platform, and that would be about 2006.
>
> Maybe Yaesu should try designing a speech processor ... B-)
>
> Last time I checked TT's website, they are still looking
> to fill the SW engineer position ... while many would love
> to see more attention to firmware updates, that's rather
> tough to do with an empty seat there at the moment. I'd
> even bet TT management would like to see this done too.
>
> So let's compare your FT9K before or after it's 'recall fixes'
> with the present Omni VII or Orion II ... even with their own
> known warts and wrinkles, and at a much lower price points.
>
> Wonder where the FT9K might end up on many's folks list as
> to the best value for their money today, and tomorrow ...
>
> <And yes, we know you have a K3 too>.
>
> 73 de Billy, AA4NU
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Charles Harpole <k4vud@hotmail.com>
> >Sent: May 16, 2009 10:54 PM
> >To: Ten Tec List <tentec@contesting.com>
> >Subject: [TenTec] TT and the rest of us
> >
> >It is difficult to come to terms with, but
> >we Earthlings have been living on borrowed
> >time (and money) for years, especially in the
> >developed countries. Now the bill has come due
> >and the wolf will not take "later" for a payment.
> >So, companies in many industries scramble to
> >hold on by releasing products way before they
> >are ready for the market... looking at computer
> >industry as a model for this.
> >Nobody now, and for YEARS to come, can really
> >cope with the economic crisis and, at the same
> >time, most think business as usual will pop back
> >"real soon now." Printing money just puts the
> >debt onto future generationS in monstrous
> >proportions.
> >So, TT pushes a speech processor maybe
> >because that is all they can do, a product
> >choice which has the wisdom of offering
> >an auto antenna tuner to people with auto
> >ant tuners BUILT IN their rigs.... what?
> >
> >>Rant over. 73,
> >>Charles Harpole k4vud@hotmail.com
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