[CQ-Contest] FT-1000 PIN diodes in RX section

[Bob Schwerdlin]

Greetings Kevin,

Well, I've never had a bit of problems either, but I'm not sure I've ever
experienced the TX power delay that you mentioned.  It might have something
to do with the fact that I made a mod to the rig early on.

I got sick and tired of hearing the damn external TX port relay clanking
away.  It's LOUD sounding.  I don't know why Yaesu didn't put in a reed
relay for the external relay port.  So I made the mod, by using a Radio
Snack 12V reed relay and wired it in parallel with the QSK side of the
on/off switch for the external keying relay.  This way, if I need to use the
original external keying relay for whatever reason, all I have to do is go
inside the rig and flip (I think??) SW1003 ?? for the relay.

Now, my FT1K is easily as quiet as any QSK (electronic) rig around and also
keys my Alpha 78 NO PROBLEM.  Believe me, on CW, which is where I spend the
majority of my time, it's a life saver... even when wearing headphones.

I'll keep you posted on the PIN diode mod pros & cons.


At 02:40 AM 3/8/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Bob Schwerdlin wrote:
>> 
>> I've had my FT1K for about 3 years now and have talked to several people who
>> have had the PIN diode mod done by Yaesu and have been following the thread
>> here and I have a question.
>> 
>> Does this RX mod actually do anything or enhance any operation?  -  Or is it
>> just snake oil??
>> 
>> My major gripes about my 1000D are:
>> 1. Noise blanker not nearly as good as the one that was in my Drake R4-C
>> 2. I.F. shift on the 1000 is via and optical encoder switch and sometimes, I
>> want to have a setting "in between" the 2nd and 3rd "click" - I liked PBT in
>> the R4-C better.
>> 3. Sometimes, in contest conditions, with loud signals on the band, CW
>> filtering gets a small amount of "blow-by" (LOUD signals near by)
>> 
>Somebody wrote into this reflector about two weeks ago that they had
>sent their FT1000 to Cerritos Yaseau factory for the PIN diode mod, and
>they were very happy.
>
>A friend of mi9ne blew out one of his PIN diodes in the ARRL 160 test
>last December, and replaced it with a heavier one, and is happy.
>
>I bought one of the FIRST FT1000s about five years ago.  All I use it
>for is contesting.  I would suppose I've made about 10,000 contest QSOs
>on it both stateside and DX.  
>
>Never have had a problem or sent it back for anything.  But I do note
>EXACTLY the same criticizms that you do.  The noise blanker is
>worthless, and there is some kinda inter mod or Blow-by as people now
>seem to call it in the reciever.  Also, I'm getting tired of the XMITER
>seqquencing of relays - in other words, you hit the CW key, and it takes
>probably 500 miliseconds for full pwr RF - probably cuz the xmitr starts
>to xmit B4 the ant relay is closed, so the ALC holds back.  You probably
>know what I mean - if not - write back and I'll describe a simple test
>to demonstrate that phenomana ....
>
>Well, anywho I'm thinking of sending it into Cerritos for the PIN diode
>mod during this contest offseason.
>
>73 - Kevin - WA8ZDT - K8LX
>


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