[TenTec] ARRL Review of FT-9000

[John Rippey]

I wouldn't be so hard on the QST reviewers. I think a careful reading of 
all of the comments provide a pretty good sense of the 9000's performance, 
ditto the Orion review of some months back.

I was particularly struck by the comments in the 9000 review regarding 
clicks/thumps in sending CW (I assume, but do not know, that the comments 
have to do with audio rather than over-the-air clicks). Every single Yaesu 
I've owned has clicked/thumped in the headphones to a degree that is 
unacceptable (to me, at least), and it has nothing to do with running semi 
or full break-in. Also, I just don't get why this unpleasant characteristic 
is passed on from one model to another. Enough is enough. Then, of course, 
there are the over-the-air clicks. I think in the case of recent Mark V's 
at least this has been fixed. Don't know about the 9000.

My Argonaut V in contrast sounds pure as can be. I don't get it, unless, as 
W4ZV has pointed out in a recent post, some people have damaged hearing and 
the Yaesu engineers are in that group.  But, hey, W4PA reportedly attends 
rock concerts and look at the results from Sevierville. It's all very 
confusing.

73,
John, W3ULS