(Splitting out from the "File uploaded..." header)
"One thing I found in all the FT-980's I found (5) is the S meter is very scotch.? I hate giving a strong signal that only reaches S5 or 6 when I get a 5/9.? So raise t5he S meter slightly.? I have an older IC-740 I use that is too generous as a standard and usually split the difference."
Dave and all,
Agreed WRT S-meter. This is a function of meter amp circuit linearity and could probably be addressed by a re-design of said circuit. I spent a bit of time at the bench over Christmas break with 3 of 4 FT-980s and a service monitor w/ calibrated RF generator. Best I can do with the three is S-8 indicated @ 50uV applied, S-9 @ 100uV applied and 40/S-9 @ 10,000uV applied; this at 14MHz. A/B tests with my TS-930S on the same antenna show the '980 tracks within an S unit everywhere; usually they're right on the mark at anything above S-8. FWIW, I can turn the generator to its lowest setting (< .01uV) and the FT-980s still hear it.
Another "challenging" S meter setup lies within the NRD-515. Above S-7, those meter circuits and meters track EXACTLY for a 6 or 10dB increase or reduction in applied signal; below that it's Forrest Gump's box of chocolates. Rob Sherwood and I have gone back and forth about the subject at length, and some of that discussion may make its way onto a JRC reflector at some point.
In regards to:
"Chip K7JA told me at Dayton in 1994 that the 980 had the best receiver of any Yaesu.? You just had to ignore the phase noise which I never found a problem.
73 Dave K4JRB"
I played around with my 40/75M '980 last night for a bit on the low end of 40. Lots of CW out and about to allow one test the various filtering functions. There was someone whose keyer was stuck on "dah", either intentionally or not. Less than 100Hz away was an S-4 DX signal. 600Hz filter engaged, notch on the offender, APF used to peak the desired signal. I heard an absolutely pure, perfectly readable tone with no hints of interference or modulation from the nearby neighbor - or from anyone or anything else on the band for that matter. Granted, on SSB these rigs could probably benefit from a cascaded filter arrangement (as some of my others employ) but they're great on CW and FSK in terms of interference suppression.
A question for the group at large: Does anyone notice "phase noise" with these rigs, and if so under what conditions?
73 - Fred, N8YX
