Bill Evans
2003-05-21 14:02:53 UTC
After many, many months of studying all pertinent
reflectors, reading reviews in various magazines and talking
to users, I decided to purchase a Yaesu FT-100D for
(primarily) mobile and 454/144/432 operation at my lake
cottage.
However, after operating mobile for many years with a
Kenwood TS-690S/AT, I realize how important an
easy-to-implement, wide-range, autotuner function is - even
when qsying just a few kHz on a band like 80 m. The Icom
IC-706 models offer terrific capabilities in this regard,
when used with both Icom and aftermarket tuners (which
duplicate the Icom remote tuner interface). Just hit the
IC-706 "Tune" button and away you go. Rig mode switches to
CW, power is cut to 10 Watts, remote autotuner is activated
and in less than 5 seconds you are ready to go on the new
frequency with an excellent match.
However, after studying the technical info on the LDG RT-11
and W4RT web sites, I have to conclude there are a few
impediments in achieving equivalent operation with the
FT-100D and aftermarket autotuner products that clearly
outperform the Yaesu FC-20.
I do not wish to use an ATAS-100, FC-20 or any of the Yaesu
products made for the FT-100D. While easy to use, they are
clearly not high performers on more difficult bands like 80
m and 160 m and have limited impedance range. (Yes, I
operate mobile on 160!)
Please correct me if I am wrong, but my investigations
suggest that a combination of an FT-100D, LDG RT-11 remote
autotuner and W4RT OTT-100D "one-touch tune" for the FT-100D
still has the following limitations:
1. The OTT-100D "keys" the FT-100D into CW but does not
diminish the output power to 10 Watts. One must first use
the menu system to diminish the carrier power. The LDG tuner
does not want to "see" more than 25 Watts during the tuning
process, otherwise damage may occur. Can one be sure to
remember to decrease power before tuning the antenna, then
increase it again afterwards??
2. The OTT-100D does not appear to place the RT-11 into
"autotune" mode. One must activate "tune" on the RT-11 via
its control interface. To do this from the driver position
would seem to require the LDG remote control panel, an added
expense and space occupant. (In my vehicle, the RT-11 and
body of the FT-100D would be in the trunk with the removable
head being installed at the driver position.)
There also appear to be interfacing problems with the
FT-100D and several high performance screwdriver antennas.
Control interfaces are "being developed" or "on the way".
Seems like Yaesu's determination to have FT-100D purchasers
use its antenna (ATAS-100) and autotune products (FC-20) has
resulted in interfacing problems to high-performance
autotuners and antennas that aren't there with the Icom or
Kenwood small, mobile rigs.
Please correct me if I've got this all wrong, as I'd love to
hear that the interfacing to an RT-11 can be done with
one-touch timing, including reduced CW power for tuning (25W
maximum) and a return to selected mode after the button
push - as is possible with other rigs.
Comments would be much welcomed.
Bill Evans
VE4UD
313 Carpathia Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3N 1T2
PH: (204) 489-7434
FAX: (204) 487-7199
< bevans-ElZOzcW6kOwsA/***@public.gmane.org >
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reflectors, reading reviews in various magazines and talking
to users, I decided to purchase a Yaesu FT-100D for
(primarily) mobile and 454/144/432 operation at my lake
cottage.
However, after operating mobile for many years with a
Kenwood TS-690S/AT, I realize how important an
easy-to-implement, wide-range, autotuner function is - even
when qsying just a few kHz on a band like 80 m. The Icom
IC-706 models offer terrific capabilities in this regard,
when used with both Icom and aftermarket tuners (which
duplicate the Icom remote tuner interface). Just hit the
IC-706 "Tune" button and away you go. Rig mode switches to
CW, power is cut to 10 Watts, remote autotuner is activated
and in less than 5 seconds you are ready to go on the new
frequency with an excellent match.
However, after studying the technical info on the LDG RT-11
and W4RT web sites, I have to conclude there are a few
impediments in achieving equivalent operation with the
FT-100D and aftermarket autotuner products that clearly
outperform the Yaesu FC-20.
I do not wish to use an ATAS-100, FC-20 or any of the Yaesu
products made for the FT-100D. While easy to use, they are
clearly not high performers on more difficult bands like 80
m and 160 m and have limited impedance range. (Yes, I
operate mobile on 160!)
Please correct me if I am wrong, but my investigations
suggest that a combination of an FT-100D, LDG RT-11 remote
autotuner and W4RT OTT-100D "one-touch tune" for the FT-100D
still has the following limitations:
1. The OTT-100D "keys" the FT-100D into CW but does not
diminish the output power to 10 Watts. One must first use
the menu system to diminish the carrier power. The LDG tuner
does not want to "see" more than 25 Watts during the tuning
process, otherwise damage may occur. Can one be sure to
remember to decrease power before tuning the antenna, then
increase it again afterwards??
2. The OTT-100D does not appear to place the RT-11 into
"autotune" mode. One must activate "tune" on the RT-11 via
its control interface. To do this from the driver position
would seem to require the LDG remote control panel, an added
expense and space occupant. (In my vehicle, the RT-11 and
body of the FT-100D would be in the trunk with the removable
head being installed at the driver position.)
There also appear to be interfacing problems with the
FT-100D and several high performance screwdriver antennas.
Control interfaces are "being developed" or "on the way".
Seems like Yaesu's determination to have FT-100D purchasers
use its antenna (ATAS-100) and autotune products (FC-20) has
resulted in interfacing problems to high-performance
autotuners and antennas that aren't there with the Icom or
Kenwood small, mobile rigs.
Please correct me if I've got this all wrong, as I'd love to
hear that the interfacing to an RT-11 can be done with
one-touch timing, including reduced CW power for tuning (25W
maximum) and a return to selected mode after the button
push - as is possible with other rigs.
Comments would be much welcomed.
Bill Evans
VE4UD
313 Carpathia Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3N 1T2
PH: (204) 489-7434
FAX: (204) 487-7199
< bevans-ElZOzcW6kOwsA/***@public.gmane.org >
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Get A Free Psychic Reading!
Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/aM1XQD/od7FAA/uetFAA/ELTolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Post message: FT100-***@public.gmane.org
Subscribe: FT100-subscribe-***@public.gmane.org
Unsubscribe: FT100-unsubscribe-***@public.gmane.org
List owner: FT100-owner-***@public.gmane.org
FAQ on WWW: http://www.k0lee.com/ft100faq.html
We are all a part of this Lets make it as good as possible.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/