Yaesu FT-990
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Yaesu FT-990 is a model line of amateur radio transceiver manufactured by the Yaesu Corporation in Japan from 1991 to 1999[1] It is a descendant of and shares many features with the Yaesu FT-1000. An expedition in 2009 by radio amateurs with callsign FT5GA[2] to the Glorioso Islands, in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, made use of two FT-990's despite each radio being more than ten years old. FT-990's have knobs and buttons, versus menu driven interfaces of some newer transceivers.
Description
The Yaesu FT-990 is a solid state transceiver with the following features:[3]
General
- General coverage receiver, tunes continuously from 100 kHz to 30 MHz
- Modes: AM, USB, LSB, CW, FM, FSK
- Controlled internally by six microprocessors
- Modular construction using removable epoxy boards
- Built-in switching AC power supply (115 V @ 8A or 230 V @ 4A)
- 90 memories, each one remembers frequency, mode and bandwidth
- Iambic CW keyer
- Multi-function illuminated analog S-meter
- Computer Aided Transceiver (CAT) allows computer control via a serial cable with a DIN jack
- Notch filter, IF shift, noise blanker, and a digitally switched capacity audio filter
- Independent receiver incremental tuning ("RIT") and transmitter incremental tuning ("XIT")
- Two independent VFOs to support split operation
Transmitter
- Supported amateur bands (meters): 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10
- 100 Watts, adjustable from 10W to 100W; up to 25W in AM mode
- RF Speech Processor
- Automatic antenna tuner
Receiver
Triple-conversion superheterodyne with IF frequencies of 47.21 MHz, 10.94 MHz and 455 kHz
Sensitivity
- SSB and CW: < 0.25 μV (1.8 - 30 MHz)
- AM: < 1 μV (1.8 - 30 MHz)
Selectivity (-6 dB down)
- No button selected: 6.0 kHz
- 2.4 kHz button: 2.2 kHz (all modes except FM)
- 2.0 kHz button: 1.8 kHz (all modes except AM and FM)
- 500 Hz button: 500 Hz (CW, RTTY, Packet)
- 250 Hz button: 240 Hz (CW, RTTY)
Note: the 250 Hz CW bandwidth and the 2.0 kHz SSB bandwidth require installation of optional 8-pole crystal filters.
Pricing
When new in 1991, the FT-990 had an MSRP list price of $2399.[4]
Model Variations
ROM Versions. Earlier models have non-volatile ROM memory installed with software version 1.2, while later models have version 1.3. The software cannot be upgraded by the user and requires a new ROM chip. The chips have been discontinued by Yaesu and are not available.
- TRX Manager (http://trx-manager.com/) and DxLab (http://www.dxlabsuite.com/) supports the Rom Version 1.2.
DC Version. FT-990's were made in an "AC version" (with power supply) and a "DC version" (no power supply).
References
- ↑ RigPix Database.
- ↑ FT5GA, "Glorieuses 2009"
- ↑ FT-990 Operating Manual, Yaesu Musen Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
- ↑ QST, QST Magazine Product Review, November 1991, pg. 47-50.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yaesu Musen. |
- Yaesu Musen Co., Ltd.
- FT-990 User Group
- Fox Tango Yaesu User Group
- Yaesu Museum, a fan site not affiliated with Yaesu Musen Co.
- FT-990 information at RigReference.com
- Radio DX Land