Yaesu FT-890/AT: Noise Blanker
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- This video features my 1991 Yaesu FT-890/AT. It was the first HF tranaceiver I purchased. I still consider it my “old friend.” I made so many contacts with this radio and a simple G5RV antenna. It includes an internal, wide-range, automatic antenna tuner, so it can tune the G5RV to just about any frequency from 10 through 80 meters.
The receive audio is still unrivaled in my opinion. And I still get compliments about the TX audio. This radio has no TX equalization or DSP. It just has straight ahead great 2-way communications quality audio. I run the mic in switch position 2.
In this video I demonstrate the effectiveness of the noise blanker in this 1991 transceiver. The noise blanker beats any noise blanker from the current array of transceivers. This should serve to prove how we sometimes get fooled by clever marketing buzzwords and an assumption that newer must automatically be better.
The truth is that the manufacturers want to increase their profit margin. It is less expensive to put more of the traditional features on an IC chip. And, if we accept the degraded performance, the manufacturers win. Older hams know the difference. But those new to amateur radio won’t have a frame of reference that allows them to know the difference.
The cost of using discrete analog components is more than the cost to program a chip that will be installed into the radio in support of other functions, as in DSP. However, the more we except that newer must automatically be better, the less inclined the manufacturers will be to truly equip the transceivers with the best version of every function, including noise blanker and automatic notch filter.
This makes me think of the ICOM IC-7851. How can ICOM charge $14,000 for a radio? Well, they didn’t cut any corners with that radio. They installed the best roofing filters they could buy for an up-conversion receiver. Up-conversion moves the First IF to a frequency outside of the ham radio and SWL bands. But great roofing filters for 40 to 70 MHz are extremely costly. Some would say cost-prohibitive. But ICOM went all out for other features as well. Yaesu might have transceivers that outperform the IC-7851 as far as dynamic range goes, but they achieved it with down-conversion, which blocked access to certain SWL frequencies. But Yaesu was able to include roofing filters that yield great performance at a lower price.
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73, de N4HNH - Наука та технологія
So nice to see some love for the older rigs!! So many newbies to Ham Radio feel they can’t do “less” than an IC-7300 or an FT-891! In the real world, the difference between them and the older rigs just doesn’t matter, at least to get started. I’ve been surprised to see how many people are finding TS-530S in swap shops or antique/knick-knack shops for next to nothing. Even the older top shelf rigs are priced well and perform really well. Half of my 4 rigs are pre-1980.
What you said. Thank you for your comment. 73, Doug
They are easy to repair aa well.
It was known as the “mini 1000D”. Stellar all around!!
Yes, indeed! The baby brother. My brother has one. His first rig. My friend Vince has one. His first rig. We plan to get on the air sometime soon and have a QSO with our 890s. 73, de N4HNH
This was my first new “modern” rig back in the day. Had the 900 too. Then the Kenwood 570D. Can’t beat these!
I will not part with my FT-890/AT. Many wonderful memories with that radio and a G5RV antenna. 73, de N4HNH
Great to see a classic vintage radio perform . I fire up my Kenwood TS-430s for cw at least a couple times a week to make QSOs , it is not he ftdx10 but it still is a great receiver for beginners, As well as seasoned hams. Also I just purchased another radio, a kenwood Ts830s to add to the collection. Yes , I know I am a hamoholic 😂. Doug , Do you know if the ft-890 has an rca jack out to incorporate a SDR pan adapter to a computer monitor? I have seen videos for the kenwood ts-830s with sdr pan adapters. 😊
Hi Doug! I think the FT-890 only has a RCA TX Gnd, but I will double check.
I bought one of these from a guy about a year ago for 200 dollars. It's mint. Original manual and repair guide. It's a fun radio to have in my stable.
You got an incredible deal.
Which radio has the same NB as the Yaesu FT-890AT? Thanks
Other radios from the era when the FT-890/AT. There was a family of similar design architecture, much like today, with the FTdx101D/MP, FTdx10, and FT-710 AESS. Back in the 1990s there was the FT-840, FT-890, FT-990, and FT-1000.
Its a shame some of the newer radios dont have a working NB like this some of them are ussless and dont work . Example My ftdx10 NB is hopeless and none functional well at least mine is. I have an Anan 8000dle NB hopelessly none functional I'm sure there is even more radio out there that have non functional NB The NB on the ft890 sure works well. Thanks for posting
I wrote in the video description why we are getting these digital noise blankers. It’s partially our fault.
@@n4hnhradio I agree with your information in the description. Sorry, I should have read it first, I just went straight for the video. :) I had the FT840, another gem still going strong, Thanks again
The 840 was very similar to the 890, as you know. I don’t know why Yaesu does that. They make two radios so similar, without a big difference in price. They have done it again with the FTdx10 and the FT-710.
For me, I'd go with this old rigs. Why? Modern radios are all menu driven, if the mother board conks out, you're done. I maybe wrong, but that's just my opinion. It's no difference to modern cars, if the computer box fails, you ain't goin' no where. Unlike them old school muscle cars, as long as thers electricity and fuel, you're out on the open roads.
If I could combine the low phase noise of the FTdx10, FTdx5000, or FTdx101D with the analog noise blanker of the FT-890/AT, and throw in the wide-range internal ATU from the FT-890/AT, I would be fat, dumb, and happy.
@@n4hnhradio Hahaha, you sure made me laugh with that sir and you're right, combine all the best features from other rigs into one radio, what more can you ask for.....
I guess it’s only a dream.
@@n4hnhradio Well, who knows, maybe one of these days. But I guess you're right, as part of marketing strategy, it woudn't be wise for them to make such a radio. Again, thank you sir, DW1QEW.
I have been using my trusty FT-890 since buying it new in 1993. One of the last Japan-made Yaesu rigs.
Although my location restricts me to be using a vertical Max 2000 antenna, nevertheless this rig's internal tuner can tune 20 meters through 10 meters and can work the DX with no problem when propagation conditions permit. I generally keep my output at 50 watts which is enough to make contact with the DX.
Personally, I find the noise blanker doesn' t do much to reduce the ambient band noise that is problematic in every city, however, so with SSB I use the trick of pressing the notch filter ON as well as adjusting the shift control to bring down the noise. Results vary depending on the band, of course.
The noise blanker isn’t designed to deal with wideband noise. It is designed to track and blank pulse type noise, such as power line noise at 50/60 Hz, or automotive ignition pulses. DNR is the tool to address galactic noise (QRN).
I’m glad to hear of another 890 in operation. I have an affection for that radio.
If you can’t find a ft 890 the next best thing possibly slightly cheaper is the yaesu ft 840 , my first hf transceiver very similar but no ATU built in , great simple transceiver that does the business 👍
Another great radio. One of the VIP Patreon team members has a FT-900 as his emergency radio.
73, de N4HNH
this was the first new HF rig I bought in 1993 or 1994. It replaced a used FT-747. I loved it and also ran it mobile
I bought mine in 1991. It was what I could afford at the time. Yaesu tends to offer the best for the money each time I shop for a radio. While it might have been the radio that fit my budget, I have never regretted it.
73, de N4HNH
Did you notice a more pleasant audio being pre DSP?
Yes! But, just like my ears adapted to CD, after vinyl, and MP3, after CD, I’m okay with DSP. But, I’m spoiled by the Yaesu DSP, especially in the FTdx5000MP and the FTdx10.
FT-450D is another good first radio.
Yes indeed. And it’s a great choice if your eyesight is limited, like mine.
73, de N4HNH
NO its really not
The 450-D doesn’t have the range of DSP that the newer radios have. It doesn’t have the parametric equalizers that that newer radios have. But it is still a good starter radio. I would choose a FT-891 over a FT-450D if I was looking for a
@@n4hnhradio The noise floor on the 450 is awful not recommended
I like them far more then the new sdrs. 73 de OE3SZE
People are too easily fooled by the color touchscreens. I remind myself that this is radio, not television.
73, de N4HNH