Well, I just joined the blown HF finals club. :-( 5J series (August 2015), bought from R&L a week ago.
The radio was working beautifully through Friday night and much of today, then I lost output power on the lower HF bands, and had about a dozen watts max on 12 and 10 meters.
The antenna I've been using is resonant on 40m, which is where I was operating It has an LDG RT-100 coupler, which flattens 40 to 1:1 quite nicely, and lets me use the antenna on higher bands with good (<2:1) SWR.
What few tuning cycles I did were in AM mode at 5 watts, which I do with my FT-dx3000 all the time. The 991 always worked after a tuning cycle ... but it died out in the middle of a QSO.
I checked the output using a good dummy load and external meter. I also used the internal meter in ID mode; no more than 2 amps drawn on the lower bands. VDD showed within the normal band (~13.8V).
I'm going to call R&L on Monday and see what they're willing to do for me. Right now, I'm so disappointed that I'd accept a refund if they offer it. -Ed- AB8OJ
www.FT991a.com
Yaesu FT-991(A) Users Group (groups.io). Discussion Group
Yaesu FT-991(A) Users Group (groups.io). Discussion Group
www.FT991a.com
The bown finals issue is a real mystery. Why do some blow and others dont. I dont think now its when the "faulty" ones were made - it seems completly random. My FT-991 has been going well since early June with not a single fault and its the same with a lot of others. I hope that one day the real reason will be revealed. I am very satisfied with it by the way and its the radio I most use out of the three I have here (the other two are a TS2000 and a Ic-7100).
ReplyDeleteLyn GW8JLY
my 991 is running and running and running. I did the Bias correction and everything is gonig well. The Rig is used a lot in digital modes. Even on full power!
ReplyDelete73 de Uli DG7NFX
Well this could be interesting I just bought an FT-991 from a small very highly rated Yaesu dealer. It was their demo unit and I got it for a great price. I don't have it yet but I know the serial number starts with 5J. I was told it comes with full warranty so my plan is to put it through a year of heavy use and see what happens. I like Yaesu, they have to do better if they want to keep Icom from taking over the world.
DeleteAs a lover of Elecraft and Ten-Tec, I nonetheless have to say . . .
ReplyDeleteIn 35 years of owning Yaesu products, I have NEVER experienced a blown final. This includes . . . all purchased new . . . FT-101B, FT-101E, FT-757GX, FT-1000D, FT-100D, FT-897D, FT-857D, VL-1000, VX5R, FT-7800R, and most recently, FT-991. Thirty-five years of daily operating ... not a single PA problem.
Moreover, now that I think about it, in 55 years as a ham I haven't experienced a blown final with ANY rig (including those with sweep tubes and 6146s).
If FT-991 finals are in peril, I suspect the reasons will turn out to be one or more of the following . . .
-- Operator ignorance (at various levels)
-- Power Supply problems
-- Issues with peripherals
-- Poor construction and/or deterioration of antennas and transmission lines
-- Leaving rigs connected to antennas when off-the-air
-- Poor cabling and connectors
-- Attempting to get more than 100 watts output
-- Failure to understand operator manuals
-- Others I can't think of at the moment
Given my personal experience with Yaesu, I just can't buy the notion that the company is now installing inferior PAs. They're too smart, too market sensitive, been around too long, and, being Motorola-owned, are too savvy to suddenly cheapen that particular component.
My opinion only . . . and I could be wrong!
73,
Kent K9ZTV
Hello ... Kent has some very strong points. I am thinking that maybe some corners are being cut during manufacturing like incorrect bias settings and/or lack of ample thermal paste ... Just some thoughts , I am guessing that when I get to purchasing a 991 , I'll be also buying a pair of output PA transistor to be ready for a failure .... ,73 and Merry Christmas !! Ron KA0RYT
DeleteYup, think you're right, Steve.
DeleteMotorola still owns Vertex Standard but Yaesu Musen is now an independent company as of 2012.
I'd be interested in knowing who (singular or plural, private or public) owns them now.
73,
Kent K9ZTV
The japanese family, that owned vertex initially, bought back the radio division. This happened prior to the earthquake-tsunami-fukishima power plant meltdown.
DeleteCarl K0YCR
Interesting comment about mods by Yaesu... The radio I received yesterday from a straight trade just got back from the service center before it was shipped to me. The original owner stated that they did the latest firmware, mods to the ATU and PA and adjusted the bias.. He was not given reasons nor details. It would be nice to know what was done and why. Also this bias adjustment...Is it needed on ALL radios shipped before a specific serial number. I have a early radio. The original owner got it in Jan of the year. I think from looking at the serial number it is S/N 430.... If anyone knows more about mods and the bias adjustment, I would like to hear more.... Unfortunately I do not believe Yaesu is like Elecraft and have people monitor and jump in. Would be nice if they supplied customer service like that, but know it is not so...
ReplyDeleteSo far in the last 24 hrs the radio is still working... Nice radio...
73 Harry K7ZOV
I have a used FT991 used it on WSPR and JT modes all summer 30w all the time txing day in day out no issues at all. fans run fine no smells. Blowing finals IMO doesn't just happen by chance..
ReplyDeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteIn october 2nd I purchased my first FT991.
Before I was using IC7000, IC706, Uniden2020, 3 various home brew transceivers, also IC2KL 500W Linear.
Above equipment never have failed. IC7000 was switched on almost all the time for 3 years.
I purchased FT991 in October last year and connected it to the same environment: antennas, power supply etc...
I am using Multi-band Inv Vee for 80 - 20m, GP7DX multi-band GP for 40 - 6m. 401m slooper on 160m SWR's OK, on 160, 80 and 40m depended on frequency need to tune with antenna tuner. GP7DX on 20m to 6m can work even without tuner.
After approx 10 days i got first failure.
Symptom was no output power on all the bands HF, VHF, UHF. Internal Id meter (Tx mode) showed 20A but power supply Current meter approx 6A. ALC - maximum reading. I suspect that it was just internal measuring system problem.
Radio returned to the dealer, sent to Germany for repair.
When radio was in service i was using my IC706 without any problems.
Returned after approx 3 weeks. I was told that both HF and VHF/UHF PA modules has been replaced.
I disconnected my IC706 and connected back newly repaired FT991.
It broke again after 15 minutes of usage, i think during 3rd attempt to transmit on CW.
Same symptoms as before. I really do not understand how it was possible to brake both PA modules (HF and UHV/VHF) trying to transmit only on HF !!!!!?????
Radio returned back to the dealer. Sent to factory service to Germany.
Dealer decided to replace radio with new warranty start - Thanks a lot!!!, So I got new radio on Nov 10.
New radio behaved a bit different than previous one. I.e. Lower bias currents.
In the shop i was told to modify a bit my antenna systems, so I replaced feeders to a new ones, installed baluns to prevent HF to come to the shack. Put additional ferrite rings to USB cable, power supply cables etc. The suspect was that HF interfere USB.
New radio was working perfectly till the beginning of February.
First output power on HF was reduced by approx 20 - 40 % depending on the band. On 50MHz, 2m and 70 cm radio had full power.
During next 2 weeks problem grew and drive was reduced to 2.5W on 160m, 8W on 80m.... up to even 60W on 12m. 80W 6m and no power decrease on 2m and 70cm.
Power alsso depended on mode. The lowest power on AM.
Radio returned to the dealer, sent to service, awaiting for repair. They told that Yaesu service installs modifications to prevent problems, so maybe problem is known and cure is ready - I hope.
So again returned to old IC706, since I have sold IC7000 just after purchase FT991.
So 2 radios, 3 failures in 5 months so far.
It is great radio for reasonable price, but much much delicate than radios i used before, and seems to have "childhood illnesses".
I think to come back to ICOM radios, however I do not see adequate model with similar price, so i gonna continue with FT991 and searching for possibility to have it always under warranty or kind of support contract or insurance.
73's - Marcin SP5IOU Poland Warsaw.