FT980 HF multimode |
A beautiful classic radio. The metallic front panel with its two analogue meters, chrome buttons and knob skirts give it a look of richness. Receive audio makes for smooth and pleasant listening and transmit audio always brings compliments.
I bought mine used in 2007 and it has been well-used ever since. If you can find one, buy it and go back to the 80's to a 'real' radio when knobs were full-size and materials weren't spared for the bottom-line. |
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FT225RD 2m multimode |
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I like this old radio; it was inexpensive to buy, easy to work on and a pleasure to operate. It has a smooth two-speed VFO mechanism, and a low-noise tx and rx.
Many of the FT-225 boards are plug-in (some are double, others are single-sided), which makes it easy to make repairs. There are many references online to the "rare" memory module, but mine has it fitted. A true classic and a rare find. |
FT480 2m multimode mobile |
Another classic from Yaesu, a 10W/1W mobile set. This radio is the most colorful tranceiver in my posession: the S/PO-meter is made up of green, yellow and red LEDs, so reports are given in "Apples, Oranges, and Cherries"!
Designed before the days of lithium battery backup, it depends on an external 12V source to keep the memories. |
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TR2300 2m portable |
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This model in the Trio (Kenwood) range of "electronic handbags" was the first to incorporate a PLL synthesizer, giving full coverage of the 2m band in 25kHz steps. It has just 1W FM output, but a very good receiver, with very clear audio. |
FT690 6m multimode portable |
The 6m version of Yaesu's tremendously-popular range of battery-powered portable sets.
This one proves its worth during Es openings, when stations all over Europe can be contacted using just a few Watts! |
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FT290R 2m multimode portable |
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The FT-290R was the most sophisticated and compact multi-mode transceiver for the 2m band when it was first launched, with 100Hz resolution in its PLL sythesizer. The LCD display, ten memories, 2 VFOs, scanning of the band or memory channels, and receiver offset tuning made the FT-290R a significant breakthrough in technology when new to the market, and it's still a useful set 25 years on! |
FT7 HF transceiver |
The FT-7 is a solid-state 10W mobile HF rig from the late 1970s. It was primarily aimed at the mobile market, and was considered a "small" transceiver compared with others available at that time (but it is large by modern standards!)
It provides USB/LSB/CW operation on 10m, 15m, 20m, 40m, and 80m bands. Its receiver has excellent dynamic range and good close-in noise performance, which gives excellent results.
Nice to operate and a pleasure to listen to also. |
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SR9 2m receiver |
 | A Daiwa 2m FM monitor receiver incorporating full VFO coverage plus selectable crystal-controlled channels. |
FT708 UHF handie transceiver |
The Yaesu 708 dates from the early 1980s, when LCD displays were new-fangled technology.
Although large in comparison to today's handies, this model includes push-button frequency entry, DTMF keypad, scanning, ten memories, programmable repeater shifts, and even has provision for a CTCSS unit. |
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TR7010 2m SSB mobile transceiver |
 | An early 2m SSB mobile set, with limited frequency coverage using VXOs. |
IC22A 2m FM mobile transceiver |
A 22-channel crystal-controlled 10W mobile set from Icom. |  |
Liner2 SSB mobile |
 | Another 1970s SSB mobile set, this time from Belcom. It's basically a 10m FM set with a built-in 2m transverter. |
