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noise well above the receiver noise. This
doesn't show up in lab testing, but can make
a dif ference with an antenna connected —
especially on the bands lower in frequency
than 14 MHz.
Just why the main receiver has two IPO
levels is unclear. The
setting routes the
IPO2
signal directly to the first mixer. The manual
says only that the
setting "improves
IPO1
the IPO." The radio also has twin preamps,
and Yaesu recommends using
the higher bands (there are three levels of
attenuation as well). I found no occasions
when I needed to use
PREAMP2
the attenuator came in handy.
SO2R in a Box!
A growing number of contesters are
adopting the single operator/two radio
(SO2R) operating model. The SO2R shack
utilizes two transceivers. The main trans-
ceiver is the "run radio" for calling CQ;
the secondary transceiver is the "multiplier
radio" for tuning around. The typical SO2R
setup also employs separate antennas for
each transceiver.
The FT
5000 opens the door to SO2R
DX
with a single box and, if desired, just one
antenna. Both receivers can use the same
antenna at the same time, although with four
antenna ports on the rear apron, they don't
have to. While running SO2R you can still
log contacts as though you were using one
radio. Swapping the transmit VFO from B
to A lets your logger record the contact on
the correct band.
The Stats
Subjective observations aside, the num-
bers tell the big story here. Don't be misled
by nomenclature. Both FT
5000D receiv-
DX
ers outperform the FT
9000MP's roughly
DX
equivalent receivers in terms of dynamic
range and IP3.
For Receiver A, at the where-it-really-
matters 2 kHz spacing, the two-tone third-
order IMD dynamic range at 14 MHz is
just as good as at 20 kHz spacing. In all
cases, IMD dynamic range was well over
100 dB. This is the receiver with a 9 MHz
first IF and narrow roofing filters, currently
the hot setup for top-of-the-line close-in
dynamic range. One interesting phenomenon
was noted during the testing. The sensitivity
(MDS) of receiver A lowered by a few dB
after the radio had been in use for a few hours.
This did not change the excellent measured
dynamic performance. This represents excel-
lent real-world performance, which holds up
right through 6 meters!
For Receiver B, with a VHF IF and without
the narrow roofing filters, the worst-case dy-
namic range was 88 dB on 14 MHz at 2 kHz
spacing; all other numbers were in the 90s, the
best being 98 dB on 14 MHz at 5 kHz spacing,
yielding an IP3 of +25 dBm.
From December 2010 QST © ARRL
Table 1
Yaesu FT
Manufacturer's Specifications
Frequency coverage: Receive, 0.03-60 MHz;
transmit, 1.8-2, 3.5-4, 5.3305, 5.3465, 5.3665,
5.3715, 5.4035, 7-7.3, 10.1-10.15, 14-14.35,
18.068-18.168, 21-21.44, 24.89-24.99, 28-29.7,
50-54 MHz.
Power consumption at 117 V ac: receive,
no signal, 70 VA; signal present, 80 VA,
transmit, 200 W output, 720 VA.
for
PREAMP1
Modes of operation: SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY,
PKT.
Receiver
, although
SSB/CW sensitivity: 2.4 kHz bandwidth,
10 dB S+N/N: 0.5-1.8 MHz, 2.0 µV;
1.8-30 MHz, 0.2 µV (Amp 2); 50-54 MHz,
1.25 µV (Amp 2). Preamp not available
below 1.8 MHz.
Noise figure: Not specified.
AM sensitivity: 6 kHz bandwidth, 10 dB S+N/N:
0.5-1.8 MHz, 6 µV; 1.8-30 MHz, 2 µV (Amp 2);
6 meters, 1 µV (Amp 2).
FM sensitivity: 15 kHz bandwidth, 12 dB SINAD:
0.1-30 MHz, 0.5 µV (Amp 2); 50-54 MHz,
0.35 µV (Amp 2)
Spectral display sensitivity: Not specified.
Blocking gain compression: Not specified.
Reciprocal Mixing (500 Hz BW): Not specified.
ARRL Lab Two-Tone IMD Testing (300 Hz bandwidth, 300 Hz roofing filter)**
Band/Preamp
3.5 MHz Off
14 MHz/Off
14 MHz/Pre 1
14 MHz/Pre 2
14 MHz/Off
14 MHz/Off
50 MHz/Off
Second-order intercept point: Not specified.
DSP noise reduction: Not specified.
Notch filter depth: Not specified.
FM two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range:
Not specified.
5000, serial number 00020034
DX
Spacing
Input Level
20 kHz
–17 dBm
–11 dBm
20 kHz
–12 dBm
–5 dBm
0 dBm
20 kHz
–24 dBm
–22 dBm
20 kHz
–36 dBm
–22 dBm
5 kHz
–12 dBm
–6 dBm
0 dBm
2 kHz
–12 dBm
–6 dBm
0 dBm
20 kHz
–14 dBm
–8 dBm
Measured in the ARRL Lab
Receive and transmit, as specified.
Receive, no signal, 61 VA; receive signal
present, max audio, 66 VA; transmit,
481 VA at 200 W RF output.
As specified.
Receiver Dynamic Testing,
Receiver "A"
Noise floor (MDS), 500 Hz bandwidth,
600 Hz roofing filter:
Preamp
Off
1
2
(dBm) (dBm) (dBm)
0.137 MHz –116
—
—
0.505 MHz –117
—
—
1.0 MHz
–118
—
—
3.5 MHz
–126
–136
–143
14 MHz
–126
–136
–142
50 MHz
–120
–131
–140
14 MHz, preamp off/1/2: 21/11/5 dB
10 dB (S+N)/N, 1-kHz, 30% modulation,
9 kHz filter, 15 kHz roofing filter:
1.0 MHz
8.60 µV
3.8 MHz
0.47 µV (Preamp 2 on)
50 MHz
0.59 µV (Preamp 2 on)
For 12 dB SINAD, preamp 2 on:
29 MHz
0.22 µV
52 MHz
0.23 µV
–115 dBm maximum with optional
SM-5000 station monitor.
Gain compression, 500 Hz bandwidth,
600 Hz roofing filter:
20 kHz offset
5/2 kHz offset
Preamp off/1/2
Preamp off
3.5 MHz 136*/146/142 dB 136*/136* dB
14 MHz
136*/146/142 dB 136*/136* dB
50 MHz
130*/141/137 dB 130*/127 dB
20/5/2 kHz offset: –109/–109/–104 dBc.
Measured
Measured Calculated
IMD Level
IMD DR
–126 dBm
109 dB
–97 dBm
–126 dBm
114 dB
–97 dBm
–84 dBm
–136 dBm
112 dB
–97 dBm
–143 dBm
107 dB
–97 dBm
–126 dBm
114 dB
–97 dBm
–82 dBm
–126 dBm
114 dB
–97 dBm
–82 dBm
–120 dBm
106 dB
–97 dBm
14 MHz, Preamp off/1/2: +65/+71/+71 dBm.
Variable, 30 dB maximum.
Manual: >70 dB, auto: >70 dB.
Attack time: 60 ms.
20 kHz offset, Preamp 2: 29 MHz,
100 dB
†
; 52 MHz, 96 dB
†
.
10 MHz channel spacing: 52 MHz, 91 dB.
IP3
+38 dBm
+32 dBm
+45 dBm
+41 dBm
+42 dBm
+34 dBm
+28 dBm
+18 dBm
+16 dBm
+45 dBm
+40 dBm
+41 dBm
+45 dBm
+40 dBm
+41 dBm
+39 dBm
+37 dBm
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