YAESU FT-DX3000

NEW RADIO!

Ever since the Yaesu FT-1000MP left the shack, I've kinda missed having a big "traditional buttons, dials and knobs" radio to play with. Most of my radio time is spent outdoors running QRP but Winter is coming and I have decided that I want a full-size rig in the shack.

Looking around, there were lots of choices, not least of all the IC-7300 but one major consideration is the high Noise Floor at my QTH and according to my research, the Yaesu FT-DX3000 is better at quietening that noise down than the 7300.


The 7300 seems to be everyone's sweetheart right now and it was a very difficult radio to turn up my nose at, but ultimately, I needed that extra quieting and although the 7300 has a superb hi-res screen with panadapter and waterfall, I will be happy to use the DX3000's IF OUT to feed my RSP1A and have a BIG panadapter and waterfall on my PC screen.

I had originally considered the cheaper FT-DX1200 and found it very difficult to find a comparative list of features to help me make my mind up. Even some radio-stores didn't know all the differences, so as usual, it's down to the consumer to do the research. So here it is...

Over and above the DX1200, the FT-DX3000 has the following benefits/features...

• Better receiver architecture closely linked to the FT-DX5000/9000. The DX1200 is closer related to the FT-450 and 991 architecture.
   
• IF-OUT.  The 1200 has no IF-OUT socket. 
   
• USB connectivity. This makes connection to a PC very straightforward!
   
• SOUNDCARD built-in. Simplifies the digital modes of operation.
   
• FFT1 CARD built-in. Allows encoding/decoding of RTTY/PSK1 on-screen. Also provides decoding of CW and Auto-Tunes the CQ signal.
   
• REAL-TIME SCOPE. Shows real-time scope reading like the 9000.
   
• THREE ANTENNA SOCKETS.
   
• SEPARATE FREQUENCY DISPLAY.
   
•  SEPARATE FH-2 KEYPAD
   
• LINE IN/OUT
   
• 13.8v OUT
   
• EXTERNAL ALC OUT
   
• RX OUT
   

Although it has a built-in ATU, it's pretty useless in that it will only work with a 3:1 SWR - anything worse than that and you can forget it! Well that's not gonna cut the mustard with my G5RV, so I'll have to invest in a good external ATU.

Oh and just look at Amazon's price (UK Aug 2019). I always considered Amazon to be pretty competitive but this proves otherwise.....

Just arrived..........

UPDATE: 

Since writing this post over 2yrs ago, I upgraded to a higher-end radio and never came back here to complete a review of the radio - which I'm annoyed about!

Let me start by saying that the FT-DX3000 is one of the most enjoyable radios that I've ever owned. I actually miss this radio and have even thought of buying another one on the secondhand market. Why?? Well it just did everything effortlessly.

The flagship  Yaesu 101D which I bought just annoyed the hell out of me!! The DX3000 just sat in the background doing its job and I probably didn't fully appreciate (then) how good it actually was for the money. If I get another one I will review it fully.

73, Tom, M7MCQ

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