[Yaesu] Anyone else with FT1500M spurious output?

Wed, 2 Apr 2003 17:28:10 -0500

AES Milwaukee confirmed that the units tested in their shop all exhibited
the same spurious condition.
If you are using one of these radios in data service, APRS, etc., you
probably should get it next to a spectrum analyzer.
Bob, W3PT
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of Bob Marzari
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 10:01 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Yaesu] Anyone else with FT1500M spurious output?
Our club, the Central Pennsylvania Repeater Association, Inc. owns two
FT1500M xcvrs. One is used for APRS and the other for our IRLP node. Both
are less than a year old.
The FT1500M used for APRS was kerchunking repeaters with packet bursts for a
30 mile radius when it was tracked down to our APRS node.
The radio was swapped out with another brand and brought to my shop. Viewing
it's output on an HP-8920 analyzer found that on the "initial key up" it had
spurs almost as strong as the desired frequency across a wide portion of the
VHF spectrum. It is not necessary to have a TNC connected to the ACC port to
produce the problem. Just keying the microphone in a rhythm like a TNC will
produce the problem.
It is still under warranty so I sent it to the CA Yaesu facility in the
beginning of January 2003. I explained the problem and they sent it back
stating in writing that "There is nothing wrong with the radio." In fact, I
had my spectrum analyzer set too wide and I should narrow it down to 25kHz.
:)

I put the radio back on the HP-8920 and the spurs were still there. I video
taped the screen changing the span out to 10MHz showing that the radio is
indeed spurious. Packed up the radio and sent it back again.
This time there was no saying they could not witness the problem. However,
it is still not resolved and after almost 3 months we are still without the
radio.
At this point I decided to look at the other FT1500M that we use for our
IRLP node. It too exhibits the same spurious output on initial key up.
Other club members that own FT1500M models brought them to club meetings and
every one of them tested spurious.
Yaesu tells me they are waiting for Japan to make a decision.
I would not be writing this if Yaesu service would have resolved this
problem in a timely manner. And yes, I too have called the main switchboard
number, got the recording, pressed zero and waited 3 or more minutes on MY
nickel and no one picked up.
73
Bob, W3PT
Moderator: Ray Brown, KB�STN
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