Yaesu FT-301D reviews

I bought new a FT 301D with all accessories available at the time. (1976) It was purchased through Mike Cahoon of Cahoon Electronics. It was delivered at the Dayton Hamvention supposedly it was the very first one sold in the USA. It was one of the best rigs I have ever owned even until now. It was basically a solid state version of a Collins KWM-2A Which I owned at the time and still do. This radio was the first solid state rig over 100 watts output. The radio was way ahead of it's time using 3SK201 dual gate mosfets in the front end for a fantastic receiver. Like it's Grand Father the KWM-2A it has a tuned preselector in the front end making it very hot on the frequency it is operating on and rejecting adjacent signals up and down the band. It was made in several versions including the D version meaning Digital Readout, the S version which is Low Power Transmit, the Plain version which was full power with Analog Readout. I have not been able to determine what the A version is in difference to any other one, I do know however it was made and almost any combination could be ordered I have seen and owned almost all of them except the A version, I currently have a 301D, 301, and a 301 SD along with the Accompanying Scope and Power Supply Speaker Console and external VFO. There were other accessories such as a Phone Patch, Antenna Tuner, and Digital Clock ID Timer Power Supply Speaker Console. These were and are fine radios on all bands they cover, which incidentally is not the WARC bands but it does have fixed crystal positions for MARS and CAP or other such service. Here is the Yaesu description: The Yaesu FT-301 Series is an impressive HF transceiver covering 160 to 10 meters (and WWV 5 MHz receive). This solid state radio features two 2SC2100 finals. Power input is 200 watts PEP SSB, 200 watts CW (50% duty cycle) and 50 watts on AM/FSK. It covers the main (non-WARC) amateur bands including: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. The frequency range is: 1.9-2.4, 3.5-4, 7-7.5, 14-14.5, 21-21.5 and 28-29.7 MHz. These ranges are actually narrower than the capability of the radio, however the radio is not guaranteed to meet specifications outside these ranges. Dial accuracy is 2 kHz for the Analog version and 100 Hz for the Digital. Stability: 100 Hz in any 30 minute period after warm-up. Features
160-10 meters, Solid State, 11 Fixed Crystal Sockets, Tunable IF Rejection Filter, Dual VFOs w/ External, Noise Blanker, 200 Watts Input, Semi Break-in CW, Calibrator 25/100 kHz, Built-in Speaker, Speech Processor, VOX. (24 FETs, 47 transistors, 27 ICs and 94 diodes) Dimensions: (WHD) 280 x 125 x 370 mm / 11 x 4.9 x 14.6 inches, Weight: 19 lb and 13.46 oz / 9 Kg The optional FP-301 power supply operates at 13.8 VDC at 21 amps. This radio does not have general coverage receive. This like the Several other Yaesu radios I own and have owned is an excellent piece of equipment. WB4IVG Laurin Cavender

I bought new a FT 301D with all accessories available at the time. (1976) It was purchased through Mike Cahoon of Cahoon Electronics. It was delivered at the Dayton Hamvention supposedly it was the very first one sold in the USA. It was one of the best rigs I have ever owned even until now. It was basically a solid state version of a Collins KWM-2A Which I owned at the time and still do. This radio was the first solid state rig over 100 watts output. The radio was way ahead of it's time using 3SK201 dual gate mosfets in the front end for a fantastic receiver. Like it's Grand Father the KWM-2A it has a tuned preselector in the front end making it very hot on the frequency it is operating on and rejecting adjacent signals up and down the band. It was made in several versions including the D version meaning Digital Readout, the S version which is Low Power Transmit, the Plain version which was full power with Analog Readout. I have not been able to determine what the A version is in difference to any other one, I do know however it was made and almost any combination could be ordered I have seen and owned almost all of them except the A version, I currently have a 301D, 301, and a 301 SD along with the Accompanying Scope and Power Supply Speaker Console and external VFO. There were other accessories such as a Phone Patch, Antenna Tuner, and Digital Clock ID Timer Power Supply Speaker Console. These were and are fine radios on all bands they cover, which incidentally is not the WARC bands but it does have fixed crystal positions for MARS and CAP or other such service. Here is the Yaesu description: The Yaesu FT-301 Series is an impressive HF transceiver covering 160 to 10 meters (and WWV 5 MHz receive). This solid state radio features two 2SC2100 finals. Power input is 200 watts PEP SSB, 200 watts CW (50% duty cycle) and 50 watts on AM/FSK. It covers the main (non-WARC) amateur bands including: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. The frequency range is: 1.8-2, 1.9-2.4, 3.5-4, 7-7.5, 14-14.5, 21-21.5 and 28-29.7 MHz. These ranges are actually narrower than the capability of the radio, however the radio is not guaranteed to meet or exceed specifications outside these ranges. Dial accuracy is 2 kHz for the Analog version. Stability: 100 Hz in any 30 minute period after warm-up. The optional FP-301 power supply operates at 13.8 VDC at 21 amps. This radio does not have general coverage receive. This like the Several other Yaesu radios I own and have owned is an excellent piece of equipment. WB4IVG Laurin Cavender