24 Jan 2012

FT-450D hum: a good response from Yaesu

Last night I wrote to Yaesu UK about the FT-450D hum issue and got a very fast and very helpful, response from Paul Bigwood their Technical Sales Manager. All credit to him.

I will paraphrase Paul's reply below.

He confirms the hum problem has been recognised and that it doesn't affect all radios. Those it does, are only affected in voice modes, when the display brightness is reduced below its normal maximum level. The level of hum is generally low and is usually only noticeable when the received signal strength is high [i.e. with local stations], DX stations don't normally hear it.  He says that steps have been taken to resolve the issue and product shipping into the UK dealers since the beginning of the year have a modification to resolve it. He told me that if I purchased one that does suffer from hum under the circumstances as above, then it can be returned to Yaesu for updating under warranty.

He went on to say,
"Please rest assured that Yaesu does care about its products, their reliability and performance. We certainly look to resolve any problems as soon as they become known to us.  The FT450D is a splendid radio, having done excellently at the T32C DXpedition last year when over 200K QSOs were made with no reports to us of any hum problems."
I thought this was an excellent and totally professional response. Yaesu is a first class manufacturer and it is reassuring to see they have taken on board the hum issue in this otherwise excellent little radio and have now taken steps to properly fix it on new build units.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Go on! You know you want to!
M3HXE

PE4BAS, Bas said...

I certainly will not buy one. Although it's a "cheap" TRX. I already heard from some more shortcomings like a failing rotary encoder. Yaesu better have a good response on questions regarding failing eqiupment otherwise they wouldn't sell radios anymore. I remember a lot of problems with the FT-100 finals when it was just on the market. And what about the finals of the first FT-817...Sorry, but I would go for a Icom (actually there are no perfect radios). 73, Bas

Roger G3XBM said...

It is tempting and I sold my IC703 with the intention of upgrading my main station rig.

Anonymous said...

I HAVE OWNED AN FT817 FOR 7 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PA FINALS SOME PEOPLE MUST BE UNLUCKY OR OPERATE IN TO A HIGH SWR

Anonymous said...

I possess a FT450 (without ant tuner) for over a year now (not the FT450D which is very similar). I am very happy with the rig, made lots of qso on all bands and modes (160-6 m)in voice and digi modes). Now shortcomings noticed. Lots of radio for a low price.
73 Ron
PA2RF

Anonymous said...

How can you tell if the factory mod has been done? Does checking for the mod (opening the unit?) void the warranty? Maybe they changed revision number if the mod has been done, so all you have to do is look at the name-plate (best solution IMHO).

Thanks, David WB4ONA