My first gear I set up after being off
the air for over 10 years. now gone..
Will get another setup in the future...
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This is a picture of the of my past Yaesu Station. It was a long passion of mine as a 16 year old ham to have a COMPLETE station. In three months time starting in Dec. of 2002 I managed to complete the station above. After operating for a while I felt it was time for a little more modern rig. It was a real joy to operate and someday when I have more room and cash I'll do it again.
Pictured from Left to
Right is my station
FTV-650, FTV-250, FL-101, FR-101DD, FV-101B, FT-101EE, FL2100B
Across the top is the
YP-150,
YO-100,SP-101, YD-844, SP-101PB, YC-601 Autek Research WM 1 Computing Meter ,
The Yaesu FT-221 is out of view on the far right. Mics are
Yaesu YD-844 and Astatic D-104.
= HISTORY =
The last 5 years I've lived in a house with a real back yard. Dec 1st, 2002 while browsing eBay I saw a FT-101-EX on the list of items. Then it hit me. I can have a real antenna again. Walking out in the backyard to scope out the trees and obstructions I figured a 75 meter antenna wasn't a problem. Off to bidding. The radio wasn't in the best of shape but it would get me on the air. For $175 I was now the proud owner of the radio like the one of my past. Another Yaesu FT-101-EX. The radio had some rust spots on the case and top, and the plastic was gone from the face. But it was a radio and affordable at the time/ One problem. The radio didn't have a mic. Off to the list again. Picked up a Astatic D-104 for $25.00, found a Autek Research Wm 1 SWR/Power meter, also a Dentron 160-10 AT Transmatch, and I was set. Just had to wait for UPS to start showing up at the door. As the boxes showed up, I stung a 75 meter di-pole off a tree outside the window 12-13 feet up. Not very high but I was on the air again. Also showing up was the Matching Yaesu SP-101 Speaker, and a SP-101PB Phone patch, then the YO-100 Monitor scope. I was hooked. The table became two small for the radio equipment as it started showing up as I looked for matching components to the radio. My dream back when I was young was to have the complete line for the FT-101 lined up on the desk just like in the photo for the FT-101 Series.
I ordered a service manual for the FT-101EX to do some alignments as I was sure it was a little out of tune after all these years and wanted to get it back to square one. The finals (6JS6C's) seemed a little weak, and it just needed some work to be made right. After a few emails with the gentleman I ordered the book from, I became aware he had several pieces for the FT-101 line in his possession for sale. This being the FTV-250 & FTV-650 2 and 6 meter Transverters, FL-2100B Linear Amplifier, and the YC-601 Digital Display. All in mint condition. The FTV-250 and 650 were still in the original boxes NOS. The FL-2100B was used, but also near mint. It had the ALC cable plugged in the back was the only reason I call it used, besides that it looked mint. Same for the YC-601. He also had a nice FT-101EE sitting in the pile that was near mint. Worked perfect and still had the plastic cover on the face. The FT-101EX I had now wouldn't look as nice in the middle of all this mint looking gear, soooo I added the FT-101EE to the pile. In the mean time I already had a FV-101 Remote VFO, and YP-150 Dummy Load/Watt Metter coming in. Within 3 weeks I had fulfilled my dream of 20 years ago. I had the complete line up for the FT-101. The complete set up takes up an area of about 8 feet lined up on a 10 foot table in the 10x8 foot room I call the radio and computer room.