yaesu ft101e very weak RX

[dime196604]

I have had this radio for a few months now. I have not used it on any band beside 11m. I thought it was working well, but I noticed every station sounded weak on AM and SSB. hardly any S meter movement. I just thought its how it worked, but I listened on a cheap cb and the signals were strong, so just for S & G's I tuned in on some 20m SSB and it was very loud and the S meter showed it. So I think it only 11m, any one got any suggestions for me?

[TheCBDoctor]

I have had this radio for a few months now. I have not used it on any band beside 11m. I thought it was working well, but I noticed every station sounded weak on AM and SSB. hardly any S meter movement. I just thought its how it worked, but I listened on a cheap cb and the signals were strong, so just for S & G's I tuned in on some 20m SSB and it was very loud and the S meter showed it. So I think it only 11m, any one got any suggestions for me?

Hi dime196604,

If the radio is working fine on 20 meters, or any of the factory bands, then it is possible that the 10 meter band section of the Yaesu needs alignment. Go to the 10 meter band and listen to see if the problem is the same as 11 meters. Technically the radio is not allowed to be use on 11 meters, but it was designed to operate on 11 meters with a minor modification. The bands are selected by mechanical relays that switch in the needed circuitry to operate within the selected band.

If the 10 meter band is also weak, then it may need alignment on that band. Ten meters starts at 28.000 MHz USB (Code) and goes up to 29.6900 MHz voice for simplex use. Above that it is used for use on repeaters. The new Yaesu radios are very hard to modify for 11 meters. Hold on to your FT-101; in the coming years they will be harder to find in working condition.

Unless there is someone that knows the FT-101 very well I highly recommend sending it to Yaesu. It will cost you, but at least in the past, they will not remove the 11 meter operation.

Respectfully,

[dime196604]

OK thanks, the cb band is on the stock 11m position on the band switch. If that makes any ddifferentt, and as far as I know it has the stock crystals. The crystal bank on the right front has a crystal in every socket

[TheCBDoctor]

OK thanks, the cb band is on the stock 11m position on the band switch. If that makes any ddifferentt, and as far as I know it has the stock crystals. The crystal bank on the right front has a crystal in every socket

Hi dime196604,

I gave away my service manual for the FT101 series radio, so I can't help you with troubleshooting. Try and see how it works on 10 meters. I believe that 10 and 11 meters uses the same receive circuitry. Don't hold me to that. I stopped working on the FT101s many moons ago. My memory isn't what it used to be.

Rick

[redlght]

Does it also have weak TX watts on that band too?

[Night Crawler]

When you adjust the Preselect does it have any effect on the receivers sensitivity?

[dime196604]

When you adjust the Preselect does it have any effect on the receivers sensitivity?

Yes it does but the S meter only moves with very strong signals and it has not gone past S 1, but today when I tuned in on 20m it was S 1 to 2 with static alone and S9 or more with people talking

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Wed May 22, 2013 2:07 pm

Does it also have weak TX watts on that band too?

When I am talking on AM or SSB it is lower then I thought it would be, but when in the tune position, peaking the TX it puts out what it should.

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Sun May 26, 2013 1:18 pm

We'll I think its just bad band conditions because the calibrator on the radio gives me a S9. But nobody will know because posting on your own topic does not bump your post any more