FT-DX101D / MP

Top of the line Yaesu HF transceivers carry the high-end reputation of the FT-DX series and "101" heritage. Available as FT-DX101D (100W) and FT-DX101MP (200W). The FTDX101MP is dedicated to Sako Hasegawa (JA1MP), the founder of Yaesu Musen. The technical design of the FT-DX101 is a hybrid state of the art direct sampling SDR technology with a classic down mixer technology. On the one hand the RF signal is directly digitized behind the preselector filters, as it is typical SDR, while on the other hand the signal coming from the same preselector is down-converted to a 9 MHz IF, then digitized and processed.

This double approach offers plenty possibilities as a wide band 3D (3 Dimension Spectrum Stream) spectrum and waterfall display, at the same time the close-in selectivity of a high-end receiver can be achieved without compromise. The receiver uses up to 5 roofing filter at the 9 MHz IF stage, selected automatically or manually. The excellent receiver capabilities are also supported by a complex pre-selector system with 15 fixed band pass filters supported by a continuously tuned variable capacitor filter (VC-Tune) available. This VC filter, tuned automatically or manually, uses a precision stepper motor. This filter claims up to -70dB attenuation of unwanted signals, the result is an outstanding blocking dynamic range of 150 dB at only 2kHz signal spacing.

Yaesu FT-DX101 standard and optional roofing filters

The transceivers has two equivalent and independent receivers (Main, Sub). Each receiver is equipped with noise reduction and filtering, also the display can be switched to show two spectra at the same time side by side or on top of each other. The two receivers offer a double audio output, you can have Main and Sub band separated on a stereo headphone. The FTDX-101MP power amplifier (200W output) utilizes a push-pull circuit with VRF150 MOSFET devices (VDSS=170V, PD=300W) operating at 50V. With excellent linearity and high withstand voltage a high-quality and stable output is realized. The FTDX-101D power amplifier (100W output) utilizes a push-pull with reliable RD100-HHF1 MOSFET devices.

FT-DX101D / MP features :

General

• FT-DX101D: 100W RF power, requires 13.8V / 22A power supply.
• FT-DX101MP: 200W RF power, it include external loudspeaker with power supply inside the case.
• 7-inch color touch panel TFT display, 800 x 480 pixel.
• Spectrum scope with sweep speed of 30 FPS, display range 100dB, span width 1~1000 kHz.
• Ultra low noise local oscillator.
• High stability OCXO oscillator.
• 32-bit DSP from Texas Instruments offering performance of 2200 MFLOPS processing.
• DVI display connector.
• USB / RS-232 interface.
• USB ports on the front panel.
• 3 antenna connectors.

• General coverage receiver covers from 30kHz to 75MHz.
• Two full independent receivers.
• 15 Band-pass RF filters on front-end, also continuous tuning pre-selector (VC-Tune).
• Standard 12 kHz, 3 kHz, 600 Hz roofing filter. Also 300 Hz filter on FT-DX101MP.
• High specification inband 3rd IMDR.
• Output connectors for RF/IF of the receivers.

• Low noise cooling fan.
• Very low distortion speech compressor.
• CTCSS tone.

• Automatic CW tuning.
• CW, PSK31, RTTY decoder.
• CW full break-in function.

• MPVD, Multi Purpose VFO outer Dial. Knob with additional outer tuning ring for switchable functions as fine tuning on the Main VFO, tuning on the Sub VFO, VC-tune filter, clarifier.
• Split operation.
• SD card memory slot.

Narrow band SDR with Crystal Roofing Filters enable phenomenal Multi-signal receiving Characteristics. The down conversion type receiver configuration is similar to the Yaesu FT-DX5000, with a low noise figure dual gate MOSFET, D-quad DBM (Double Balanced Mixer) with excellent intermodulation characteristics. Narrow band SDR configuration with the first IF at 9 MHz makes it possible to have excellent narrow bandwidth crystal roofing filters that have the desired sharp cliff edge shape factor. These high quality roofing filters enable the amazing multi-signal receiving performance demanded when faced with the most challenging on-the-air interference situations.

Yaesu FT-DX101 dynamic range and 600 Hz roofing filter

In addition to the down-conversion configuration, FT-DX101 has adopted YAESU's legendary powerful RF Front-End, outstanding low-noise Local Oscillator, roofing filter with sharp shape factor and the latest circuit configuration where we have carefully selected all other circuit elements. As a result, the dynamic performance figures are outstanding like the close-in BDR (Blocking Dynamic Range) in the 14MHz band reaches 150 dB or more, the RMDR (Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range) reaches 123 dB or more, and the 3rd IMDR (third-order Intermodulation Dynamic Range) reaches 110 dB or more.

The Narrow band SDR receiver removes strong out of band signals by using a superheterodyne method, with narrow band roofing filters which significantly attenuates unwanted out of band frequency components, and the wanted signals within the passband are converted to digital by a high resolution 18-bit Analog-to-Digital converter (ADC) and sent to an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) for signal processing.

Yaesu FT-DX101 completely independent Dual (Main / Sub) hybrid SDR

The FTDX-101 series uses a hybrid SDR configuration that integrates a direct sampling SDR receiver in order to view the entire band status in real time, with the excellent dynamic receiver performance achieved by the narrow band SDR receiver circuit. By using this hybrid SDR design, the overall performance of the entire FTDX 101 receiver system is improved. The Direct Sampling SDR driving the real time Spectrum display with its large dynamic range enables the weakest signal to be observed on the display when it appears and the Narrow Band SDR enables that signal to be selected, filtered and then decoded. If there is powerful AM station near your location or in challenging operating situations where there are a lot of strong signals in the band fiom Contests, DX-pedition activities, those signals outside the passband can be attenuated by the very effective roofing filter in the front stage of the A/D converter. This reduces the signal load on the Analog-to-Digital converter which is a bottleneck from the viewpoint of the entire receiving circuit. Therefore, interference is reduced making it is possible to continue to operate even under such difficult conditions.

Newly developed VC-Tune RF Preselector with high precision stepping motor drive provides outstanding attenuation characteristics. In the FTDX-101 series, a next-generation RF preselector VC-Tune further improves the high performance High Q RF u-Tuning (mu-Tuning) system adopted in FT-DX9000D and FT-DX9000MP, using a remarkable miniaturization design while producing an unparalleled attenuation characteristic of maximum out of band attenuation of -70dB. The Newly developed VC-Tune circuit drives a variable capacitor (VC) with a high precision stepping motor and has achieved a remarkable miniaturization over our earlier u-tuning system. VC-Tune does not cause any clicks or hangs in the receiver as it operates because it tunes using a variable capacitor driven by a high-precision stepping motor as it follows the receiver frequency, compared to the conventional preset type of switching coils and capacitors by relays which can cause clicks and hangs in the receiver audio.

Yaesu FT-DX101 automatic RF Preselector VC-Tune with a High Precision stepping Motor

Even when there are multiple strong signals in the band, pressing the "VC TUNE" key and turning the MPVD (Multi-Purpose VFO Outer Dial) ring on the VFO dial to drive variable capacitor, you can easily fine-tune to the optimum tuning point that attenuates the strong interfering signal in the band. VC-Tune automatically stores the last tuning point for each band so setting once is all that is needed when that frequency is again selected. The VC-Tune will automatically select the last settings.

FT-DX101D / MP transmit final amplifier :

High-Power and super-stable Final Amplifier. FTDX-101 (MP version: 200 Watt) power amplifier utilizes push-pull VRF15O MOSFET devices (VDSS=170V, VGS=40V, PD=300W) operating at 50V with excellent linearity, low distortion and high withstand voltage, and by optimizing the bias circuit for the optimal operating points, a high-quality and stable output with low distortion is realized. FTDX-101 (D version: 100 Watt) power amplifier utilizes push-pull construction with RD100HHF1 MOSFET, and provides stabilized RF power performance.

Yaesu FT-DX101 transmit final amplifier stage

In order to ensure stable transmissions and high output power, the dedicated heat sink of the 200W (MP version) uses an aluminum material with high heat dissipation efficiency to effectively diffuse the heat. The use of a large aluminum die-cast chassis ensures a stable high-power output even in continuous transmission modes and operation under harsh environments. In addition, a 92mm large axial flow cooling fan for the final amplifier is placed at the rear. In long-term operation, the temperature rise inside the cabinet is detected, and the fan starts and the rotation speed automatically adjusted depending on the temperature. The cooling fan uses a large bearing motor with low-noise and rotates at low speed, thereby minimizing the acoustic noise of the fans during night operation. The temperature of the final Power Amplifier can be constantly monitored on the screen of the display.

FT-DX101D / MP automatic antenna tuner :

The FT-DX-101 internal antenna tuner uses LC relay switching controlled by a microprocessor. It has a large capacity 100 channel memory, and the tuning data is automatically memorized in the channel memory. The optimized antenna tuning data is immediately recalled to reduce tuning time when changing frequency, and the best matching point is realized.

Yaesu FT-DX101 High Speed Automatic Antenna Tuner (MP version)

FT-DX101D / MP 3-dimensional spectrum display :

The 3DSS (3-Dimensional Spectrum Stream) display is a remarkable completely new system that displays the constantly changing band conditions in three dimensions (3D) with the frequency as the horizontal axis (X axis), the signal strength as the vertical axis (Y axis), and the time as the Z axis. The operator can intuitively view the constant changes in a signal's strength as the signal flows to the back of the screen giving a sensation of traveling in Time and Space. The 3DSS exhibits a colorful easily viewed presentation that contains the outputs from both the Narrow band SDR and the Direct sampling SDR within one common screen. The operator can effectively see the close-in QRM situation from the Narrow band SDR output while at the same time easily observe activity across the whole band from the Direct sampling SDR output.

Yaesu FT-DX101 3-dimensional spectrum (3DSS) on Multi display

The MULTI Display mode allows the oscilloscope and the AF-FFT audio scope to be shown on the screen, in addition to the RF Spectrum Scope display. In MULTI display, while monitoring the receive band, a simultaneously View the contact station's transmit signal audio characteristics can be viewed with the AF-FFT function. At the same time the IF filter and interference reduction functions can be checked for their influence on the receive signal visually on the MULTI display, even in Contest, etc. The display can easily check the transmitter audio characteristics, it is very effective to monitor adjustment of the parametric equalizer.

FT-DX101D / MP front panel connections :

Yaesu FT-DX101 front panel connections

FT-DX101D / MP rear panel connections :

Yaesu FT-DX101D rear panel connections

FT-DX101D / MP price

We have collected for your convenience the Yaesu FTDX101 sale price (UK Pounds) and its trend over time. Useful to guarantee a cheaper purchase of this radio and to put it for sale in the second-hand market. Of course offers, accessories, warranty terms and conditions can lead to different figures.

Price	Date	Condition
GBP 2999.95	2023-mar	Brand-new FT-DX101D version
GBP 4199.00	2020-jan	Brand-new FT-DX101MP version
GBP 3089.00 (3470EUR)	2019-may	Brand-new FT-DX101D version
GBP 3139.00 (3995USD)	2019-may	Brand-new FT-DX101D version
GBP 3149.95	2019-may	Brand-new FT-DX101D version