Blast from the Past #1: The Yaesu FT-101EE Ham Radio Transceiver

[@jeffreyweaver9854]

Back in the 1970's, we went to a CB jamboree in Lima, Ohio. During the jamboree, my dad bought five tickets for one dollar for the major prizes that were available at the event. When they drew the ticket for the first prize, they decided to give the top prize to that ticket holder, and when they made that decision, my dad smiled!. That top prize had been, you should guess what that had been, a Yaesu FT-101 EE! I still have that radio!

[@mikem5043]

Nice that you got an 'EE' with the processor installed

[@MENSA.lady2]

This is the type of rig I would recommend to those recently licenced. It's a very capable rig, no whistles and bells to worry about and available at a sensible price. I haven't checked but I expect there are a few currently available on E-bay.

[@michelfries1429]

Very impressed by the FT101E ! The audio is really crisp and crystal clear! Like it very much and again a rig that you can easily maintain, lots of parts available everywhere... Thanks! 👍

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

My First Ham Radio was the Yaesu FT-101EX. I bought it new in the late 70s. Built like a tank and is the epitome of the term "Boat Anchor ". They say you never forget your first love and for me that is true. 73 Joe

[@reggiehodges6784]

I just bought one yesterday in almost new condition ! Never transmitted on , with plastic still on the face !

[@vlupis1]

Lucky you🙄

[@vlupis1]

Beautiful radio, when i saw it recently, immediatelly fell in love with it! It's magic in a box.

[@billtheslink4541]

My first rig that I used to transmit after getting licensed was an FT-101ZD which was the last incarnation of the 101. My Elmer took me to the Dayton Hamvention and I was only 13 or 14 and had very little money. I really didn't have but maybe $50.00 or so to spend and he put his money with it and bought it for me. The funny thing was he was sorta poor himself, but also very cheap. He had his own son who drained his cash and he spent that money on me. That was really cool and I never forgot. He was a good adult friend for a kid. That's the type of people in ham radio.

[@claudiobio]

Also, voltage and resistance chart mention pins N 1 to 22 and MJ N 1 to 7. Where are those pins? Assume all this measures are related to ground? I will appreciate your feedback. 73, Claudio OA4BMG

[@hobbycornermk5415]

I have it also, still work on it! 73

[@speedbuggy16v]

love mine, but I need to get it aligned properly, great piece of kit.

[@glynnhm0lsg308]

Looks in good shape great find

[@Camman010]

I had a Yeasu FT 101 with the 11 meter crystal installed and they are damn good radios. I gave mine away to a new ham. You can pick them up free at many ham fests. Don't pay over $100 US for one.

[@MrBugleboyb]

I have a set of the Yaesu Twins. FT101 and FR101 which I haven't used since 1980. Was working fine when I shut down my station 40 years ago. Do you do checkups and tune ups ? 73s. VE6FY.

[@lizzyfan1986]

My 1st rig!

[@rickrybacki4145]

This worked well on 11 meters CB channels. Yes the 70's.. I sold it and still kicks my own ass for selling it.. I wish I still have it today

[@berchmanrodrigue6655]

What dead key I need to put my ft 101 ee to run my skipper 300

[@sharedknowledge6640]

T These were often irrationally hated or at least didn’t get much respect when they were new in the USA with most hams preferring the American radios like Drake, Collins, Hallicrafter, Hammerlund, and of course Heathkit. But, in reality, Yaesu made a revolutionary world class transceiver and went on to outlive all those American manufactures. Not only that but a 40+ year old American rig is often deaf as a post without a full alignment but these radios tended to fair a lot better with time even when neglected. The famous Heathkit HW-101 was inferior in most every objective way.

[@VojvodinaNet]

I have one but I don't know how to repair it...live in California.

[@claudiobio]

I have a 101EE, it blows up a 470 mF 25 v capacitor, this means a transformer is fried?

[@Pootycat8359]

No! You're lucky. Replacement transformers like that are expensive, and may be hard to find. You had a bad filter cap: a much less costly thing to replace. Electrolytic capacitors are the big bug-a-boo with older equipment. A lot of hams and technicians replace them all, first thing, as a matter of course. By the way, WHY did you think it was the transformer? Good caps blow up, only if their voltage rating is exceeded. A bad transformer will produce a LOWER voltage (or nothing at all), not a higher voltage.

[@claudiobio]

@@Pootycat8359 Hi Clyde KG5IQF? I am OA4BMG. I remember read long time a go something about that cap but not sure of it is true or not. As you said electrolytic capacitors blows due a high voltage or reversed polarity. I received this radio 25 years a go and never power up until pandemic days. I was testing the radio on that days and during RF power output with dummy load that cap blows up. It not blows up immediately. I already replaced and the new cap not blows. Any way; I need to start again with this old boy and see what's going on. Thanks 73, Claudio OA4BMG

[@Pootycat8359]

@@claudiobio Ah, since you know those things, you probably thought the bad cap killed the xformer. And you're correct about the call...and to let you know I'm not doing anything naughty, I'm currently upgrading to Extra. And it DOES cover 10m....:)

[@claudiobio]

@@Pootycat8359 lol. I wasn't thinking nothing bad about you LOL. Let see in the future if my 101EE survives. 73 Claudio OA4BMG

[@maninthevan53]

bought one from eBay and the box it came in was the only good part, very nice purchase you made

[@brad5947]

Thank you for this