Yaesu FRG-7 Shortwave Radio Operation And Hands On Use

[@peterellis6313]

I bought one of these in the late 70s, add a mechanical if filter, crystal USB / LSB BFO and a digital frequency read out. I really regret selling it later on. Your video has brought back many happy memories listening across the bands.

[@magallsys]

Good and clear instructions.I have an original FRG-7 and have used it since 1980 with a lot of fun listining to shortwave broadcasts. Before this I use to use a National panasonic radio which had Germinuim transistors. Still have both in good working condition DIN -Kenya

[@prikkebeen2]

Thank you so much sir. I finally start to understand how to operate this great receiver and can start to enjoy the shortwave bands.

[@James_Bowie]

I have both an FRG-7 and an FRG-7700 and I love them both. The FRG-7 is built like a tank.

[@duanetrivett750]

Thanks for the info Sir I just picked up FRG 7 Monday and your channel is great! Thanks 73 .

[@ToddFun]

That was awesome Larry. It's a lot of fun to learn about how those old radios work. You know there will be people out there that have that radio and all your information will help them greatly to use and setup and such gear.

[@Radio-Hobbyist]

Another awesome video by Larry. This one's on the Yaesu FRG-7

[@jonathanwhite5640]

one of the best Barlow-wadley phase lock loop. I had a South African genuine had made commercial radio due to UN Import embargo.I did have one but was beyond repair it was interned in the loft under the insulation.Thanks Larry.

[@KevinFraser411]

Thanks for the review on this great radio. I've had offers on my Frog7 but won't part with it. Glad you brought up the wonderful audio from this rig, it surpasses all of my more modern radios. The FRG-7 is a triple conversion super heterodyne receiver that utilizes the Wadley Loop System and is a South African design also used in the Barlow Wadley Radios. 73 ZS6KB

[@strollby4800]

Just acquired one Larry, so your video was most helpful, especially the red light.... Very informative and great presentation. There is something about 'working' those dials to get those signals in, all ones senses seem to get involved, not just pushing a button. Great video thanks for posting

[@MrMotivations]

Thank you very much. I found the antenna lug jumper very intriguing, and intend to do it.

[@williamjordan6808]

Hi Larry,great demo of the frg-7,i also have one love it,your videos are great i learn alot from your video,s 73s from William,N.Ireland.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks William, glad you enjoy and nice to hear from you! 73

[@stevehislop]

Thank you so much for posting this vid. I´m thinking about to buy one of these old Yaesu as my very first shortwave radio, here in Germany. I know I should study the manual , but this vid gets me started so much easier! THX again!

[@daveinohio2093]

Still have the first one I purchased..... works great !!! Lots of fun fidlin' with the dial and controls..... very accurate dial and good audio. Thanks for sharing your "frog"... 73

[@VK2XXL]

I've bought at least 2 radios because of your videos Larry. First, it was the Realistic DX-160, then an FRG-7. Keep making me go broke Larry :) 73 from Andrew VK2XXL

[@morganwalker1383]

Very nice radio and in minty condition for the age as well. Of course the digital receivers of today are much easier to use and will generally give you better sensitivity with less hassle, but there is something about analog receivers that makes them much more fun to use. I love fiddling with all the switches and dials on my Sony 5900W.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Morgan Walker I enjoy playing with the dials to improve the signals as much as I can too, doing work to make it happen, just makes it feel worthwhile and more satisfying I guess! Like I really did something to help it out. Know what you mean!

[@SpectreOZ]

What a beautifully kept FRG-7 you have there Larry, thanks for sharing :)

[@KB5WQW]

I've had one of these Sears Frog 7's for years and I still love it. It works FB.

[@cheshirecat1595]

Just waiting delivery of one,used to own one in the late 80s-early 90s I think. Sure I didn't use it as I should have-your video taught me a lot about it,or maybe I just forgot! Thanks for posting!

[@smallenginedude71]

your FRG7 is in great condition. I must keep an eye out for one of these. hands on radios are good fun. My radio club has a frg7 and i often have a little play with it, they have quite a sensitive receiver. 73, VK3FBIC

[@w2aew]

After playing with my friend's FRG-7 (the one I made the videos with), I thought I'd look for one myself. I found the Sears version at a hamfest this weekend. Seems to work pretty well. Haven't recapped it yet. I noticed that the AGC is a bit slower (preferable) than the FRG-7 I used in the video.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Very good, I was kind wondering if it was the exact same boards internally or if there was some differences, other than the name and color scheme. I remember when they were sold new back in the day but never had the chance to own one until last year when a ham buddy sold me mine at a price I couldn't pass up. I plan on using it as part of my vintage AM station downstairs near my workbench this winter.

[@williamfrovik4915]

learned more than i have since i got into ham radio good job. 73's

[@PH2LB]

Great video with good hands on explanation on the operating. Today i fixed the deal on a used FRG-7 and hope to receive it next week. Having owned a few FRG7700 I almost can't wait to play with this one. 73 Lex PH2LB

[@paulclark7664]

Great guide! Had one back in 1980 new. Just picked another one up!

[@OdySlim]

Hi Larry, Nice review of the Frog-7. A good friend K3LU talked my into buying one of these about 25 years ago at a hamfest. At one time, I almost sold it and thanks again to Ulis, K3LU for talking me into keeping it. It has been a favorite receiver for so long. And a good friend when the terrible MD thunder storms knock out the power. Mine would run for ever it seems on a gel-cell battery. I will keep mine forever. It has never let me down and it would be easy to repair if it ever does have a problem. Regards, Scott W3CV

[@RadioHamGuy]

That is great to hear Scott. Yes, a lot of these old radios end up being good friends and work horse radios and are great to have around. I am glad you decided to keep it, I still have mine also and it is sure a fun radio to use even though you have to tweak the dials a lot more, but that is part of the fun I guess. 73 and thanks for the post!

[@OdySlim]

Good friends, Yes they are. At one period in time, I was restoring The R390/ R390A & 389 series. I wont embarrass myself telling you how many of each I had but those were my real friends. The nice smell of hot tubes when I went down to the basement. Those were the good days. At least I have some pictures. Regards, Scott W3CV

[@paulrose6359]

IMO The best "Low Cost" general coverage radio.

[@jandejong6498]

I owned the FRG-7 from SOMMERKAMP. 73 from The Netherlands! Good DX, OM!!

[@roughchippy]

There's a lot of rubbish on KZbin, but Larry you're the best, great video, I have a later frg8800, but these old Yaesu's can certainly pull the signals in, and like u say, u have to actually WORK them :-)

[@ke0imd770]

That's one fine radio. I'm going to keep an eye out for one of these.

[@spacemissing]

2019 Oct 26: Just today, I picked up one of these radios at an estate sale. Don't yet know that it works at all, but it was a good find in any case because it was priced at $20. Missing are the D cell holder and the paddles for the power and light switches. [My amateur call is KJ6QKV. ]

[@Wa3ypx]

I still use mine that I got as a graduation gift. Starting to develop a slight drift now. Great little rig

[@stewatson3922]

Very nice. Enjoyable to watch and well presented. Thank you :-)

[@1fanger]

Hi Larry, nice radio. I like to be able to play around with knobs and switches, it kind of makes me appreciate the complexities of radio. Conversely, I can`t stand modern SW receivers that are so thin, light and top heavy that trying to adjust them them makes them tip over or slide on the table top if you try to do it with just one hand! Thanks and 73, Joe KC3BXZ

[@daviddennison4287]

Great video thanks wish I had the time and knowledge keep up the good work 👍

[@ernestomarquez1036]

I recently got a dead FROG-7 from a fellow ham.It is the Sears model like yours I received the capacitor replacements today and will get them hanged tomorrow. It is a great radio. I also own a Realistic DX-300 which also uses the Wadley loop design. Keep up the good work. best 73 de Ernie AJ4BP

[@RadioHamGuy]

Ernesto Marquez Thanks Ernesto and I hope you can get yours in good shape again, I am enjoying this one, works very well. I also used to have a DX-300 but have not had that in years now but I enjoyed that one also.

[@MrRJS27]

I got one in 1977 from Gilfer in NJ, and I reluctantly traded it (with Universal radio in Ohio) for a Sony ICF 2001 when I was traveling internationally a lot and couldn't lug an FRG-7 around. But the FRG-7 was an excellent radio even for DXing...the only people who could regularly hear what I couldn't had R390As and beverage antennas. It was a huge upgrade over my childhood radio which was a Hallicrafters S120A, which was a piece of junk but the price was right.

[@ronm9470]

I was an SWL in the mid 70's and looking at a few. Most were cheap plastic junk with drift and horrible audio like that big Panasonic with cheap digital readout..RF 4900 Panasonic. Junk for the same price as the Frg7. All these years I've owned this rig and not one failure. Always beautiful reception and nice audio on shortwave stations all over the world. Not one drift in the rig and a joy to operate. It cost me 450 dollars in Canada those years, and never tire of it. I hooked a sound interface to copy NOAA maps, and the Navy weather reports and WWV signals. I've seen these beauties go for up to 700 dollars on ebay.

[@Wa3ypx]

I got one as a graduation gift. Still have it in my office, use it when I'm doing paperwork. Mine drifts a bit on SSB

[@RadioHamGuy]

Fun radio for sure, mine also drifts some on SSB.

[@andrzejpl9897]

May favorite radio .

[@andrzejpl9897]

My favorite radio .

[@Rob-du9ui]

Thank you Larry. I just got a FRG-7 from a Hamfest today and was able to get it set up from your info! 73 de Rob G0IOZ

[@RadioHamGuy]

That is great to hear Rob, it is a fun radio to use, hope you enjoy yours! Thanks for the post here and 73.

[@milesdavies7396]

Very good detail video. Thank you!!!

[@wildbsc]

Nice review thanks! Ive just bought one of these and await postman after being bitten many years ago by a ex military B40 I just have to twiddle things! Regards!

[@tiggywinkle1000]

Good afternoon, I just bought one of these Yaesu Frog-7's from a car boot sale at the weekend - just £60! Got it in the workshop, and, after examining the case, found that the back panel had been pushed in and the little bracket at the top was distorted. Must have been dropped backwards on it's cable posts. Took it apart, straightened the metal, put it back together, and it powered up fine. Even after downloading a copy of the manual, I could not receive anything meaningful at all. I was about to give up on it, thinking the severe fall may have knocked the trimmers out of alignment, then decided to search KZbin and found your video - I then had my set going in minutes, getting signals mainly from Europe and the UK (I have to improve my aerial). Only one fault I now have to clear is that it won't lock on band A at all, although it does pull in some stations, they are right in the back of the set - will replace elect's as you suggest, and go from there, Best, Kev in England

[@MarkWilliams-rh9or]

Hi Larry. Thanks for great video. Looking out for one of these radios in UK. No luck so far but will keep looking.

[@sreekumarUSA]

Larry, thank you so much for your demonstration on How to operate YAESU MUSEN FRG-7. Your explanation and descriptions on this Radio made me understand how to operate this fine Radio. I have a similar Radio and I was like a Monkey with Garland, twiddling, clicking, turning the switches switching the device on and off 🤡 It was a blessing that I stumbled upon your video. I do not know how to thank you. 🙏🏽 But thanks a ton. Now I need to know what sort of an Ariel you have set up. Here, at my home, I threw a very long telephone line cable (the steel wire coated with Cu and insulated) over the nice Oak Tree and Lo... signal .. but that’s not the way a professional DXer want to listen to broadcast, I know. So please, if you happened to intercept my request, kindly enlighten me as to what might bring in all the signals into my YAESU MUSEN FRG-7. Thanks and best regards. Sree...

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks very much and glad it was of help. As far as antenna, I use my off center fed ham radio dipole and that covers 80-6 meters and works well for the SW bands in between also as far as receiving. This would be a good way to go or else you could cut a fan dipole for the main freq bands of interest for reception. A wire antenna of some kind that is as high up in the air as you can should work fine as long as you can get it away from sources of local electrical noise. Even a random length wire over 50 ft or so with a ground counterpoise or connection of some kind would be ok, the most important thing is probably the signal to noise ratio. Just keep away from the noise sources and you should be ok. Hope that help a little and have fun with radio!

[@ClagwellsGarage]

Thanks Larry. Been in the market for a Frog for quite some time. Hopefully soon. 73

[@TheNovum]

Great video!!! You explain thise things realy good!!

[@Umbazooksus1]

Great video and explication. Thank you.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks!

[@hamrad88]

Excellent review. Thumbs up and shared. Tom

[@mikelee8520]

got the Yaesu FRG-7 its an underrated radio.

[@spresc2180]

Apparently I spent wayyyyy too much time in the tool and automotive sections of those old Sears catalogs, as I did NOT know that Sears sold radio's such as this, or ANY Shortwave radio for that matter. My loss! That is a VERY nice apparently pristine radio that you have there Larry. Aside from your dial readout, the "hands on approach" tuning aspect you demonstrated is somewhat similar to what is required for my digital readout Radio Shack DX-302, which I covet greatly. Happy SWLing.

[@SpectreOZ]

The Realistic DX-300/302 series radios were quite obviously a clone of the FRG-7 but a decent radio in their own right and a worthy consideration for any collection/shack IMHO.

[@davidknisely3003]

***** Nope, although they may have had a few somewhat similar aspects in the electronic design, the Realistic DX-300 wasn't quite a "clone" of the FRG-7. The original Yaesu FRG-7 did not have digital readout and had somewhat different panel layout and operation than the Realistic DX-300. The follow-on to the FRG-7 was the Yaesu FRG-7000 which did have digital readout as well as the ability to use narrower passband filters, but didn't quite have the performance of the old "Frog-7". It was soon replaced by the more capable FRG-7700. I still have my old FRG-7, but performance wise, my little Sony ICF-SW-7600GR is better.

[@SpectreOZ]

I guess clone is too strong a word but definitely modeled along similar lines to the FRG-7.

[@wb0zur]

Very good Larry I like all you make KEEP IT UP!

[@EB5DQH]

Thank you Larry....I have enjoyed the video.....73 from EB5DQ

[@Homer19521]

Nice job. Great old receiver. Dial Set always confused me. It was not covered in the User Manual. And the words & layout added confusion. But it was just a simple way to calibrate the dial to a known frequency as you indicate. Yaesu manuals can be pretty bad sometimes. And I agree, the internal speaker was very good. - 73

[@gkiltz0]

I have a Gifer Associates modified FRG7 that I bought in 1978 much to the chagrin of my family

[@jllanesphoto]

Great video Sir.

[@pauldogon2578]

nice, I have just bought one marked Yaesu Musen

[@MarkWilliams-rh9or]

Thanks Larry another great radio review. Still looking for the FRG in UK. Looking for a solid reliable DW radio.

[@crabtrap]

this helps understand the Realistic DX300 and DX-302 a bit better

[@scottdowers6643]

Thanks for the video

[@kg4yhr]

great vid saw one of these at a small tailgate hamfest wanted to buy it my friend said no because parts were not availble but i think i will get one oi these thanks and 73 from kg4yhr

[@stevenking2980]

I've seen you on Bobs and Shango's channel in the comments. Thought I would subscribe. This is a sweet looking and sounding radio. I'll be checking you out. Thanks. Steven

[@RadioHamGuy]

Steven King Thanks very much Steven and hope you enjoy the videos, I just do the best I can with what I have. Yes, I really like this radio seen in this video, really happy with it, does just what it was designed to do and quite well. 73

[@shahadathussain2878]

+RadioHamGuy I want to buy frg7 in Pakistan

[@jmpvz]

thx fore the tips...usefull ,,,,greetings Martin

[@imprepped]

I dont know if you've ever done a video on the yeasu ft-101e/ee but I would love to see that I've always like the old radios helps you appreciate how the old radios worked and how easy we have it with the new rigs

[@pogchampminku2535]

Wow your channel is amazing ;D I subscribed you look exactly like my basketball coach but american haha, my coach is australian

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks, that is cool on the coach, ha. Glad you enjoy.

[@paulrose6359]

The "Frog 7" is a great little rig for the bucks. IMO the best low cost SW out there.

[@aureliusprimus]

Nice and amazing radio.. I appreciate it :)

[@RadioHamGuy]

+Aurelius Primus Thanks!

[@aureliusprimus]

RadioHamGuy Do you also have some transceivers or only receivers ?

[@aureliusprimus]

+RadioHamGuy Hello If you can tell me : I have the tecsun s2000 and the kenwood r5000. Now I have the possibility to have a yaesu fr 7000 or aa kenwood r5000. What would you suggest to me as a choice ?

[@RadioHamGuy]

I have several of both types here.

[@RadioHamGuy]

I have not had the chance to try either of those radios out so I can't be of much help there, sorry.

[@CT1JRZ]

Thanks for sharing 73

[@jamesblank2024]

The concern I have about getting this radio is lack of antenna trim. I want to use long wire on shortwave.

[@882952]

I just bought one two days ago at a ham-fest.

[@stephenwalters4798]

Not all FRG-7's have a fine tuning control. The early ones didn't, but if you don't mind drilling a hole and adding a trimmer you can add one.

[@warplanner8852]

These were old beaties, weren't they, Larry? The circuit is triple conversion using the "Wadley Loop" to cancel drift. W2AEW has a nice video explaining the concept. Like regens, these sure put the joy of operating back in ham radio or SWLing. Good video! de Bill, k6whp

[@RadioHamGuy]

Yes, they are just plain fun to use, all the dial twiddling etc, ha. Makes you feel like you are really doing something to bring that signal in, and you are! I did see the video by w2eaw, that was very good.

[@shaneweightman]

Surprised the led meter light doesnt cause interference cheers shane uk

[@ChorltonM21]

The "Att" and "Tone" switches don't do a damn thing on my FRG7. Do other people find this as well?

[@edbouman5013]

Hi Larry! I have watched some of your videos, and I really enjoy them a lot. The ones I like the best were on the Realistic DX-160 from Radio Shack. I was wondering if you had an email address, so I could ask you some questions about the DX-160? I would like to know more about my radio, and I thought seeing as you really know your radios you could help me out!

[@RadioHamGuy]

Yes, that would be fine, it is wd0akx at arrl.net

[@shamrock1961]

Saw one recently that was over $300. Wonder what's under the hood of that one.

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

nice!

[@SocialistDistancing]

That was very helpful. I'm considering one that I seen for sale. I wanted to see how they work. Unfortunately the one I'm looking at seems to have had a battery leak in it at some point in it's life. I'm still considering it for shits and giggles. They're asking $125. I'll offer $100. What do you think? Oh, and I live the hands on part

[@RadioHamGuy]

If you like the hands on, this would be a fun radio for you as long as it in working condition, sounds like a fair price to offer as long as the battery leak didn't cause a lot of damage. Enjoy the radio if you end up with it!!

[@booboyBL]

Thanks for the operating tips. I'm about to take possession of a frog 100 so I'm looking out for any Yaesu RX vids. BTW, I recently acquired a Fluke 8010A DMM, and I think I spotted one there in your shack. Do you still use it?

[@RadioHamGuy]

+booboyBL Yes, that is what you see and I do use it a lot, works very well for me. Sounds good on the frog 100 also, hope it works out well for you!

[@cpcnw]

Hi Larry, I have recently acquired an FRG-7 and tried it last night with a wire draped around my attic. Managed to get South Carolina from the NW UK. I was however slightly disappointed not to get more stations and the later it got, the quieter it seemed to get? I plan to get a long wire setup from the attic to a tall tree at the end of the garden and hope this improves noise / better signals? Would you say the FRG-7 really does depend on having a decent twig? I have also wondered; what is the in circuit function of a 'Pre-Selector' ? Thanks, Graham

[@RadioHamGuy]

Yes, if you can get the wire outdoors and out of the attic, that should make a lot of difference, I know at my place here, attic antennas don't work well, just too many noise sources from in the house. As far as the internals of the radio, look up w2aew on here, he just did a video explaining how this radio works internally, very good video!

[@harrybond007]

I'd really like to know antenna system I would need to get the best from a radio like this, or a FRG 7000/7700?

[@jjhays36]

I have one these but I think it needs a lot of work can't get anything on it

[@kevinwiss6011]

Hi Larry, quick question.... Do you do recaps on these radios if I can get it to you? Enjoy the videos you produce! Thanks!!!

[@RadioHamGuy]

Hi Kevin, well, thanks and glad you enjoy the videos! Unfortunately I don't do the recaps on those since I just have a lot of stuff piled up here already that I am always way behind on it seems and have been dealing with some health issues that keep me seeing good enough right now to work on many things. Sorry about that but glad you enjoy the channel, hopefully I can get some more videos up pretty soon again here..

[@kevinwiss6011]

RadioHamGuy Thanks for the reply back, and I understand. I did find somebody that can. Do I need to do anything else to the FRG-7 besides doing the re-cap to make the old radio back to ALMOST new? Thanks and keep up the good work with the videos!!!

[@RadioHamGuy]

Hi Kevin, glad you were able to find someone there to do that, I guess for the most part the capacitors are the only thing you should need to replace unless you see something else that is damaged or if there happens to be another issue but the capacitors are usually the problems when they age. Good luck and I hope it ends up being a good radio for you!

[@apollonius6214]

for a starting radio enthousiast what kind of radio do you recomend? i find CW to be the most interesting to listen to,

[@paimg0uut]

hello Larry top notch video the best Chanel for my eye I hope you well. one question where did you buy the capacitor from is there a kit some one sell it ? is there some info how you did the led light? will be great to know thank you kind 73 elan g0 land ps lol I didn't see the bigwig on this video I had issue so I see where you bought it from thank you but how to ad the led on

[@RadioHamGuy]

Hi Elan and thank you. I used a short section of those LED strip lights and wired it into the spot on the PC board you see in the video that provided around 12 volts. You could also just use a common LED bulb but you would need to add a dropping resistor in series to limit the current as to not burn out the LED. Around a 1k resistor would probably work fine or maybe a little lower value.

[@paimg0uut]

thank you kind 73 elan

[@skreb9566]

Hi Larry, I recently got HF transciever Yaesu FT-101ZD, and I would also like to change the electrolytic caps. So, my question is how do you know that the caps are not charged and it is safe to touch them and replace them? Hope you will answer, thanks in advance. 73's 9A3DSU

[@RadioHamGuy]

skreb95 It is all ok in this radio as long as you remember to unplug it from the power source. The caps are all low voltage and safe to handle unlike some in tube type radios. So just remove power and you can turn the radio switch to on to remove any voltage left in the caps and you won't have to worry at all.

[@skreb9566]

RadioHamGuy Thanks and 73's

[@y_x2]

The set is not really easy to operate for a new ham compare to modern set. Yes, the Lock indicator and DX switch are really backward... kind of japanese logic! hihi

[@paimg0uut]

Larry hello how did you mount the led light on the meter is there any picture ? thank you 73 Ilan

[@spldrong]

did you try it before you replaced all the internal parts? Did it help alot?

[@josealeixes2861]

Oi amigo boa noite gostaria de saber qual país vc esta tenho um rádio deste talvez vc podeis fazer uma revisão completa nele caso eu mande aí pra vc ok obrigado

[@spldrong]

interesting rig... Does it talk on CB channels as well?

[@RadioHamGuy]

It does receive the CB channels but it is not a transmitter so it does not talk there.

[@rebelliners]

what antenna did you have hooked up to this in this video?

[@RadioHamGuy]

I think at the time I had an off center fed 130 ft long dipole hooked up at about 40 ft high at the center.

[@victorsdunek3281]

Hey Larry Merry X-Mass Looking for A Good short wave radio to buy can you help :)

[@OdySlim]

Hi, Scott W3CV here. If you want a good table top/ portable, the Grundig Satellit 750 would be my choice. Universal radio sells them at $499... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKiplISAa9h0nq8 < U tube review. Regards Scott BTW, If you want a Base station type try the IcomR75

[@N0AGI]

Larry - thanks for sharing the frogger; this video is an inspiration to me to work the SWL on my FRG-100. She's been sitting idle for some time now. I will get her talking soon. Nice video again. 73s - N0AGI. N0AGI.com/

[@vfrfoxtrott6430]

73s

[@super20dan]

i can cross this radio off my wish list, -way too complex