Yaesu FT-101B; Tune Up Procedure

#HamRadio In this video, we will cover how to tune up an ft-101. There are a few ways to do this, however, I'm showing you how I tune up my radio. Thanks for watching!

[@marciuschester7739]

I have been tuning up both of my Yaesu FT-101's wrong since 2017. Since I started tuning them up correctly I have been getting better output power. Thank you

[@flyincoyote3810]

By far the best tune up video on the web

[@RayBecker]

Thank you very much! Your compliment makes all of these video's worth while. Again, thank you for the comment!

[@dannyfox2452]

Well done!! I just bought an FT 101EE and really am thankful for your sharing. Thanks again!!

[@RayBecker]

Danny Fox I'm glad to be helpful

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Better if you do as the owners manual says & NOT stay keyed longer than 10 seconds & then stay unkeyed for 10 seconds.It saves the finals & the driver tube & why that's the way the manual says do it.

[@johnhanson4970]

Thanks for taking the time to go over the tune up procedures for this solid transceiver. I wanted to pass on that if anyone is having problems with no transmitter power and or adjusting gain on the finals make sure you have the accessory plug installed on the back of the rig. The 8 pin plug has two pins jumpered together which provides power to heat up the finals. It's basically an old Heathkit 86CP8 plug style.

[@johnhanson4970]

+John Jewel GOT IT, figured out. On the Yaesu FT 101 series the VFO is set up with band markings from 0 to 500, zero on the left. I was having issues with not being able to tune on the left side of the VFO throught all the bands, and wondered if that is why people tune in the "Middle" of the band. NOPE- I found the PB 1180 band pass filter needed calibration. See the service manual page 7-17. This will adjust power equally across the scale. This too will provide the "noise" you need to find on the preselect.

[@lu2jcv]

Muchas gracias por su aporte un video muy instructivo, recen empiezo con este equipo y me fue muy util y claro, un abrazo desde argentina.

[@orange70383]

Excellent instruction, I just bought a ft-101e that is in great 100% original unmodified condition and the settings you showed gave results identical to yours. I'm relieved to find that the stock tubes are giving full output. Thank you'

[@AdrianLeggett]

I just bought a 101Z and this is really helpful. Thanks for putting this together. Much appreciated.

[@Commsprepper]

RM - great video and great classic radio. Reminds me of my days in the military and the KWM2-A radios.

[@artrichardson199]

Thanks, man. I have a FT-101EE and I love it!! The receiver is better than my FT-897 (on 80 meters at least) I am going to re-tube it this summer and I had a local ham go thru it and all the caps in the rig & 1 FET in the receiver replaced. It was Never hacked by a CB'er . I am one lucky ham to have such a fine radio DE W8ARR

[@cazcov]

Just bought a FT-101. Very informative.

[@GamesandMoreChannelProductions]

Am 4X is your envelope with these old Tube Radios BTW Nice Rig Great Video NI1G

[@1479andy]

Happy Christmas to you Ray have got my FT101B home just need a new ATU and get a longwire up only have a small Garden hope to get it sorted over the Holiday will need to revisit your post when she go live have a Icom 2820 and a nice DMR set but looking forward to running the big Yaesu 73's from the UK.

[@brianjohnson2864]

Excellent video thanks for posting

[@RayBecker]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you Brian. It's people like you that make me feel good about making these videos to help others!

[@homebrewguykc1atw268]

Thanks for nice video, I will do for my FT-101EE

[@RayBecker]

I am very glad that my video was any help to you! Merry Christmas

[@rchopp]

Good job Ray, that was like a pre-flight takeoff.

[@Dmmac]

Nice video on how to tune up this classic rig. Good Job! :-) N7DRM --(Still using my FT 101 E that I purchased in 1978)

[@billbates883]

Ok, thanks. I'll check out some of the forums. God bless, Bill (G6ATO)

[@DS20533]

GREAT VIDEOS....I JUST AQUIRED A PRISTINE 101B.I USE RESONANT ANTENNA ON 40 METERS.I DONT HAVE AN SWR/WATT METER AT THIS TIME,OR THE MANUEL FOR THE 101B...IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO TUNE THE RADIO USING THE METER ON THE FRONT ?? THANKS

[@RayBecker]

this radio is built like a tank and very powerful. you have to weigh old school vs modern with features like memory presets. i chose the 101b because it could withstand emp and is easy to service. it's also loud. you will need a tuner and an antenna. if you look for one, try to get it from a ham. many of these are out there but hacked up by cb'ers. good luck

[@DS20533]

THANKS....AGAIN,GREAT VIDEOS.IVE STORED THEM IN MY FAVORITES...

[@joee2047]

thanks for the info., I have a 101ex,, and it seems the only am I get is in the aux position, and it sounds like a channel or two of cb..

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Did you listen around 3.885 AM on 80 meters in the evening? It's usually pretty busy there.

[@byAlmad]

Hi ! I watched some times, in SSB should I leave the carrier level full up or half way as mike gain ? Tnx a lot 73 ...

[@johnhanson4970]

How come you started the tuning process in the center of the band like 250 rather than tune at the left of the VFO such as 7000 Mhz. (or the zero) My preselector doesn't seem to be as sensative on the left end of the VFO in all the bands on my Yaesu 101-E. The service manual is very awkward while your procedure is straight forward. Thank you for posting your videos.

[@RayBecker]

keep me posted jake! CONGRATS

[@joee2047]

on my radio, I have been told that I am throwing a carrier when I transmit,, the carrier control knob on the radio has no help,, is there a setting in the radio that might help??? thank-you.

[@RayBecker]

am functions only in the am mode. if you look at the mode switch it has LSB, USB, TUNE, CW and AM. AM works on all bands, though AM is only used on limited parts of the bands. For example...AM is the mode of choice on 3.875 and 3.885

[@trw_53]

how does it work on 11 meters . could you show how to set it up . thanks

[@nathanshi]

What should the final plate current be when done?

[@rf3962]

Hi Ray just found your channel and am very happy. I just got my general ticket and scored what I THINK was a great deal on an FT-101. I took it to my local club and they put it up in their shack on their antennas and everything SEEMS ok but only one guy there was somewhat versed in the 101. He said alot of the same things you are doing with one exception that I thought could be a bit sketchy. He said that in tuning the radio to the antenna (in my case It will be a G5RV) that an additional tuner wasnt needed since you were tuning it every time you changed bands to THAT particular band. Is that actually correct or would I be better off doing what you are doing with the external tuner? Thanks

[@BirdWhisperer46]

My 101 is bought and paid for, but I bet I bump the number of views on this video alone by 10 or 15 before it get's here. I don't want to blow the tops off the tubes. How long should the heater be on before you do anything?

[@RayBecker]

manual says to wait a few minutes after turning on heater

[@billbates7810]

Hi, I have a 101e, do they use a dynamic microphone?

[@RayBecker]

Bill, I don't have the 101 anymore so you'll have to check out forums and the internet. If I recall, these radios worked best with the stock mic that came with them. Yaesu also has a desktop version of the mic for these boat anchors

[@gmw1964z]

would it be better to tune up the radio on a dummy load and then tune the antenna tuner with a tuned radio?

[@1OFGODSOWN]

YES

[@mykenwood830]

do you not need too keep the rig operating near 225 ma ? Thats the way my Knwd 830s is to be operated.

[@RayBecker]

of course...when i tune, i'm using the meter on the radio. there are two tuning modes; pre-tune and final tune. what we should do right now is get you a copy of the manual. send me a pm and i will get you a pdf file which is the full manual.

[@ghoshowwalks53]

what test gear are you useing to do this all with? type , model numder please. thank you. im new at this.

[@ummagummiak]

I'm wondering why many of tube-based transceiver owners uses an additional antena tuner? I thought, that build-in Pi-filter is enough for matching the output...?

[@RayBecker]

i use an end fed long wire. must use a tuner. i can't answer for others

[@ummagummiak]

xxRenaissanceManxx But haven't You tried to match the antenna using "Plate" and "Loading" knobs only? I think that using an additional tuner is not necessary in this case, cause Pi-filter in Yaesu is a tuner itself (I'm not picking, just wondering...)?

[@SteveWrightNZ]

ummagummiak No, the Pi couplers' job is to match the tube impedance to 50 ohms. The antenna couplers' job is to match 50 ohms to some complex antenna impedance, should that be required. You COULD fudge the Pi coupler to do both jobs, but you will sacrifice its' ability to suppress harmonics - which will be perfectly fine from a poor operators' perspective, but most unfortunate for other band users. Always peak the Pi coupler of any output stage into 50 ohms FIRST, starting with the exciter and then the amp. After that, you will need to re-peak the exciter pi coupler as you swap from the dummy load to the amp, as the amp input will be slightly different complex Z to the dummy load.

[@ummagummiak]

Steve Wright Thank You very much! That explains everything! :-)

[@RayBecker]

i will make a short video covering the plate current. good question

[@919Bigmic]

I do believe joee2047 is referring to 11 meters here.I could be wrong though.

[@joee2047]

Renaissancemann,,, I would like to wire a 4 pin cobra mic to my yaesu ft-101, I have it wired to the 4 pins where it keys but no audio,, any idea what I have done wrong? could one of the wires go on with the ground, making 2 connections on one pin and leaving one pin empty??? thanks

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Having it wired properly would be the biggest issue.The wiring diagram is NOT the same for a Cobra as it is for the FT-101 just because they both use a 4 pin plug. LOL

[@joee2047]

how does the am function on this radio,,, only on aux or on any of the band selections

[@1OFGODSOWN]

All bands should operate on AM mode but without an AM Filter the transmit & receive quality will be less than pretty.

[@ghoshowwalks53]

i to have to change the finals in my good looking yaesu ft-101, can you please putt up/on a youtube vid on tubes neutraliation?please. p/s tank you for all your ver good ft-101b youtube videos.

[@joshuaschuster8719]

Awesome,thanks

[@RayBecker]

Thanks Randy!

[@marciuschester3683]

Ray, Can you do a video on how to tune a Astatic D-104 to Yaesu FT-101 B. This would help out alot of people me included get the best audio out of it.

[@RayBecker]

I would have to ask a friend who did that to his rig. I don't have a lollipop mic...been a long time

[@TheBigfoot567]

I have two Yaesu 101s I've purchased in years past. No attempt to fire up....I don't know a thing about shortwave, but should get off my butt and learn, then get my license.

[@scottcarlson6246]

Nice, but a dummy load and a "cheat sheet" for your tuner settings on each band would help a lot. Just sayin'...... By this time (3 years later) I'm sure you have everything figured out. Hopefully that FT-101 is still kicking!.

[@1OFGODSOWN]

If you follow the instructions in the manual it says,key for no more than 10 seconds & then unkey for 10 seconds before keying again.You did NOT pause anywhere near 10 seconds on any part of that tune up? If we are teaching we should teach by the manual not by our own way unless the manual has been found too be at fault & it has not.Keying that often will overheat the tubes so follow the instructions in the owners manual & save those finals because they are getting expensive & harder too find.

[@dirtyjob]

i have to change the finals in a ft101, do you have a vid on tube neutralization

[@RayBecker]

sorry, I do not have a video on that. in the manual there is the cold neutralization procedure. this seems to be the way to go.

[@dirtyjob]

xxRenaissanceManxx thanks, i'll take a look at that

[@RayBecker]

that would be true if the antenna was unknown. remember, the 101 has a very wide pi network. 25 to 100 ohms. i tuned thru dummy load when changing tubes and testing. not necessary when connected to a resonant antenna

[@1479andy]

Thanks Ray

[@RayBecker]

Merry Christmas andy!

[@glennmiskulin5379]

The thing was design for 15 watt dead key and you let us swing up from there

[@Senor100]

Very helpful video, thank you! KK4NTP

[@M70ACARRY]

Serious powerline noise

[@bobtheman8926]

10 secs max BUT if at max drive/full power ? with 10 secs in between. Better safe than sorry Bob G4KSG

[@RayBecker]

This is probably good advice. Thanks for sharing

[@glennmiskulin5379]

200 Watts that poor Yaesu you're killing you're supposed to get up to about 30 Watts out anything over that you're just burning up the tubes