Yaesu FT-991A vs ICOM IC-7300 pulling out weak SSB signals

[@SummitBidTech]

This is probably the best comparison video I’ve seen of these two radios. I’m getting back into the hobby and picking up a 991a today. It will be my First time back on HF since 1989!

[@n4hnhradio]

Welcome back! The FT-991A is the Swiss Army Knife of amateur radio. It’s the one radio to own if you will only own one radio. Even if you later buy an FTdx10 or FTdx101D/MP for HF, the FT-991A can serve as your 2m/70cm base station and HF backup.

[@SummitBidTech]

@@n4hnhradio I’m psyched. I sold most of my gear when I moved from Alaska to Colorado in 1989. My last rig was a Kenwood TS-430s. Loved that radio. I’ll look for you down the dial. 73 de NL7FU

[@RussellFulmer]

Just ordered a 991 yesterday. I have limited space and having everything in one box was what made the choice for me. Thanks for this video.

[@n4hnhradio]

Tell John Kruk at Yaesu USA. Hi! Hi! 73, N4HNH

[@u2fanforever1]

Love my 991A. It was part of a few contacts in Russia this morning from ON on 100 watts and a MFJ end fed.

[@n4hnhradio]

That’s great! The FT-991A is the Swiss Army Knife of amateur radio

[@scott7452]

THANK YOU!! The video I have been looking for.

[@n4hnhradio]

I’m glad you found it. Welcome to my channel! 73, de N4HNH

[@joelraf]

With CAT on the 991A you can get over the menu system. The contour on SSB & APF on CW sets the 991A and 5000 apart from the 7300. Really impressed with the 991A.

[@n4hnhradio]

Indeed Joel! It was great to finally compare the IC-7300 and the FT-991A. Thanks for providing the test subjects! Controlling the FT-991A via the CAT port with a computer would make it much easier. 73, de N4HNH

[@donsinger1]

The audio quality on the 991a is much better than the 7300 and the APF on CW is icing on the cake.

[@robertchappell5723]

Thanks for making this video and sharing.

[@n4hnhradio]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Proc3000]

Thank you for this side by side video. I've been wanting the FT-991A cause of the shack in the box type set up, but everyone swears the IC7300 is better. I think you just sold me on the 991a

[@n4hnhradio]

Glad to help, Robert. Better is a matter of perspective, isn’t it? The 7300 wins if you are looking for a better user interface and easier learning curve. 991A wins if you want a receiver that can selectively pull out weak signals. It doesn’t hurt that it also has 2 meters and 70 centimeters. 73, de N4HNH

[@magoo5.0johnson45]

@Steven 00 "I didn't need the extra features of the 991a" Extra features, as in actually being able to hear the signal?? But hey, As long as your happy with your purchase, That's what counts.

[@magoo5.0johnson45]

@Steven 00 It's obvious that you didn't watch the video of N4HNH demonstrate the differences between 2. If your happy with your purchase that's fine, But the simple fact is that the Yaesu cleans up up the signal on SSB BETTER than the Icom, Seeing is believing, and it's here for all to see."The right antenna" the same antenna was used for both radios. Again, Your happy with your 7300, That's great, fact remains the 991a is more capable of cleaning up weaker signals. "I don't really care" Then nothing else needs to be said.

[@jay-rus4437]

Ive been really impressed with the ability of the 991. I also run the RX through a Heil PRAS. Between the 991 and the Heil the final RX has been pretty nice to work with

[@andrewfiertek5937]

I have both radios in addition to FT-857D & FT-891 and always wondered why I had OVF flashing on the Icom, learned something new tonight, THANKS! They are both great radios but the Icom is pretty to look at. Really enjoy your informative videos and impressed with your bio on n QRZ!

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks for stopping by Andrew! I appreciate hearing from you. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. My goal is to help my viewers get the most from whichever radio they have. 73, de N4HNH

[@forgetyourlife]

you should see the 7610 then, whoa, HD screen.

[@n4hnhradio]

@@forgetyourlife 7610 is beautiful. If I was buying for looks, it would be my choice. It just cannot hear better than the FTdx5000MP.

[@andrewfiertek5937]

@@forgetyourlife my next radio might be a FlexRadio.

[@chrisfossan2089]

Your the man I‘ve been looking for! Great objective comparisons. Keep up the good work! 73 N6CLF

[@n4hnhradio]

Thank you! Welcome to my channel! 73, de N4HNH

[@thuff3207]

Nice comparison thank you for sharing this information.

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnk8091]

Manual notch (MN) is turned on the IC-7300. If the notch is centred on the signal you are trying to receive, you are basically notching out the signal you're trying to listen to by up to 20 dB. I also see that you have set your notch width to WIDE, so you are killing the entire signal that you are trying to listen to.

[@n4hnhradio]

Not the entire signal, but I was dealing with some local heterodyne. There is an other video that shows the IC-7300 and the FT-891 in a comparison. You can see/hear a before and after, with both radios using manual notch, plus the FT-891 using Contour. The closest you can get to a Contour control with the IC-7300 is to use the manual notch with a wide setting. Sometimes we must sacrifice a little bit of fidelity when we are trying to pull a weak station out of the noise floor.

[@joen8joe231]

Thanks for this video and explanation. Ive been struggling with this decision. Have been leaning towards the 991a but so many seem to have and prefer the 7300 It makes me doubt myself. After watching this I’m still leaning 991a. BTW that 5000 is sweet...who needs menus when you have a dedicated button or dial!

[@n4hnhradio]

The 5000 is my favorite radio of all time. But the 991A is no slouch either. Thanks for your comment! Just because a radio is popular doesn’t mean it’s the best. Baofeng is also very popular but it can’t complete with Yaesu or Kenwood HTs. 73, Doug

[@lonnielewis6800]

I’m in the same boat but it looks like a couple years later. New General Class. I’m curious, it’s been awhile which one did you choose and and regrets? Thanks!

[@pu2xbt74]

I follow all your videos, and it was decisive in my decision to buy a Yaesu FT991A, I want it to use more VHF/UHF modes but watching this video FT991 A proved to be much better than the IC 7300, in the HF bands , what a spectacular reception the FT 991 A has, vpu buy it to be next to my yaesu FTDX 10, it will be a good companion side by side. Sorry I don't write english is very well.

[@n4hnhradio]

FTdx10 and FT-991A are a powerful combination. 73

[@KD8GKR]

would've liked to seen the ip+ and manual notch turned off on the 7300

[@n4hnhradio]

It doesn’t make any discernible difference. I tried it on and off. The IP+ makes very little difference. The manual notch scoops a bit but turning it off made little difference and it allowed some annoying heterodyne. The 7300 has the better user interface but the ICOM DSP struggles to compete with the Yaesu DSP.

[@BBLandServices]

Ellijay Ga. I just retired as a division Chief from the fire department there. I got my tech for the search and rescue there from their club.

[@n4hnhradio]

Congratulations! Welcome to amateur radio! Thank you for serving as a first responder! I Elmered a SAR person here in my area. He is a ham’s ham today. He even learned CW (40WPM) and now teaches CW. He is also a huge mover and shaker in POTA and SOTA.

[@BBLandServices]

@@n4hnhradio I got my ticket in 2014. I am the only one out of all that took it that actually does anything with it. Keep up the good videos. I’m trying to decide what I want for a new base station then I can keep the 891 packed for POTA actuations. Will be the 710 or ftdx 10. I use to have a ftdx 1200 when they came out but had to sell it in my divorce.

[@truckinguy92]

The audio sounds a lot better on the 991 vs the 7300 but the 7300 shows a stronger signal.

[@n4hnhradio]

S-meters are notoriously inaccurate. The IC-7300 S-meter is especially generous. You can’t judge signal quality based solely on the S-meter reading. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4qVhmmlZdKVoqsfeature=shared

[@douggrissom3065]

I keep seeing the ft991a compared to the ic7300 and just about every other radio available except the most obvious comparable of all. I have not seen a single comparison of the ft991a and the icom ic7100. These two radios are virtually identical in function but I haven't seen even one comparison. Does that seem odd to anyone else?

[@n4hnhradio]

One must own each or obtain loaners. The FT-991A and IC-7300 belong to the same person. He loaned them to me for several weeks. The IC-7100 appears to be a fine radio. I know three people who have one and one who has two. He bought another after his first one failed for some reason. Maybe the form factor of the IC-7100 makes people put it in a different category than the FT-991A. The IC-7100 seems more suited for mobile use. That would make it more comparable to the FT-857D. Both have a removable control head for example. I know a guy who has his control head in Orlando, where he works, but his radio and antennas are in North Carolina, at his home. It works out perfectly for him. His 2m antenna is at 3,100 feet ASL. 73, de N4HNH

[@jpuddlejump]

Why did you have the manual notch filter turned on on the icom? Having the manual notch filter on when it’s not needed will kill your audio fidelity. Turning it off will also be like taking a blanket off the speaker.

[@n4hnhradio]

I thought you were referring to the CW version of this video at first. I sometimes use the notch with CW, to mitigate filter ripple, especially when using a sharp filter. There was a heterodyne produced by something in my neighborhood at this frequency. I had to use notch to knock it down.

[@paulhastings3109]

Still wish I would have gotten FTFX-5000 Instead of the 1200

[@tedn4yx628]

Whoa! Not a proper comparison! Get rid of the Notch & Digital Noise Reduction. Same Filters only. Make all RX settings equal. The viewer cannot draw proper conclusions otherwise.

[@n4hnhradio]

The 7300 was picking up heterodyne. You wouldn’t have wanted to hear it compared to to the 991A with the heterodyne. Digital Noise Reduction was enabled on both radios. The Yaesu DNR is just better. There is another video comparing the 7300 to the FT-891. It is a before and after without and with notch. Either way, the Yaesu has the best receiver. The ICOM has the best interface.

[@tedn4yx628]

@@n4hnhradio Note: I own both. If there's a heterodyne simply go to another frequency & find another weak signal. Also test all ham bands & midways within the pass bands! Regards.