05-11-2014, 11:30 AM
I just got the Ham Radio Outlet catalog in the mail the other day. I was going though it and noticed that the in the Yaesu line the FT-9000 series of transceivers are no longer in the catalog. The FT-9000 series is the "premium" product for the contester and DXer. The top of the line product features a 400 watt transmitter. This radio is a big hit for the European and other country stations that have 400 watt limits on their output. They are able to put all their money in to a competition class radio and not have to worry about also getting an amplifier that they would have to throttle down to 400 watts to meet their country's power limitations. According to HRO's catalog the FT-5000 is now their premium radio from Yaesu.
I checked the Yaesu web page at http://www.yaesu.com/ and I see that the FT-9000 line is still there, (as is the FT-2000 a rather short lived product). On the HRO web page at http://www.hamradio.com/ the FT9000s are still listed but as "pending", I'm willing to bet made to order, they want your $$ before you can order one. The FT-2000 is not on HRO's web page.
I'm wondering if there will be a new product announced at Dayton? If so we will see it announced in all the ham magazines for their June issues. Also with the ARRL convention there may be prototypes of the new lines shown. Usually they announce their super-duper items at Dayton but almost always with the note that the product is not yet "type accepted".
If you are going to Dayton you may want to check out the Yaesu display.
-73-
