I've been enjoying listening and operating the Yaesu FT-2000 today. I wired a cable so I could connect up my straight keys and bugs to the rig. The cw key jack requires a 3-conductor 1/4-inch plug, and a 2-conductor won't work — which is what all of my cables for my bugs are terminated with (go figure!).
The one thing I can see that this rig might use is a general “cancel” button — one that will put all the DSP, AGC, and filter settings back to a “standard” position with a single keystroke. Because you have several different controls and so many options, you often have to closely check the display to figure out what is turned on and what is not in order to turn it off. The auto notch was playing havoc with my CW for the first 30 seconds until I figured out what was going on!
My first phone contact with the rig was EA1DR, 400 km north of Madrid. He was 59 and gave me the same, commenting on the great audio. There are lots of DX stations on the air in preparation for this next weekend's contest. I heard a California ham in Honduras and he was working JA's like crazy today on 15.
I'm still adjusting to having the monitor separate from the rig. You get real used to seeing the monitor next to the tuning knob. I don't have a keyboard in place yet, but you don't need one to use the features of the monitor when hooked to the DMU (well, it would help if you use the built-in logging program!).
The DMU really makes the rig; I don't know if its worth the price to most folks, but it is to me. If you weren't in the habit of having the scope you probably wouldn't care to spend the extra money. I would like to have the matching speaker for the rig, but that's another $200. Find a place to put it would require shifting more stuff around anyway.
The Noise Blanker is exceptional in the FT-2000. Like the PROIII, its adjustable, and it is effective on a variety of noises. I wish I could run the rigs side by side, but I would have to pull lots of other stuff out of the shack, and I'm not going to wreck the place just for that.
The FT-2000's VFO knob is such a huge contrast to this rig's little brother, the FT-450. The FT-2000 has a real man's VFO knob, big, rubbery and velvety smooth. The FT-450 VFO is just smallish, though it couldn't be any bigger unless they redesigned the rig. I don't have the FT-450 on the desk right now, but I'm considering putting it in place of the IC-706 for six meters.
I've got an early morning tomorrow, so I'm off to bed momentarily. G'night and 73.