Yaesu FT-991A
$$$$$
| Frequency | RX: 30 kHz - 56 MHz, 118-164 MHz (includes aircraft), 420-470 MHz, TX: 1.8-54 MHz (160m-6m) + 144-148 MHz (2m) + 430-450 MHz (70cm). Amateur bands only. |
| Bands | TX: 160m through 70cm (HF + 6m + 2m + 70cm). RX: wideband coverage. |
| TX power | 100 W (HF/6m: 100W SSB/CW/FM, 25W AM. VHF/UHF: 50W SSB/CW/FM, 12.5W AM. Adjustable power levels.) |
| Modes | SSB (USB/LSB), CW (built-in keyer, semi break-in, zero beat, contest keyer), AM, FM (with CTCSS encode/decode, ARS), C4FM digital (Yaesu System Fusion; AMS auto-switching, DG-ID group monitor), RTTY/DATA (Packet 1200/9600, PSK31, RTTY via built-in USB audio) |
| Weight | 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) - 9.5 lb (4.3 kg). |
| Connector | two SO-239: HF/50 MHz (rear) + VHF/UHF (rear). Separate ports. |
| Year | 2016 |
| antenna hf | SO-239 (HF/6m, rear panel) |
| antenna vhf | SO-239 (VHF/UHF, rear panel. N-type on European version) |
| mic | 8-pin modular, RJ-45 style (MH-31A8J included, same modular family as the FT-857D/FT-891; round-8-pin desk mics need an adapter) |
| key | 3.5mm stereo (tip=dit/key, ring=dah) |
| usb | USB (built-in audio codec + CAT control, integrated SCU-17 functionality) |
| data | mini-DIN (DATA port, for external TNC or modem) |
| linear | rear panel (band data + TX relay for linear amplifier control) |
| tuner | rear panel (for optional FC-40 external ATU) |
| phones | 3.5mm (front panel headphone jack) |
| ext spkr | 3.5mm (external speaker) |
| dc in | fused DC power cord with open ends (included). 13.8V DC ±15%, 25A fuse. |
| power req | 13.8V DC ±15%. TX HF: ~22A. TX VHF/UHF: ~15A. RX: ~1.8A. Fused DC power cord included with 25A spare fuse. |
The only current production radio that covers HF through UHF all-mode including C4FM digital in a single compact box. 100W HF + 50W VHF/UHF. Built-in ATU, USB audio codec, TCXO, spectrum scope with waterfall, and C4FM System Fusion. The 3 kHz roofing filter and TMS320C6746 DSP provide serious receiver performance. Parametric mic EQ. Two separate antenna connectors. 60m band. Voice memory. Digital modes via USB cable, no external interface needed. Made in Japan. 3-year warranty.
It covers many bands but the VHF/UHF section, while competent, is not as good as a dedicated VHF/UHF rig. The superhet receiver (not SDR) has no dual receive or direct sampling. The menu system is deep, with a real learning curve. The 3.5 in display is smaller than the FT-710's 4.3 in. No DVI-D external monitor output. At 4.3 kg it is borderline for portable use. An IC-7300 plus a separate VHF/UHF radio may outperform it on HF while adding better VHF/UHF capability. C4FM infrastructure is less widespread than DMR.
An all-in-one HF/VHF/UHF radio. If you want one radio covering HF through UHF including C4FM digital, the FT-991A is the main option at this price from a major manufacturer. It does everything competently. For operators who need HF plus VHF/UHF in a single transceiver, especially for emergency communications, Field Day, or space-constrained installations, it remains uniquely positioned.
The Yaesu FT-991A is the classic "shack in a box": a single compact transceiver that covers everything from 160 meters up through 2 meters and 70 centimeters, in every common mode - SSB, CW, AM, FM, the digital data modes, and Yaesu's own C4FM (System Fusion) digital voice. It runs 100 watts on HF and 6 meters and 50 watts on 2 m and 70 cm, with a built-in antenna tuner and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen.
The "A" is the important part of the name. The original FT-991 had no real-time spectrum display; the FT-991A added a multi-color spectrum scope and waterfall, which is the single biggest reason to choose it over the older model. Underneath is a conventional triple-conversion superheterodyne receiver with a 32-bit DSP - not a direct-sampling SDR like an IC-7300 - so its scope is a bit slower and its receiver, while good, is not class-leading. For digital modes it is its own USB sound card: one cable to the PC, no external interface.
The appeal is breadth, not specialization. One radio, one tuner, and one box give you HF DX, 6-meter work, FM repeaters, and C4FM digital - which is exactly what makes it popular for emergency communications, Field Day, and stations short on space. The trade is that a dedicated HF radio will out-receive it and a dedicated VHF/UHF radio will out-perform its 50-watt V/U section.
For an operator who genuinely uses all those bands, little else at the price competes: the alternative is usually two radios. A pure-HF Icom IC-7300 is the better HF performer for similar money, and the VHF/UHF IC-9700 is the better satellite and weak-signal V/U rig - but the FT-991A does the job of both in one current-production box.