Starting AM with FT101zd - advice

[N9axl]

I'm starting to get back into this after 30 years. I'd like to operate AM on 20 meters with my ft101zd.  Does anyone have any suggestions, hints, etc on this?  The manual seems sort of skimpy other than tune per normal and then inject some carrier.

I'm assuming I tune per normal, set function to am, and inject some carrier. I checked inside and I appear to have the AM board. Does it work? I have no idea. I assume that switching to Am does something so AM signals can be understood - turns off a filter. again the manual is skimpy. In the 80s I don't think people got ft101zd to do am.

My testing shows I am getting about 120 watts USB out into a 50 ohm dummy load which I guess works out to around 30 watts AM.  Given that I am surrounded by 5000 foot mountains and putting that into a 4BTV maybe I am wasting my time?

[W2VW]

Not sure if there's a receive AM filter available for the ZD.

IIRC there isn't. If so the fun will not be there without some way around the issue.

A Softrock or DTV dongle may be the answer. 

[N9axl]

OK. I guess in the day people used separate receivers that allowed them to receive AM. Sort of wonder why Yaesu would sell this with transmit AM capability only and not document this in the manual somewhere. You'd think there would be a note saying that.  For what it's worth here's an interior shot. Maybe that's not an AM board although it sure seems like it

[W2VW]

Yaehoo expected people to listen to Am through the ssb filter

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I can't think of any Yaesu FT-10xxx rig that didn't have an AM mode. The FT-10xxx's were the darlings of the CB crowd.

[WQ9E]

It does have AM mode however there is no provision for a separate AM filter so you are limited to the SSB bandwidth.  It is certainly usable but those who MUST have hifi AM receive won't like it.

There is easy provision for connecting an external receiver (both antenna and muting) so you can take that route if you wish and have a separate receiver.

You have a 101ZD Mk1 or  MkII, I can't tell enough from your photo to be sure and there are some significant changes between the various "marks" so make sure you have the proper manual for your unit.  I believe FoxTango has all of them available for free download.

Pete, the original "mark 0 or no mark" 101ZD doesn't have an AM position so it is the oddball of the group.

Note that the FT-101ZD is very different from the the earlier FT-101 through 101F series, the 101ZD is a cost reduced version of the 901/902 but a cost reduced 901 is still better (in my opinion) than the original 101 series.  However the many modifications, hints, etc. for the CB popular earlier 101 series does NOT apply to the 101ZD.  Most of the 901/902 accessories (like the synthesized external VFO) will work fine with your 101ZD.

[N9axl]

Thanks so much. Here's a better picture. I think it's a Mark 2 although the manual shows a picture of a ft101zsd inside the manual while saying ft101zd on the cover.

[WQ9E]

You are welcome!  I think you have a Mark 1 because the Mark 2 should have the WARC bands and the Mark 3 adds provision for FM.  But I have read that early production Mark 1 models didn't have AM on the mode switch so I expect there were a lot of running changes throughout production and maybe the early Mark 2 didn't come with the WARC bands.  But in any case your model will operate fine on AM and if you find the mode interesting you can go in many directions with different gear in the future.  My first operation on AM was using a pair of Yaesu twins (FR-101D/FL-101) and now I have AM gear ranging from the large (Johnson Desk KW and Viking 500, BC-610, Gates 250) down to several little "novice class" rigs that included controlled carrier AM (Heathkit DX-60, Knightkit T-60) and many sizes in-between.  All have their own personality and are interesting to operate.

[N9axl]

Actually I'd like to eventually just put together a classic 1950s ham station just for kicks. I'll have to keep some of those in mind.  I can't afford Collins but maybe a Viking paired with something. Thanks again.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

You're right Roger. I was winging it without looking at the manuals since in all my years of hamming I've never owned any Yaesu FT-10xxx models. Actually I've never owned any Yaesu HF rigs.

There was FT-101Z (analog dial)/ FT-101ZD (digital dial) which only had SSB/CW
Then FT-101Z/FT-101ZD which had SSB/CW/AM (AM optional board) which many called MK I
Then FT-101ZD which had SSB/CW/AM  (AM optional board) and WARC bands which many called MK II
Then FT-10ZD which had SSB/CW/AM or FM  (AM or FM optional board) and WARC bands and different colored knobs which, in some ads, Yaseu called it MK III.

I've only seen two operating manuals for these models. One seems to cover the first two above and a later one that covers the last two. Unfortunately, Yaesu didn't include any version numbers or dates in the manuals. The service manual(s) covers these different versions using only serial number identification.

The AM board in these units is identified as PB-2040. As indicated, in stock form with the AM board, in transmit, frequency response is 300-2700 Hz. However, INRAD sells an AM filter for the FT-101ZD. http://www.inrad.net/product.php?productid=108&cat=28&page=1

[kb3ouk]

To make it a little more useable with the SSB filter on AM, use the clarifier to adjust the receive frequency up or down from the carrier by about 1 khz. Use the VFO to set the transmit frequency then switch the clarifier on for receiver and use it to tune off to the side of the frequency. I used to run my FT-901DM like that before I put the AM filter in it. The FT-101ZD is an economy version of the FT-901 radios.

[WD8BIL]

The 2 filters I can see in the pics search out to be;

XF-8.9HC ......... 600Hz CW
XF-8.9HS.......... 2.6KHz SSB

for what it's worth

I can't see the 3rd one.

[W3GMS]

I see an SF-8.9GA listed as a 6 Khz filter for the FT-901 and 902.  Not sure if its the same IF frequency for the 101ZD or not. 

Joe, GMS

[WQ9E]

The IF frequency is the same as the 901/902 but you have to modify the 101ZD since it only makes provision for the CW filter in addition to the stock SSB filter.

[kb3ouk]

I seem to recall that the original FT-101 radios only had two filter slots and that it was possible to remove the CW filter, replace it with the AM filter, then modify the mode switch so that CW was received through the SSB filter and AM was received through the AM filter in what used to be the space occupied by the CW filter. Wonder if this could be done to the 101ZD? Another idea, would it be possible to swap the filter board from a 901 into the 101ZD? I know they have space for all three filters.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Of course, you can always Google: adding an am filter to a ft-101zd   and see what others have said about doing this. Doesn't look like a simple 1, 2, 3 type of job especially if you don't have an AM filter already in your hand. It might be less aggravating, less frustrating, and cheaper to clean up the FT-101ZD, sell it, and go find a rig that's already setup for AM with appropriate filters.

[WQ9E]

I heartily agree with Pete's assessment.  The 101ZD isn't rare but it isn't nearly as common as the original and very different prior FT-101 models so a clean one should sell easily. 

Another option if it is the receive audio that bothers you is to use the built in external receiver antenna jack and muting provisions to easily hook up an external receiver.  You can buy a decent vintage receiver designed for AM use for about the same or less than you will pay for an AM filter for the ZD.  This receiver can then be used with whatever future classic, class E, etc. AM rig you acquire.

[W3GMS]

I see an SF-8.9GA listed as a 6 Khz filter for the FT-901 and 902.  Not sure if its the same IF frequency for the 101ZD or not. 

Joe, GMS

If your willing to give up the SSB filter slot, just use that slot for the AM filter.  That is what I did for my FT-101 and it works great and is still usable on SSB.  There is a relatively simple mod for the 101 for enabling the AM filter for AM operation while still using the SSB filter on SSB.  The Fox Tango Club has all the information on how to do it.  Plus I think its been posted on the internet.  Saying that, it should be possible with your 101ZD as well if you want to have 3 separate filter positions. You could also use the CW filter slot for AM operation if you wanted to give up the narrow CW option.  Its just a matter of allowing the mode switch to diode steer a given filter so by swapping the wires you can make any filter position active for any mode. 

http://foxtango.org/foxtango001.htm

Joe, GMS   

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Hardly seems worthwhile and it still means investing $130 more for an AM filter.

Here's more info: http://www.foxtango.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1158

[Steve - K4HX]

Look for a cheap 901 filter or sell the 101ZD and get a 101E with a filter.

[W1FYO]

 I have a FT101ZD mk3 with both the AM and FM boards and have to agree the stock FT101zd audio on AM is terrible .
I went the expensive 6khz inrad filter approach with OK results however , it required many changes and the elimination of the CW filter position .
Another way to get around this was to make the AM board double conversion to 455 khz which can be had at a fraction
of the cost of an Inrad filter. This was accomplished  by adding a small board on top of the am board .It has TDA 1072 am
rx on a chip which takes the 8987.5 khz IF after the mixer 20 khz band pass filter and mixes it with 8532.5 khz osc to get the 455 khz IF frequency . The audio from the IC
then goes to the FT101ZD audio output amp. My 101zd now sounds great on AM and still have the use of the cw filter. Only one cut
is made to the AM board to add this change . The TDA 1072 is an excellent chip for am , it has a double balanced mixer and a full wave detector .
Use this device in several  projects with excellent results.
Bob W1fyo

[Chuck k3xu]

I seem to remember W3duq did up one of these radios about 15 years ago.
He used a Kenwood R-1000 as the receiver.
Then he moved on to the FT102.
I never found the mods posted.

[WD8BIL]

DUQ FT102 mods

[Chuck k3xu]

I was referring to the FT101zd as the mods not found.
I don't think Bill did a write up.
He used a modified R-1000 for the receiver.This was the work around for a wider receive filter.
He sent me the mods for the Kenwood.I reworked mine
and it works great. 
Thank you for the link.