Yaesu FT-100 / FTdx-100

The FT-100 was a major advancement — mobile on 12 volts while most stations still used separate tube TX and RX. Versions followed: FT-100, FT-100B (Mk2), then FTdx-100. One step from the world-renowned FT-101, still enjoyed well into the 21st century.

Compare the original FT-100 Mark 1 front panel to the later FTdx-100: concentric RF/AF gain moved to the far right; AM carrier/mic gain took its place — a layout carried into the FT-101 series. The FT-101 (designed 1969) ran for roughly ten years, one of the longest production lines in amateur radio history.

Yaesu had products before 1966, but the FT-100 was the first in a long line of transceivers yet to come.

Power supply transformer far left rear; HV capacitors and regulators center rear. PA stage: dual 6MJ6 finals (Toshiba TV sweep tubes) driven by the familiar 12BY7 — used in the FT-101 line until 1979.

• SSB/CW: 120 W PEP
• AM: 50 W
• Sensitivity: 1 μV (modest by modern 0.25 μV standards, but it worked)
• Built-in VOX, 100 kHz crystal calibrator, S-meter (cathode current & relative power like FT-101)

For its time, the FT-100 was a Cadillac if you were lucky enough to own one.

Sommerkamp FTdx-150 — European rebrand of the FTdx-100, built by Yaesu

• FT-100 Mk1 owner’s manual with schematics (PDF)
• FT-100 troubleshooting guide (Word)
• FTdx-100 / Sommerkamp FTdx-150 owner’s manual (PDF)
• FTdx-100 internal views (Japanese labels)

English labeling of the Japanese internal views document planned when time permits.

Carol L. Maher W4CLM
Club Admin, Fox Tango International

Thank you to Bob G4KSG & SV8YM for help obtaining clean copies of files.