The first 24 hrs on the new rig.
The first thing I did was to dig out all the cables I have to see what was going to work and what I would need to pick up.
1. Amp hook up. I use a ARB-704 Buffer Relay to key up the Amp, I was lucky enough that the cable for my FT-857D works with the FT-950 no problem. You must connect it to the Tune plug on the back of the radio. I dont have a CW Key so I tune it up using the RTTY and it works just fine.
2. CAT Connection. Well I have a cable for my FT-847 so I figured that would work. Well it doesnt, the cable for the FT-847 is a NULL Modem cable and the FT-950 is a straight through. I had a new USB to Serial converter with a 3 foot cable on it, and I already had a gender changer so it all hooked up and worked first shot. I am able to set all the baud rates at 38.4k without issues.
3. Update Firmware, I had 11.4 in the radio and 11.5 was available, this was also an easy task and worked perfectly. I only updated the Main as this radio has version 2 of the EDSP firmware and no update was needed.
4. Digital Modes. Next I hooked up my Signalink USB. I didnt have to change any jumpers and the cable was good to go as well. Pretty much plug and play on the Digital modes. I did notice that the FT-950 is less sensative on the Signalink adjustments and I now can set zero ALC unlike my IC-7000.
5. Heil Headset. I had forgotten that the head set I purchased was the IC version, it has the HC4 Element and the IC Element. So for now it can be used on the HC4. I did order a replacement element on E-Bay to replace the IC Element. I'll post up some comments when it gets here and is installed.
6. Keep digging in the manual, especially on the Mic EQ, I think I have the audio set pretty well and have gotten a couple of reports that the Audio quality is great.
7. The internal Tuner. It seems to be adequate if you have a decent antenna that isn't too far off. I checked it with my Palstar AT2KD in by pass and it tunes up my Buxcomm OCF on 6 through 80m .
So far so good, this radio is quite a bit better overall than my IC-7000. Dont get me wrong, the IC-7000 is a Great little radio, but for a base station I wanted a full size rig that was easy to see and easy to adjust. The FT-950 does have a lot of menus, and some complain that there is no RF Power adjustment on a knob, but I have found it very easy to learn and just too cool to look at