I'd go for ANAN over a Flex. NR2, Diversity noise canceling & Pure signal are amazing features.

If I had a TS-990, I will never ever sell it. Kenwood are audio people. They have the absolutely best audio on the market.

The FTDX101 tops the sherwood engineering receiver test charts above all others, but in the real world they are all so close that the average person wont notice any difference. Go with the one you like to use most.

I highly recommend keeping the TS-990s. The Kenwood TS-990s is a solid top performer that will give you years and years of performance without issue. The Flex 6600 will only give you heartache! I have owned several Flex SDR's over the past 10 years including a Flex-6600 for the last 4 years. The Flex 6600 came with frequent software issues that made operating a hassle. I finally had enough and got rid of it! I currently own a ANAN-7000DLE MKII which performs well above what the Flex could ever do. Setting up the ANAN software is a challenge but once set up performs solid with no issues! 73 de N3CAL

Nope you'll regret it. The Flex has allot of issues with software updates and the audio's crap. Sounds tinny and fuzzy, if your gonna do it, get the Yaesu FTDX101MP. Best receiver on the market right now. BTW thanks for picking me up the other day on 40. 73: Mike DE VO1OP

I don't have much to do with radios but I do find them and you fascinating at how passionate you are about the entire business. Live streaming a "meeting" between you and Mr. Flex throwing a sales pitch about why you should "upgrade" would also be fascinating! Just my .02 cents worth....Rock On!

Cal a year ago I was looking at the 890, kept putting it off, but recently bought the Flex, just for the ease of remote and every video I watch, the guys love it. We will miss the 990, she is a real beauty. Cheers n 73

Flex any day. Used The 6700 for 6 years with the Pc. Fantastic. Used the 6700 with the Maestro both in the shack and remote. Fantastic! You can even log into and use my Flex 6700. 8 bands all at once if you think you can. Lol Audio quality is superb on receive and ability to pull out signals. Just can’t fault it.

Hi Cal. Keep the 990 - at least initially. I did consider an SDR when I purchased my latest rig (IC7610 - +DXCommander ) and I am sure there are many reasons why SDR is better - but I really like having a physical radio that looks good and 'feels' nice to interact with - and powers up without the Windows fight... So performance was a consideration but not everything. I also understand that the 101 does have better measurements for receive and better filters - which is probably true, but the feel of a radio is just as important for me. So when I chose mine one thing that was important was size, and the Icom was smaller than the 101 - so that became part of the consideration along with my preference for the ICOM UI. So I would suggest spending a day at MLS (other suppliers are available) playing - certainly with the 101. Don't sell the 990 until you are sure!

My 2 cents, from a relatively young and new ham. I agree with your sentiment on the dual VFO. My first dual receive radio was an IC-7610. But the dual VFO (I've had a 101MP, an IC-7800, and currently use a TS-990) is hard for me to part with. That being said, I traded my 101MP for the 7800. I didn't care for the layout of the radio, the screen, while nice, felt squished. And the biggest thing that annoyed me on the 101MP was getting the tx audio setup correct. I had to call and speak to Tim at Yaesu on the mic gain/AMC nonsense, and even after getting a clean transmit signal, I still wasn't happy. The transmit audio on the scope looked to be 15khz wide, but I never got any complaints from anyone? The 7800 was built to the same quality of the TS-990, I can't speak for it's replacement the 7851 (US$13,999 price tag). It worked great, but was dated compared to what I had played with already. Then I found a TS-990 for sale for a good deal and sold the 7800. I'm going to keep the 990 for as long as I can. The one radio that lasted the longest in my shack was a TS-890 for about a year before I parted with it. The tx audio is hard to beat (in fact we spoke a few weeks ago during one of your streams, hello from AK4TF in GA!), the build quality, filtering, everything you talk about. I was a little miffed when I got it to find that the last software update (1.25 at the time, my radio came to me with 1.17 on it) was over 3 years old. But there was just a software update a few weeks ago to 1.26. I'm sure with enough poking of Kenwood, the RIT working on both receivers/VFO's can be remedied provided the circuit is designed to allow that. I don't have any experience with Flex, other than being on the receiving end of them. They sound great, they're an interesting concept. If the 6400M vs the 6600M was 100 watt vs 200 watt, I'd be inclined to try one out. But that's the rub for me. I don't want to deal with the extra connections and equipment of running an amp (and added cost for SS). I've done it in the past with tube amps. But being able to just turn on the radio and jump around hunting POTA or you during a live stream and having 200 watts on tap is good enough for me. But if the Flex will do what you want and you're doing a lot of remote operating now, it might not be a bad idea. I do like the idea of the Maestro and being able to operate from wherever and still have buttons/knobs. So maybe a little more than 2 cents, but I think you'll regret getting rid of the 990 down the road, whatever you decide to replace it with.

As was mentioned. Id keep the kenwood for now and dip my toes in with the Hermes lite 2 plus to explore the world of SDR without spending a ton. They are definitely the future.

Hi Cal, I dont think I will ever be in the 990 league but I love it when I watch you in front of that breathtaking front panel operating a real radio! Im not sure if you or all of us tuned in would get as big a thrill when you operate a very clever computer box......ft101 if you really must but please stick wirh the 990 for a while until I get used to the Idea of it leaving the channel. Love watching your videos, Pete

Keep the Kenwood. Buy a Hermes lite 2 and a PA. Total cost about £300. The Hermes is controlled by a Computer, Windows, Linux and MacOS are available. There is a very wide range of software available, written and maintained by hams, and you can chat with the developers to get it to do what you need. The problem with the bigger manufacturers is one gets tied in to software which does what they want you to do. And once they retire the model you have software development generally ceases. But open source projects like the Hermes keep on going

Love my 990. I’ll never part with it. I’ll get whatever big rig KENWOOD makes next, though it will be placed next to the 990.

Take it for what's it's worth, I own my Flex 6600 because the first owner after two weeks couldn't get used to a radio without knobs and buttons. Lots of software issues in the Flex 6009 series that Flex doesn't seem to either want to or are able to fix.

All the Kenwood TS-890 users are happy with this rig. Excellent receiving audio and easy to use, they say. Never saw a complain about the TS890S

My first impulse is to stick wth the TS990. Write down every way us use the features of the 990 and try it out on a Flex. You might be able to find a Flex you can remote into and try out the features. You might want to talk to Ria, N2RJ about Flex radios.

Cal - you're a musician like me. If you truly LOVE the sound of the 990, and the buttons and knobs, KEEP IT.

My 2 cents worth as a Flex 6600 user:- Some people love SDR, some people hate it. SDR isn't for everyone. Flex radios (& SDR radios in general) need a slightly different way of thinking when setting them up & routing audio/CAT signals. It took me a couple of weeks messing around with it to really get my head around it & understand what I was doing. I absolutely love my Flex 6600 but don't overlook the Anan. The Anan is a newer design, has significantly better noise reduction, better filtering & (I believe) it does everything that the Flex does. It is however more difficult to get hold of (there was a waiting list when I looked) & I think it is also more expensive. I was impatient & eventually settled on the Flex. If you can get an interview with Flex & possibly borrow one to try, I think that would be a good move......especially if you can borrow it for a couple of weeks to give you time to play with it. I've never got my hands on the FT101MP, so can't help you there. I've heard lots of good comments made about the FT101MP. I believe it's basically the bigger brother to the FTDX10, so should also be a really nice radio. I would probably sway towards either the Flex or an Anan if I was in your position BUT expect a very frustrating learning curve in the first couple of weeks of ownership!

I have the ANAN 7000 DLEMKII and from my flex friends tell me they are similar radios. I've gotten spoiled on the filtering. It is filtering beyond anyone's dreams and then there's the phasing capability. No, mine doesn't have any knobs, all software and yes, that was an adjustment but I believe I could hear a gnat fart on Mars with this receiver and filtering. GL on the search and the decision making process. Sri, don't own a Kenwood 990 but it looks like you could launch a few silos out of Kansas. 73

Hi Cal, to my mind, Radios are like cars, and at 70 and motor trade for most of my life, I know cars, however hard you search you will never find the perfect item, no matter how hard you try! On seeing this latest video, if I were a Ham dealer. I would lend you a Flex, or what ever I had that you were inteested in. Given your business, you need a radio that will get the best out of your designs, and push them to their limits, so your radio choice is a vital part of the antenna design process. From the perspective of the radio manufacturer, or dealer, it would pay them to help you make your difficult choice, as no doubt, given you strong sense of fair play, you would acknowledge their input into your decision, which must, ultimately be good for them! I must confess that the 990 is my dream radio, I love buttons and hate menus, and I would buy it from you in a heart beat, but only being on the State Pension, I do not have enough years to buy it, even on the most generous of credit terms!!! Looking forward to more excellent videos 73 Jim M7BXT PS Watch for my new channel "Ham on a Pension" due to air before Christmas.

The Yaesu FT-DX101MP is a super radio and is in my shack. I have owned a flex 6400 and it is a great rig, just not the way I like to operate, the 6X00M transceivers are nice but still a lot of menus to mess with vs the ease of just touching a button or twisting a knob or dial.

I would think about the double antenna stereo options , the antenna options and the menu structure that is diffrent. Good luck on the choice ! 73 ..

Hi Cal, in my opinion, you should stick with the TS-990s. One of my friends has the Flex, but he rather enjoyed other his radios. Setrting up digital modes is a little bit quirky in my opinion. And it's easier to keep with this setup (because of redoing all that cabling etc.). 73s! :-)

You should keep the TS990 and get what you decide you want to try, then after awhile you’ll know if you truly want to sell one or keep both. I currently have ts590, ts890, ft891, ft991, and Ic7100. Each has their unique special qualities.

I've just bought a 990 and love it. It will take me years to learn how to use it really well, which should keep me out of the pub and away from loose women for a while! 😜 Joking apart, you very quickly get used to the quality of the build and sound of the radio, not to mention it's impressive footprint when you sit and face it. The choice is yours but if you buy another radio, I would suggest you keep the 990 till you are really sure the new radio is the better one. What's the good of curing the RIT problem if you hate the look and sound of the new radio? Best 73a G0ACE

Hi Cal, I've got the 990 (at my UK QTH) and personally I would not part with it. As you well know, all radios are a compromise to some extent and I'm old school in that the big analog feel of the 990 suits me, not to mention it's performance and the engineering that went into it. I think that when we are considering a change then we look for things, however small, that will help us justify that our decision to swap rigs. May not apply to you, but that's how my mind works. 73. Norbert.

It's a big decision, and a tricky one. Don't underestimate the importance of ergonomics. When you've been using a rig for a while muscle memory kicks in and you instinctively now how to adjust things to match the conditions without having to think about where everything is, so you can concentrate on operating. With a new rig that muscle memory isn't there, and that will slow you down when you're live streaming and dealing with pile ups. You're a bright bloke, you'll get used to a new rig if you do change, but it could be frustrating until you do. But at the end of the day, it's your money, it's your radio, it's up to you.

Hi Cal. I have a 990. My rear ethernet port stopped working after moving house. It turned out that one of the springy pins in the ethernet connector had jumped across to another pin! Careful use of a pair of tweezers fixed the problem. I discovered the fault after I took several photos of the ethernet socket and enlarged them. This clearly showed what had happened. I love my 990. Regards

Sounds like you've already decided. I own a TS-990, they just work -- It's a workhorse. Yes it has some little idiosyncrasies, Sherwood has RX way down the list, I find all in all the RX is fine and works a treat for me. I also have a modified SP-9000 (Phonema PHITS Acoustic Modification Kit & Phonema GAMMA PHITS Speaker Modification Kits) the sound quality is very noticeable. I can fine tune SSB DX stations to sound like FM and very close. The RIT is obviously niggling you --- I think it's just a 'Rolls Royce machine first world problem' personally ;-). Kenwood are making new radios not yet unveiled, why not just wait it out a little more??

I had the Flex 6400M. It's the BEST if you do a lot of remote and love the PC aspect. But it doesn't FEEL like a large ham radio. I grew tired of the boot up times and wanted a REAL SDR ham radio that had plenty of controls on the front. had it for a couple or three years but swapped it for a FTDX101D. The rig is incredible - but ergonomically not too good. I am looking at maybe going with the FT890S one day, as I believe that to be ergonomically superior (alas no 2nd receiver in that though). I didn't think the ergonomics would bug me but over time it did. I operate strictly remote now using the 101D and Win4Yaesu by remoting in with RemotePC (similar to TeamViewer). Lesson: plusses and minuses with everything. Nice video.

The 990 and 7851 made me want to study to get licensed. I saw all the knobs / screen and was drooling. Once licensed I waited 3 years (life got busy) and eventually bought a 7610 and a 890. Love both!! From one musician to another, I would not sell the 990. You will miss the superior Kenwood audio. Such a pleasure to listen too.

I would love to be able to afford a rig like this but would have more chance of finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow Ray MM7RWC

Just send the 990 over. I'll take it off your hands. I'm running a 890. LOve it. Would like dual receive, as I run DX and pile-ups hard. But, no big deal. The 890 does that job fine. 990 production seized? Yes. But they can fix this on a firmware update.

I would love to have a ts990 if you decide to sell I would be I might be interested if it could be converted to US band allocations. Although the shipping would probably kill me 😂

Hard to go wrong with most rigs today. It's good we have choices.

Lovely video. Was quite happy this past Friday to go back to your video and hear how I was reaching you. Rather surprised the signal you were receiving from me as I am using TS-480 at 100w via a 20m dipole about 20’ off the ground. Thanks for these shows. Trust “She who must be obeyed” is on the mend. 73

I have a 6400 and like it, but I do 99% remote operation. There are a few things about the Flex I don't like, but they are all in the software. If you do go the Flex route, I personally would not buy an M model. I would buy the 6600 plus a Maestro (when they become available). That way you can take the front panel of your radio anywhere there is an internet connection and operate exactly the same. That would add about $400 to the price, but I think it would be worth it.

Thx for vid,that radio looks like a piece of gear from the future it's unbelievable how people build these majic boxes

Cal, check out the connectivity on the Elecraft K4D it is amazing. RX inputs galore. Google the back panel :-) In diversity mode the RIT does both receivers. Remote is possible but the factory solution has yet to be released (by the end of this year they say). You get SDR tech with knobs on the front. Perfect.

You should really go and use both the radios. That is a big purchase. I actually have both radios and enjoy them both. The Flex is more powerful but the 101D is a great change of pace for me where the 101D has all the knobs and buttons. I personally would not get an M Model. I have a 6600 and a Maestro and I find I RARELY use the Maestro.

I would not recommend the Flex 6600 if you have a Kenwood TS-990 as you are already used to a radio that works well and is dependable. The Flex radios are amazing in terms of features but they also have a bunch of glitches, some of which have not been resolved for years. Also a new version can always break old functionality and then you are stuck running the old version until they fix things.

Its a big radio with buttons, knobs, switches and dials. That's all that's important :) That's what I love about my FT-2000. Just plain cool looking 🥰

Yes. I sold mine for a Flex 6700 and never regretted it

I quite fancy a 101 too but will probably wait. In my honest opinion i would keep the 990 and wait for something fresh as surely kenwood must be due to release some new radios next year...

It it ain't broken, then why fix it? However, we all drool over kit that we think would be better. There are loads that regret it too

I do think you will have learning curve when you change a radio. If you've been using a specific manufacturer's product, you will be adjusted to their way of thinking, ie. menus and abreviations. So if those obstacles are too much change for you; stay put. If your niggles are too much to stay, then I'd totally recommend having the boys at Flex on? to have a jaw wag about their features; and I do think that should be a great show.

Used flex radios a lot for remote. My biggest pet peeve with them is the program to control it installs like 15 sound devices in windows that makes using the computer for anything else audio related a bit of a pain. Also there (was/is) no ptt button in the software so you have to use a hardware one through a serial port on the computer.

It should be an easy mod to get both VFO's to RIT together. I'm surprised nobody's already done this. I suspect a simple relay to cut the data line to VFO 2 and then just buffer VFO data line 1 and send it to VFO 2 when the relay is engaged. I'd stick with the Kenwood. I hear many who went Flex and were annoyed with no squelch, and the Anan being far too difficult to operate correctly. They have all sold their SDR's and got a TS-990. PS. The 990 also has a working speech processor on AM, so it sounds quite good there too. 73

I know a station that uses a Flex in the UK and its been away for repair more than should (which entails it being sent to Flex in Germany.) I'd do my due diligence checks on the Flex's reliability first.

I've had almost all of the Flex and Anan Radios over the years. Got so frustrated with software bugs, and lack development effort in software (especially from Flex) that I swapped to a Yaesu FTdx101d and probably will never go back to SDR (and I'm an IT engineer for nearly 40 years). The audio and RX noise floor on the 101d is the best on the market. Having all the controls at your fingertips instead of buried in a menu is pure bliss. If you are serious about SSB DX over stamp collecting (ft8) then the 101d is the beast. 73 Steve G1XOW

Hi Cal, Icom still sells the IC-7851, but it's a hefty $13.3K US. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

With the new ICOM transceivers everything is done in software but FLEX Radio Systems are not very common but depend on the type of processor in your computer as your computer will be doing a lot of the number crunching so if your go for a FLEX Radio Systems 6600MM then hopefully the tower computer you have will be up to the task.

IMO There is no perfect radio but there are some radios with better receivers than the Kenwood, but you have to ask what might you gain and what might you lose in any change. Make a list of gains and losses and if any radio shows “substantial” Gains then “maybe” you might consider a change. Do you need to sell one radio to upgrade to a newer one? Personally I would keep the present one while “auditioning” a new rig. Now you develop options. My 2¢

Keep Keep Keep the Kenwood 990 - from a long time flex user

I remember everything amateur radio was an add on in the '60's. When I got to college (Poli Sci) I got a commercial radio license and let the school pay for equipment. What about if you take the "Raspberry Pi " and developed it into an RIT add on???

If you're familiar with the Kenwood, I'd keep the Kenwood. Just my 0.02. If you want to go SDR and do remote control, consider an ANAN SDR. They are better than the Flex Radios, but take a bit more fiddling to get set the way you want them to be. If you want to go with a more conventional radio that is not the Kenwood, the FT-dx101MP is probably the way to go.

Looking for a perfect radio? A fools errand.

Maybe they could let you try the flex radio out for a little bit to see if it’s really what you need before you sell the radio that you know already😊😊😊

I just checked with tracking on, my Icom 7610 does what you are looking for. RIT will switch and track in both ears.

I love my Flex 6600. Got it three years ago and haven't missed VFOs and buttons since. You might or maybe not. Maybe buy one and hold on to your 990 for a bit, then sell the one you want the least; or keep'em both. Tbh, you could probably set up a go fund me for your new radio, and there'd likely be more than a few faithful subs who'd be happy to help.

No! Get the BHI noise reduction module and speaker to cut out $)(?!?;) noise. Cheaper too!!😊 Besides, you can operate the 990s in your sleep!!!

Quality is remembered...long after price is forgotten...(I mean Kenwood)....

I sold my icom ic 7851. and I bought the yaesu 101mp and the 101d... I think this is the best radio ever made.... The scope is also a big improvement. but don't forget that the kenwood is also a great radio. 73’ Jochem DL3PWR.

Let Kenwood know you'd like them to consider a firmware change. I did.. Your observation with RIT not tracking both VFOs when tracking is enabled makes sense. Kenwood said it was not a bug, but they are happy to pass it on to engineers in Japan. If more did this, then there might be a firmware change.

My old FT-2000D was getting a little long in the tooth and having had a few issues in the past with it and now the sub-VFO isn't working properly, I decided to replace it with something newer. I was looking at the FT-dx101MP but I don't want to spend my life faffing about with menu's and it just looks plasticky. Being a life-long Yaesu fan I've just naturally moved away from it - they seem to have lost the "wow" factor that I always had from Yaesu. I also didn't want a computer with knobs. Anyway, I went with the TS-990 and I adore it. I love the traditional radio feel and everything is to hand. It's beautifully built and a joy to use. This was the only radio I felt I actually wanted on my desk as a main radio. Nothing is perfect, I think you end up swapping one set of slight niggles with another set of niggles. So long as the set of niggles you end up with is lesser than the previous ones, you are in a good place.

Its a good idea to wait for the ANAN-G2-1K 1000W HF & 6M SDR Transceiver, it has the best receiver and transmitter on the market.📻

Callum that is the same problem that the 7610 have. Rit does not track on diversity. What about an Elecraft K4D? You RIT an station using diversity and the receivers move along perfectly.

I have the 6600. I did not need the M version with the screen. Just add a decent monitor and you are off. There is a learning curve so be prepared to watch lots of the flex KZfaq videos. It’s 100w out the back so investigate how to connect/control your amp. I have had it two years and no issues. Software updates were straight forward. I use a Mac so needed to buy the SDR software but am sitting in my garden playing FT8 on 10m via an old iPad.

What a lovely dilemma to have! My broke arse is using a TS-430S, wondering if I should upgrade to something from the 1990s! 🤣 That 990 sure is a beauty though.

SunSDR2 DX, best radio to date, HF, 8,6,5,4 and 2M. Had the 101d sold it after two months, would have kept the 7610 if it had 4M. I don't get all these noise filtering people who keep raving about noise, pure signal etc and Anan, or Hermes (5w). Remote control on SunSDR2 is pretty cool and it just works. Good luck with your search Cal. How about a K4! or a dual vfo IC7610 which has the Ethernet. The 101 remote software is poor enough, had it, tried it.

The K radio is paid for. And works. And you know it. And you cannot have too many ant ports. Keep it

I can't speak for the TS-990 but I have a TS-890 and I love it! Best receiver that I've personally had a pleasure to listen to.

My 5000 has the same issue with 2 VFOs and RIT/Clarifier. The Flex (& others) may introduce new niggles to the shack… A niggle at my end, if I click on a cluster spot on PC, VFO A goes to the frequency, but VFO B stays put 😕On yours this may work a treat… New Yaesu may still have my 5000 niggles, so buyer beware 😮 Lots of comments, so may have been confirmed by an owner already 👍🏻

Funny to have stumbled on this video. I was just trying to convince myself to sell my Icom 7610 to go the flex route because of the remote part and tbw cap on the Icom off and on today. I’ve had the flex 6300. I just don’t know if I can go back to loosing the knobs again.

SDR based TRansceivers are the way forwards.

I switched from the 990S to a 6600M in 2018. The most noticeable difference...the receive selectivity is superior, especially when the band is congested with contesters. Not sure if the 30day trial applies across the pond but if it does that could be a selling point for you. BTW I have not experienced any hardware issues or SW glitches with the 6600M. However the PGXL amp has been returned for service twice in two years.

Hello Commander, love the FTdx101MP, pretty amazing on receive and incredible radio. Having lot of fun with it. But hey the TS-990 not too shabby. Flex is nice but just didn't like the interface. You'll love the Yaesu I think. Try em both. The 101MP is worry free, the Flex not as good. Kenwood is solid too of course. Sooo ???

Worth checking the Flexradio forum to see what issues owners are having😏

Take a look at the Elecraft K4D. I love mine.

I love my Flex. Works with my Acom Perfectly! I work refrom my iPhone. Love it!

I would definitely definitely keep that thing

I run a Flex 6600 and 6500 remotely and local during contests. I find I use them over the ic7610 or the ts590 sitting next to them

Callum, I would say keep your radio for posterity sake. But definitely try out something new if you are bored. On the flip side, for fun, let’s see you borrow a FT-818 and do some QRP on a day trip. Wish you well!

I don't know if Flex fixed this issue. I have a friend with a Flex 6600, and the SD cards fail about once a year. Flex is quick to send him a replacement, but he's without a radio for 3-7 days. If you get a Flex, make a copy of the SD card so you have a spare.

Maybe you need to now checkout the Flex 8000 that was shown in Dayton Hamvention?

The TS 990 and the 890 are both great rigs. I still have the 890. My Yaesu FTDX 101 and FTDX 10 however are superior receivers. That's just the advance of technology. You pay to play .

Love the 990 Cal, not had any experience with the flex radio's. personally, i would keep the 990 but the decision is yours. would be good if you could "test drive" a flex before you make your decision. good luck.

It is a tough choice, I keep my rigs forever and only occasionally when hell looks like freezing over do I invest in a new one. I have the FTDX101MP and it fits most of your requirements but I need to go to the shack to check that RIT behaviour. As you know I watch a lot of your livestreams, you seem very comfortable with the TS990 and it seems to do everything you want it to. You do not seem to miss any contacts due to a weakness in the radio. For "remoting" I suspect that the Flex would be hard to beat. Sitting in the shack though I suspect you will find the TS990 a hard act to follow....

You don't buy a new car because the vehicle has an extra feature then why get a new radio. You seem to be in love with the Flex radio. Do you have a commercial radio station nearby? Call the station and ask if you can get a tour or at least speak to the chief engineer. Ask the engineer about the operations of the station. Remember that you are trying to throw out a signal with the least amount of DISTORTION. The radio is as good as the antenna. The antenna is as good as the radio. You have a great radio and antenna. This is why you can get a signal out all over the world. Forget that waterfall and buttons. Make the radio work for you! 73's

Cal.. the bottom line is.. and you have already said it - How it sounds in your lugholes, you can get all the features you want but will it sound the same as the TS and would you be able to pull out that QRP station? But if it comes to push to shove then the Flex 6600M would be my first to try - but in the back of my mind what happens if I pay £5.5k and Kenwood brings out the TS-1001S in the next few years. Now that's the ball-ache you have to live with or it would be for me. Good-luck bud.

That’s why NASA doesn’t fly to space much because you took their space shuttle control unit😢😅, that radio is technical! Jesus! That radio is a dream for me. Keep it Cal.

Also works perfectly with the Acom A2000

Cal , I have got a Flex 6600 it’s brilliant. Have a chat with Tony at ML&S I am sure he will lend you one to try ? Do review on a Flex 👍

FTDX101MP 👍

Remote on the FLEX just works, works every time with no fuss. I remove daily with zero issues. Good Luck N6OIX.

I love it when people try and justify wanting a new toy....I think you already know the answer to this riddle Cal!

Callum, just a thought. I am not familiar with the 990. I have the FTDX101D. I have never seen any radio that has the 'tracking' option (called 'Sync' on the 101) which allows the user to listen to two VFOs (and in your case, antennas) simultaneously, pick up the RIT on the subvfo as well. I am presuming you want RIT to track a station slightly off freq ( called Rx Clarifier on 101), but want to ensure that when you TX, you are on the correct freq? The 101 also has a Tx clarifier....so in that instance, you could follow the station you are listening to by going slightly off freq with the VFO in tracking and then use the TX Clarifier to ensure you key up to TX on the the correct freq. Do you follow? So, unsure if the 990 has a TX clarifier like the 101. If it does, thats your work around. I reckon you keep your 990.

You could always have a fan giveaway ;) Anyone tried the Expert rigs? I'd review the Sherwood sensitivity data. Apache Labs seems to have a lot of good reports, from people I've talked to.

I’m too much of a Yaesu fan boy. I’d go for a FTdx101MP, but I’d order the SCU-Lan 10 at the same time. Then you get the remote control software/network connection. Not sure about the RIT when tracking… But, I’m just a Yaesu cheerleader haha.