Yaesu FT-102 - a long time coming!

When I first started getting interested in amateur radio I read a lot of the then current magazines such as 'Ham Radio Today' and 'Amateur Radio' and in the latter in a 1982/1983 edition there was a review of the then new Yaesu FT 102. I was hooked and wanted one but of course other things took over and it was years until I even got licensed! In about 2010 I had the opportunity to get (and ultimately bought and part renovated) a Yaesu FT 101zd which was a superb radio but it ended up being moved on. 

Finally in 2025 the sadly under-used FT 1000mp mark V was sold along with some other redundant radio equipment to release some funds leaving a large 'boat anchor' sized gap in the shack. Early 2026 and a FB Marketplace advert for a rather good looking FT 102 near Bristol called out to me, I happened to be in that neck of the woods so I went to look at it, test it (speaking to an Italian amateur on 20m who played me back a recording of my transmission) and do the deal for what I can only say was 'the right price'! It's a wonderful bit of kit and doesn't disappoint though there is now an urgent need to improve the antenna installation so it can really stretch its legs. Teamed up with the long term owned FC102 antenna tuner and the MD100 desk microphone previously used on the FT 1000 it's a nice set up and doesn't disappoint after being an aspiration for so many years.

My new 'old' radio, timely really as it fits in with the new/'old callsign as well!