RETRO RECEIVER REVIEW #12 - The YAESU FRG-100

RETRO RECEIVER REVIEW #12

Click on each photo for an enlarged view


YAESU FRG-100

by Rob Wagner VK3BVW
Yaesu has always been a builder of radios that were made to last. Over many years, its range of amateur transmitters, receivers, and transceivers on HF and VHF/UHF were always examples of fine workmanship. So many of the old FT101 transmitters and the FRG-7 receivers are still in operation today. The history of the company is briefly covered by Craig Seager VK2HBT in his excellent retro review of the FR-101S, and you can learn more about the company by visiting a little website about the Australian connection called Very Early Yaesu Musen Co. Amateur Radio Equipment in Australia by Greg Whiter VK4IG (ex VK3CA).

 Like the cat that has nine lives, the FRG-100 is one receiver that just hung on year after year. First launched in Japan in August 1992, it remained on the market until around 2007. During the early 2000s, on more than one occasion Yaesu indicated that it was discontinuing the model. Yet it always seemed to return to the marketplace. Yaesu just couldn’t kill it! Throughout its 13 years of manufacture, this receiver was a slow and steady seller, never shooting the lights out in the popularity stakes. However,  one of its main advantages at the time was the price. 
Underneath the hood - Top cover off with the main board
showing. Surface mount components are soldered
to the underside of this board.
Many of the other tabletop models of this era (Kenwood’s R5000, Drake’s R8, Japan Radio’s NRD-535, Icom’s IC-R71A etc.) were all well over US$1000. Yaesu’s earlier FRG-7700 (1981-84) and FRG-8800 (1985-93) were both excellent performers, and their prices managed to keep under the magical four-figures. In 1993, its last year of manufacture, the FRG-8800 was retailing at US$784. So in 1993, the introductory price for the FRG-100 was US$639, making it a solid competitor for those listeners considering possible alternatives in the growing portable “world band” radio market. And indeed, at the end of its manufacture 13 years later, the FRG-100 was retailing at US$600! No inflation there!

 But at that price, the FRG-100 lacked some of the frills of its $1000+ competitors: No synchronous selectable sideband, no separate RF gain control, no notch filter, no passband tuning, and no inbuilt keypad direct frequency entry. Also, the first units to roll off the assembly line suffered from some rather average selectivity issues. Fortunately, Yaesu remedied this selectivity problem in later versions of the model.
Bottom's Up!
The circuit design for this receiver is a double conversion superheterodyne. It uses surface mount components….which is increasingly a problem for old guys like me possessing compromised eyesight and less-than-steady hands! It leaves the desire to repair or modify this unit as wishful thinking! Compared to the earlier 7700 and 8800, the FRG-100 is considerably smaller and lighter. So although it was generally considered to be a tabletop radio, in fact, it can be taken mobile and out into the field for DXpeditions with relative ease. Contributing to the weight/size reduction is the fact that there is no power supply in the chassis. At home, it requires a 12v adapter to the wall socket or (better still) a connection to a small regulated linear power supply. When on the move, an 11-14v battery supply is all that is needed for some happy outdoor listening!

 The specifications read thus:


So while we mentioned earlier some of the frills missing from this receiver, let’s now look at the positives!

  • Continuous coverage across the LW, MW and SW spectrum
  • 50 memories (storing both frequency and mode) plus a memory sort function
  • Scanning facility of the stored frequencies or for searching bands for new stations
  • Custom tuning steps and display resolution of 10 Hz, 100 Hz, or 1 kHz
  • Fast/Slow tuning button for moving quickly across the spectrum
  • Selectable AM filters at 6, 4 and 2.4 kHz as well as selectable CW filters (optional)
  • Two built-in clocks so you can set one to local time and the other to UTC
  • Three RF attenuation levels at 6, 12 or 18 dB
  • A PLL Offset that adjusts the frequency of the receiver 1st local oscillator, permitting fine tuning adjustments of +/- 3kHz
  • Adjustable “beep” volume settings
  • Selectable AGC
  • Selectable CW sideband and reverse BFO offset
  • Adjustable SSB carrier frequency offset
  • A switch to change between a high impedance antenna like a long wire and low impedance (50 Ω) antenna such as a dipole with coax feedline 
  • Computer Aided Tuning (CAT) for controlling frequency, mode, VFO, memory and other settings through a six-pin DIN (a bit out-dated now!)
  • A handy laminated chart that slides out from under the radio with a Reference Guide (cheat sheet!) on one side and time zones of the world map on the other back
  • Plus optional accessories at the time included an FM unit, CW crystal filters, and a replacement high stability crystal oscillator (TCXO) for the standard crystal oscillator
PERFORMANCE:

 I am biased! The FRG-100 is one of a number of receivers I own, and its relatively simple controls are a joy to operate. Sensitivity is excellent on shortwave and compares most favourably alongside my other rigs. Mediumwave has some attenuation added to prevent local stations from overloading its sensitive circuitry. However, a modification exists which can remove this if you intend using it as an MW DX machine.

 As mentioned above, early units had a reputation for poor selectivity because of inadequate filters. I suspect my radio must be one of the later models because I do not find an issue with selectivity in the AM mode. I tune it in the narrow (4 kHz) setting and it works very well. But then again….as some of you know I also spend much of my time tuning in SSB, which provides even better selectivity (2.4 kHz)!

 A Google search will uncover occasional mentions of muffled audio quality from the FRG-100. I have not found this to be a problem with my unit, but again there are modifications that can be made to the audio circuitry should this bother you. In AM mode, the tone sounds reasonably full and pleasant through both the inbuilt speaker and headphones. In SSB, the sound is even more pleasing and clear to the ear. Plus, because of its excellent stability, the radio has virtually no drift, so no adjustment of tuning is SSB is needed.


I’ve owned my FRG-100 for some nearly 20 years now and it was purchased second-hand. The stylish front panel layout still looks in excellent condition with its four knobs and 24 press button switches. The back of the rig (L-R) has the 12v DC input, CAT socket, external speaker jack (4-16 Ω impedance), constant level record out jack (100mV at 1k Ω) – handy for RTTY/FAX/digital decoding, remote to control a recording device, mute jack (for use with a separate transmitter), ground and high impedance antenna, SO239 socket for a PL259 coax connector, switching between the low and high Z antennas, and a back-up switch that is useful for saving the internal battery if you are storing the radio away for some months. 

 In my radio shack, the FRG-100 is not my “go-to” receiver. However, when operating portable out-in-the-field, I am very happy to pick up this compact-sized desktop radio with a 12v battery and a roll of antenna wire. My little handheld Tecsun is very good for quickie 1-hour DXpeditions. But the FRG-100 is an absolute joy to operate for more in-depth all-day DXpeditions in the bush.

 The 2nd hand receiver market occasionally throws up an FRG-100 for sale, but in some parts of the world they are not readily available. You could expect to pay AU $300-420 (US $230-315) (€190-265) for one in very good to mint condition. An FRG-100B was released towards the end of this receiver’s manufacturing cycle with slightly improved specifications, so add another AU$50 if you see one of those for sale!

Also, you occasionally see after-market keypads (left) available for frequency entry. I have one of these, which was made in France and connects to the CAT socket via a 6-pin cable (see photo). It can recall memory channels, tune frequencies, turn the receiver on and off and step the frequency up or down. I believe another company in the U.S. also made a similar product.

You can download the FRG-100 users manual here and the service manual is available here.




Here are two examples of the FRG-100 in action on a winter DXpedition in 2017:





There are more examples of this receiver on my YouTube channel.


Missed the other Retro Reviews? Check them all out by clicking below:

Retro Receiver Review # 1 - The DANSK RX4000

 Retro Receiver Review # 2 - The HITACHI KH-3800W
  
Retro Receiver Review # 3 - The SCHAUB LORENZ ITT TOURING T104A RECEIVER

Retro Receiver Review # 4 - The RACAL RA6790/GM

Retro Receiver Review # 5 - The REALISTIC (RADIO SHACK) DX160

Retro Receiver Review # 6 - The KENWOOD QR 666

 Retro Receiver Review # 7 - The RODHE & SCHWARZ EK890

 Retro Receiver Review # 8 - The YAESU FR101S

 Retro Receiver Review # 9 - The SELENA VEGA B206

Retro Receiver Review # 10 - The DRAKE SPR-4

 Retro Receiver Review # 11 - The NATIONAL RF-5000

Retro Receiver Review # 12 - The YAESU FRG-100

Retro Receiver Review # 13 - The MARC NR-82 F1

Retro Receiver Review # 14 - The MURPHY B40

Retro Receiver Review # 15 - The STROMBERG CARLSON AWP-8










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© Rob Wagner, Mount Evelyn DX Report, and contributors 2012-2023

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 14, 2018 at 10:59 PM

    An underrated set, these. I bought one new from Dick Smith Electronics when they first came out. Later picked up the outboard keypad. Unfortunately the set developed a buzzing noise fault after a couple of years, and needed re-capping. Got rid of it in the end, but am sometimes tempted to pick up another when they appear cheap on Fleabay.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bat FalconJanuary 28, 2019 at 3:04 AM

    Hi Rob,
    I am curently in search for a receiver like this and I would like to have your expert opinion.
    What would you prefer between Yaesu frg 8800 and frg 100. They are both offered at the same price (around 300 euros).
    My personal taste from photos alone, is the 8800, but you sure know better.
    Thanks for your time,
    Bat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob WagnerJanuary 28, 2019 at 3:19 PM

      Hi Bat.
      Firstly, I have never operated the 8800, so I cannot comment on this radio from a personal perspective. However, I have done a little research for you:

      1) The 8800 is getting on in years (prod. 1985-1993). Age does begin to catch up with some receivers, which can then require more ongoing maintenance.

      2) From the Passport book review of the 8800: a) "Microprocessor reportedly sometimes tend to malfunction", b) "Front end selectivity only fair", c) "Spurious signal (image) rejection only fair", d) "Utility and ham signal reception, though acceptable, below average for a tabletop model", and e) the feeling was that the two selectable bandwidths, wide and narrow, were not well chosen.

      If you can get an 8800 in near pristine condition, that has been cared for in a smoke-free environment, and that has not been "worked on" under the lid, then it could be a good buy. Alternatively, look at the Icom R75 - more expensive on the used market, but is an excellent receiver.

      Hope that helps! 73, Rob VK3BVW

      Delete
    2. Bat FalconJanuary 28, 2019 at 6:27 PM

      Thank you for your comment and time!
      So between Icom R75 and Yaesu FRG 100, what do you suggest?

      Delete
  3. MWaverFebruary 27, 2019 at 3:16 PM

    Can some help me with my
    Yaesu FRG 7700, I need a quick mod to increase MW sensitivity bypassing the attenuate like others do on the kenwood R1000 R5000. Please email me at treefern10@iinet.net.au

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob WagnerFebruary 28, 2019 at 9:43 AM

      I'm sorry, but I don't have any mods for bypassing MW attenuation on the 7700. I've had a quick look on the web for you, but also found nothing. However, there is a 7700 Yahoo Group you could join and maybe someone there can help you, or there may be something about it in their files section of that group. Good luck. Rob

      Delete

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