Also known as: FT-1000MP, FT-1000MP Mark V, Mark V Field
Reader-supported. GopherTrunk is free, open-source software. Some
hardware links on this page go to Amazon with our Associates tag
(gophertrunk-20); if you buy through them we may earn a small
commission at no extra cost to you. Links to out-of-production gear may go to
eBay searches instead; we have no affiliate relationship with eBay and earn
nothing there. It never changes which gear we recommend, and
the software stays free either way. How GopherTrunk is funded →
The Yaesu FT-1000MP is “the last great analog Yaesu” — the contest and DX flagship family of 1996–2006, with a genuine second receiver for split pileups, banks of selectable roofing and crystal filters (Collins mechanical options included), Yaesu’s EDSP, and a front panel built for two-handed operating.1 Long out of production, it lives on the used market — eBay, hamfests, QRZ swapmeet — at roughly $600–1,200 depending on variant and condition, and it remains one of the best-value serious stations in the hobby.
Key takeaways Our best used/classic buy in best ham radio base stations. True dual receive — main plus a real sub receiver — filter banks, tank build, and still-competitive CW/SSB performance for the price of a mid-range modern rig. Three variants: original (100 W, internal AC supply), Mark V (200 W PEP, needs the external FP-29 supply), Mark V Field (100 W, internal supply). Used only, roughly $600–1,200 — sold-price data is thin, so verify against current listings. Part 97 license to transmit; none to listen.
Overview
Before SDRs, the way to own a pileup was two receivers and better filters than the other guy, and the FT-1000MP delivered both. The quad-conversion superheterodyne main receiver rides selectable filter banks; the sub receiver is a real receiver, not a glimpse — you sit on the DX with one ear and your transmit frequency with the other, exactly the workflow the modern IC-7610 sells today. Add the shuttle-jog tuning ring, a built-in tuner, and an analog-rich panel where everything important is a knob, and you have the radio a generation of contesters won with.
The family: the original FT-1000MP (1996, 100 W, internal AC supply); the Mark V (2000, 200 W PEP with a 75 W class-A mode and a variable RF front-end filter, powered by the external FP-29 30 V supply); and the Mark V Field (2002, back to 100 W with the internal supply). Production ended around 2006–07. No scope, no waterfall, no USB — this is analog operating with DSP assistance, and its cult following likes it that way.
License note: transmitting takes an FCC amateur license (Part 97 — Technician minimum, General for most HF). Listening takes none.
Bands, modes & power
- TX: 160–10 m; 100 W (original/Field), 200 W PEP (Mark V, with 75 W class-A mode). RX: 100 kHz–30 MHz.2
- Modes: SSB, CW, AM, FM, AFSK.
- Receivers: quad-conversion superhet main + genuine sub receiver; selectable roofing/crystal filter banks with Collins mechanical options; EDSP.
- Tuner: built-in ATU. Supply: internal AC (original/Field); external FP-29 (Mark V).
Buying used: what to check
Yaesu factory support has ended, so you and an independent tech are the service department. The known aging points, all documented by the owner community:
- Electrolytic capacitors in the power supply and audio chains — the universal vintage-rig tax.
- Display backlighting dimming or failing, plus front-end and meter lamps burned out.
- Band-data switch and relay wear — exercise every band and antenna path during inspection.
- EDSP settings loss from a dead backup battery, and reference oscillator drift wanting TCXO service on a radio this age.
- Mark V specifics: confirm the FP-29 supply is present and healthy — it’s scarce and expensive on its own.
The good news: this is through-hole-era construction with excellent repairability, and prices reward patience. Expect originals toward the $600 end, clean 200 W Mark Vs toward and above $1,200, with an $800 like-new Mark V Field (with filters) as a recent reference listing — but aggregate sold-price data is genuinely thin, so check current eBay sold listings before anchoring on any number, ours included. Filters move value too: units loaded with the optional Collins mechanical filters are worth a real premium, because sourcing them separately now is its own treasure hunt.
Programming & software
Station integration is vintage but workable: Yaesu CAT over RS-232 is still supported by N1MM and Ham Radio Deluxe legacy drivers, so contest logging and basic frequency control work with a cheap USB-serial adapter. There’s no soundcard, no CHIRP support, and no firmware to update — digital modes mean an external audio interface, the same as every radio of its era.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives and records; it cannot transmit — so it complements a classic station rather than replacing it. Before hunting the used market, a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk tells you what’s active in your area and logs everything it hears; after the FT-1000MP arrives, the SDR gives your all-analog legend the band waterfall it predates. Hardware picks: best SDR for GopherTrunk and best HF SDR.
Who it’s for
- Buy the FT-1000MP if you want real contest/DX iron — dual receive, filters, build — at used-market prices and can live with vintage upkeep. Find on eBay →
- Buy the TS-940S for a cheaper, single-receiver classic with its own devoted following, or the modern FTDX10 for today’s Yaesu receiver with support and a warranty.
- Need dual receive with modern everything? That’s the IC-7610. Full rankings: best ham radio base stations.
Sources
-
Yaesu FT-1000MP — Wikipedia — on the family history and variants (original, Mark V, Mark V Field), dual-receiver architecture, EDSP, and production run. ↩
-
Yaesu FT-1000MP — RigPix — specifications: bands, modes, power by variant, quad-conversion receiver, filter options, and supply arrangements. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Yaesu FT-1000MP still worth buying?
For a classic contest/DX station, yes — the true dual receiver, filter banks, and build quality still deliver competitive CW and SSB performance, and it has a deserved cult following. Buy a clean example knowing you’re taking on 20-to-30-year-old electronics with no factory support.
What's the difference between the FT-1000MP, Mark V, and Mark V Field?
The original (1996) is 100 W with an internal AC supply; the Mark V (2000) is the 200 W PEP version with a 75 W class-A mode and a variable RF front-end filter, but needs the external FP-29 30 V supply; the Mark V Field (2002) returns to 100 W with the internal supply. Clean 200 W Mark Vs command the top prices.
How much does a used FT-1000MP cost?
Roughly $600–1,200 by variant and condition — originals toward the low end, clean Mark V 200 W units toward and above the top; a like-new Mark V Field with filters was listed at $800 on eHam classifieds. Aggregate sold-price data is thin, so check current eBay sold listings before treating any figure as gospel.
What should I check before buying an FT-1000MP?
Aging electrolytics in the supply and audio, dim or failing display backlighting, worn band-data switches and relays, EDSP settings loss from a dead backup battery, reference-oscillator drift wanting TCXO service, and burned-out meter lamps. On a Mark V, confirm the scarce FP-29 supply is included and healthy.
Do I need a license to use an FT-1000MP?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum; General for most HF phone). Listening on its 100 kHz–30 MHz receiver requires none.