=  NOW 20 WPM  =  TEXT IS FROM APRIL 2022  QST  PAGE 41 =

BANDS, THE ANTENNA QUICKLY DEMONSTRATED ITS WEAKNESS.  IT SHOULDNT COME AS
A SURPRISE THAT SUCH A SHORT ANTENNA WOULD BE A POOR PERFORMER AT THESE
FREQUENCIES.  THE FT5DRS FRONT END IS SENSITIVE, SO MUCH SO THAT YAESU
INCLUDED AN ATTENUATOR FUNCTION TO REDUCE THE GAIN WHEN NECESSARY, BUT WITH
THE SUPPLIED ANTENNA I COULD STILL HEAR ONLY THE STRONGEST HF SIGNALS.  I
TRIED ATTACHING THE FT5DR TO MY OUTDOOR ANTENNA SYSTEM AND IMMEDIATELY
REGRETTED IT THE RECEIVER WAS TOTALLY OVERWHELMED BY LOCAL BROADCAST
SIGNALS.  EVEN ACTIVATING THE ATTENUATOR WAS OF LITTLE HELP.  BUT VHF/UHF
RECEPTION IS WHERE THE FT5DR SHINES.  I SAMPLED EVERYTHING FROM LOCAL HAM
REPEATERS TO POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCHERS, TO AVIATION TRAFFIC, TO FM
BROADCAST SIGNALS MONAURAL ONLY.  THE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO ANY TWO
=  END OF 20 WPM TEXT  =  QST DE W1AW  <