Founder Story – Joseph Hijuelos (WS2L)

[Admin]

My name is Joseph Hijuelos, callsign WS2L.
I first became licensed in 2001, starting with my Technician/Novice license. Like many operators, once I got on the air I was hooked. Over the years I continued studying and upgrading until eventually earning my Amateur Extra Class license.
Radio has always fascinated me—not just operating, but the engineering behind the equipment. The design, the signal paths, the RF power stages, and the incredible technology that allows voices to travel across the world.
Professionally, I work for the City of New York, but outside of that world I am also deeply involved in music as a guitarist and musician. Both music and radio share something in common for me: a love of technology, creativity, and communication.
At some point I acquired what many consider to be one of the greatest HF radios ever built — the Yaesu FT-DX9000.
This radio is an engineering masterpiece. Massive build quality, incredible receiver performance, and a design philosophy that prioritized performance over cost. Radios like this are rare.
But as time passed, something became clear:
The knowledge about maintaining and repairing these radios was becoming scattered and difficult to find.
Many owners have incredible technical knowledge, but there wasn’t a single place dedicated entirely to this radio.
So I decided to create FTDX9000.com.
The goal is simple:
• Bring owners together
• Preserve technical knowledge
• Share repair information
• Document the history of the radio
• Help keep these radios alive for decades
This site is meant to be a community archive and meeting place for everyone who appreciates the craftsmanship and performance of the FT-DX9000.
Whether you are an operator, engineer, collector, or just someone who loves great radio equipment, you are welcome here.
Let’s keep the legacy of this incredible radio alive.
73
Joseph Hijuelos
WS2L
Founder – FTDX9000.com


A Mission to Preserve a Legendary Radio
Radios like the FT-DX9000 represent a special era in amateur radio — a time when manufacturers built equipment with no compromises.
As these radios age, the responsibility of preserving them now falls to the community of operators who love them.
This website is dedicated to that mission.
Together we can build the largest independent archive of information, knowledge, and experience for the FTDX-9000 anywhere in the world.
If you own one of these radios, operate one, repair one, or simply admire its engineering — you are part of that story.
Welcome to the community.
73
Joseph Hijuelos
WS2L
Founder – FTDX9000.com