Updated July 2026 · Links checked July 2026.
Yaesu made this comparison easy and the internet made it complicated. The FT-991 and FT-991A are the same radio — same 100 watts on HF/6m, same 50 watts on 2m/70cm, same all-mode coverage including C4FM digital, same built-in tuner, same touchscreen shack-in-a-box concept. The A changed one thing that matters: a real-time spectrum scope. That is the whole story, and it decides the purchase.
Short answer: buy the FT-991A. The original FT-991 is discontinued, so it only exists used — and its band scope is a slow sweep that mutes the receiver while it runs, which means nobody uses it. Take a used 991 only if it is at least $250–300 cheaper than a new A. (Transmitting requires an amateur licence; General class unlocks most of HF.)
The one difference, explained
On the original 991, checking band activity meant triggering a sweep: the radio scanned across the band, went silent while doing it, then painted a static picture that was stale the moment it finished. On the 991A, the scope runs continuously — a live waterfall beside the dial. You see a contact pop up three kHz away while listening, tap, and work it. Once you have operated with a live scope, going back feels like driving with your eyes closed between glances.
Everything else — receiver architecture, power, modes, the tuner, the screen size, the menus people grumble about — is effectively identical. Firmware cannot add the live scope to a 991; it is a hardware difference. There is no upgrade path except the classifieds.
Spec check
| FT-991 | FT-991A | |
|---|---|---|
| HF/6m power | 100 W | 100 W |
| 2m/70cm power | 50 W | 50 W |
| Modes | All-mode + C4FM | All-mode + C4FM |
| Spectrum scope | Sweep (mutes RX) | Real-time waterfall |
| Status | Discontinued (used only) | Current |
Verdict
Buy the FT-991A — if you want one radio that does HF through 70cm in a single box, it remains one of the best-value routes into all-band operating, and the live scope is the feature you will use every session. Buy a used FT-991 — only at a serious discount from someone who can demonstrate it on the air; you are accepting the dead-end scope in exchange for the savings. Skip both — if you only operate VHF/UHF locally; a good handheld or mobile costs a fraction — start with our Baofeng vs Yaesu handheld comparison.
FT-991 vs FT-991A FAQ
Is the Yaesu FT-991 discontinued?
Yes. The FT-991A replaced it in 2016, so the original 991 is only available on the used market. Price used examples against a new 991A, not against what the 991 cost new.
Can the FT-991 be upgraded to a 991A with firmware?
No. The real-time spectrum scope is a hardware difference. No firmware update adds it to the original 991.
What licence do I need to use one?
An FCC amateur licence. A Technician class gets you the VHF/UHF sides plus limited HF privileges; General class unlocks most of the HF bands where this radio earns its keep.
How much power does the FT-991A put out?
100 watts on HF and 6 meters, 50 watts on 2m and 70cm – the same as the original FT-991 on all bands.