Over the years I have had a total of 5 of these radios, starting off with the first one. I have a trading disease so I keep trading radios. And in some case wondering why I did trade. The FT-817 and IC-703 are both great radios. The 817 does give you VHF/UHF and the 703 give you DSP, internal ATU and lower current and a few other nice feature. However they are hard to find and are much larger then the 817. I just did a trade a few weeks ago for my 5th attempt at keeping this radio. Mostly for PSK31 and some limited SSB. For that I am going to W4RT and get the Mic speech compressor. The added punch is worth it and later the SSB filter. Again worth it. For PSK31 I have a awesome stand alone modem called the NUE-PSK. Look it up. Then get it. It will turn your 817 into a real digital station without the hassle of taking a computer with you. The little wonder does psk31/rtty and now cw that decodes like magic. Far better then 99% of the computer cw decoding programs. Antenna wise. The bigger the better in QRP. Stay away from the Miracle whip, and the Walkabout types. They work, but you can become real frustrated very quickly. A Z-827 by LDG or A T-1/with 817 cable by Elecraft and a 4:1 balun and a long wire will get you out and let you make contact. I have tried many different types of antennas and done a lot of QRP. (last radios were K2 and KX-1) and found the better the antenna the better the results and longer wire makes better contacts.

Well that is my 2 cents worth. Hope it helps.

73
Harry K7ZOV

I got a hit from this jerk too. My post was for a trading my KX-1 for a IC-703 or maybe a Ft-817. Out of know where I get a offer for $600 for the radio. I am more interested in trading, but that didn't stop him. He pressed the issue and told me to take the radio off the market, funds have been sent. Then a day later his "agent" sent the wrong cashier's check and it was for much more. When I get it for me to please take my part out and western union the balance to him and his agent would make arrangements to pick up the radio and ship it to him.... At this point I went from 70% sure to 110% sure it was a scam. I requested his call sigh and address a couple of times... naturally he ignored my request.  I hit him with a few emails expressing my concern and some cut and pastes from other places explaining western union money laundering scams...Never heard  back. Got a US Bank cashier's check for $2,650 sitting in front of me. Came with NO return address from Bu Benin Africa. The remitter's name on the cashier's check is Mark Wayne. The location is 1734 Sparta- West Bockman .. I ran the address on Google and it is a Western Union office. ... So who is Scott Virkus/ Mark Wayne?  If anyone has more information please forward it to me at hll1947@yahoo.com. I have a friend, who has contracts with those who can bust this jerk internationally if need be. Meanwhile I am waiting for him to contact me to see if I got the check yet (hehe) and see if I can get a return address. Sure the hell not going to cash it.

73
Harry K7ZOV

I have been running HRD with dual monitors for at least a year. I am using XP, Toshiba Dual-Core laptop with only 1/2 gig ram. I went to extended desk top. The main monitor show the HRD main control screen. The monitor plugged into the side of the laptop show either the logging screen...or if I am running DM780, the screen(s) for digital master. Kind of fun. Sometimes I will shrink down the main HRD screen to show the VFO A and B then the rest of the screen have QRZ.COM loaded so I can put the call sign in and get more info on who I have made contact on. This is my favorite configuration. I have had zero problems. ... Just remembered before I put the IC-7200 mobile (main rig is a IC-756proII) I had the 756 on one screen and the 7200 on the other. Also did the split screen where the main one on the laptop had both radios showing and the external monitor had my digital and log programs showing. Fun stuff... Hope this helps answer your question.

73
Harry k7zov
harrylatterman@yahoo.com

I have a 703 and 817. I have had them on a "A-B" switch and found the 703 to hear a lot better. With the DSP kicked in the 703 is far better. True the 817 is cheaper. But is it really? To bring the 817 up to the 703 hardware level you need to make friends with W4RT and buy a speech compressor mike mod, external ATU, and internal DSP module. Then you have to order from yeasu a TCXO since it is not usually standard. By the time your done you spent as much if not more then the 703. Then you have to deal with a tiny screen, more complicated menus, and head can't be removed. The 703 does have a low power mode that limits the output to 5 watts pep but can tune down lower then the 817. The finals on both the early 817 and 703 did blow. It was a bias problem with the 703 and by now that has been fixed and is easily adjusted. The 817 just has a bad stability problem and for about $50 the driver board can be purchased and replaced in less then a hour. Both are great and both are really fun QRP rigs. The FT-450 and the IC-7200 both beat the crap out of both rigs with their DSP IF. But they suck power thus not making them really qrp rigs. They are in a different market and to compare them to the 817 and 703 really is not fair ... actually stupid. Sorry that's how I feel when I hear people compare radios that have different designs for different markets and try to make them equal. Their not and never can be. Well that turned out to be my 10 cents worth... Hope it helped

I have a IC-756 with lines too, 3-6 depending on day. Kind of bugs me, but most of the time couldn't care less. I've learned to live with them. The transceiver is awesome, even if it is first generation. I also have Ham Radio Delux hooked up and it really is fun, full featured and will let your rig last for years. The only down side is the missing bandscope. My favorite toy.

I think you might want to open the radio up and make sure the high power/low power switch is set to high power position.  I have been running a DX-70TH for three years mobile and found it to be an outstanding rig.  When I set the radio up in my new Ford Ranger I decided not to punch in the fire wall for the 12 volt wiring. I instead decided to power the rig off the cigarette ligther. Since I was pushing it a little I open the radio and I set the radio for low power and I now have 50 watts and 5 watts.  The normal high power setting is 100 watts and 10 watts.

If the radio is used then I suspect someone has already move the switch and it needs to be reset.  If the radio is factory fresh I suspect that the radio was sent out in the wrong configuation.  If this does not work the radio is broken and it needs to be sent in.

I hope that help.  If you have any other questions feel free to email them to me.

Happy Holidays and May the New Year fill your log with many rare DX contacts !!!!!

NOTE:  The cigarette lighter works great.  But I recommend a second ground strap from the radio to the chassis.

I recieved the radio last week.  Because of my work schedule I only got to play with it for a few hours this past week-end during the SS contest.  I live in Mesa arizona.  With a vertical I was able to work Russia, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Canada and 12 States.  Signal reports were very good. (The stations worked were on 10, 17, 15, 20 and 40 meters SSB.)  The radio works like a dream and 5 watts does get out.  My next task is PSK-31.  I just pick up a mini din 6 connector and I will get it wired and report back soon.

73

Harry

As of 11/15/2000 I now own one of the first two FT-817 in the Arizona area. (My boss owns the second one.)  Do to my work load it will be a few days before I can really shake it out.  My first impression is 'WOW'.  The packaging is clean, the audio is quite acceptable and the feature list is unbelievable.

If you have puggy fingers you might find the SEL knob a little too close to the BNC connector. This is really no big deal.

The manual appears to be well written. As I go into discovery mode I'll find out how good it really is.  But so far I have found everything will no problem. (Now the VX-5R manual I found to be a real pain.)

When you look at the schematic and then look at the rig you will most likely say "yea right, no way!"  The radio is packed beyond belief with discreet components.  I assumed the unit would be packed with lots of large IC's .... nope.  Just plenty of parts.

As of tonight I am pleased with my selection.  Look for a review in the near future.  I will give it a good try using PSK-31 also.  Interfacing looks like a piece of cake.  CW should be interesting also.  The rig has a built in keyer and is very straight key friendly.

One last thing.  The picture shows a front panel antenna.  As I suspected it is for 50, 144, 432 and FM (music) use only.  I did do a antenna menu switch on the low bands and it does recieve (sort of) but it is not for transmitting.  No big deal.  My LDG QRP tuner is the exact same size as the FT-817.  I already made a cable from the ACC connector to the tuner.  I'll next make a 4:1 balum and really test itout on 40  - 6 meters with a hunk of wire and see what 2.5 watts can do with this baby.

If you have any question email me at lattermanh@earthlink.net.  I'll try to answer them.

73

Harry  K7ZOV

HAM RADIO OUTLET (HRO) IS EXPECTING UNITS IN NOVEMBER.  GO TO THEIR WEB SITE A
AND DO A PRODUCT SEARCH.  THE PRICE WILL BE $750.  THEY ALREADY TOOK MY
ORDER AND MY MONEY AS OF MONDAY OF THIS WEEK (10-23-00).  I'M SURE IT WILL BE
FIRST COME- FIREST SERVE AND I HAVE A FEELING THEIR MIGHT BE A WAITING LIST
REAL SOON.  SINCE HRO IS TAKING MONEY I'M SURE THEY KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW...
73
HARRY K7ZOV

I found a great one presented by G3VGR.  Go to http://www.qsl.net/g3vgr/hw_ant.html.  He has a 20 meter
and 40 meter version and it's simple and really works.  Have fun

Go to www.dxsoft.com and download CwGet and CwType.  The CwGet program is excellent.  I have used it
a P75 and P100 notebook computer and have been able to copy CW with speeds from 9 to 35 WPM with
95 to 100% copy everytime.  CwType is a second program that will send perfect CW from the same computer.
These two programs are the best I have used to date.  If there are any better please pass it on.