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ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by KF6HHH on October 6, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have the Yaesu FT-897 and like it for a base. Am considering getting a mobile and I have heard the FT-857 is just the mobile version of the 897. I see the FT-857 is several hundered less than the Icom IC 706MkIIG, which seems to have the same basic capabilities. Other than the 706 having a bigger screen, I was just wondering what the differences might be and if one is recommended over the other? My primary use would be for mobile EmComm stuff and maybe field day, T-hunts if I get into that, and whatever else I can think of once I have it. Maybe some off-roading, so if one is stronger than the other. No fights please, just straight-forward info of the differences that I should be aware of. Thanks in advance for all the help. 73 Dan'o :} KF6HHH

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by K5LXP on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Dan; Check this link, and see if the comparison there answers your question. <http://home.cfu.net/~sjs/857vs706.htm> Mark K5LXP Albuquerque, NM

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by WW5AA on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have had both in the mobile. I repaired a 706 MkIIG with the dreaded power cord problem and ran it for two weeks. In my opinion the FT-857D is heads above for mobile operation. 73 de Lindy

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by WW5AA on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
I have had both in the mobile. I repaired a 706 MkIIG with the dreaded power cord problem for a friend and ran it for two weeks. In my opinion the FT-857D is heads above for mobile operation. 73 de Lindy

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by K0BG on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
The link Mark gave you is a good one, and I agree with most of the assessments there in. I can't add anything to it in any case. However, having owned two IC-706MkIIgs, I'm a little partial to them. When the IC-7000 came along, I bought one, and have been generally pleased as it answers all of the negatives in the aforementioned piece. It also has some new faults, which may or may not be of concern depending on your type of operation. One of those is the lack of live touch tones from the microphone. While I know the 7000 costs a lot more than the other two, do yourself a favor and at least play with one at you local dealer. For what ever it is worth, I believe it is the best designed-for-mobile radio current available even with the faults in mind. Alan, KØBG www.k0bg.com

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by KI4EMD on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Like you, I have an 897d that I use for my base station. I just recently purchased an 857d for mobile use. I love it! In my opinion, if you like your 897d, then you'll also be very happy with an 857d. They are, afterall, exactly the same electronically. All of the menus and other features are identical. Because I owned the 897d, it took me about 1 minute to figure out how to operate the 857d. Yes, the display is small. However, as long as you have 20/20 vision or wear appropriate glasses, you will be able to read the display without issue. Feel free to email me with any specific questions. Just look me up on qrz dot com to find my email address. 73 Scott KI4EMD

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by KF6HHH on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Thanks for all the info. I like the IC706 and 7000, but for my use I just can't justify spending more money for the Icom's. I have a Yaesu VX7RB too, so I am kind of used to the Yaesu's, so I have no problem with them, and with the Yaesu being the lowest priced of the three mentioned, I think I'll stick with that for now. It's just nice to know that there isn't a huge difference between the two. 73 Dan'o :}

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by K0BG on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
Scott, I'm going to take exception to your comments about the two models being identical. The truth is, they're not! I have both owner's and service manuals on both radios, and even a casual glance will turn up lots of differences. In fact, their receiver specs are different enough, that average Joe Ham might be able to tell the difference in side-by-side, subjective tests. Operate them both in a mobile scenario, and the differences stick out like a sore thumb! While I agree subjective tests are important, lab tests aside, it takes longer than a few days, or even a few weeks in some cases, before some of the specific weaknesses show up. The long and short of it is, you have to live with a radio for a while, before you discover the drawbacks important to you. Remember too, your drawbacks, and mine, just might be on opposite ends of the stick! Alan, KØBG www.k0bg.com

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by KF6HHH on October 7, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
While I realize there are probably differences between the radios (FT-897, 857, and IC706MkIIG), I don't believe there is enough to bother me for the limited use I have for them, so the basic statement of they are basically the same works for me and is valid. Like I said, I don't want to start a war. There's enough Hams out there who seem to want to argue and that makes us our own worst enemy. Thanks for the point of view, but I was just asking for a basic difference, not if I want to work something special where one would definitely have more whistles and bells. 73 all Dan'o :} KF6HHH

RE: ft-857 vs ic 706 MkIIG	Reply
by N3OX on October 8, 2008	Mail this to a friend!
"Scott, I'm going to take exception to your comments about the two models being identical. The truth is, they're not! " Alan, you know he's talking about the Yaesu FT-897D vs the FT-857D?

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