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write your own review of the Yaesu FT-817.
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HK3TKI
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 6, 2012 14:17
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El mejor para Emergencias
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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He tenido equipos de todos los tamaños, los vendi todos, he tenido cuatro FT-817,y he decidido usar solo equipos pequeños, cómprenlo, es el mejor para una emergencia, lo uso con el LDG-817 y con una antena de hilo largo de 16.2 metros y un balun 4:1 tambien LDG, usted puede transmitir con 20 watios ingresando al menú oculto y modificándole los valores, lo he hecho en mis cuatro equipos y créanme que no le pasa nada. Efrain piloto47@hotmail.com
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G3XBM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 3, 2012 12:21
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FT-817 .....10 years on and still the perfect QRP radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Having owned and used my original FT-817 now for almost 10 years, it's time to update my review. This remains a FANTASTIC radio. On mine I've worked the world with 5W or less, including a transatlantic CW contact on 50MHz with just 2.5W ERP! It has been used on all bands from 1.8MHz to 432MHz and has even been used on 8.97kHz VLF, 137kHz, 500kHz and 481THz (lightbeam) with transverters. In all the time it has been owned it has worked perfectly.
Now, what I really want is for Yaesu to bring out an even better successor with 70MHz and 1296MHz included, an internal wide range auto ATU, speech processing, DSP and Li-Ion battery pack. I guess they are holding back as the current FT-817 ND is still selling well.
In summary, this is the very best commercial radio I have EVER owned and used. It remains in a class of its own.
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W4HH
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 31, 2011 10:50
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Very happy with my FT-817
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I've been a QRP operator for most of my ham career -- first licensed in 1958. My QRP gear consists of two shelves filled with homebrew QRP rigs, either built from scratch or from kits.
My favorites are the Small Wonder Labs SW-series for 80, 40, 30, and 20 meters.
HOWEVER -- as I get older, I get lazier and it was just too much trouble to disconnect and reconnect power, key, antenna, headphones from one single-band QRP rig to another. After researching the all-band QRP rigs on the market, I purchased an FT-817ND.
I operate almost exclusively CW. After a couple of weeks using the 817, I purchased the W4RT 500 Hz CW filter -- it was a noticeable improvement over the stock 817 CW function.
I have a small solar panel mounted outside my shack that feeds a controller and a 12 amp-hour gel cell battery that powers the 817.
I've had the 817 with its solar power since April 2011 and am very pleased with the rig. I run it mostly at the 2.5 watt level with occasional use of 0.5 or 5 watts. My antenna is an off-center-fed dipole with one end 25 feet up and the other end only 12 feet off the ground. I have worked 31 countries and 28 states since putting the 817 on the air -- and that was without really trying to accumulate countries or states.
I use the LDG Z-817 antenna tuner and am quite please with it, also.
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EA1HFI
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 21, 2011 00:33
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Un excelente equipo!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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No voy a repetir lo que ya se ha dicho de este equipo, solo quiero decir que es el mejor equipo QRP jamas fabricado!
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NP3FS
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 18, 2011 03:21
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The Leatherman Multi-Tool of Amateur radio.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the FT-817 ND version of this radio which someone named it the "Swiss Army Knife", but I would call it the "Leatherman Multi-Tool" of Amateur Radio. Connected to a 5W Solar panel, external Gel-Cell and the HF antenna that you may feel pleased, this portable but extremely reliable setup can allow you to achieve HF QSO's 2000 miles away, hit VHF/UHF repeaters (to include various modes of Satellite communications), all from remote or isolated locations. It is strong, most reliable and like all Yaesu rigs, packed with sub-menus. Surprisingly, the audio is outstanding for such a compact radio, indeed excellent for portable backyard SW listening. The best of all, this jewel can be stuffed on a school lunch box.
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WO4V
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2011 12:50
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10 years and still going.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My 817 was purchased at Dayton in 2001, the first year of production. In fact, according to the serial number, it was the 450th one made!
Nevertheless, it has been a real winner. Yaesu did this radio right (and I am not a big Yaesu fan).
I have run it mobile (including motorcycle!), base, and knapsack portable...it has been abused, neglected, thrown around, vibrated severely on a bike windshield, and the only trouble I have ever had with it was the finals gave out after 5 or 6 years (probably from running it motorcycle mobile), and Yaesu repaired it for a reasonable price and with quick service. I just don't have the eyes to work on stuff this small anymore.
I have just today bought an ft 857d, sort of an 817 on steroids, and thought I might sell it, but nah! This old friend will stay around until it hits the junkbox or whoever gets my estate puts it on Ebay (untested, of course, due to lack of an antenna, etc. ad nauseum)...but guaranteed to not be DOA! (yeah, right).
I started out with Yaesu (101), and this transceiver is, like the ft 101, a classic. I am not a big Yaesu fan, preferring Kenwood products, but every once in a while this company will come out with a real gem. If you want a bulletproof portable, get one of these.
Dave, WO4V
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VE3TEF
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 6, 2011 18:38
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Excellent rig!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my favourite rig. Hands down!
I've had the same unit since the ND first came out and have had no problems. The old rig is scratched, banged and the original battery pack won't hold a charge for as long as it used to.
I've got external NI-MH packs for it, a Z817 tuner, mini key and several antennas that fit in my backpack.
Yes, it uses batteries quicker than some rigs and no it does not cover the weather band, but then the 703 also can burn batteries (which are external) and it doesn't have vhf/uhf! Some reviewers say that not putting the weather band in a backpack radio means Yaesu "dropped the ball". With that attitude, most every small qrp rig ever made has missed the mark!
Until recently I had a 703 too and I liked it fine, but I sold it and then got another 817.
If you forget the biases and give the rig a chance, you'll appreciate it for what it is.
QRP might make contacts harder to make, but some of us are more interested in the hunt than running a point and shoot station.
Sure, I'd love to have something the size of my TH-F6 that had every feature in the big rigs, including high power, and a built in battery that would last me a week in the bush. Until then, I'll be a fan of the 817.
If you are interested in getting one and want to know how good it is, look for someone in your area that has one. Chances are they'll be more than glad to extole the virtues of this great little rig.
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M0TWA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 5, 2011 14:33
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little radio giant performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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follow up to my previous comments... the radio needs a good efficient antenna that makes the most of the 5 watts max output...I have to admit that I am a huge fan of this radio.. spend time designing your portable station around the radio and you will have great results. See my video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpr4nvXwJZg
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SV1JRF
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2011 01:17
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The great portable!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Just the most amazing portable radio. Imaging that you have a little larger handheld with everything on it. From HF to V and U. The only drawback is the battery which won't last for long and it only provides you with 2.5 watts. Just buy a 7.2Ah battery and you are done. You will need 2 days of constant operation to drain it.
Thank you very,
73 de SV1JRF
George
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KE7EWI
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 2, 2011 12:07
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Great Radio!!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I once had a dog that loved to have his belly rubbed....His tongue would hang out..His rear legs would be movin...His eyes would roll back in his head...He was in heaven! That's how I feel when I am using the Yaesu FT-817. What great little rig!
PSK31 is my primary operating mode, which the 817 performs with little effort or complaint. When coupled to a Tokoy Hy-Power HL-45B linear amp, the two become a PKS31 "DREAM MACHINE". What a sweet combo.
My previous rig was a 746..but for my uses, the 817 shines like a diamond...buy one and have fun!!
Thanks for reading my brief.
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