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You can
write your own review of the Yaesu FT-840.
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KB3IRR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 16, 2009 20:28
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Outstanding performer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My first rig, and it is still my only rig. Simple, straight forward, and no nonsense. (and great ears!)
My only problem was a diode that disintegrated after a rough transport.
This is truely a great radio.
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N6MUK
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 6, 2009 22:41
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A Very Nice Rig Indeed!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I stumbled across this FT-840 on a Craig's list page on the other side of the country from my QTH. A teenage boy was selling his grandfather's radio stuff after the old ham became a silent key. For $200 plus $25 shipping I decided to take a chance. I'm a Ten Tec owner and lover so I didn't expect too much from a rice-box rig like the FT-840. I was wrong about that.
-First of all, the 840 must have been the old man's stand by rig because it arrived new and still factory sealed in the Yaesu box!
-I gleefully unpacked it, read the manual, marveled at the great Yaesu DX map of the world and cool "Yaesu, The Choice Of Top DXers" sticker. Then I set up the transceiver and took it for a spin.
-I like the Yaesu receiver. Its makes a good account of itself. Considering its an up/down conversion IF design with roofing filters as broad as a barn door, I thought it held up pretty well when adjacent to strong signals, and the 12 dB attenuator button helps with this. That being said, don't take it into CW World Wide. Hi hi. The noise blanker works really well. I like the simplicity of the rig's controls. I don't appreciate complex menu driven appliance rigs and the FT-840 is not one of them. This rig is FUN to operate! I like the compactness of the rig also.
-I'm not crazy about the lack of QSK. With the semi break-in delay set all the way down, it's tolerable and actually kind of nice in a relaxing cw way. I like long relaxing 20 wpm cw rag chews and this rig is great for just that, with the semi break-in delay set as low as it will go. If you like to go Ten Tec style full break-in at 50 wpm, forget this rig, it will make you crazy.
Now for the fun stuff:
I like to look over the schematics for the gear I use. While having a squint at the FT-840's circuitry, I noticed that there are a lot of small signal switching diodes in the receiver's front end. They're used, to select the front end band pass filters, to inject local oscillator energy into the first IF mixer/ amplifier, and as the product detector. When diodes conduct they generate wide band noise and that noise energy in the front end is going to get amplified, along with the weak radio signals, by 100 dB or so before it gets to the ears. I decided to replace the cheapo diodes with hot carrier diodes to improve the wide band noise performance.
I decided to go for it and gut the rig, since I got it kind of cheap anyway. I took it all apart to get the receiver board out and get it on my workbench. I removed the dozen or so cheapo diodes in the front end and replaced them with some hot carrier (Schottky or pin) diodes that I ordered from Digi Key. Then I put that puzzle of wires and PC board back together and crossed my fingers. It really wasn't all that bad. It took an hour of concentration, careful marking of connectors, de-soldering and soldering to get it all done.
What a difference! Wow!! Its the hottest receiver I have ever used. The signals seem to stand out from the background noise like never before. Its especially apparent on SSB where all the voices seem a little stronger and much clearer because the S/N ratio is much improved. When I make 40M cw QSOs, I can often now hear very, very weak shortwave stations from Europe deep in the background. They used to be completely masked by the noise. The band really sounds open! The results of th diode modification have been very gratifying indeed.
If you feel like you want to try this modification for yourself, on your own FT-840, I have put a couple of links together to describe how I did it to mine. If you have a question, email me and I will help you, if I can. Just remember, its your rig and you are digging into it yourself. If you break it, you have only yourself to blame for that.
http://n6muk.sytes.net/images/Yaesu_FT-840_front_end.pdf
http://n6muk.sytes.net/images/Yaesu_FT-840_front_end.doc
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=568-1617-1-ND
paultheengineer@verizon.net
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N8PHL
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 25, 2008 20:16
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good all around radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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i just got this radio and i do like it for being simple.
however after having it up and running i have found issue with the colling fan.
sometimes it works with out any issue and then sometimes it will not work at all.
other then that it is a real nice radio.
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AC5PS
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2008 06:19
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Great Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had one for a few years, wish I still had it.
"What a gem! Went inside almost immediately, and threw the switch cutting maximum output power to 50 watts max."
What?
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KJ4HE
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 6, 2008 19:47
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A Keeper
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought an FT-840 about a year before they went out of production. What a gem! Went inside almost immediately, and threw the switch cutting maximum output power to 50 watts max. I never looked back and have never missed the additional 50 that are gone. The receiver is great and I always get glowing reports on the transmit audio. Even on AM.
A respectable general coverage receiver, too, with the optional, wider filter. No menu maze and has a noise blanker and IF shift that do the trick.
This one is a keeper; the Icom and Kenwood rigs I have are good equipment but for the value and reliability, the 840 stays.
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N7JBH
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 28, 2008 13:47
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First HF rig.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The Yaesu FT840 was my first HF rig when I upgraded to General in 2000, it's still my main rig at the QTH. No complaints, good audio reports on QSO's. Works good as SWL rig after installing the AM filter module. My only HF rig for many years, would never get rid of it. Has analog S-meter and variable power output, both a real plus.
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EI6GRB
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2008 08:43
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Solid rugged basic performer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The 840 gets 5/5 from me - its rugged and easy to use. It's so intuitive and so straightforward. It does not have many bells and whistles but for a great reliable rig to get you on the air from top band to 10 it's great.
I got mine off ebay a year ago and I love it. I recently bought a ft-2000 but the 840 will not be sold! It's just too nice a rig.
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WA6MOW
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 9, 2008 16:43
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Solid performer.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I am always buying and selling radios so I have used all price ranges. This rig has an endearing quality about it. Built like a tank, and works quite well with the narrow filters installed. I think it is a much better radio than the Icom 718, even though it lacks dsp. The tuning knob has a great feel to it and the darn thing still seems like a good value on the used market.
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N4ZAW
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 4, 2008 03:38
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A great "comeback" rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have been inactive since 2000.... Do yourselves a favor if you ever decide to go quiet on the bands for a few years -- SHELVE/DO NOT SELL your gear! It gets expensive! hi:)
But i digress. I found an FT-840 on craigslist for only $400! I simply had to get it at that price. I have no regrets, except for display reading 2KHz low and a quirky problem with xmit (that may just turn out to be my 15 year old jumpers arching-over).
I love this rig!! It has good audio ,sensitive, yet discriminating ears, and I get good reports, both locally and DX on it's tonal qaulity with the MD-100 mic I got with it.
4 outta 5 because of quirky xmit thing, which again,,has not been fully researched as it just surfaced.
Save yourself the 120 bucks if you are considering the optional AM filter. It has better STOCK reception and the filter is waaay TOO narrow for intelligibility (SP?)....
All-in-all tho I don't miss my Kenwood TS-850, as long as this $400 sweety stays frosty on the airwaves.
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KC5SEB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 1, 2008 20:26
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Simply Beautiful
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my favorite radio. I have the chance to use a number of Military and Amateur HF radios in my job. But when I want to get on the ham band and try to find some one to talk to on the short waves then this is the one I go to.
This is a no frills, no bells, no menus radio. It doesn't do a lot of tricks in fact it only does one thing well. Make COMMO! Even an idiot like me can turn this radio on and get on the air without referring back to the manual or a cheat sheet.
I got this radio in 1995 right after I got back from the Haitian Vacation and I have never regretted it.
After 13 years the only problem is a balky Attenuator button.
If I could find one of these NIB I would get it.
This radio has been opened up for MARS and it was a simple do. A temporary jumper using a set of alligator clips and a reset is all it took.
I like this radio even better than the FRC-93
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