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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-897 |
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Reviews: 310
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Average rating: 4.6/5
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MSRP: $1049.95
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Description: It is the world's first multi-mode high-power base/mobile transceiver designed to fitted with internal batteries (optional) for portable use. The coverage is HF 160 to 10 meters plus 50/144/430 MHz VHF/UHF. Receive is 0.1-56, 76-108, 118-164 and 420-470 MHz. 7.9x3.2x10.3 inches (200x80x263 mm).
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.yaesu.com/amateur/ft897.html
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write your own review of the Yaesu FT-897.
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WH7DX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2012 11:01
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Nice Radio 897D
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Nice Radio. Not too big. Well put together. Huge Freq. Coverage. 100W on HF. Simple choice. I needed something for 2M and 70cm and a backup for emergencies running off batteries if needed. I'm going to setup a Solar Panel or two for battery charging if needed (Deep Cycle Marine Batteries etc.)
WH7DX
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WB4SLI
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Rating: 1/5
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Jan 4, 2012 05:45
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Unreliable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Follow-up on the dies every few months problem. There is no customer service from them either. Save yourself a bunch of time and trouble and buy some other manufacturer's equipment. Maybe they will wake up like Detroit did. They cannot run roughshod over their customers and expect people to still buy their unreliable low quality stuff. I refuse to consider buying anything that they make.
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N3KCM
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 31, 2011 21:22
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Fun rig but...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had two of these rigs. First one plain, second one fully dect with batteries, filters, tuner, etc. Just don't like the way the menu is set up and the fact that you need an external meter to get an accurate reading. I think if Yaesu perfected on a few things and added IF DSP, this would be at the top for sure.
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KK4HP
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 14, 2011 12:07
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What a Great All Around Radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I picked up a used FT-857D for mobile use and used it in the shack to familiarize myself with the operation & menu structure before putting it in the vehicle. A now former Icom owner, I was so impressed with the FT-857D, I had to have the FT-897D for the shack. I find it far easier to navigate the Yaesu menus over an Icom. It has an impressively hot receiver, it's compact enough to put in a small travel case (though a bit too big to run mobile). It has a solid feel, the DSP functions almost as well as the optional IF filters. The fan isn't too noisy, though I use it with a Heil PSE-6. The speaker is a bit small and being on the top, it isn't in the best location. Overall I am really pleased with this radio, it has been consistently racking up the DX contacts while my Icom rig sits idle. It's one heck of a shack-in-a-box and for new hams, you'd be hard pressed to find a better value for the money.
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N8MRC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 8, 2011 10:36
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Great little radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My 897 replaced my Kenwood TS50. I like kenwood but I love my Yaesu. 160-440 in one little package, how can you go wrong. Great for the main, portable and mobile. I use mine as my main HF radio and take it portable. I also have the internal switching PS makes it a light all in one unit. I have it modded for MARS and it works great on those freq's too. Would I get another? HECK YA!!
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STAYVERTICAL
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 26, 2011 04:49
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Old faithful
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had two of these remarkable little radios for six years of almost daily service.
My criteria in ham radio is simple:
It must be working for its keep and keep working.
This radio certainly has fulfilled those needs.
Daily use in digimodes and CW are faultless - just turn it on and operate.
No tantrums, no intermittent failures, just keeps going.
I have added the FC-40 remote atu, and random bits of wire becomes a perfectly tuned antenna by pressing the tune function on the FT897D.
My entire ham station consists of this rig and a notebook computer.
For a space limited ham or one who wants a built like a military radio type of rig, the FT897D, in my experience, will suit you nicely.
Some hams compare this rig unfavourably with much more expensive rigs, which is a compliment to this rig.
But in the end, this rig will keep up with most rigs without having to apologise.
I would suggest buying the 500hz optional mechanical filter, since this is a great benefit for cw and digital modes, but apart from that, this is the perfect rig for my operation.
Well done Yaesu.
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N4MJG
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2011 10:52
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Still kicking
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This radio never dies or anything it still going strong! I had this radio since 2006.
I never have any problems. At all!
73
Jackie
N4MJG
BEEN HAMMING 10 years!
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ON4VP
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 22, 2011 10:23
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3th in a row, still hard to beat
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had one of the first 897 non D models. I found a second hand (almost new and few months old) 'D' model in 2006. And now 5 years later I bought a third FT-897D to put in the shack. Thanks to the wide spread info on this radio it is easy to optimize it for different approaches. After more than 300 reviews we all get the picture of this 'shack in the box' radio.
It shines while 'on the go'. It's fantastic to use for cw or digital modes. I now use a Microham controller for digital modes. I urge to install optional filters. I use Inrad filters (300 and 2300) and I tailored some passband settings. Combine all of this with dsp and a nice larger speaker, and you're settled for hours of pure fun.
It's just not correct to compare this rig with 5000$ radios. This radio is not meant to work that way. It is designed to use portable or in a base station or mobile. For me, even at home I enjoy it a lot. Once I got used to the menus and settings, it operates just like any other modern radio and is loaded with nice features.
The local ham radio shop confirms that the FT-897D is the bestseller compared to other radios that come for less than 1000$. My one has filters, build in power supply and I have the LDG s-meter on top.
For the time being I don't have directional antennas but I work with dipoles and verticals. I get trough all the time working barefoot.
I had a lot of different radios but the charm of this military looking rugged box is that you can work all bands, including vhf and uhf and have it all at your fingertips with one radio.
There is always room for improvement. Sure. For example a programmable 'tune' button would be great. Comes handy when using remote tuners like SGC of MFJ or CG. The rig stays cool after hours of continue use at full power but it would be great that the ventilators would have been just a little quieter.
To sum it up. It's hard to beat this radio considering the price tag and what you get back for the money spent. After years and 3 in a row, I still enjoy the FT-897 a great deal. It's hard to depart from this radio.
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WB0FDJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 15, 2011 16:06
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A 4 wheel drive radio
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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One has to remember that this is intended to be, as the other ops have said, the "swiss army knife" of radios. This thing works from DC to daylight in all modes and is quite compact. I believe one op said it's "shack in a box" and thats how I see it. One should not compare this to their K3 or Orion.
Given all that I have now fallen for this radio.
Bought it new this year for less than a Kilobuck, which in this day doesn't seem to buy much. Went ahead and got the matching power supply. Already had an LDG Z-11 Pro ATU which now sits on top of the rig. I won't repeat all that has been said but there are a few comments that might amplify some issues.
One: the DSP works. No it's not an IF DSP in one of those radios that comes with a coffeemaker and cruise control but for what it is, it is quite effective. The noise reduction makes the radio much less fatiguing for long sessions and, remarkably the DSP narrow filters (which allow some selection, e.g on CW you can choose either 240, 120 or 60 Hz) are VERY effective. I have W4RT filters on board but find I'd much rather just use the "narrow" DSP filter. Never expected that.
Two: the noise blanker is remarkable. My other newer (and more expen$ive) HF rig picks up an S-8 interference that makes 30 meters completely unusable. Out of curiosity I turned on the 897 and hit 'NB' and it disappeared completely. I mean vanished! Yeah I know, noise blankers are like that but, still, it works on more noise here at my QTH than any other radios.
Menu: yeah, I'm not a "menu guy" either. My FT817 has a very similar menu so I knew what was coming but it's better implemented in the 897. Most of the stuff in the deeper menu is set and forget. The "top" menu" is easily dialed for setting things like NB, filter selection, AGC, etc. I found that after a couple of sessions it goes pretty easy.
Misc: you get a lot of usable stuff in this radio. It wasn't long ago that if you wanted a basic HF rig with a few extras, and 6 M, 2M and 440 mHz all mode capability you'd wind up buying up to 4 separate radios for a lot more money. If you're looking to spend a modest amount of money and want to try out some VHF/UHF this is a bargain. And the thing is built like a tank.
There you have it: a radio with 4 wheel drive that does a little of everything that won't make you take out a second mortgage. If I every got stuck on the proverbial deserted island this would be, hands down, my pick.
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ZL4IV
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 10, 2011 02:24
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Mobile
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This rig is in my Jeep. Uses the Yaesu ATAS 100 screw driver. Well, people can't understand why my signals are so strong from 40 to 15 meters. All the Jeep is bonded. One button tuning after band change. Easy to take out of the mobile bracket and set up anywhere as it also has the mains power supply fitted. Extra SSB filter is great. I also use the separate 2m/70cm antenna and the change of bands is seamless. I have the FTdx-9000D & FT-2000D but if there is ever an emergency radio needed this is it, then it's worth more than my other radio's.
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