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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors |
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Reviews: 342
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Average rating: 4.5/5
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MSRP: $769
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Description: Yaesu HF/VHF/UHF Mobile Transceiver
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More info: http://
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write your own review of the Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors.
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N4DBM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 29, 2010 05:29
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Excellent
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned the Yaesu FT-857 long enough to get familiar with, and use, most of the features it offers. The rig performs as advertised. It has tons of options to make mobile or base operation as easy and friendly as can be.. It's efficient, light-weight but built tough, as with all Yaesu rigs I have owned. It is extremely handy to have 2M and UHF capability in the same rig. I have seriously enjoyed working HF mobile with this. I am running a tri-band adapter with 3 Hustler Resonators. I love the fact the 857 runs AM as well. Overall I am extremely satisfied with the performance/price ratio. I would definitely recommend this to a friend who needs a unit with tons of capability, yet is easy enough to operate "right out of the box" without reading instructions..
If you ever do decide to purchase the 857, PLEASE, don't screw with the factory adjustment menu settings. I have heard of people "opening up" the radio to run like 200 watts on HF and over 100 watts on 2M and 75 W on UHF. Yes it can be done but it's not designed for this! As an RF technician of many years I can tell you, you will eventually damage the transceiver by messing with stuff that don't need to be messed with. Again, the radio performs excellent right out of the box!
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KC7YRA
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 26, 2010 04:23
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Understand what youa re getting and it is great
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Having had this radio for over a year now, I feel that I can write a fair review if it.
I am very impressed with what this radio has done for me. It is an extremely compact rig that will do 90% of what most hams do. And it does most of that fairly well.
It has a decent receiver, but it is still not on par with those that are considerably more expensive (ft-1000, ft-950,ft-450, ETC) but it was never meant to be. I believe that so many folks buy this rig and expect it to replace their 5K (or even 2K) wonder rig. IT WILL NOT. The DSP does a decent job on both SSB and CW. It can be narrowed down for CW and provide an amazing amount of options that really make the signals POP out. I would venture to say that it is on par with my FT-1000 (not quite, but close). It does tend to get overloaded easily when hooked to a large HF antenna system. I am not shocked by this as I figure it was built for the mobile arena mostly. Following the mobile tack, this radio has an EXCELLENT noise blanker. Works extremely well on pulse type noise.
The menu system is a little confusing but not insurmountable. People that complain about that are just complaining IMO. Elecraft radios have FAR more obnoxious user interfaces and rarely do folks complain. It is best to have the manual near by for awhile at least. This is partly why I gave the radio a 4 over a 5. The menus really could have been implemented a little better. This is after all primarily a mobile rig. Menus are NOT conducive to that.
Outside of the mobile environment, this little rig shines pretty well. Hooked to a large HF yagi (I prefer money spent on antenna before radio) it netted me over 100 DXCC entities in just a few months. This at the complete bottom of the sunspot cycle. Most folks were amazed when I told them what I was running. Especially that I was using the stock mic. I get numerous audio compliments whenever I am on the air. And I usually run it at 50 watts. Even during the pileups, it gets me through 99% of the time. 50 watts is 50 watts, regardless of money spent on the radio.
CW is surprisingly good on this radio. I am NOT a CW fiend nor expert, but this radio does it just fine for me. The TR relay is AMAZINGLY annoying when operating CW (the rest of the reason for 4). It is very hard to get a balance between TX delay and your keying speed when operating slowly (under 10WPM). It seems to transmit a clean, easily copyable CW signal with minimal fuss. What more could I want.
The only other thing I want to mention before my summation is the ability to work split (for DX). It is possible and actually works fairly well. As the radio does not have 2 receivers, you essentially have to use it like it were a repeater. VFOA and B are assigned for TX and RX separately. It can make it difficult when you are trying to catch a DX that is running a varying split.
All in all, I really like this rig. It has some MINOR points that I do not like but what rig doesn't? It is an extremely good bargain at well under $1K (closer to half that) and is packed full of capability in an extremely small box. I would have no qualms recommending this to folks, new or experienced.
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EC4ALB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2010 21:21
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FANTASTIC
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my second 857d, the first one sold to a friend and buy a new one IC-7000, after two years bought another one 857d, and no problem at all with this radio.
It perfoms well on all the bands i use in portable operations, and i use it on VHF-UHF at home station.
Maybe a little bit displace on VHF-UHF, and low power output in UHF band.
Worth the money.
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ZL1LK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2010 14:00
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Great little rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned two 857's and love them! After adding the both filters they preform as good as my Kenwood TS-850S. The menus are a bit hard to get around, but with the help of a CAT cable and "Ham Radio Deluxe" software... No Problem.
I've had no problems with these FT857's
73 Roy
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ZL4AX
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 30, 2009 20:55
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Not Bad But Loose Front
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Getting to learn driving this rig now.
Certainly a bit 'different'.
Typical of Yaesu's 'lateral thinking' of the last
five or so years. Radical.
But this LOOSE FRONT has got to go! I've now spent the last three weeks experimenting with self-adhesive rubber bungs, stoppers and foam pad inserts. All to no avail. It's like driving a car with a steering wheel that feels like it's gonna fall off in your hands any moment. I tried a few other guy's 857's and although they're not as bad as my brand new one, they're all loose to some degree.
How come nobody's raised this issue before?
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W3LZK
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 26, 2009 13:05
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Its OK, I prefer my 706MKIIG
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This has got to be a first for me, to not review a radio that I have owned over the years. First, let me say the good about the radio. Small package, it fit my Sport Track like it was made for it. I had the separation kit for the radio, like I said it fit my vehicle like it was made for it. The NB, was excellent, at least on the one I had, the noise blanker did an outstanding job of knocking down or completely ridding the rig of what little ignition noise that I did have. Yes, it is a menu driven radio, but most of the rigs these days are. Having said that, at least in my case, I pretty much set the menus where I needed them and promptly forgot them, I had them set once, that was all that was needed on my part. You have the ATAS-120A motorized antenna, otherwise commonly called a screwdriver antenna. Mine worked very well with the 857D that I had, had an out board 2/440 antenna. My ATAS-120, was set upon a very large 4 magnet mout on the middle of the roof of my Sport Trac, I worked quite a bit of DX with that little set up, be it just going on my errands or on a long trip, most of the time I did very well, couldn't compete with the stations running power, even a nominal amount say 400-600watt stations would win out every time, its just the nature of the beast, I was EVEN about to put a mobile amp in my truck. I probably could have my wife wouldn't have cared, but I digress.
No the not so goods. Small size equals small display, had some problems with the display being small, just wasn't always readable, even when you adjusted and made the frequency large you would loose out on some other aspect that I wanted knowledge of, say OH, SWR, PO, voltage. Also one of the more rather disturbing facts was, that when I bought this radio from a friend, who bought it from a friend, I was the 3ed owner. No problem since I know both the previous owners which is precisely why I bought it, I knew its history, or rather lack of. Ths radio had been mostly used for digital modes by the original owner, when my friend bought it he boxed it up and promptly stuck it in his closet for a couple of years. So when I told my friend that I was looking he offered me the radio at a very good price. Got it, and from the very first day, I had NO 60 meters, I didn't receive any of the aircraft, or weather frequencies. Also, if on VHF or UHF, could not for the life of me, get the radio to go beyond the standard frequency range. If I were on 2 meters, the frequency range was 144-148MHz.UHF was the same. Most if not all the D versions would could go above and below these frequencies. Normally if I were on 2 meters, you can tune from well below 144MHz and well above 1348MHz,like my 706 that I traded for a new laptop, if I was on 146.520, wanted to check NOAH weather, crank the dial to 162.425 and listen, or I wanted to listen to the local airport, crank the dial down to 118.300.
On the 857D, forget it, I had my remote mic that I still had from my FT897,(great radio),I could even program any of these frequencies into the radio, it was shall we say frustrating to say the least. I called Yaesu, talked with one of their techs. After reading the serial #, I was informed that I had an original version 857, I told the tech that my rig has DSP, it can't have it, well it does, informed the tech of the other problems, an I was told to send it in. Had I had the funds at the time I probably would have, I didn't so I couldn't. I kept the radio for a little more than a year, about 14 or 15 months then sold it with the ATAS for waaay less than I had in it, even with depreciation values I still lost on the whole thing.
Wound up getting anothe 706MKIIG this past spring, in my Ranger PU and a TarHeel "Stubby" does what I need it to do. Would I get another 857D? Maybe, but its use would be for portable or in a permanent or semi permanent installation, a use that would be pre defined by what ever is deemed needed at the time, not a bad radio, just not great.
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KC7NHT
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2009 11:00
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I like it
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned my 857d for almost a year now and I really love it. Once I learned how to navagate the menus it has been very simple to operate I just wish the display was larger but I cant complain for the size. For the price and size I would recommend this radio.
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KC5CQW
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 8, 2009 16:35
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Great Value
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I rarely use the the the large tuning knob. I find it cumbersome and unsafe while driving. The smaller "sel" knob is used almost regularly and it wouldn't hurt if it was beefed up a tad. I'm a little concerned that it will need a replacement in a few years.
The 857D is no Elecraft but, it is built for the mobile environment and priced right. I do have a bit of slop on the front panel to remote bracket. The control panel interface to the chassis is rock solid. The stock mic is limited on functions and the optional multi-function mic is much safer while driving. I find it a little dangerous to have an out stretched arm vs. the mic controls in my palm. I would say that this rig is the very best value in ham radio today. Very good performance, small form factor and a great line of options available. This would make a fine rig for QTH or mobile use. I use mine 100% mobile. Don't forget to instal an external speaker. For me the FC-40 mounted in the bed of my truck with a 102" CB whip on a Breedlove HF insulator bolted to the bed rail make a fine 40-6m setup. A Larsen NMO-270B on the roof with a thru-hole NMO mount make up the VHF-UHF end. No, I am not afraid to drill holes. Long story short, Better performance and LESS damage then a no-hole mounting option. Reference www.k0bg.com for mobile install information. In summary, I have been waiting many years for this radio to be developed. It has answered all of my mobile radio issues.
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G0RIF
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 5, 2009 22:47
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Great for what it is...
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Re previous (G4XTA) review.
My fascia fit is snug as can be and snaps into place well. I have no movement in the fascia when tuning or using any other controls. Either I have a good 'un or you have a bad 'un but as I know of no other 857 owners with your problem I'd be inclined to suggest you may have just gotten unlucky.
Granted the menu system is a bit cumbersome but hell, given what this radio manages to pack into it diminutive size I'll live with that.
I just look at mine every now & then (sat on top of my FT-950) and marvel at how much radio there is in that little thing. Got to rate a 5 given its intended market.
Regards,
Dean
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G4XTA
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 5, 2009 11:27
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Loose Front and Difficult Software
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hi
I'm enjoying my FT857D. I'm an all-Yaesu man, and I've wanted one of these for years. I have several of their HF rigs, a dozen mobiles and half a dozen handies. The FT857D's operating system is difficult, clumsy and inaccessible, but I guess that's to be expected if you cram so much into a little menu-driven rig with so few buttons. A shame, but I guess that's the way all rigs have gone these days. This is the least good Yaesu product I've used since the FT8800, which was a shocker and got returned to the store within three days to swap for an FT7800! Personally, I'd prefer lots more clearly-marked buttons and knobs that ALL DO ONE THING EACH. But I realise I'm not gonna get any response to that wish list, hi hi!
However, although I'm enjoying learning all about my complex little FT857D, the one thing that really spoils the radio for me is the loose, ill-fitting front panel. The entire front slides-in sideways on rails rather like a cellphone battery. My other Yaesu fronts click-in positively from the front. The FT857D front remains loose and rattles about all the time. When the tuning knob is turned, the whole front bends and slops up-and-down loosely, making the knob inaccurate and the display wobble up-and-down. In the long term I expect wires and other parts to break due to the movement. The shell that holds the front has four little tags, and the the entire assembly is thin and bendy, and way to insubstantial to work. A very serious quality issue which would make me think again about buying another, and this could be my last Yaesu rig as a result. Bad.
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