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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-450 |
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Reviews: 142
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Average rating: 4.6/5
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MSRP: $aprox 999.00 new
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Description: The FT-450 is a rugged, innovative multi-band, multimode portable transceiver for the amateur radio HF & 6M bands. Providing coverage of the 160-10 meter bands plus the 6 m, the FT-450 includes operation on the SSB, CW, AM, FM, and Digital modes, yielding the most comprehensive performance package available for field operation.
Designed for use from an external DC power source, the FT-450 provides 100 watts of power output from a 13.8-Volt external power supply, 160 - 6 meter coverage
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More info: http://foxtango.org/FT-450/Yaesu_FT-450.htm
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AA8PP
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 6, 2009 21:25
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Nice rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Purchased my FT-450AT on the 28th of October and am very happy with it overall. The only thing keeping it from a 5 rating is the built in tuner. I previosly owned both the FT-890AT and the TS-480SAT running into my Van Gorden G5RV. Both of the rigs tuned the majority of bands with no problem. Unfortunately the new Yaesu falls short in comparison. I purchased a manual tuner and now can utilize the bands again. Guess I was spoiled by the tuners in the other two!
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K3EY
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2009 08:41
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Best Value with Better Performance
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned several of these radios since they came out. Out of the batch only one had a problem-- Yeasu replaced it--- low output which was the only problem I have ever encountered. I have owned many of the latest greatest HF radios offered today costing a lot more. What I have found is that this little do-all radio meets my operating requirements with ease and comfort. I operate CW 99 percent and 1 percent PSK. The complaints I have read on the limited 500HZ CW filtering makes me laugh because the best filtering system in the world is between your ears. Back when I got into amateur radio 500HZ bandwidth was about the best you could ask for. Buying that 500HZ filter back then turned your HF radio into a high performance edition. So that complaint of limited filtering, IMO anyway, doesn’t hold water. For raw receiver performance I really liked the K2 but this FT450 is light years ahead for features and convenience all bundled in one small and very efficient package. I love the display and I have retina damage. It’s easy on the eyes and adjustable and plenty large for even the visual impaired. Yes the K2 and PROIII can cut down the bandwidth to next to nothing when operating a busy contest or where tons of DX stations are piled on top of each other, other than those extreme circumstances and at a steal of a deal, the FT450 is the best value going today for just about all types of HF operating with a DSP system that actually works very well! Great Job Yaesu!
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WA6MOW
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 27, 2009 22:34
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Versatile, Great Value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my 4th or 5th FT-450 so I know the rig quite well. I like trying different rigs and have used many different ones over the last few years. First off, this rig is not the same build quality as my 756Pro3 that sits beside the FT-450. Lets think about the price difference on the used market as I write this, $500 to $600 for a used 450, $1,700 to $2k for a used 756Pro3. The truth of the matter is that I can hear and work the same stations with either rig. Can I pull a $1k weaker signal out of the noise with my Pro3, no!! I would buy the FT-450 over the IC-718, IC-737, etc, and most of the older rigs in this price range. Old school rigs are fun if you like fixing them but technology has left a lot of the old timers behind. Here is what I like about the FT-450; The size, it takes up very little desk space. The menu system is very intuitive and simple to use and provides lots of control. I think the knob placement and main tuning knob are more than adequate. If you have the hands of gorilla, they may not suit you. The display is crisp and clean. Don't spend the extra money for the internal tuner unless your antenna has a low swr to begin with. You will be using an external tuner. I use a rubber door stop to prop up my FT-450 as I am too cheap to buy a bail. The buttons are not illuminated so I leave a room light on at night. I would like to see stock market at 15,000 within the next six months, I would like more hair on my head instead of my back,etc etc. Oh yeah, about the FT-450, if I only had around $500 bucks to spend, I would buy an FT-450 as my only rig. I personally have had great luck with the Yaesu facility in S. California and have always found them more than fair. They have fixed gear for me at no charge that I obviously damaged with very fast turn around. You won't regret buying a used or new FT-450!
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AA1OV
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 25, 2009 12:33
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Good rig for the $$
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought my FT-450 used from another ham. He found it too complicated. I found the rig to be a dynamite rig for the money. It operated fine in any mode I asked it to go to, the DSP did a good job on minimal antennas that I had to use. I had no issues with the rig at all. I added a pair of FT-100 feet to it, and used an LDG tuner to augment the limited range of the internal tuner when needed. All in all while not a full featured contest rig, it is no slouch on the air. Makes a great 1st rig or backup rig, or RV rig.
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N8NQU
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 24, 2009 07:41
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Upset with Yaesu,Great radio when it works.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Well I got a call 2 days ago and from Yaesu and I got the bad news.The control unit failed.Well it's in the hand of the tech now.I got the final cost and when it's all said and done with shipping both ways it's going to cost around $330.00 to $350.00.I asked if I will still be able to change the color on the display and I was told NO.( Can of you members tell me if this is true???????)Well I choose to buy used so I can do that and now I will not.I used the for about 3 months and I do like it but I think I should get it back with the option of the change color.No,I am not happy.I have heard to many hams having problems with the Control Unit on earlier models.The number of failures is upwards of 100 radios,mine is one of them,7G05xxxx.Why can they put our radios back the way we bought them?????I have e-mailed Japan and you guess it,NO Reply.Thanks for reading my post.Thanks Bill N8NQU.73.........
n8nqu@yahoo.com
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WD0FIA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 22, 2009 01:14
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Nice radio! Great price!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought a Yaesu FT-450 without the built in tuner to replace my FT-857D, that I had moved to my second car. I read through the supplied manual and checked the front panel layout, which is easy to use with. The main VFO knob is smaller than normal, but it isn’t a problem for me, as I use Free450 and HRD to manage memories and run the rig. The large multi-function display also makes it easy to configure the various DSP settings and clearly shows you what’s going on. The display is huge compared to most rigs, and easy to read.
Receiver sensitivity and selectivity are excellent on the HF bands and the 80m noise floor is quite low. On the air reports have been excellent so far with the MD-100AX microphone. I’m really looking forward to testing it out with some of the many digital modes which are available today and bought the Signalink USB to try on this radio.
The menu system is probably the most user friendly that I’ve found on a transceiver and using the basic functions is straight forward. In fact, it’s difficult to find fault with anything on the FT-450. The quality of construction makes it an ideal choice for portable operation.
I bought mine from GigaParts for only $639, and I feel I got the rig for a fair price. If you are on a budget or require a backup HF/6m transceiver. I’m very pleased with mine and I think the price represents excellent value for money, as the latest technology and DSP features would usually only be found on high end HF transceivers currently costing over $1000.
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KF5AHV
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 4, 2009 09:20
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Good rig if it's not a problem child!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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when the radio works well its a great little rig. the problem i and others are having is the radio will lose receive in midstream and either power itself off and back on again or just sit there dead until you manually cycle it off and on yourself. when this 1st started happening i scoured all the reviews here on eham and other sites and could barely find anything on this problem. i later joined the Ft450 yahoo mailing list to find there are indeed others having this trouble and it is not a welcomed topic of discussion on that users group. i was sad to find that some of them were more of a cheer leading squad than they were being useful. another issue users are having is the radio will sometimes not power up at all after not being in use. one user said yaesu fixed his with no trouble, another said it was a big hassle and almost cost $350, and others denied that it was even really happening. this did happen with my unit also but luckily i live close enough to a yaesu repair center to be able to speak personally and get things taken care of. the percentage of the radios that are doing this is unknown because nobody seems to be talking about it when it happens to theirs, they are getting booted from the mailing list, or they are hearing more than one reason why it has happened and are not putting two an two together. it appears that the radio dying midstream and the failing to power on is two separate issues because while the power up was fixed it still goes dead. i have other rigs of various models/brands including yaesu that all interchange into the same setup and this is the only one having trouble. a nice ssb rig when working well but the relays are kinda noisy and clunky on cw unless you wear headphones. this would be a great buy used if a unit is known to be trouble free. it's a nice low level el cheapo rig and is not bad at all over all.
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KC5DEB
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 25, 2009 07:09
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If you're considering it, buy it
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Not too long ago I upgraded to general, and wanted a good HF radio for around $500-600. I had been flip-flopping between the IC-718 and the FT-450 until I found a very good used FT-450 for a good price. I am far more than satisfied with the FT-450. I can't say it's better than the IC-718 since I never played with one. But, with the auto tuner and 6M, it does have a bit of an edge IMO over the IC-718. The audio is very nice, it hears very well, and has a very light footprint on my desk.
The only cons I can think of are some of the options that are buried within the menu. It doesn't bother me that much since I run it along side HRD, and I can change them in a flash. But, if you're running the radio solo, trying to change the TX power isn't just the turn of a knob. It's not horrible, but, not mind numbing easy/convenient. Speaking of knobs, the one con that I had heard from many was the size of the main tuning knob. It really isn't as bad as I was expecting, and so far, hasn't been an issue. I would rather have the large display and a smaller knob, than a large knob taking up a lot of real estate on the radio.
All in all, it's a great radio for a greenhorn HF guy like myself.
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KLEMM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 9, 2009 12:45
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Great for the buck!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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At first I brought an icom 7200 home but soon brought it back. Not because it was a bad radio but because the FT-450 out of the box was a better buy. First of all the 450 allready has a built in tunner and has FM FOR 6 AND 10 METERS. I also have had a FT-857 with an Atas120 which the 450 also is able to tune. I figgured for the icom7200 to be equel to the 450 for me it would cost another 4 or 5 hundred more.
I think the 450 is by far the best of the lower end HF portable base's out there.
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EI3JK
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 5, 2009 14:35
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Great little rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had this radio now for about 3 months and I have to say that I am very pleased with it.The only gripe that I have is that it should have come with a bail stand and handle.In real terms these things only cost a few bucks and Yaesu should have included them!
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