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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu FT-817 ND |
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Reviews: 71
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $599.00
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Description: HF/VHF/UHF 5 Watt All Mode Transceiver - operating 160 M - 7 CM with VHF/UHF portable antenna
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://tinyurl.com/2nshbw
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write your own review of the Yaesu FT-817 ND.
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VE3EGA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 19, 2011 15:40
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It's better than.. (you know what?)
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I can't imagine a Summer without having an FT-817ND close at hand!
These are one 'helluva radio' offering everything, seemingly from 'DC to light' in 'paper-back-book-sized' package... and they just plain work!
Damit, go buy one before they stop making 'em!
73
Terry
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W3LZK
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 18, 2011 17:49
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Yaesu's Finest
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Here I am at the Melbourne, Fl. hamfest a couple of weeks ago..walking the aisles, browsing the tables, not really looking for anything in particular. I needed the break from our own club table, just needed a breather. Stopped at one table because this box catches my eye. Its a box that contained a Yaesu FT-817ND. I quickly asked the owner of the box if he had the radio that goes into the box..yep..how much I reply..my palms are sweaty, I'm getting that little twitch that tells me I'm about to make a deal that I've been searching for for almost 3 years.
I had sold my previous 817nd nearly 3 years earlier, and kicked myself for being so rash as to think I could just find another at a decent price. But that had to wait..until this year and the Melbourne ham fest. So, I'm talking with the owner of this 817nd..find out its less than 2 years old, and he doesn't have the manual..who needs a manual..besides I have a pdf of the manual on my computer at home, no wall charger..ok, now you're gonna tell me it doesn't work, or this or that feature doesn't work..right..my previous excitement is quickly turning to panic. Breathe Mark..breathe, but, my fears were put to rest, he just didn't want/need it any longer.
So, I ask..what all does come with this rig? Well, the mic, the 12v power cord, programming cable, 3 part rubber duck antenna, and..an LDG, Z100 auto tuner. When I heard the Z100 was a part of this deal I knew I had to make this deal. Now that I have both here at the QTH, I discovered that the Z100 was missing the power cord, ordered it, and an additional one for the 817. I've also ordered the Kranker knob, car charger, 2.3KHz SSB filter, and the CAT cable for the FT-817ND. This time around I want to be able to optimize this 817ND for my use. Last time I was a newby when it cam to QRP, don't get me wrong..I made a lot of contacts with it, but looking back I feel I could have done a lot better.
So..this time when I call CQ..QRP, I know that I'll have a better chance at making that contact, or having the QSO rather than not. I've had the Icom 703+ a great radio, it is..but I think that the FT-817ND is the premier qrp rig, it has the portability, to go any where you do, you're not tethered by needing that gel cell, or the power supply, you've got the whole thing right therre with you, this is Yaesu's finest..in one small package.
73 de Mark
W3LZK
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WZ2P
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 23, 2011 12:33
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Fantastic Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned the FT817ND now for over 4 years. I can't say enough about this fantastic product. First let me remind everyone this radio has been on the market now for many years so any comparison to the new Elecraft qrp radio that isn't on sale yet is useless. I'm quite sure Yaesu is working on it's next gen version to compete if your willing to wait. I've made cw and ssb contacts to hundreds of stations near and far. Connected to my 500 foot loop (Skywire) I have stations on 160 meters giving me S9++, and some actually question my honesty when I tell them I'm running the FT817ND. Even with a mobile antenna although more challenging I've made lots of contacts. This radio brings the fun back into the hobby. Making a contact with the 817 is similar to landing a 150lb Sail Fish on 5 lb test.
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SAPPHIRE
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 28, 2011 05:37
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Buona radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Good radio does not exist anything like Yaesu 817.
Good receiver comparable to the Yaesu 897. But the Yaesu 897 is better if well regulated DSP and NB.
When connected to external high gain antenna is necessary to turn the preamp off by pressing the IPO. The Nb turned on only in SSB, FM must be turned off.
These measures also apply for a good rx for Yaesu 897/857/817.
The Yaesu 817 is now on the market for many years, would need a software and hardware upgrade.
The battery life is poor.
It could improve the battery consumption with a power save circuit
Use electronic switches replace relay
Increase the tx power 10/20 watt external power only
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NP3FS
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 27, 2011 02:57
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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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Someone named it the "Swiss Army Knife", I would call it the "Leatherman Multi-Tool" of Amateur Radio. Connected to a 5W Solar panel, external Gel-Cell and the HF antenna you feel pleased, this portable but extremely reliable setup may allow you to achieve HF QSO's 2000 miles away, hit VHF/UHF repeaters, to include various modes of Satellite communications from remote locations. Like all Yaesu, they are packed with sub-menus, but the audio is outstanding for such a compact radio. The best, all mentioned before can be stuffed on a school backpack.
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W7RUE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 21, 2011 14:39
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A Nice QRP Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had mine for about a year. It's a great little rig. It's a specialized rig that I use when I want a challenge. Especially during this lower sunspot cycle. That being said, I wouldn't swap it for my FT-897D nor my FT-1000MP but it does fill a niche and it is a great little backpack radio with a 20 or 40 meter wire antenna.
W7Rue
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IZ0JGH
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 7, 2011 18:07
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good but aging very fast
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Elecraft is knoking at the door with an RTX that IMHO is far from perfection but still light years ahead of FT817.
Yaesu can improve the FT 817 or aproach a new project, in the first case they should provide us at least with the followings:
1- an external serious battery pack holding ten D cell for a long lasting 12V 10 Ampere power supply, it should be possible to securely attach this pack at the FT817 by military style locks;
2- the above mentioned battery pack should also be able to contain a small ATU like the elecraft.
3- reduced power consumption while in RX.
Joe Rotellini
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KE7TMA
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 3, 2011 20:17
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Nice radio, good price.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had the 817ND for a day so far. I played with it before I bought it once or twice, down at the ham store.
It's a neat little thing, and it is so tiny. The size must be seen to be believed. The hand mic is about 1/2 the volume of the radio itself!
Others have already commented on the important issues, so I will be brief. The receiver is very good, although maybe a bit sensitive without the IPO engaged. The operating system using the three soft keys under the screen is actually quite intuitive and quick to use, once you get used to it. The speaker is really, really powerful for the size, easily loud enough to hear from 50' away or more.
The dual antenna connector is also quite handy.
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KQ4YA
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 28, 2011 14:28
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Fun in a small package
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Let me echo what some of the others have said here - this little radio really puts the fun back in ham radio. My normal station routinely runs the legal limit. And QRP never sounded fun to me. But I travel domestically and overseas a bit and I wanted something that would be easy to pack and take along.
I realized going in that operating with 5 watts, or even 2.5 watts on battery power, wasn't going to easy. But since I enjoy listening as much, or maybe more, than talking that wasn't a big deal to me.
My first contact with the rig was on 40 meters SSB to a ham a little more than a thousand miles away. And yet I was thrilled. On my regular station that contact would have been trivial - but, using 5 watts, it seemed like an achievement.
One thing I noticed right away about the FT-817nd is how quiet the receive is ... that's not true for the FT-897D. Maybe I had a dud but the 897 was a noisy sucker and the audio wasn't pleasant to the ears. I swear - at least when comparing the two specific radios I've owned - the FT-817nd is quieter and also just a better receiver.
I won't be dumping my Pro III or my linear. But I do highly recommend the FT-817ND to anyone considering it. Just go into this with your eyes wide open about the limitations of operating QRP - and in the field you'll be doing it with a less than adquate antenna. But, if you can live with that, I can almost promise that you'll find the radio to be a real treat.
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SV2HTC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 7, 2010 04:30
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All in one..
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have my 817 almost 2,5 years and in total I can count more than a 1500 contacts. It is a very well constructed QRP radio and someone must always remember it's a QRP radio. I mostly use it for CW, although SSB and 2m FM is not out of the question. IMO CW filter is a must and the BHI DSP. The factory supplied battery isn't that great and someone may consider other power sources, even a 15W solar panel is very good for its needs. Even if I have other rigs, this will be my tiny, low-consumption (2A@5W) back-up with its case, small CW key and ear phones well put in a small Pelican case ready for emergency or for the outdoors. I wouldn't recommend it ( and all other QRP rigs) to a new Ham because QRP is something for somebody with experience. Surely a 5 star radio in my opinion.
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