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Show all reviews of the Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors
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You can write your own review
of the Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors.
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KC8QVO
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2009 19:49
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Update to Earlier Review
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I would like to update my review from January of this year (30 pages in from the back of the pile, currently page 4 but that will change in time with more reviews).
The reason for my update is I have installed some crystal filters in the radio and the performance has increased tremendously.
The filters I bought are made by International Radio. One is a 2.0kHz SSB filter (#720) and the other is a 300Hz CW filter (#712).
The SSB filter helps in that you can shift it with the IF shift to help take out adjacent QRM. If you have stations top and bottom it won't help, but I find the useability of the radio in QRM has gone up even still.
The CW filter really shines. I got the narrow filter because the 500Hz filter would just be too wide for me. I usually close my DSP filter on my TS-2000 down to 300hz and found that to be a good value, even for scrolling the bands. The filter makes a tremendous difference in operating. Even though the AF filtering was able to help out, the overloading of near by stations swamped the RX. Now it doesnt happen nearly as easily.
I had the pleasure of running the 857D on Field Day this year. Another operator was running my TS-2000 on CW and I decided to sit down with the FT-857D. We were both on the same table and the only problem we had was when we were on harmonic bands - like 40 and 15 meters. We would start off at one end of the band and work all the stations we could all the way to the other end. Occasionally we would cross harmonics and the 857D would totally get trashed. Once we were out of the direct harmonic the QRM went away nearly completely. I could still hear that the guy next to me was transmitting just by listening to the noise change, but it was in no way enough to make the rig not useable. I ran several hours of Field Day craziness with it in this environment.
I use my Vibroplex Code Warrior Jr iambic key in my truck while mobile now. I installed a cable and a jack on the dash board for the key so I can easily connect it without the cable running back across the console and interfering with the rear seat. This setup has netted me many mobile CW qso's. I have worked MANY countries on 40 meters this way - mainly in the bottom 25 as the pack is much thinner there, and DX likes to hang out there.
One thing I really hate is disconnecting the radio from the truck all the time. This is my most used rig these days and when I leave home it is typically the only one I use. Backpacking, vaccation, visiting family, public service, etc - FT-857D it is. At some point I will replace the 857D with a mobile-specific rig so I can keep the 857 as my dedicated go-rig. It will make life easier! I think if I replace it in the truck I will go with an IC-7000 as it has IF DSP.
In summary - the crystal filters work. The CW filter works better than the SSB filter, but they both make a noticeable improvement to the useability in the rig. I would reccomend the InRad filters over the Yaesu's - better price and you can get a 2kHz SSB. W4RT's would be another good option, you just can't get a 2.0kHz from them. A strong nearby transmitter very close to the direct harmonic frequency can wreak havoc, but away from the direct harmoncic frequency the radio is still perfectly useable even on a harmonic band. Mobile operation is fantastic with the radio. If you take the time to run the cables under the carpet and behind the dash you can come out with a functional and clean mobile installation. It is a fantastic radio and I would buy it all over again. There just isn't a radio this size anywhere else that packs as much bang for your buck.
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