eHam

eHam Forums => QRP => Topic started by: LNXAUTHOR on December 28, 2022, 07:12:03 AM

Title: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: LNXAUTHOR on December 28, 2022, 07:12:03 AM
had a post pop up on a Fakebook group that the yazoo qrp rig was to be discontinued?! i am inclined to discount this as i have seen no official announcement and the rig is in stock w/vendors
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K4FMH on December 28, 2022, 07:31:11 AM
Without a credible source, I'd suggest not spreading it. Others *may* have credible sources but an unidentified someone on a Facebook group isn't a credible source.

73,

Frank
K4FMH
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K4WH on December 28, 2022, 07:52:47 AM

Frank, good advice.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: WA3SKN on December 28, 2022, 08:32:31 AM
This might be a good question to ask Yaesu.
No one else knows what Yaesu plans to do.

-Mike.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: LNXAUTHOR on December 28, 2022, 08:56:08 AM
here is what was received by a Yaesu dealer in Sweden:

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD41z0jCnpsbMRNzK89GNjmJsv6cAsNexeHdWB7Xs66ClMqHkc9BQn-XT6m-tPz2wnjup9Yp0rym9mfoxP2AuZPwL7tOsNNhxuVflsEtPR2sBtdGMuSfxrSJq_-dDTSusYyp48HlR1KIEQIuNTsahN-fTb6zw9xj2B9JIcZ7sSBnZav17VwSZBsndibg/s1386/818.jpg)
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K4FMH on December 28, 2022, 08:59:41 AM
OK, now this is a legitimate breadcrumb trail. I do not know where you (LNXAUTHOR) are located. If in the US, John Kruk, Yaesu National Sales Rep, should be contacted, if you wish.

Thanks for posting the update.

73,

Frank
K4FMH
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K5FH on December 28, 2022, 10:45:43 AM
OK, now this is a legitimate breadcrumb trail. I do not know where you (LNXAUTHOR) are located. If in the US, John Kruk, Yaesu National Sales Rep, should be contacted, if you wish.

Here is John Kruk's announcement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p_HNsAYZxY
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: AI5BC on December 28, 2022, 11:29:31 AM
Others *may* have credible sources but an unidentified someone on a Facebook group isn't a credible source.

I find Facebook user groups more credible than eHam and QRZ, and more up to date with younger members trying new things.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K4FMH on December 28, 2022, 01:40:15 PM
Others *may* have credible sources but an unidentified someone on a Facebook group isn't a credible source.

I find Facebook user groups more credible than eHam and QRZ, and more up to date with younger members trying new things.

Facebook with younger members? Hmm. That's a news flash. But THIS is credible:

https://youtu.be/8p_HNsAYZxY

73,

Frank
K4FMH
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: K7LZR on December 29, 2022, 08:17:38 AM
Not too worried. The FT-817/818 had a 20+ year production run, pretty good for a product which was initially never intended to sell outside of Japan.

Many, many units were made & sold, so there are a lot of them around. I've bought & sold exactly (13) of them over the years.

Finding a good used one if you like should be no trouble. Apparently, service parts such as transmit PA assemblies etc. will be available new for a long time.

Even with all of the newer portables, this one is still the go-to for many. 
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: W4KYR on December 29, 2022, 03:42:55 PM

I hope the FT-818 comes back, but they need to update the receiver to include built-in filtering for CW/SSB like the Icom 705.

Because...unfortunately filters for it are no longer available new, you have to get it at for whatever the seller is asking for it.  A couple of days ago, I saw someone selling a filter for it for $185 over on QRZ!

The FT-817/818 is still a great radio and it deserves to be called one of the all time classics and had a helluva great 20+ year run. The Icom 705 is a great rig too, but it's more than double the cost+ of the FT-818.

I hear that it was also used quite a bit for satellite operations on the VHF and UHF bands too. 



Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: KH6AQ on December 31, 2022, 07:08:36 AM
YAESU FT-818ND

Gigaparts: "This item is out of stock and we are not accepting backorders at this time."

DX Engineering: No listing shown

Ham Radio Outlet: "Out of Stock -- Delivery Delayed!"
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: KB9BVN on December 31, 2022, 05:22:53 PM
The FT 818D is dead Jim.  Dead as a door nail. It's off its mortal coil. It's singing in the invisible choir.

I predict used but in working order FT 818D's will be selling on the eBay and QRZ sites for over one million dollars by Monday.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: VE3WGO on January 13, 2023, 05:45:05 PM
Chip shortage excuse?   Probably more due to pricing. 

It seems that more hams would rather have a cheaper Xiegu from China than a Yaesu from Japan.

73, Ed
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: G8FXC on January 14, 2023, 01:44:24 AM
Chip shortage excuse?   Probably more due to pricing. 

It seems that more hams would rather have a cheaper Xiegu from China than a Yaesu from Japan.

73, Ed

You do get a lot of radio from Xiegu at a remarkably low price. I bought an X6100 just before Christmas with money left to me by an old SK friend and it is a remarkable little box. OK, it has some rough edges, but it costs less than an FT-818, has a built-in panadaptor and ATU and the filtering and noise reduction is impressive.

Yes, I would prefer that it did not come from China, but Yaesus are not from England either!

Martin (G8FXC)
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: AI5BC on January 14, 2023, 08:52:09 AM

Yes, I would prefer that it did not come from China, but Yaesus are not from England either!

Martin (G8FXC)
Be sure to fill out the registration card and send it back to the Chi-Coms. That way when they storm your city, they won't burn your house down for giving them financial support.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: WA3SKN on January 15, 2023, 09:30:29 AM
I suspect a replacement for the FT818 will be forthcoming, as the Icom 705 is doing too well to ignore.

-Mike.
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: LNXAUTHOR on January 16, 2023, 06:12:31 AM
I suspect a replacement for the FT818 will be forthcoming, as the Icom 705 is doing too well to ignore.

-Mike.

hope you are right... unfortunately, the 705 while a feature-packed rig, is actually not a great QRP rig... it's too heavy and too power hungry... the TX-500 is the ultimate QRP rig IMO... touchscreen color display? not needed... bluetooth? not needed... wifi? not needed... gps? not needed...

the 817/8 has nearly all the essentials, aside from filtering and for US ops WX band... otherwise, a great rig, even with its less than stellar rx performance

i don't hold hope for a new price/performance QRP rig from yazoo
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: VE3WGO on January 16, 2023, 08:26:15 PM
FT-818 and IC-705 cover 1.8 through 450 MHz (exc 220), while other QRP rigs mentioned here do not go above 54 MHz.

IC-705 receiver coverage goes down to 30 kHz, in case you want to monitor the Low Bands too.

No comparison.  IC-705 is in a class of its own.  I just might get one, wait until Hamvention to see what Yaesu announces.

73, Ed
Title: Re: rumor: FT-818ND discontinued?
Post by: KG6BRG on January 17, 2023, 04:22:57 PM
It looks like the price gouging has started.  I just saw an ft-818nd for sale, with the box and all of it's originally supplied goodies for an asking price of $750.00.  2 weeks ago DXE had them shipped for $639.00. I guess it all depends on how bad you want one.  I'm glad I bought another one to replace one I sold, before the stock dried up.