eHam

eHam Forums => QRP => Topic started by: LNXAUTHOR on March 01, 2023, 01:58:20 PM

Title: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: LNXAUTHOR on March 01, 2023, 01:58:20 PM
looking at the last remaining 60+ NIB 818s left on the market, would you pay $850 for one?

i have one, purchased used a few years ago because i regretted selling my 20+ yr-old 817 and a NIB 817... but to be honest, i have not used it as much as i thought i would - considering the features of my 705 and TX-500...

i have enjoyed many memorable outings with the 817/8, as it was my first HF rig... i have since sold off my other 20-year-old rigs, but still have the 818...
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: SWMAN on March 01, 2023, 04:22:25 PM
 HRO has them for 799.00.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K6AER on March 01, 2023, 06:26:21 PM
For $850 you can buy a used IC-7300 and use it at 10 watts. Need more power, then dial it up to 100 watts and you don't have to buy an over priced 10W-100W amplifier.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: W0CKI on March 01, 2023, 06:31:30 PM
For me, there not worth 100 bucks. My opinion only. However, the screen is so small it's useless for many "advanced age" hams, me included. You see a lot of almost new used ones on the for sale sites. I wonder why.
Gary W0CKI
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: KC6RWI on March 01, 2023, 06:40:17 PM
When I first read this, I thought the op was thinking about buying a radio that he enjoyed so much, and then I realized that it
was an offer to sell a radio.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: WB4M on March 01, 2023, 06:51:05 PM
looking at the last remaining 60+ NIB 818s left on the market, would you pay $850 for one?

i have one, purchased used a few years ago because i regretted selling my 20+ yr-old 817 and a NIB 817... but to be honest, i have not used it as much as i thought i would - considering the features of my 705 and TX-500...

i have enjoyed many memorable outings with the 817/8, as it was my first HF rig... i have since sold off my other 20-year-old rigs, but still have the 818...

Short answer: NO.  I owned an 817ND and really enjoyed it but I'd go some other route at that price.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: W9MT on March 01, 2023, 06:57:35 PM
If the radio came with a nicely built and working Hardrock50 amp with ATU for that price, I'd do a double take (and have to look at it twice).

But I am a big fan of the "buy a used IC-7300 for the same money", and use it anywhere from 10 Watts up to full bore at 100W out.

73,
Tony (W9MT)

p.s.: I have an 818 and Hardrock as described, but I didn't pay $850.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: AF5CC on March 01, 2023, 07:40:07 PM
Hard to put an internal battery pack in an Icom 7300.  Also hard to use the 7300 on 2m and 70cm.  It does have a pretty screen, though.

73 John AF5CC
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: W6UXB on March 01, 2023, 07:45:54 PM
If that is what fills your needs, then yes, if not no. They are pretty bulletproof rigs made for the outdoors, loved my 817 but don't do much ham radio at the moment. In fact, might become an investment as the other radios fall by the way! Maybe I will buy me one!
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K7LZR on March 01, 2023, 08:13:27 PM
Personally, no I would not. I've bought & sold (13) FT-817 & FT-817ND (FT-818 = same thing really) radios over a  several year period because I had a thing about them for awhile. The most I ever paid, even for a new one from HRO was $659. That is reasonable for what you get. IMO $850 is just too much.....
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: LNXAUTHOR on March 02, 2023, 03:47:57 AM
When I first read this, I thought the op was thinking about buying a radio that he enjoyed so much, and then I realized that it was an offer to sell a radio.

no, not selling my 818.. .the $850 is current HRO price + tax... i do have other QRP rigs (HB-1B, CTX-10, (t)uSDX, etc.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K1FBI on March 02, 2023, 06:03:00 AM
Hard to put an internal battery pack in an Icom 7300.  Also hard to use the 7300 on 2m and 70cm.  It does have a pretty screen, though.

73 John AF5CC
Is there a lot of 70cm QRP being done?
Or is that where all the FT8 Ops hang out these days?
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: VE3WGO on March 02, 2023, 06:18:06 AM
Seems kind of pointless for manufacturers to include 2m and 70cm with HF bands in QRP radios because hams always compare them to HF-only QRP radios anyway.

Of course there is a use for 2m and 70cm QRP ... mountain-topping, satellites, etc

73, Ed
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K4PIH on March 02, 2023, 06:19:02 AM
looking at the last remaining 60+ NIB 818s left on the market, would you pay $850 for one?

i have one, purchased used a few years ago because i regretted selling my 20+ yr-old 817 and a NIB 817... but to be honest, i have not used it as much as i thought i would - considering the features of my 705 and TX-500...

i have enjoyed many memorable outings with the 817/8, as it was my first HF rig... i have since sold off my other 20-year-old rigs, but still have the 818...

Some have mentioned buying a used 7300. That's like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K1FBI on March 02, 2023, 06:41:35 AM
Seems kind of pointless for manufacturers to include 2m and 70cm with HF bands in QRP radios because hams always compare them to HF-only QRP radios anyway.

Of course there is a use for 2m and 70cm QRP ... mountain-topping, satellites, etc

73, Ed
I worked a Station in Massachusetts from Mt. Washington with 5 watts on 2 Meters.

Elevation is a great equalizer.
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: KD7RDZI2 on March 02, 2023, 11:56:33 AM
If it is intended for HF, I would consider the indian uBitx or using the (tr)usdx you have already (and likely more power efficient). The price reflects the fact there are not too many alternatives for a rig that works from HF to UHF with a reasonable power consumption. You might also wait for the new one. I think that they are developing a new QRP based on the 710 architecture. Look at the evolution: they started from the 101, then the 10, then the 710. A QRP must be the next!
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K1FBI on March 02, 2023, 01:17:59 PM
If it is intended for HF, I would consider the indian uBitx or using the (tr)usdx you have already (and likely more power efficient). The price reflects the fact there are not too many alternatives for a rig that works from HF to UHF with a reasonable power consumption. You might also wait for the new one. I think that they are developing a new QRP based on the 710 architecture. Look at the evolution: they started from the 101, then the 10, then the 710. A QRP must be the next!
I love my 710!
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: K6AER on March 02, 2023, 07:20:45 PM
looking at the last remaining 60+ NIB 818s left on the market, would you pay $850 for one?

i have one, purchased used a few years ago because i regretted selling my 20+ yr-old 817 and a NIB 817... but to be honest, i have not used it as much as i thought i would - considering the features of my 705 and TX-500...

i have enjoyed many memorable outings with the 817/8, as it was my first HF rig... i have since sold off my other 20-year-old rigs, but still have the 818...

Some have mentioned buying a used 7300. That's like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Well lets see..

The FT-818 has an adjacent 2 kHz selectivity of 71 dB.

The IC-7300 has an adjacent 2 kHz selectivity of 97 dB. That's 26 dB better.

Audio on the 7300 is vastly better on both transmit and receive. As for power a 9AH Lipo 12 volt battery weighs nothing and at 10 watts RF out will outlast the internal 818 NiCads by several hours.

You need VHF/UHF bring a cheep HT. I have never hear a POTA station on the VHF/UHF bands.

Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: AF5CC on March 04, 2023, 07:18:26 PM
How many 2m/70cm SSB HTs are available currently?
Title: Re: would you pay $850 for an 818?
Post by: KU3X on March 06, 2023, 10:19:51 AM
Not me!