Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu FT-817

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-817
Reviews: 297MSRP: 769
Description:
All band 160m thru 10m plus 6m, 2m and 70cm, all mode QRP rig with internal batteries. PL259 on rear, BNC on front.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/amateur/ft817.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
002974.6
WA2DTW Rating: 2006-11-10
Very good, very compact rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have owned this rig now for 5 years. It covers everything from 160M to 440 mHz (excluding 220), with a general coverage receiver. All modes imaginable. Very compact, can take it almost anywhere. A very good CW rig (if filter is added). Extremely versatile.
Draws a great deal of current, so that it is not possible to use AA batteries to transmit for more than a few minutes on medium power (unlike a HT). It does work well with a gel-cell. It is necessary to add an additional filter for CW, and perhaps for SSB also if you are a serious operator. The rig has no DSB, no speech processer. In order to tune an antenna, one must go into the AM mode in order to get a sustained carrier. W4RT has a good remedy for all of these issues. The menu is complicated, particularly if you own more than one rig (which have differing menus). The buttons and the lettering is tiny. I find that I have to consult the manual frequently, even now. It lacks the intuitive simplicity of a Ten-Tec Argonaut.
That being said, this rig has given me a great deal of enjoyment and I recommend it. It is a very good QRP rig. With W4RT accessories, it is a great rig.
OE3SGU Rating: 2006-10-01
Great little versatile RIG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own both, the IC-703 and the FT-817ND. Both are nice RIGS for qrp but honestly, the FT-817ND is more versatile. The built in batterypack (even if not effective) and the addition of VHF/UHF makes it THE unbeatable RIG for portable operation and travelling. Add a filter of your choice (I would love to install 2 filters...) and you will like this RIG. Of course its not made for pile-ups and lacks a lot of things but this is the only RIG I always take with me. its so handy and it has become a legend.
KC0VDN Rating: 2006-09-10
Great all-around QRP rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
As a beginner into HF, I was a bit skeptical for what I could do with the 817. My mind soon changed with use. I can make casual 20 and 40 meter contacts regularly and really shines with a decent antenna. Great receiver, even for shortwave and utility stations. I liked it for portability, and I was a bit concerned with high current draw, but it is not nearly as bad as I thought, especially with a decent sized gell cell battery. Operation is a breeze with a little practice. Gripes about small keys and confusing menus seem far overstated. It is very easy if you read the manual a little. 2meter/440 SSB/CW is a real plus as well, and 5watts can really shine in the VHF+ market. I look forward to using it with digital modes as well. CW works well, even without full QSK, and it is pleasing to use with a small paddle.

Only gripes:
-DSP built in would be handy with the sunspot cycle the way it is.
-Built in ATU would be very convenient.
-CW filters make a huge difference. I would pay the price for built in adjustable (non crystal) filters.
-WX coverage?

Otherwise makes a great rig. Fun to operate! You will be surprised with its features. Get one!
K3MD Rating: 2006-08-14
Wow Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After owning or putting together a K-1, K-2, OHR-100A, rock mite 40, SST-40, Sierra, glowbug 40, homebrew 40M 2 watter, etc., this is definitely the Cadillac of QRP rigs. Very small and portable, good receiver (despite the not-so-good figures in QST reviews), all bands, all modes. A guy at the radio club had one, I saw it, I had to buy one. I have the later model, will let you know if the final goes. Tons of performance-enhancing mods available.
I love it.
KT1G Rating: 2006-07-09
Great portable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works fine ..have the original not ND model. Goes on every fishing/camping trip with a small a gel cell battery. Use a Resonant dipole,loop or groundplane. Great cw rig, needs the filter. Worked alot of dx and north America. Have also used it mountain top vhf-uhf, with beam and rubber dummy load. Even worked UO-14 when it was still operational.

Overall think it's a great qrp rig with resonant antenna. Haven't had 1 problem with this radio.

Bought this to replace mfj-9020 qrp, which is also
a very good QRP rig. (20 meter only)
YV5IAL Rating: 2006-07-05
Un radio increible.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Acabo de comprar el Yaesu FT-817ND.
El transreceptor es pequeno y liviano (menos de 1 Kg. sin baterias). No sabia que era posible que un radio de ese tamano tuviera tantas funciones (es cierto... las teclas son tan pequenas que resultan incomodas, pero una vez configurado el radio, poco se utilizan).
Yo nunca habia experimentado QRP (5 W. o menos). El primer dia que lo probe, lo conecte a mi antena vertical Hustler 4-BTV y empece a llamar: Hice en la banda de 40 metros una gran cantidad de QSO's con estaciones de mi pais, alejadas de mi entre los 400 y 800 Km. En promedio me reportaban 5-7 (yo los recibia 5-8 a 5-9 (una diferencia de solo 2 unidades-S menos). Ese mismo dia hice un QSO con Haiti (Aprox. a 1000 Km. de Venezuela) en la banda de 20 metros y tambien me reporto 5-7.
En realidad al FT-817 solo le falta un procesador DSP y un Procesador de voz (Vox Processor) para ser un radio perfecto.
KN7T Rating: 2006-06-21
Second Failure Of Finals Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have since sold my FT-817 but it did blow the finals two times in the period of time that I owned it. The second set of finals which were installed by Yaesu was the newer configuration board that's used in the 817ND. I had the same problem as the previous reviewer - full output to zero with no warning and no apparent reason. At the time, I was operating into an MP-1 antenna through an LDG tuner - 1:1 SWR and the finals simply quit. I had it repaired a second time by Yaesu and sold the radio shortly thereafter. Not sure if this is something peculiar to the original 817 even with the new 817ND finals board or if there is something else going on. I have a friend who owns an 817ND and he has had no issues with it whatsoever. The 817 and ND are both nice radios, lots of features and DC to light band coverage in a very compact package. It's just too bad that some of these rigs seem to be very touchy when it comes to the operational life of the final amp transistors.
K1YPB Rating: 2006-06-21
Finals failed a second time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Has anyone had their finals go a second time? I was keying into an MFJ-1777 all band doublet through my Z11 and LDG 4:1 balun and all of a sudden no output. The finals were replaced by Yaesu Service about a year ago. I have to assume from my Z11 that the swr was somewhere around but no more than 1.5 to one. The failure came with no warning. Has anyone had this happen a second time and and any ideas why this may be occuring? I was led to believe that Yaesu had corrected the problem with the new final board they installed. I am rather disappointed that this has happened again, and will think seriously before purchasing Yaesu equipment again. As a long time (3 rigs - and still have them all) Kenwood fan (since 1984)with very little to complain about failure-wise, I am surprised to have experienced this type of reliability with Yaesu.
LA8DOA Rating: 2006-06-21
All I EVER Needed Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the ND version with 300hz cw filter and Ped Leg and MP-817 paddle from Palm Radio. All I can say about this little gadget is that I become addicted to it! Small enouhgt to bring anywhere and raelly powerfull enought to brake throw pileups, belive it or not!!!

Way to go Yaesu and life is QRP!!!

73 to ALL
LA8DOA
N3YZ Rating: 2006-05-16
Happy With This Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I’ve had the FT-817 for several weeks, and really enjoy this compact, solid rig. I’ve easily made DX QSOs on SSB, CW & PSK31, paying particular attention, of course, to good high dipole antennas, solid grounding and effective QSO timing.

Yes, the knobs are small and the spacing is a bit tight, but the portability is great, and the reception capability and operation are very similar to the big brother, FT-857.

I have noticed two undocumented (to me!)features/points so far:
1. High SWR results in the letters “HSWR” flickering briefly above the frequency readout. This occurs on all modes and all MTR settings.
2. Selecting PWR 5 watts on battery shows as a flickering L>>> as per the manual, page 28. However, 5 watts on an external power supply shows no icon at all. L(ow) power outputs do show as described in the manual.

I’ve added a Samsung # AD-4212L (Input: 100V-240V 1.0A-0.5A 50-60Hz Output: 12V 3.5 Amp) switching power supply. Works excellently as a lightweight travel adapter when used with a homemade dipole located some distance away from the rig.

73!
John N3YZ
Annapolis, MD