Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

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
4X1UN Rating: 2005-09-24
Excellent A+++ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this rig for almost 2 years now. Although I do have some imporvment suggestions it is one of the best rigs on the market and QRP one for sure. Have operated it on HF/VHF/UHF and have managed to make using a dipole antenna 170 DXCC HF/50DXCC VHF and 8 UHF. What do think of this?
I would add a larger screen (partially solved by using CAT) and a bail for lifting the rig. And maybe a speech compressor. that's it! gr8 audio gr8 trasmit gr8 everything.
Please post me questions if you would like.
73's
Shalom Cohen
4x1un website: http://www.sweetwaterbay.co.uk
VE7VJ Rating: 2005-08-27
fine rig for my purpose Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio for 4 years and although it has some shortcomings (like the DC plug) it has met my expectations. Quite a lot packed into a small package! I gave it a 5 because it does what it does very well.

I still use mine 'stock'. I may look at a few of the options but so far its fine for my purpose - playing around with QRP.

I would reccomend it to anyone as long as they have a realistic idea of what QRP is all about. Its not a KW rig and (this is really odd) yes HFHAM, it does require an external antenna. - But if you come across a working internal HF antenna be sure to let the rest of us know ;)

VE7LFN
N0XAS Rating: 2005-06-16
Not a bad rig at all. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
HFHAM seems to be a little down on this rig. First off, I don't know when he briefly owned one, but the current FT-817ND does come with a rechargeable NiMH battery and charger, as well as a battery holder for alkaline or Li cells.

I agree that a filter is a much needed addition, especially for CW work. I paid under $100 for mine, and it vastly improves HF CW receive performance. Haven't tried or needed an add-on speech processor, since I rarely use it for SSB. As for small controls and menus, welcome to the modern world. You want a feature-laden rig in a very small package, you have to accept that you don't get a TS-930S sized front panel.

The rig is very well suited for portable operation, mainly due to its internal battery pack, all-mode/all-band capability, and dual antenna connectors.

It's true that $100 QRP rigs can work just as well... on ONE band, in ONE mode (CW). However, if you want to carry ONE radio for FM, PSK, CW, SSB and RTTY on all HF bands, plus 6, 2 and 70cm, it's a darned nice little package. Even if you want to add, say, more than one band, or a built-in tuner and paddle, you're still going to spend a lot more by the time you're done.

This rig has greatly reduced the amount of crap I have to carry around to operate portable. No more SLA battery, no more multiple rigs for multiple HF bands, no more HT, far fewer cables. I'd like to give this a 4.5; 4 is too low and 5 is a little too high. What do I think would move this rig from good to great? Hmm. Add satellite mode to track tuning changes when running cross-band. A better battery charging circuit. A decent CW (or SSB, or both) filter as standard equipment. A built-in tuner would be nice, but I doubt it could be squeezed into the same size package. For that, I'll go with the Electraft T1 and be happy. :)
HFHAM2 Rating: 2005-06-15
Overpriced TOY Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had this rig and wasn't impressed at all! Sold it on a week or two after purchase.

First of all, it *needs* a bunch of expensive add-on accessories to make it work reasonably well at all (speech processor, filters, rechargeable battery pack, fast charger, etc).

The stupid little controls are very hard to get your fingers to and everything is buried in menus.

It's no more suited to portable operation than any other QRP rig as it still needs an external antenna, external antenna tuner, paddles, etc.).

The only thing going for it in my opinion is the built-in HT (which is a dubious plus IMO). Sure, it has SSB too but that doesn't work at 5 watts (or less on internal batteries) unless you have a base station antenna or conditions are exceptionally good.

The main reason this rig (and the Elecraft K2) gets all the rave reviews is that QRO ops get one, discover how easy it is to DX at QRP power levels, can't believe it, and attribute that success to the rig...

WRONG !

QRP works just as well with a $100 QRP kit as with a $650 rig (which you'll have to spend another $300+ on to make usable).
VA7ACA Rating: 2005-02-22
Needs improvement Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used my FT-817 for just over 1 year. The radio has worked very well overall. I have found that select knob has come slightly loose from regular use, it still works but it will require a trip to the Yaesu service depot. Also, the battery door latch is weak but it works ok. I think they could of built it more robust than they did. Strong stations cause QRM without the filters. Very strong 5/9+30++ SSB stations can swamp the rx for 10 to 15khz each side and that is to be somewhat expected. Filters add much to the radio and give it the QRM rejection that should be a standard feature.

:-) the rant begins now.... In my humble opinion....
On the next version Yaesu would be wise to include the cw, ssb filters and TCXO stability xtal because it makes the radio more functional. If I buy the filters and TCXO seperatly it is big $$$'s out of my pocket and I have to install them or Yaesu could buy bulk and install the accessroies at the factory where I would save time, money and the product would be that much more enjoyable. Lastly, the wish list... the FT-817 minidin data port is nice but USB is better. A PC USB connection to the radio for all features including CAT and digi modes would be the logical next step. I can buy the USB accessories on the market for around $50, again why not have it built in to the rig, eliminate the cable headache and keep pace with current PC technology. Ok, I think thats about it... would I buy another one? YES, the new and improved version when ever it comes to market!
K4AH Rating: 2005-02-01
Fantastic radio for base use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the FT-817ND to use as a primary rig for my station. I am confined to bed most of the time so I wanted a small rig that could fit on my night stand. I also was interested in QRP as I have never tried it before. The receiver is very good and very clean sounding. I feed the raio with a doublet dipole and an MFJ-971 tuner.

I also am using the radio with the CAT cable and like this feature being built in. The only thing I have added to the radio is the W4RT CW Filter. This really helps a lot with the CW. SSB is also very good and have had good signal reports on the contacts I have made.

Steve / K4AH
ES1HJ Rating: 2005-01-24
Nice, but... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Nice design. If OK, works good.
Production quality seems not to be Japan.
DS5PXJ Rating: 2005-01-10
Masterpiece for QRP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is one great QRP Transceiver for my field QRP activity.
I owned morethan 36Months and still working with F.B under my tough caring.
to Europe from my QTH(South Korea), just battery is the problem for 59 on SSB(20M, 15M). My best work (5watts) is 53 on SSB to Chile station (abt.19000Km away from my QTH) at pile up condition - many JAs.
I used homebrew antenna which is <2m height Q - Vertical type.
I would like to give 5 points for this great one. and swr indicating function is really useful for me to tune my ant.

W4NBO Rating: 2004-12-25
Nice QRP / Vacation Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Take this on vacation and play hf QRP at home with it. It will surprise you what you can do on 5 watts with a decent antenna. Now if someone could make a high performance antenna to stick off a typical motel balcony thats inexpensive and doesnt pick up every rf source in the building (I know Im dreaming). But seriously, the rig works well for its intended use. A bit quirky on the menu but easy to get use to. Also is a very neat rig to track down power line noise. Just strap over my back and use a 4 element quad on 2mtrs I bought off ebay. Can usally find a faulty pole in short order by triangulation. Overall a 4.9 (nothings perfect).
SM0JZT Rating: 2004-12-21
Needs updateing Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ihave had a FT-817 for a number of years and must say that I´m quite plese with it.
Good things: Size and coverage (allthough VHF/UHF is not of interest at all with a power of 5 watts).
Things to improve: 1. Reaarrange front panel in removing antenna connector to the back and increase size of display. 2. Add a bar underneath, that can be used to lift front of rig for better ergonomics.
3. Swap batterycompartment for a Automatic tnuer(great to have bein in the field.
4. Use BNC-connectors( Why not have two of them) fro antenna connection.
5. Include a speech-compressor (Really a good thing if you are running QRP.

So that would be a great boom to the rig that seems as being a bit dated.