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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-817

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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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
VK3ZMF Rating: 2004-12-02
Lotsa fun Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I do a lot of bicycle touring and bushwalking and I've been on the lookout for something I could take along with me that'd hide in a corner of a pannier or backpack. An FT-817 seemed to be the go but prices here in Oz were a bit on the unaffordable side or so I was informed by the controller of monies. Then I spotted a used FT-817 for a pretty keen price and after much too-ing and fro-ing I bought it.

The too-ing and fro-ing was because of the reports I've seen concerning blown finals and other niggles. Well I've not been too kind to this little box, it's been dropped, it's seen more than its fair share of dodgy antennas, it's been fed with decidedly wonky power supplies and it still soldiers on as good as the day I got it.

I should've said to hell with the unaffordability and got one ages ago. It's EXACTLY what I was wishing for.

I don't know how it stacks up against its rivals (IC-703 et-al) and I don't much care. This one's mine and if you want it then you're going to have a hard time getting it from me.
JA7UDE Rating: 2004-11-13
Fun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
YAESU announced this little gang at the 2000 Ham Fair in Yokohama Japan. It has attracted much attention of many QRPers. I have been using my FT-817 for three years without any problem. I am amazed at its performance in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and fidelity. Of course, it is not as good as standard HF radios, such as IC-756PRO and FT-1000MP, but it even packs all bands (1.9MHz - 430MHz) and all modes in such a small box. I have installed a Yaesu genuine CW filter, which I believe is a must for the CW operation. I took part in CW contests several times and had great fun. FT-817 sure is a battery predator. I have set up the menu so that FT-817 always displays the battery voltage. You have to pay attention to the battery status in the field operation. I will try PSK31 with this little radio soon.
IZ3ATV Rating: 2004-11-06
Nice tiny thing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Amazing size for this ultracompact all-band all-mode rig. Incredible flexibility of operation and configuration joined with slapping receiver performance and satisfactory transmitting capabilities. Good value for price and definitely a kind of rig of it's own class that embodies lots of ham's dreams.
Only few remarks directly to Yaesu-Vertex engineers.
Improvable ergonomics: F button too small and recessed a way even medium-sized fingers cannot reach without rolling main tune knob; VOL/SQUELCH and SEL knobs best if disposed reverse side.
Function and parts design: IF SSB ceramic filter, good on respect of form factor and selectivity, affect audio articulateness; AGC-fast selection produce crackling artifacts on strong signal; the action of AGC in order to keep constant audio level both on weak and strong signals is clearly improvable; attenuator level affect signal strenght of about the same amount as IPO on, if it were different (in the order of 10 dB) it would be possible to variously combinate IPO and ATT on/off to obtain THREE instead of TWO distinct levels of attenuation; noise blanker seems not to activate at all (almost in the sample I own) it would be desirable introduce some kind of menu-driven NB adjustments.
Belive me I like this radio.
IK0YGJ Rating: 2004-10-29
THE RIG Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Yes, it is tiny.
Yes, it has only 5 W.
But, it is the best receiver I always heard, it is flexible, both in portable and in mobile, both as a fixed station. If you only operate CW you get your 559 and have a zillion QSO by coming up in QRP/P. I made 40 countries with this incredible rig, most of them in /P.
I love it.
KX4TT Rating: 2004-10-19
Solid Little Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Thie little rig is a blast to use - my first contact was with the Dominican Republic with 2.5 W SSB on 20m - using a Miracle Whip and a counterpoise. No wonder Yaesu has sold so many - it is simply a FUN RADIO that you can toss in your backpack and go -

So why the 4 and not a 5?? Two small quibbles. One, only one filter can be installed at a time (W4RT now has fixed that problem with their One-Board product). Two, the stock battery packs don't have enough juice for operation over ~ 1 hour and recharging takes a long time with the included charger (again W4RT has come to the rescue).

Would I buy another one?? YES!! YES!!! YES!!!!
ZE1FF Rating: 2004-10-07
A lot to be desired Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned the 817 for 3 years now and can't give it the rave reviews that other Hams do.
There are several inherent problems with this rig that need attention. I won't mention much on the blowing finals problem but here are some other frustrations.
Mine was never "on" frequency from the day I got it. I exchanged the master oscillator module back at the place where I bought it but the new one soon drifted off as well to the point where channels up on 2 meters were off by 5 Khz or more.
I eventually went at the oscillator myself and replaced a capacitor to be able to pull the frequecy into line.
The noise blanker has never worked. Someone mentioned that the factory alignment and service manual for this problem are incorrect.
The internal battery pack capacity is a joke. If you install a newer higher capacity pack, the internal chargng circuitry take a couple of days to recharge the new pack.
While we are on power supply, the external battery leads are too flimsy and the connector soon breaks apart.
If you are an older person then be sure to buy a magnifying glass as well, to read the mini LCD readout.
What else can I say? There maybe isn't a decent alternative to this rig at the current time but I'm going to try an Icom 703+ as a comparison.
KD5LZ Rating: 2004-10-03
Fine Little Rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased an 817 a few months after they were released, always wanted a set of Yaesu's portable 2Mtr and 70cm all-mode rigs. When this radio came along I was really excited. Has been a great performer with good signal reports for 5 watts. Worked well as a IF for AO-40 and great mountain topper for vhf/uhf. Unfortunately a couple weeks ago, while receiving on an external 7Ah gell cell, I experienced "smoking electrons". Both the positive and negative leads to the battery were fused at 5 amps along with pico fuses in both internal battery leads. All fuses were opened during the event. Needless to say it was a sad moment in the shack. After unsucessfully searching the web for any other instances of this I concluded that is was a anomaly. It arrives at Yaesu tomorrow, I will anxiously await the prognosis. If I had not experienced this setback it would rate a solid 5++.
NV9Z Rating: 2004-10-03
Wow, what an awesome little rig!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I decided I wanted to go back to pure 100% QRP operating after a couple of years of mixed QRP/QRO activity. I traded my Icom IC-718 with DSP for an FT-817 with CW filter and TCXO-9 unit. I have been using the FT-817 for a couple of weeks now, and I am extremely pleased and impressed with its performance, as well as its "big rig" features. I am making plans to take the 817 out in the field and try real portable QRP! 72

Chris Blaase NV9Z
qrp.ke9v.net
K2ROK Rating: 2004-09-20
Class of it's own Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is my second 817, this time I ordered the rig with the Collins 300 kHz CW filter and TCXO. The filter is really a must for CW (either of the Collins or other aftermarket one). It's also an 817ND with the battery and 60 meters included.

The rig itself is small, solidly built and just seems to feel like "quality" is built-in. The smallish display is tiresome after awhile, but I have gotten used to it and understand what the rig was meant to do. It's happiest I believe used in outdoor situations for some quick and easy ham radio action. I tried it in the car but the relay noise during scan as it bounces around bands (sounds like a turn signal is on) was too annoying, and I have gone back to a regular dual band 2/440 rig for these operations.

The 817 is great for action at the cottage, field day-type ops, or hotel operation. Like I said in the title, it's a class of it's own -- and no other rig really matches it in terms of size and performance and all around fun in portable ops. The 703 gains some ground with their tuner, but the 703 is still large and heavy compared the the 817. The Argo -- while a superior radio in terms of receive and filtering, just is not as rugged or want meant to have a low current draw.

The con of the 817 would be the included battery, which is short-lived on transmit. That's about it. I get excellent reports of audio and the CW filter has made a lot of difference. I would recommend based on some other comments getting the mount that allows both Collins filters (CW and SSB) to be installed.

Generally -- this rig great, but don't expect total perfection -- it's more of a tool for portable ops -- and at that, it works great.

It's not and Argo or 703 and was not meant to be --
QRPJOE Rating: 2004-08-24
there is room for several improvements Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I used the RTX for 6,7 months, especially this Summer.
The RTX is in a class of its own, it is quite clear that such lightweight and portability must imply some sacrifices, by the way there are several criticable features wich in my opinion affect this RTX:

1- mike RJ plug, it is located at the right side of RTX where it can be easily damaged, it should be located at any cost on the RTX front and connected by a stronger connection plug;
2- batteries, the batteries compartement should allow the use of TEN 1,2 V recheargable batteries, this would save hams from spending their bucks for the 1.600 mA factory battery pack;
3- the above mentioned problem can be solved also buying a 4 A lead gel battery for a few $;
4- the CW Filter is quite a must but there is no room for an SSB filter that looks quite necessary;
5- I am trying to fix the above mentioned problem by homemade loop portable antenna;
6- understand and getting practice with menus is a kind of nightmare;
7- frequency change in the same band can be quite longer a mike with number buttons SHOULD be standard.

Yaesu is now selling the RTX with the battery pack included asking for a higher price then previows model, I consider unfear to oblige customers to buy something many don't need and many others can purchase with few dollars at any store.

I would like the standard BNC antenna to be added with a 5o mhz steel blade antenna (military type) but my dream is to be able, one a day, to find RTTY/PSK 31 etc. softwares and interfaces available for PDA's.