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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-840

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-840
Reviews: 161MSRP: 699.95
Description:
Compact High-Performance HF Transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://yaesu.hamgear.eu/ft-840.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151614.7
K4SDC Rating: 2003-11-17
Fantastic For My First HF Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought my FT-840 on eBay and am loving it! I know, you'd NEVER buy a radio on eBay, right? That's what I said too, but when I ran across this one I couldn't resist. It was used very little, cosmetically 10 out of 10. It had the FM board & CW filter installed and, get this, the FP-800 power supply/speaker with it. Not bad for $510. I've gotten nothing but good reports on audio and signal. I've just added a Yaesu MD-1 microphone to it so I can't wait to make some more contacts! I have to give the FT-840 a 5/5 because for me it's the perfect radio. Great performance, great reports, easy to operate (no confusing menus) and it just looks so darned good. I highly recommend the FT-840 to anyone looking for a good HF rig for their first radio, backup radio or extra radio for field or emergency use.
MW0EDX Rating: 2003-09-20
Excellent Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned and operated radios beginning with TS-520SE and up to IC-775DSP.

FT-840 is a great radio for everyday use. My observations were that th radio has a very good signal with the speech priocessor ON and the supplied hand mike in the 2ns position.

Very easy to operate.

I hjave got narrow 500 Hz CW filter and FM board - took me seconds to install, just plug them in and taht is it !

I like the radio, indeed.

A bit unusual to have a fan on the side, so some say the noise from it (my turns on very seldom) could be more noticeble.

I have a couple of dipoles and 90 feet long fire at about just 9 (!) feet as I live in a flat. Almost no TVI I must say (at the moment, hi !).

I also use MFJ-941E tuner to tune the 90 feet wire, and it does tune it on all the bands.

My opinion is that the radio is a good one basic radio in the class of TS-140S, IC-725 or the like.

73 !
N5LXI Rating: 2003-09-06
Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I recently sold my FT-840. It's a very nice, basic rig. Easy to use, good audio reports on SSB and AM. The AM filter is a MUST if you want to work AM or listen to shortwave broadcasts. The 10-meter FM board is also an option, but it works great as well.

It's compact and has a nice (minimal) user interface. Very easy to use. I'm not sure I would buy a new one today, but on the used market, it's a great value. It got me started in HF and I worked a lot of stations with it.
AB7JK Rating: 2003-09-06
Performance beats '718 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned two of these rigs prior to upgrading (I thought!) to the IC 718. I wish I hadn't. Audio quality especially is superior to the Icom - several generations of Icom rigs have 3khz filtering in the audio stages which limit fidelity. True a 6khz AM filter is an additional expense on the '840 but SW in SSB mode sounded terrific.
I can't explain it but the '840 without DSP sounded better than the '718 with it. It's almost as though the '718 audio is overengineered and overprocessed. Had I not owned both rigs I probably wouldn't notice the '718s shortcomings.
Running the FT840 at 10 watts or less CW I worked lots of DX using simple end-fed antennas and dipoles. Not so with the '718 at 10 watts. Band conditions were comparable or worse when I owned the '840 (first purchased 1996).
True the '840 needs an external keyer and lacks some of the fancy features of the '718 but for pure performance the '840 clearly outperforms the '718 IMHO.
G1 Rating: 2003-09-05
Couple of niggles Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my FT840 for a couple of weeks. It is a good rig (once you've added the FM board and optional filters), easy to use and gets good on-air reports.
My only complaints are:
1) A click on the audio every 81.9KHz when tuning (PLL or internal crosstalk?).
2) The Yaesu website "owners corner" doesn't seem to do anything (and I'm still waiting for a reply from their technical people about the click).
3) Some of the chips used (e.g. CX7925B PLL) seem to be obselete. One wonders about future repairs?
Mind you, I've had an FT290R (Mk1) for 17 years and all I've had to do to it is re-align an oscillator a couple of times.
2E1EMK Rating: 2003-08-24
good, basic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have owned my 840 for 19 months and used it a lot on hf as m3emk (2e1emk now) i have found it works well can have problems in a crowded band with splatter due to the lack of filtering.
i use mine with a datong fl3 and that makes a world of difference, i also have an ft100 (but thats another review) and use the 840 all the time on hf.
its reliable easy to use and i would buy another there is nothing i dont like about the radio, no dsp i hear you cry! so if the ft 100 is anything to go buy im not missing alot!
i would have liked to have been able to fit a better filter but for the price i think its a good buy.
HFHAM2 Rating: 2003-08-10
Overpriced in today's market Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had an FT-840 and compared to the Icom IC-718 (which I've also had), there is no comparison; the IC-718 is a far better radio all round (even if they were the same price). I no longer own either of them so hopefully am objective.

The FT-840 had nice sounding signal and a reasonable receiver, however, you need to buy an expensive accessory filter just to listen to AM (Shortwave Broadcasts). It also lacks a CW keyer and a bunch of other stuff the IC-718 has as stock or available as options (e.g. DSP and auto-notch). The fan was noisy and the stock mic when keyed would give always give a massive click which I would hear through my stereo system speakers even with the stereo switched off and in another room (not a problem for me as I'm 98% CW).

The plusses for the FT-840 are the analog meter, the fact that from an aesthetic point of view, it feels like a better quality rig than the Icom, and the fact that there are no menus.

Really though, compare prices, compare features and options and add the fact that the IC-718 has a much hotter receiver and you'll find that there is no contest if buying new.

I actually like the FT-840 despite its shortcomings and if you get the chance of one cheap then go for it, but new, it really should be much cheaper than the IC-718.
KB4LGM Rating: 2003-08-10
Wonderful Little Rig!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
With out a doubt this is one of the best radios Yaesu ever marketed. I ran mine from June of 1994 to earlier this year. I had made well over 2000 contacts on the radio.I have to say after 20 years of hamming it was the best radio ever owned. I never got a bad report on the audio and I think the receiver rivaled some of the best rigs around today. I traded it in on a FT 920 and now I am looking to purchase another 840! The only problem i ever had was not even my fault. It took a power surge and blew a resistor in the receiver once. After getting this replaced I NEVER had any problems at all.

Although it is about $150 more than the Icom 718 (Which I have never owned) I feel it is by far the better of the two.

Guys if your looking for a first HF rig or a good backup, spend the money and get the 840.
KC0LKE Rating: 2003-07-24
I like it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I like this rig alot expecially for the money.Have not any problem with it at all.Works great.Got it for my first HF rig and have loved it.I would recomend this radio.






KC0LKE
NH7FL Rating: 2003-07-04
Can't beat it for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio for almost 5 years, and after a couple thousand QSO's and the punishment of military moves and brutal weather it's been through I will try to generalize it's good and bad points.

I've read a ton of reviews about this radio, and it's lack of certain features, and how it's not well suited for contests. This is a radio that sells for under $500. If you are a serious contester spend more money and buy a FT-1000D or a radio of that sort. I have ran contests with this radio with excellent results.

The one problem that I've had with this radio is a bad AF potentiometer. The AF would be all over the place if you blew on the knob. After some cleaning it remedied the problem.

The RX is a bit wide I will admit, but you can purchase a filter. For the price you really can't ask too much.

The fan kicks on automatically. I have installed a fan with a continuous supply of cool air.

The radio has excellent RX charectiristics. The VFO knob is first rate, smooth like butter and feels very quality. As with MOST solid state radios this one is very stable if you want to do some digital work.

I've had outstanding audio reports with this rig using the mic provided.

This is a serious HF rig regardless of the price. Simple and easy to use, while it's missing a lot of the add-ons of other radios, you aren't adding on the price.

I would recommend this radio to anyone. Good luck
73 de Art NH7FL