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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
ON4MGY Rating: 2003-05-11
Nice rig but... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The rig is affordable and with an FT-840 in the shack you have a good radio. However, since I'm using it 95% of the time in SSB, it is really a shame that you can't place an optional good SSB-filter in it. When I'm contesting or working here in Europe on 40m (very crowded!!!) I'm just hearing too many stations. The receiver MF is too wide.
On transmit, I'm just using the original handmike for normal QSO style and the audio reports are all very good. Just a great transmit audio.
I can't say I'm unhappy with the rig, but why can you place an optional CW-filter but no SSB-filter? You just need one for serious contesting/DX-ing.
WO8USA Rating: 2003-04-17
Great the 2nd time too! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The FT-840 was my 2nd HF rig...I traded it to get another radio, which I still have too.

Yaseu offered a big sale and I bought it again! You can not beat the price vs performance of this radio. I looked at everything on the market and the 840 and the IC-718 are thye best entry-level rigs going for features and price. The recent $499 price (new!) for the 840 pushed me quickly over the edge. When in history could you get this kind of radio for under $500?

I am fully satisfied, twice over, with this model.. This time I will not trade it away.

Chris WO8USA
W9JLM Rating: 2003-04-01
Great Rig (Beginner or Elmer) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had many different rigs (Ft-100, Icom 706 and 746) and have loved them all. I love my 840. It is a great rig for a low price. Anymore you pay $600 or $1600 for a rig. Have to say most of the bells and whistles out there are really not all they are cracked up to be. If you want a basic rig 10m-160m, this is the one. I run mine with the SP-6 speaker and an MD-100 desk mic. I have worked all kinds of DX at home, in the mobile, and from the camper. If you buy one for yourself, you wont go wrong. 73's!
KS4WJ Rating: 2003-03-04
For the $$$$$/5 Stars Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been messing with DX contests and just general como for years. Unquestionably, the FT-840 is the RIG to have if you want to get through the pile ups, without piling up an inordinate amount of cash while doing so. Truly, it is so much fun using a Hustler 4-BTV (laugh) and yet still busting with the big guys! I must add that I do have the Heil (sic) headset with footswitch which enables for CLOSE HOLD when my turn comes around; seemingly with this rig, it comes most often! You do NOT, NOT, have to spend tons of money for a good operational radio and to this extent, I'll be glad to share some of my contacts with the superior cynic. How one becomes superior as a cynic I've yet to discern.

"Many leave impressions; Yaesu leaves them." -Brian G. Jett

Olivylove, INC
CT2GEU Rating: 2003-02-10
Great Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Six years after selling my old FT-707, I decided to make some DX again. So I bought an FT-840, the rig I always wanted to have. And I was not mistaken...

I only work in 18 Mhz, so I really putted it to the test, and in the first weeks I made some rare contacts, definitily just because I owned an FT-840. The antenna is a dipole.

Everyone congratulate me on my excelent audio. I use the original hand mic, that together with the speech processor breaks into any pile-up. You just need the perfect balance between RF-Power, Mic-Gain, and Compressor.

The main features are more than enough to any DX lover: DDS, two-VFO's to work SPLIT, 100 mems, and optional filters.

It would be an almost perfect rig if it had SWR meter and VOX.

CT2GEU
KB9ERU Rating: 2003-01-07
Nice Rig! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After saving pennies and waiting until the time was right, I decided to buy the FT-840. Ordered from AES out of Ohio, in December, 2002 for $489.99 shipped, brand new. It had a manufacturer deal on the AM and 500Hz CW filter for $98 shipped. I just received the filters yesterday, and installation was a snap!
I have worked many DX contacts, and broke pile-ups with no problem. It's fun to break pile-ups running barefoot with the stock mic into dipoles. I did this running at 50 watts until I got a power supply that could let me run the full 100 watts. Now I am REALLY having a ball!
The IF shift is a nice feature to have on the radio. It helps when a station decides to move in.
I like the "REAL" needle in it. I like needles and non-menu driven radios. I like the ability to make a simple change without having to dig through the manual to find out how.
I have heard people say this is a great back-up rig. It's out front at my shack. It doesn't slice, dice, or make coffee in the morning, but it has all the features needed to have a lot of fun! It's easy on the wallet too.
I would HIGHLY recommend this radio to anyone needing a rig. It is low on the price, not on the features.
It gets a 5 from me all the way!
Mick
K4ZAU Rating: 2002-12-19
Good start Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was not my first HF radio (that was an FT-817) but it is the first one I was able to complete a QSO on. I chose it over its competitors because, for one, it was the cheapest 100-watt rig I found, and also because I am partial to Yaesu equipment. I have been quite pleased with it. It is well-designed and easy to use. It seems to be tough and built to last. Everything I needed to get started was included, and I almost always get top-notch signal reports. Some others have pointed out that its operation is not menu-based; all features are accessed through a dedicated button or knob. I really like that... I had my '817 for six months and never figured out all the menus. The included manual is very well-written and helpful as well.

However, one must remember that it is the cheapest of the 100W rigs because it lacks FM and narrow filters, although these are available as add-ons, which I plan to obtain someday. If you add the price of these options to the price of the rig, it is a bit pricier.

The only really bad thing about this radio is the internal speaker, which is extremely bassy and sounds muffled; it makes AM shortwave listening unbearable at times. I will be purchasing a better speaker or headset soon. One minor design flaw is the proximity of the ground screw to a large ventilation slot. If you're not careful, you can miss the screw and poke the screwdriver deep into the slot. Fortunately, the one time I did that, it missed the components inside. I suppose that is my fault, but be careful.

Overall, a great rig.
73 de K4ZAU
MM3DHL Rating: 2002-12-08
First New HF Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had my license since April 2002 and have now bought my first new radio I had been using an old Kenwood TS 120s The 840 is a pleasure to use for a new Amateur like myself well laid out with an easy to understand manual.
I would reccomend this radio as a first time rig for anyone new to the hobby.
It is a budget radio on price only not on features.
MM3 DHL Scotland
N8TEV Rating: 2002-11-02
great radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i've owned this little radio for about 7-8 years now, no major problem yet. only thing is that is takes about 5 minutes to warm up to the exact frequency but that is not a problem for me. I have the auto tuner for it and its been working with no problem for the last 5 years. I have to say Yaesu has made an A1 product here..
AE5X Rating: 2002-09-29
Closing in on 5B-DXCC Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Back in September 2000 I wrote up my impression of this rig soon after buying it. Now, two years and many contacts later, I can say that the purchase of my FT840 was money well-spent.

I've used the rig almost daily in that time and have never had a single problem. I'm considering buying the maching speaker to give it a "companion" and to reward it for being so relaible! I am now 10 countries away (on 80m) from achieving 5B-DXCC with this rig running barefoot with two dipoles - an 80m and a 10-40m - and have thought of rewarding myself with an FT1000 or similar, but I can't justify it. The '840 has always done what I wanted it to do and continues to do so.

For the money, this rig can't be beat.

John AE5X
http://www.ae5x.com