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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-847

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-847
Reviews: 167MSRP: 1599
Description:
HF+2M,6M and 70cm Transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/ft847.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
34.71674.4
WM5L Rating: 2002-06-30
Jack of all modes and a master of some! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned mine for over two years without a single problem or compliant. I have used it on the satellites,10m,6m,2m,70cm(FM&SSB), a lot on 17m,40m & 75m without any problems. I'm running an Ameritron AL-80B with it. I also use two different "switchers" and two Astron power supplies and two computers in the shack. None of this other equipment gave it any trouble. My FT-1000MP keeps going down on me I'd like to get it fixed again,sell it and buy another FT-847. I would highly reccomend to anyone from a novice ham to and old timer. Very easy to use and setup,works on all bands except 220MHz. I think it's "a whole shack of radios in one"...Jim/WM5L
N1XNH Rating: 2002-06-27
Great overall rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this rig as a start up to give me access to all bands with minimal start up $$$. I have to say that it's a great radio for the price. Yes - you could probably get a better rig, but not for anything near the price.

Only couple small quirks that I've noticed, and since they are merely annoyances and not at what I call "the problem level" it's still well worth it.

***The AF audio out is a little weak, an external speaker helps out. The headphone audio level is pretty bad, but there is a mod out there for that.

***I don't have either the SSB or the CW filters. I really don't think you need the CW filter as the DSP does extremely well with that. Could probably use the SSB filters, though, especially on RX.

***No built in auto-tuner, which is somewhat standard in modern rigs these days.

Now the good points.......

***Very easy to learn and use.

***Very flexible - does everything you could want to do with it.

***Using the DSP, IF shift, RF amp and built in attenuator gets you the best signal intelligibility possible.

***Low cost in comparison to other rigs of the same caliber.

I have yet to use it for satellite work, which is where it should excel, so I have no info regarding that. Otherwise, overall it's a good rig. I have no regrets at all.
WH6LR Rating: 2002-03-23
super satellite RIG! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
this is a update on my previous one. I have use the Rig on Satellites for about two months now and I find it to be a super Radio for Satellite use. Everyone says I have super audio. I would recommend this radio for any satellite operator.
WT4K Rating: 2002-03-18
Reliable Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my 847 since they were introduced, space limitations guided my pruchase along with my dislike for the earliest 706 model I owned at the time. I've owned several other combinations including a Kenwood TS 850, and I must say that This radio has been a reliable friend, it's worked many VHF nets, I don't contest but I've had the best results on HF with it, digital modes work well also. The only negative was that after owning it for 2 years I sent it up to Yaesu for upgrading the internals and fixing some of the early bugs (ie. the volume control) The rep. @ Yaesu said they'd do it at no charge well 100.00 and 4 months later I finally got the radio back with no real reason for the turnaround. But that aside I can't give any other negatives about owning it.
KF5JQ Rating: 2002-03-06
Excellent Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this rig after a bad experience with the IC-821H.

It is excellent I use it primarily for Satellite work. The computer to radio interface works very well with my tracking software (SatPC32). For HF I only have an inverted V for 10m. The feedpoint is only 10 feet above ground to optimize the radiation pattern for RS12. However, I have worked over 40 countries on 10m SSB. Japan, South America, Europe and even Pakistan.

I am very happy with the receive sensitivity and selectivity. The DSP filter is really nice too. I have the Collins SSB filter on the RX side of the unit and will probably add the CW if I use CW more. The RF amp does not need to be always on for good RX sensitivty and I have not had the RX audio level problems that some users of earlier models have reported.

The satellite mode is very easy to use and is set up to make operation very intuative. I especially like the extended RX so that I can use an MMDS converter for 2.4GHz (123MHZ IF) AO-40 RX without modification.

This radio is a real winner. If you are the slightest bit interested in operations beyond HF this is the radio for you!
KG4GLI Rating: 2002-03-06
Great little rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I own a Yaesu ft 847 for about a year now, and I got to say it is one of the great's litt rigs on the market today. Hf work great, and also 6m, 2m,440,all perform very well. You cant go wrong if you want one of these rigs. Great TX and RX on all bands. Work many station with this rig. I purchased this rig after selling a Kenwood TS 570D was not all that inpressed with that rig. The ricieve was a little lacking. and Audio was weak on the 570D. Yaesu has relly done their homework.
AD6WL Rating: 2002-03-04
1 year report. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this rig for 1 year now. I have workded 248 countires with 149 confirmed. I have worked WAS. I have won 3 certificate in contests. I have used it for field day and special event station "Route 66 on the air." I have used the rig for SSB, CW, PSK31, RTTY, SSTV, and Satellite. I use this rig in many contests and have it connected to my computer running Writelog. Not one single problem. It's easy to use and the DSP works rather well. I have put in crystal filters but havn't really noticed much difference. It is hard for me to justify spending the money to buy a FT-1000mp MV, or ICOM 256 Pro II when this rig works so well.
KG6EPV Rating: 2002-02-10
Love it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this radio for over a year and i absolutely love it. I installed the Collins mechanical filters, i bought them with the unit. They were worth it. For the money I don't think you can go wrong with this rig. I have worked the world with this radio, can't wait to try it on the satellites! 73, kg6epv
KU4GI Rating: 2002-01-16
Great Radio!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I haven't had this radio long but I love it...
This radio does alot and does it well.. When I first got it I pulled it out of the box wired it up and had it pretty much figured out without having to think about opening the manual...But when I did read the manual it was one of the best laid out manual I've seen..

When I first turned it on I was amazed at how much more I could hear than my Alinco..Night & Day... And my Alinco DX-70 is no slouch...

The first contacts I had said that my audio was great and really sounded good...On local 2m & 70cm repeaters I got the same response...And all with the factory hand mic....

I have read others reviews on the 847 and in my honest opinion all the bad reviews are very minor things(I'm not even gonna call them issues)..

The main tuning knob does have a tiny wobblish look to it but it does no affect free movement at all...Just a aesthetical wobble... Not even noticeable unless you look for it...

The volume control does kinda jump quickly at a certain point..But is controlable...I personally would not open my rig up and install something to fix it....A waste of time if you ask me....

The fan is a little noisy...But I leave my computer on always and it is way louder than that tiny fan... No big deal..

People want to compare it to these $5000 dollar radios....Well if I spent that much money on a radio it sure should have it's better points..
But I'm willing to bet I will have just as much fun with this $1200 rig as you will with yours...Bet you would too..

My reviews:

Appearance: Excellent...Nice looking rig

Size: Perfect..Big enough to fill a desk atractively and small enough to run mobile.

Ease of use: Very easy to learn and operate..

Recieve Audio....Loud and room filling no need for an external speaker

Transmit audio( from other hams) Excellent

Transmit: Big difference from my old setup an DX-70th and a DR-600..

Summary: I love this radio it does every band I want to use and some modes I don't even care about... Would I buy another one? You bet...I am thinking of getting one for my truck...
N9LBW Rating: 2002-01-06
Awesome Radio for the price! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this radio since they came out and the only problem was the power on switch and Yaesu promptly repaired it. I have owned TS940S and TS950SD Kenwoods and this radios receive is almost equal and I get good reports on transmit.