| KC0FNS |
Rating:      |
2001-08-28 | |
| lots of useful features |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Hello,
I borrowed a friends late model ft847 for a month, and had a wonderful time with it! I like CW and found the DSP narrow filter just fine for rag chews on a moderately busy 20M band. I did not have the collins narrow filter. The QSK was also useable at my 15-20WPM speed. I am sure that there are better receivers, but I found the FT847 very adequate. I don't contest, and I have only been a ham for 2 years. I use an icom 706mkii as a base station, so all the buttons took a little getting used to. I initially disliked all the buttons, but by the second week of use, I figured out everything I wanted to do. Oh, I forgot to mention, I didn't use a manual, I didn't get to borrow this.
I love my icom 706, but the ft847 does sound better for hour after hour listening. I have external SWR meters, and a fairly resonant antenna for HF. This was a plug and play operation.
The optional MD100 mike was a delight on 2M FM. Also, the priority channel made it possible to listen on HF until I heard traffic on the simplex frequency I monitor.
The ft847 was better than I thought. This is a useful and practical piece of equipment. It had the features I needed, what a great radio!
73, Mark Menkhus, KC0FNS |
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| TA2MGW |
Rating:      |
2001-08-28 | |
| a wonderful compact rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought it a couple of days ago, complete with ATAS-100 antenna. What a powerful combination! Weak signals I could hardly copy on an old FT-101 just pops out on this one. Just change the band, press tuner button for 1/2 second and voila, the signals are there.
And the main mode I like, VHF/UHF SSB/CW plus satellite is there and very easy to use. The only thing I didn't like was the shuttle log, which I rarely use, and the buttons are so small, my finger feel really huge. It may be alright for a japaneese, these buttons are far too small for me and my fingers!
On the other hand, the radio is really small. It can easily be used as a mobile kit. It is'nt heavy either. Altough some people didn't like the fan noise, I rarely noticed it. The only time I realised the fan noise it was there was 03 AM and there were no other noise in the room. So I think the ones who complain have just a little sensitive ears.
One other thing I'd prefer was backlit keys. In the nights I usually work in complete darkness. Until I know everything by hearth, the light must stay on.
Within seconds I made a long distance VHF SSB communication and although the signal strength was low, it was loud and clear.
I really like this radio! |
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| TEASHEA |
Rating:      |
2001-08-26 | |
| Excellent |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This is a beautifully designed and built transciver. I bought it mainly for the higher frequencies, not covered by my yaesu Mark V. However, I find that it does a wonderful job on HF also. Very well made, with good attention to details. I do wish it had a SWR meter, but that is the only thing that I might want to be otherwise. |
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| W0FM |
Rating:     |
2001-08-22 | |
| Audio Glitch Upgrade |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I purchased my FT-847 when they were first introduced. My primary interest was for simple access to the satellites and to rediscover 6 meters. The 847 has filled these needs quite well. However, I immediately was annoyed by the AF gain control, which could not be turned all the way down to zero audio from the speaker. And, as you turned the AF gain control clockwise, it would have no effect until about the 8 o'clock position, where the audio would leap to a jolting level. I called Yaesu and they said they had a fix for the problem that was part of a factory upgrade. I sent it to Yaesu and in a couple of weeks the rig was returned. The AF gain control problem was noticeably improved, but not eliminated (well worth the trouble of sending it back, however). Yaesu was also able to somewhat improve the "wobbly" VFO knob, which had appeared to be out of round when I purchased the rig. Again, better, but not perfect. Unfortunately, after being factory aligned by Yaesu service department, the rig came back to me with the LCD readout display about 150 kHz off frequency. That was not an issue before I sent it in, so it's going back for another try. Aside from these pesky issues, I enjoy the rigs performance and it really hops on 6, 2 and 440. Satellite rookies will appreciate the easy configuration for each bird. Very well done. 73, Terry, WØFM |
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| VK2XES |
Rating:     |
2001-08-22 | |
| top radio |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
This radio replaced my ft1000mp! The FT-847 is a
brezze to use.I have a limited call & find this radio tops on 10fm,2m &70cm but does need a in
built a.t.u I have fitted the narrow filter,The
md-100 mic & sp8 speaker.The FT-847 WILL NOT GIVE
YOU AS MANY GREY HAIRS AS 1000MP will
73s Dave VK2XES |
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| WB9WHE |
Rating:     |
2001-07-27 | |
| Good overall, but needs a good filter for HF |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Having everything in one box is a great idea, as long as not too many comprimises are made. Yaesu has a hit with the VHF & UHF receivers, as they are hot while maintaining selectivity.
On HF, the radio NEEDS a good filter. The stock (supplied ceramic) filter is insufficent. The 2.5 Khz Collins mechanical filter (available from Yaesu dealers - or INRAD for $25.00 less) improves performance. BUT.... mechanical filters (even the Collins) are no match for a real crystal filter with a narrow skirt and high ultimate rejection. This leaves INRAD aftermarkrt crystal filters. Your choices are either 1.9 Khz (Slightly narrow for my taste) or 2.8 Khz (a little too wide for me) to choose from. Either way, you will need to solder to get a crystal filter in, because crystal filters are larger than mechanical filters, thus, the INRAD crystal filter will not fit in the FT-847's foot print. The mechanical filters "popp" right in place in 2 seconds, no soldering necessary.
Overall, a good all around rig, I JUST WISH THERE WAS A 2.4 KHZ CRYSTAL FILTER AVAILABLE FOR THIS RADIO FOR HIGH QUALITY HF SSB receive audio.
Either way, if you want good HF receive performance, plan on gettting a filter.
The NB might as well be a placebo....I can't see that it does anything. DSP NR is pretty darn good and works very well. Do a simple mod and the radio will go everywhere but above 470. The Yaseu accessory plug (for keying the relay on an external amp) is a ***real pain*** to work with and solder.
The AF control is very, very touchy. Turn it up a little and get WAY TOO MUCH audio. Which brings me to RX audio quality.....if you are at all picky, plan on an external speaker. TConversely, the transmit audio quality with the stock microphone is good. The stock mic has a 2 position switch which actually effects the TX AF response!
Unless you have one antenna for each of the following HF/6, 2 meters and 450, start thinking about a duplexer or triplexer. Get one with an N connector for 450. I bought the Comet.
One last thing, the manual has an error. When it discusses "split" HF operation, the manual says the sub tune freq is the receive while main tune is transmit. In reality, it is exactly oppisite! I just got a brand new manual, and not even a slip in correction sheet. Hello.....anybody listening at Yaesu????? |
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| KC2HWB |
Rating:      |
2001-07-14 | |
| Awesome!!!!!!!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Simple to use and many features make this rig well worth the money. It performs very well on all bands, and all modes. The fan noise that everyone complains about is negligible. My computers power supply fan is much noisier. Even with the computer off it is barely noticible. The volume control knob is a bit touchy like a lot of people say, but if you hook the rig upto your sound card like I have, then just use the computers volume control, everything is perfect. The satellite functions are great. I hooked it upto my buddies service monitor, and it performed almost as well or even better in some cases as the specs call for. The only thing lacking in this rig is the limited scanning abilities, but I didn't buy a scanner, I bought a HAM radio. In my opinion, a strong 5 out of 5! BUY IT! |
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| KA1RI |
Rating:      |
2001-06-18 | |
| Great Package! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Replaced my Icom IC-746 .. great package for all bands! Good audio, keyboard is a little small compared to others. Mine came packaged with the FC-20 tuner so I didn't suffer from tuner-withdrawl, but it should have one internally in the next version! Matching accessories are well designed, and I was surprised to find a "tuning" control on the base of the MD-100 mic that works for either channels or VFO tuning. All in all, a fine package which will be around for a while! Now on to a satellite antenna setup... |
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| VE3PTC |
Rating:     |
2001-05-13 | |
| good all rounder |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| bought this radio to replace a tired ft726, and very impressed with vhf/uhf performance. seems pretty good for 6m too! internal speaker does not give the best audio quality! I use sp940/ b input, and this does an excellant job! noise-blanker is not very effective, and non-adjustable! on hf, the rig does give a work-man like performance, but still far behind my ts 940s! overall, I rate this radio 4/5. excellant owners manual from yaesu too! |
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| KB8ELK |
Rating:     |
2001-04-26 | |
| VOX ? |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Bought one new in Feb 2000. I never imagined an HF capable rig would not have VOX. Sold it at Dayton and bought a radio with vox (FT-1000MP MK V).
It was cute, worked okay, loved the blue. Good audio reports. I'd buy another one for travelling an 6M if it only had vox ... |
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