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Reviews For: FTBasic

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : FTBasic
Reviews: 5MSRP: 30.
Description:
FTBasic is a transceiver control/memory manager program for the Yaesu FT-817, FT-847, FT-857 and FT-897.

NOTE: FTBasic is no longer available.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.g4hfq.co.uk
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0055
M1IOS Rating: 2004-02-13
Functional and robust software Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Highly recommended - functional, robust and value for money. A great rig control program with easy access to the FT-920's many features. FTBasic's memory control is a real time saver.
KV3A Rating: 2003-05-20
SUPER Time Owned: more than 12 months.
SUPER SOFTWARE, GREAT SUPPORT. SAVES A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IF YOU NEED TO RELOAD YOUR MEMORIES.
KT4OL Rating: 2003-01-19
A+++ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For the price Gentlemen you can't beat it. Easy to use and it flat works. I have a Yaesu FT-847 and a Yaesu RV-5000 and both are fine with this little application. The part that is especially neat is the CSV file import tool. You can load a SWL spreadsheet into the software and presto your ready to click on frequencies that tune your radio. No hours upon hours typing your frequencies in by hand. Very fun. $22 bucks and you'll have yet another way to enjoy your Yeasu rigs.
former_W4CHL Rating: 2001-09-10
Unbeatable price/performance for CAT w/ FT100, FT817 or FT847 ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bob G4HFQ has done a great job of putting together a full featured control program for the Yaesu FT-xxx radios. As mentioned in the prior review at $22.50 total price it is an unbeatable price performance. Yes, there are bells and whistles that would be nice - and the program has been evolving to include same. The core functions supporting the FT-817 are solid.

The only real downside from my experience is that the program doesn't directly emulate operation of the radio. Then again, that would mean added complexity in "skins" say to support the FT-100, FT-847, FT-817, et al. All of the settings are available in the csv format for direct modification, just not via virtual dials and buttons from the program.

I especially like the FTBasic spectrum scope display, though that feature is of minimal benefit to working PSK31 and other digital modes QRP, which is why I bought an FT-817.

An interesting configuration is a combination of VNC (www.uk.research.att.com/vnc) with FTBasic for remote (Internet) control of my rig. This isn't a Kachina rig, but sure is interesting for well under US$1000 to have a pretty full function networked rig ! (BTW - yes, the rig is running behind a firewall whenever it is enabled for such operation.) Now if only I could write a macro to activate the antenna tuner - don't like running the thing in automatic mode remotely.

The FTBasic code has been so functional and runs with minimal fuss on an old "586" machine and a 75MHz Pentium laptop that I've put aside work on Linux integration of my radios. Dedicated Winders95 machines for digital modes suffice for now !
WB8NUT Rating: 2001-06-17
Great Program, Great Support, Reasonable Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bob (G4HFQ) has done a great job with the program and offers it at an extremely reasonable price compared to other ham radio program being offered. Only $15.00 and Bob has been very responsive at adding new features that users have requested. Easy to purchase via his web site and he sends back the software key within hours. He has a trial version available.