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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-857 - all flavors
Reviews: 433MSRP: 769
Description:
Yaesu HF/VHF/UHF Mobile Transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
154334.5
AL2F Rating: 2011-05-02
Great Little Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After reading the last review I had to chime in. I have had this radio for years and to be honest beat the crap out of it and it's still going strong. It's been in 4 different vehicles for mobile work, I've used it in 3 states for portable use, and it's still my main radio at home. I've added the 2.3khz and 300hz filters, and use the Heil HC4, and Yamaha CM500 mics with it. Once you figure out the menus, which are in alphabetical order, you can do pretty much anything with it. I still prefer a big radio with lots of knobs but that's not in my budget. Like other have said the display is small and the buttons are too, but still usable. I added the external analog meter and helped it to feel more like a bigger radio..hihi.

Black to - and red to +,
GL&73
Kris in AK
N4ZBO Rating: 2011-04-20
yaesu 857d Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i have had two of these raidos and neather one was any good the first one worked fine till installed in car the made one call then turned off went back 10 min. later it did not work any more i tested it on the in house power supply and it would not work there eather.... sent back to where i bought it thay sent anther a week later i just reinstalled back in car hooking right to the battry posts went to turn it on that one did not work aswell..... so all i can say is it is your money it is up to you if you want to chance it but i would not this one is going back as you read this i will never buy anther one and will think twice befor ever buying anther of any yaesu raidos......ps i know i did have it long to be able to say this but after two i don't want to take this chance any more.....
W9ATP Rating: 2011-04-01
Generally favorable, but with a major caveat Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The FT-857D is an amazing little radio. Actually, make that several radios in an amazingly tiny package -- with a tiny little display ... and awkward little buttons ... and multi-level menus. There's no way one could safely operate this radio while mobile, unless one used only a fraction of its capability, preferably with all selections preset before the engine was started -- or if one can afford a chauffer. Of course, if one has the talent of a virtuoso instrumentalist and the years of practice it would take to make one the master of the instrument, then perhaps....

So, mobile? No, not wisely. Portable? Yes, by all means -- if you are willing to carry the extra weight over an FT-817, you want or need the extra 95 watts, and you won't miss the extra dollars it will cost.

When compared to its capabilities, the -857's tiny package is impressive; its price is reasonable, too. But it's not for me, nor perhaps for anyone who would avoid having to squint at the display, would avoid the necessity of memorizing multiple inadequately labeled switch functions, and would avoid having to repeatedly consult the operating manual as a result of the very steep learning-curve which the -857 imposes.

I thought about the purchase quite a bit before I bought the -857, but I should not have bought this radio without first handling and operating one. I have since acquired a more conventionally-sized transceiver of another brand, which I like better and better each time I use it. That was definitely not the case with the -857.

It's not the radio's fault. It is what it was intended to be, and I admire Yaesu for providing it to the Amateur Radio community. But the buyer must give very very careful consideration to the ergonomic aspects in his consideration of this product.
KK7D Rating: 2011-03-27
Outstanding Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Yaesu FT-857D is a superb radio for mobile. I have the separation kit and the head of the unit mounted on the dash of my FJ Cruiser. It has all the necessary collins filters for both CW and SSB. I have owned the radio for over two years and it has help up to the most that I have given it. I use the radio on HF from 80 to 10m as well as VHF/UHF. Perfect Radio for any mobile.
KF4UVG Rating: 2011-03-20
ft 857D for Portable Ops Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just purchased 3 weeks ago! Using the 857d with z11 tuner and a homemade 40M dipole on a spider beam pole. I am very glad I purchased this setup. I think it the best combo for a backpack portable station for SSB when you factor size, weight, and current draw. I do not dig down into the menus that much only to change the power levels. I am using a 12ah 12volt battery (heavy for the pack) but last a long time at 5-20 Watts. Hope this helps someone looking for a backpack portable rig!
KE7SZC Rating: 2011-03-09
A lot of radio in a small package.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This radio never failed me, it has many functions in a (too) small package, if menus don't scare you then it's a good choice for functionality.

On the other hand, the barn-door wide front end and average receiver leave a little to be desired since it seems to pick up more atmospheric static than other comparable hf rigs.

All in all, it's a lot of radio for the price, but there are some limitations to it's design, and although it is beyond perfect for mobile operation with regards for it's size, you'd best have all of your rf noise in check before taking it mobile, it made it two days mobile before making it's home on my desk.
N1NXD Rating: 2011-02-15
Menu driven Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had this tiny radio a couple weeks. I have to keep the manual next to it because the menus are on two tiers and are not self-explanatory.

I've been using an ATAS as well as Hustler mobile resonators and a Chameleon. When I switch from the ATAS to another antenna, using the suggested auto tuner, I have to go back into the menus to change the settings.

I miss my FT-900 so much. I had most of the buttons I need right out front. I like buttons and dials.

This is, however, an amazing rig.
KJ4DGE Rating: 2011-02-09
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio when I was deciding between the IC-718 and it as I had just upgraded to general and wanted a radio that had the features and power I was looking for but not the 1K price tag. I can say after using the radio that I am very satisfied with it in many ways. I has helped me to understand the fun and challenge of learning to make HF contacts and still surprises me along the way. When I get another car i will be saving to get another 857D for mobile use.
K9BW Rating: 2011-01-09
Just one Flaw ruins a great RIG Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It has been a great transceiver for its size and weight. I do note that the receiver is not as selective as my 9 pole crystal rig but it does not weight 50 pounds and has other nice features.
The big problem is that I cannot operated it on 75 or 160 meters. I use a 160 meter loop with an SGC turner at the base of the loop. As expected the SGC works just fine. However, after installing about 30 ferrites and grounding just about everything in the shack and house.. Operating 100 Watts or less... the 857 crashes as a result of RF. I do not have that problem with my other rigs... Even my ATlas. Yes, some old timers are still using old gear. So if a piece of junk like an Atlas does not crash... why should a 857? I have contacted Yaesu and I get the same old solutions. But I have run out of wires to put ferrites on except my wife's blender and toaster. I like the rig. But it would be nice to be able to use it on 160 and 75 meters.....after all MY Atlas works just fine.
Anyone know of a fix for this other than grounding. Of course I have tried that one too.
73s
K9BW
KJ4WII Rating: 2010-11-27
This rig can do just about everything Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
As a new ham I feel lucky to have picked the 857D for my first HF rig. I cannot compare it to other radios directly, but I wanted to add a few notes in case other new hams (or new generals) are considering this radio.

As I explore the many facets of amateur radio, time and time again I find that the 857 has what it takes to try out a new activity. There's no doubt that a rig specially designed for a single purpose would "outperform" this rig, but how do you know what types of things you will want to invest big $$ in without giving them a try first? This is where I think the 857 has great value.. you can do just about anything well enough to know if you want to spend time and money on doing it better.

Since I purchased this radio, I've used it to:

Chat with local hams on VHF and UHF repeaters

Participate in simplex ARES nets

Participate in a local SSTV net on 2 meters

Make dozens of HF SSB contacts from California to France (I live in south florida). QSOs on every band from 80 to 10 meters using nothing more than the 857, some used hamsticks, and a little luck. Even gotten through some pile ups on a very good day.

Learned how to pick a weak signal out of the noise by using the various filters and DSP options together.. what a difference once you've learned how to use *all* the controls together.

Operate PSK31 and other digital modes on several bands, again dozens of contacts around the world with simple antennas, a PC and a cable that can be made for a few bucks.

Send and listen to local APRS traffic using a free software TNC and the same cable

Log in to local packet BBSes, explore the packet gateways

Relay APRS position and a text message to my father 1200 miles away via the International Space Station (exciting!)

Listen to voice traffic from the ISS (still trying to make a contact)

Listen to beacons from several other satellites (still learning but suspect I'll be making QSOs via repeaters in space eventually)

(probably some other stuff I've forgotten)

All this, and I'm still learning new tricks. It seems to me that if you want to explore a bit of almost everything in amateur radio, the 857 is your ticket. Don't be worried by reviews that say it's difficult to use or hard to understand. If you are interested enough to put in the time, this rig will reward you.