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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
IW9FQJ Rating: 2010-11-15
nice radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
performance/price OK
N0AH Rating: 2010-10-16
Most Reviewed Rig Ever? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A lot of my friends own this rig so I decided to save a few $$$ and get one instead of the IC-7000 which is really what I wanted-

Best features- Sensitivity on HF, filtering, cost and size- !!

One of the few rigs used in my 1996 Ford F-150 that picked up zero noise off the engine- Door Buzzer kills it- but I can drive without the whining of the engine RPM's- FB! Sensitivity is excellent- on Par with my IC-Pro III when tested side by side in the shack- Memory VFO is easy to get to and is simple to use- custom screen color selection, ease of menus for HF and I really like the menu being different for HF/VHF and UHF- No need for a duplexer for dual band VHF/UHF antenna. Being able to adjust display screen fonts for frequency.....screen is not a problem to read at all with all of the adjustments in contrast, color background, font size, etc....DSP is very FB.....I thought not having IF DSP would be a big issue- the rig sounds very FB with all the filters- Compared to my FT-847, it is light years ahead in performance on ignition noise and quality of filtering-

Worst features- internal speaker is weak vs external speaker hooked up. Not real happy with cloning from software as the software did not pick up all the frequencies, in fact very few, off of friends FT-857. For $40 of Yaesu software made by RT Systems, it is not plug and play out of the box as suggested when purchased- Programable mic costs extra $$$$, what? I use this rig for HF and three VHF/UHF repeaters. But if I were a real VHF/UHF nut, I would be bummed that the mic to program things from cost $70! ouch.........

All the reviews really helped me make an informed decisions and glad I got to try the rig out before buying it at Denver's HRO- Would highly recommend as I have been surprised by several features and performance- not sure how it would compare to earlier original versions.

Suggestions- Purchase the CAT to CAT interface cable instead of software to download your file or copy of another rig's file to radio- I use Vista and I can't get the software to work, yet but high probability of user error?? Who knows...but it is has not been fun debugging my mistake(s) or what ever the cause is-





M0GNA Rating: 2010-09-28
Little Marvel Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The best mobile/portable rig on the market.Built like a tank and not much bigger than an average paperback book.I love this little radio,its hard to get your head around what Yaesu have achieved with a thing so compact.Get one and you wont regret it..
K7GD Rating: 2010-08-28
Excellent Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My brain still can't wrap itself around the idea that a radio this small is so impressive. Not only does the 857D transmit well, but its digital filtering makes mobile HF a dream. I mounted the radio head and microphone remotely with everything else hidden behind the seat of my truck and all wires/coax concealed and protected with split loom.

My antenna is a High Sierra 1800 Pro and the radio has no problem operating with this antenna including tuning. A very good combination.

The majority of the menu system works just fine with their factory default settings. The few menu items you need most are easy to access and easy to remember. The select buttons that exist on the detachable radio head are easily located and appropriate.

I have read complaints about the menu driven system, but I can't see a better way to pack so much technological choices for the operator. I think it is a trade off for the amount of technology included with the radio. I kept the manual handy the first few weeks until I got everything I needed down.

I recommend this radio to any mobile HF operator.
W1MSG Rating: 2010-08-16
First HF Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well after 10 years as a Tech I decided it was time to get into HF and upgraded to General.
I wanted something small that I could take portable as well as use in the shack and it was a toss up between the FT-897 and the FT-857. Well I ended up with a new FT-857D and it has been perfect for my needs. With all the info on the internet getting it set up was a breeze, I hung a G5RV Jr antenna and have made some Great DX contacts and the reports have all been Great !
K5TED Rating: 2010-06-23
Good rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The first time I saw a picture of this rig, several years ago, I noted then and there that I did not like the look or the layout, and it seemed the buttons around the tuning knob doomed the radio to a narrow niche of users.

Fast forward to last month. 6m is coming alive, and my only 6m capable rig was a FT-817ND. Fun for QRP. 6m doesn't lend itself to QRP often just yet, so I started looking around.. I was almost set on a FT-450AT, when I found a deal I couldn't resist on that internet auction site.. $600 plus shipping for what was promised to be a new in box FT-857D. I figured, what the heck... 100w out on 6m, and DSP (albeit AF, not IF like the 450), and could use it as a spare 2m 70cm as well.

I can say I'm absolutely satisfied. I've been using it for phone and 6m digital modes with the new WSJT8 package. The CAT control makes it a "big" rig on my computer screen, and it sounds great on the air (I've been told), with a Astatic 10DA desk mic.

After using the front panel controls,I have to give kudos to the Yaesu engineers for creating a really easy to use layout, menus and all.

G4XTA Rating: 2010-06-01
Can't work it. Getting Rid Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Now, I KNOW I'm the odd-man-out here, cos I can't get this radio to work at all. I've always wanted one, and was most excited when it arrived. I'm an honor roll dx-er and retired IT/Comms specialist, so I'm no mug in configuring complex soft-driven radios. BUT, I just can't work this FT857D!! It's been in my shack hooked-up to a dummy load for 8 months, sitting right next to the box that it came out of, brand new. Day-after-day I cheerfully bring my coffee into the shack and sit down hopefully for yet another 'learning' session with the manual and the radio. Each time, I leave the shack several hours later, angry, confused and frustrated. After eight months I still can't even do basic operations on the thing, and there's no chance of ever becoming proficient. I have 11 other Yaesu's in the shack, and I'm pretty expert on them all. But not this one. I'm frustrated and humiliated by it. I put it up for sale last night, just to break the deadlock, and I'm gonna walk away before I lose my temper and throw the thing out the window. I need a radio as a radio, not "an adventure in proramming" as this model has been described elsewhere.
I'm sure it's a great rig. But not for me.
K3AXR Rating: 2010-05-31
Great rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got this rig along wiith the "matching" ATAS-120 active tuning antenna. I've only had it a few days but have found it's performance to be fantastic. My first contact was on 20 meters and was with a station in Spain who gave me a 58. This little package is loaded with do-dads and is so compact it fits anywhere.

I've only had it a few days, but my comment to date is -WOW!
KB6HRT Rating: 2010-05-31
Nothing comes close Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have helped 4 new HAMS in the last 2 years and 2 of them brought FT857 and being around them, heard this little rig and liked what I heard. Went out and got one myself to replace my FT7800 2m-440m rig, Had the FT7800 for six years it was a 5 also. The FT857 does so much well don't think it can be beat. This radio is so so much bang for the buck, wish they had something like it when I became a new HAM. Yaesu did a great job when they designed this radio, Its my FT920 and some!.....................KB6HRT
KE5DFR Rating: 2010-05-18
Great small radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It gets a 4.5 for function and price. I wish the dispaly was larger, but hey, it is a small radio. I use it in the truck with tha ATAS 120 antenna and a Larsen dual band antenna. I also use it when out with the RV on a home brew 20/40m inverted v dipole and the LDG 897 tuner. When operaing from the triler I can also use the ATAS 120 on the trailer and I run the radio with HRD and my netbook computer.

Keep the book handy and highlight the major functions you use to aid in changing things as you get used to this radio.

Never a single problem from it...it jsut works and I have talked to Europe, Mexico and South America while mobile.

Ken