| STAYVERTICAL |
Rating:      |
2011-11-26 | |
| Micro radio, maxi performance |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Since I mainly used my FT897D in base station operation, I bought the FT817ND as a VHF/UHF solution in place of the normal handheld options.
I did not intend to use it on HF, but after working quite a few DX stations using them both on PSK31 and CW, I decided to fire it up on HF.
What a hot receiver!
It sounds great on HF and seems very sensitive.
Using a classic single wire windom antenna with a remote atu, I was able to work dx from tokyo to moscow on PSK31 without much trouble, even when conditions were not that good.
Menu options are simple and comprehensive - its knob layout is very similar to the FT897D and looks like a shrunk down version of this venerable transceiver.
I am now using an antenna analyser to make some HF portable antennas to use with this rig for some HF pedestrian mobile.
Then the fun will really begin.
Really, if you want the worlds most fun radio, this has to be the number one contender.
DC to light, all modes, stick it in your coat pocket, and built like a tank.
Batteries don't last forever to be sure, but the unit will still run down to 8.9V or so, so if you use an external battery pack, you are good for a long time.
I use two 7.6Ah 5V usb battery packs in series to give 10V. They are small, light and keep the FT817ND going for many hours of solid operation.
Or, you could plug in a serial radio control cable such as the CT62, put the radio behind the laptop and forget it is there.
The radio is then like a RF modem or software controlled radio, since most functions can be accessed under program control, thus not needing access to the radio.
What other radio from 160m to 70cm all modes can you put in a laptop bag accessory pocket and still have room for the laptop power pack and other bits.
I would suggest buying the 500hz mechanical filter, as this greatly enhances digital and CW operations.
From my experience, the only compromise this radio has is its 5W output power, apart from that its performance seems about the same as any other radio, and better than many.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by STAYVERTICAL on 2010-04-16
This radio is not a high end contesting rig, but you can't put one of those in your coat pocket.
There is simply no other radio out there which is in this radios class.
160m to 70cm all modes and with an internal battery.
I frequently use this rig in preference to my 100w rigs because it is so much fun to use.
Its 5 watts maximum output won't bend the S meters on the other side of the world but with an efficient antenna you will be heard.
Using Ham Radio Deluxe to control the radio, it is more like a modem sitting behind my laptop than a radio.
It is telling to see reviewers compare this radio to multiple other radios, but that is because this radio does it all in a tiny package.
I even use my FT817ND as a wide range, stable, frequency generator with an antenna bridge and ADC in a home brew programmable antenna analyser!
I fitted the 500hz optional collins mechanical filter and it works very well on cw and digital modes, when things get crowded.
I gave this rig a 5 rating as it has achieved or exceeded my expectations for a rig of this size and wide range.
This rig is like a swiss army knife, it does everything OK, but its not a machete!
My 817ND has also been totally reliable.
I use it in conjuction with an LDG z100 plus ATU.
For base station operation I bought a 3amp 12 volt regulated switching "wall wart" adaptor, which, so far, has worked fine, after winding the lead around a ferrite suppressor.
The complete station fits in the accessory pocket of a laptop bag!
In summary, if you want a contesting rig, 100watt radio, big display or just one band, this radio may not be for you.
But if you want a 160m to 70cm, all mode, put it in your pocket radio, there is just one choice - the FT817ND.
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| LAGERHEAD |
Rating:      |
2011-11-06 | |
| Excellent QRP Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| After upgrading my license to General yesterday at our local hamfest I purchased the FT-817ND at the show. I also purchased an inexpensive L-match tuner from MFJ to use with an AT-984AG end-fed wire antenna I've had since my Army days. I strung the antenna in my back yard about 10 feet off the ground & after adjusting the tuner, I answered my first contact in Puerto Rico, about 1500 miles from my QTH--on 2.5W! My second contact was made 2800 miles away in Canada--also on 2.5W! The feeling of excitement was un-describable. In just a few short minutes I made contacts up & down a quarter of our hemisphere on QRP. I'm very pleased with my purchase. I like the layout of the buttons & knobs...it's not too cluttered. The manual is surprisingly easy to understand. I would highly recommend this rig to anyone interested in QRP. |
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| VE3EGA |
Rating:      |
2011-10-19 | |
| It's better than.. (you know what?) |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I can't imagine a Summer without having an FT-817ND close at hand!
These are one 'helluva radio' offering everything, seemingly from 'DC to light' in 'paper-back-book-sized' package... and they just plain work!
Damit, go buy one before they stop making 'em!
73
Terry
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Earlier 5-star review posted by VE3EGA on 2011-07-27
I picked up this little gem at a local hamfest, having sold my pristine FT-857D at the same event - don't ask me why I sold the 857, there was no logical reason to even take it to the hamfest!
Anyway, I had promised myself one of these little QRP radios for the Summer, especially as I already had a THP HL-45B which I had previously used with my Flex-1500.
Admittedly, QRP is not for everyone and it takes a bit of experience to couple things together and make them work!
All I can say is WOW, from the moment I connected an antenna and played with it. I knew I had a winner!
When I got the radio it didn't have a CW filter (and I could probably have survived without one!) however, a local ham had one for sale, so I stuck it in the radio...
With my external 'Carolina Windom' I have worked into Europe (CW) on 5W on 30m (60k,NE of Toronto)and mostly S4 or S5. I can work pretty much everything I can hear at anything over S4.
On SSB, on 40M, East Coast (NY, PA, NC, SC) on 5W and the Windom is a breeze, and much, much further (S.America/Europe) with the 50W amp, it becomes a BIG RIG of course!
The added bonus with this radio is 6m, VHF, 440, Airband and VHF FM broadcast - ahhhh what more could you want in such a small package?
All in all, I've never had as much fun with such a small radio - so much so - that I'm probably going to eBay my Flex-1500 - I can live without a a flashy interface!
Anyone who doesn't like this radio must have some serious ham-operational issues - there's nothing not to like - it just plain works as it should!
Buy one before they stop making them!!
73
BTW: If you do not fully understand radio theory and band conditions (and MUF) and how to maximize contacts at certain critical times of the day you will be disappointed if you buy the FT-817 QRP radio and poke a telescopic whip into the rear connector... it doesn't work like that - seek an 'Elmer' to guide you and your journey will be rewarding! |
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| AI4HO |
Rating:      |
2011-10-18 | |
| Yaesu's Finest |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Here I am at the Melbourne, Fl. hamfest a couple of weeks ago..walking the aisles, browsing the tables, not really looking for anything in particular. I needed the break from our own club table, just needed a breather. Stopped at one table because this box catches my eye. Its a box that contained a Yaesu FT-817ND. I quickly asked the owner of the box if he had the radio that goes into the box..yep..how much I reply..my palms are sweaty, I'm getting that little twitch that tells me I'm about to make a deal that I've been searching for for almost 3 years.
I had sold my previous 817nd nearly 3 years earlier, and kicked myself for being so rash as to think I could just find another at a decent price. But that had to wait..until this year and the Melbourne ham fest. So, I'm talking with the owner of this 817nd..find out its less than 2 years old, and he doesn't have the manual..who needs a manual..besides I have a pdf of the manual on my computer at home, no wall charger..ok, now you're gonna tell me it doesn't work, or this or that feature doesn't work..right..my previous excitement is quickly turning to panic. Breathe Mark..breathe, but, my fears were put to rest, he just didn't want/need it any longer.
So, I ask..what all does come with this rig? Well, the mic, the 12v power cord, programming cable, 3 part rubber duck antenna, and..an LDG, Z100 auto tuner. When I heard the Z100 was a part of this deal I knew I had to make this deal. Now that I have both here at the QTH, I discovered that the Z100 was missing the power cord, ordered it, and an additional one for the 817. I've also ordered the Kranker knob, car charger, 2.3KHz SSB filter, and the CAT cable for the FT-817ND. This time around I want to be able to optimize this 817ND for my use. Last time I was a newby when it cam to QRP, don't get me wrong..I made a lot of contacts with it, but looking back I feel I could have done a lot better.
So..this time when I call CQ..QRP, I know that I'll have a better chance at making that contact, or having the QSO rather than not. I've had the Icom 703+ a great radio, it is..but I think that the FT-817ND is the premier qrp rig, it has the portability, to go any where you do, you're not tethered by needing that gel cell, or the power supply, you've got the whole thing right therre with you, this is Yaesu's finest..in one small package.
73 de Mark
W3LZK |
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| WZ2P |
Rating:      |
2011-09-23 | |
| Fantastic Radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned the FT817ND now for over 4 years. I can't say enough about this fantastic product. First let me remind everyone this radio has been on the market now for many years so any comparison to the new Elecraft qrp radio that isn't on sale yet is useless. I'm quite sure Yaesu is working on it's next gen version to compete if your willing to wait. I've made cw and ssb contacts to hundreds of stations near and far. Connected to my 500 foot loop (Skywire) I have stations on 160 meters giving me S9++, and some actually question my honesty when I tell them I'm running the FT817ND. Even with a mobile antenna although more challenging I've made lots of contacts. This radio brings the fun back into the hobby. Making a contact with the 817 is similar to landing a 150lb Sail Fish on 5 lb test.
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| NP3FS |
Rating:      |
2011-08-27 | |
| The Leatherman Multi-Tool of Amateur radio. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Someone named it the "Swiss Army Knife", I would call it the "Leatherman Multi-Tool" of Amateur Radio. Connected to a 5W Solar panel, external Gel-Cell and the HF antenna you feel pleased, this portable but extremely reliable setup may allow you to achieve HF QSO's 2000 miles away, hit VHF/UHF repeaters, to include various modes of Satellite communications from remote locations. Like all Yaesu, they are packed with sub-menus, but the audio is outstanding for such a compact radio. The best, all mentioned before can be stuffed on a school backpack. |
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| KT4EP |
Rating:      |
2011-07-21 | |
| Happy with my 817nd |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I didn't buy this radio thinking of it as a QRP rig or buying it for that reason. My Yaesu FT-840 will transmit 5 watts if necessary. The 817 also takes the place of an HT for me since my old Icom HT didn't have a tone board for the local 2 m repeaters. I had no 6 meter radio and nothing that would do digital. I have no complaints about the 817, I also looked at the 857 but went for the 817. It has all the features I need. It has some minor physical issues such as the front antenna gets in the way while fiddling with the front knobs, it needs to be propped up somehow for comfortable viewing on the display, the battery runs down quickly, but other than that, I really like this little rig. I would not suggest it for a first time HF rig. Go for a radio with 100 watts, first, then come back to the 817 for some real fun. Just my opinion. |
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| K2KOH |
Rating:      |
2011-06-25 | |
| Anytime, Baby! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I now keep my 817 and the JOEY Outbacker antenna in the back of my Ford Escape at all times. Gel cell always at the ready, just in case. This radio is like a telescope...if it's small and portable enough, it will get a lot of use. My 817 hs gotten a lot of use. (Condo living sucks, no home HF). Might invest in a second radio... |
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| KE7TMA |
Rating:     |
2011-06-03 | |
| Nice radio, good price. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have had the 817ND for a day so far. I played with it before I bought it once or twice, down at the ham store.
It's a neat little thing, and it is so tiny. The size must be seen to be believed. The hand mic is about 1/2 the volume of the radio itself!
Others have already commented on the important issues, so I will be brief. The receiver is very good, although maybe a bit sensitive without the IPO engaged. The operating system using the three soft keys under the screen is actually quite intuitive and quick to use, once you get used to it. The speaker is really, really powerful for the size, easily loud enough to hear from 50' away or more.
The dual antenna connector is also quite handy. |
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| KQ4YA |
Rating:     |
2011-01-28 | |
| Fun in a small package |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Let me echo what some of the others have said here - this little radio really puts the fun back in ham radio. My normal station routinely runs the legal limit. And QRP never sounded fun to me. But I travel domestically and overseas a bit and I wanted something that would be easy to pack and take along.
I realized going in that operating with 5 watts, or even 2.5 watts on battery power, wasn't going to easy. But since I enjoy listening as much, or maybe more, than talking that wasn't a big deal to me.
My first contact with the rig was on 40 meters SSB to a ham a little more than a thousand miles away. And yet I was thrilled. On my regular station that contact would have been trivial - but, using 5 watts, it seemed like an achievement.
One thing I noticed right away about the FT-817nd is how quiet the receive is ... that's not true for the FT-897D. Maybe I had a dud but the 897 was a noisy sucker and the audio wasn't pleasant to the ears. I swear - at least when comparing the two specific radios I've owned - the FT-817nd is quieter and also just a better receiver.
I won't be dumping my Pro III or my linear. But I do highly recommend the FT-817ND to anyone considering it. Just go into this with your eyes wide open about the limitations of operating QRP - and in the field you'll be doing it with a less than adquate antenna. But, if you can live with that, I can almost promise that you'll find the radio to be a real treat. |
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