| HG0WH |
Rating:      |
2018-01-16 | |
| Happy that I've made this choice! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
When I decided to go for a HF radio I kept in mind that it should be portable. Well, there were 3 radios on my shortlist: OMEGA+ - an all band QRP radio made in Poland, JNB 200 - a two bander made in Hungary, and the Yaesu FT 817 ND. The two former radios are significantly cheaper, and are also much less known. I spoke with the manufacturers of those radios, but finally I decided for the Yaesu for two reasons. I use endfed wire antennas while I'm out in the nature. So I need the SWR protection, and only Yaesu provides that. And Yaesu has a built in battery.
I am spending about an hour or so QSO-ing at one time. So setting up a mast is not an option for me, I want to be on the air in 5 minutes. I use either a fishing rod fastened to the back wheel of my bicycle, and put a home made EARC 6-40 antenna on it, or I throw a wire-reinforced fishing line onto a tree forming an inverted V antenna. I prefer the latter in the past weeks, since it can be put higher.
I can use this little radio very well with these antennas. I have a ZM-4 tuner that does the job - I need somewhat more time to tune the fishing line antenna, but it is a bit quieter than the other. So I fasten the tuner onto the radio, and it has a short connection to the balun which hangs on it. I put the whole thing in in my neck with the strap of the radio. I prefer standing, because this way I can also influence the transmission by walking this or that way if needed. The speaker's volume is excellent, even when the tuner covers it, I can hear what I want. I must use the lock button to disable the fine tuning knob, because it has contact to my belly and when I move - it tunes. The display illumination can be disabled when outside, and the contrast can be lowered to about 4-5. The only thing that must be repeated for tuning is switching transmission mode to AM and back. This is a couple of button presses, and can be done quickly. This is the only thing I wish that could be simpler. I recommend this radio for anyone who wants a small and smart rig. |
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| KD7WPJ |
Rating:   |
2017-12-13 | |
| Will not buy |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| My first radio was Yaesu FT-857D. It worked great, and I used it as base station, mobile, SOTA and for DX-peditions. I sent it for Yaesu for repair once under the warranty, and I repaired it one more time by myself. When it was stolen, I replaced it by FT-817ND. I bought it from another HAM, and it was almost new. First I realized that SWR is very high on 40 Meter band. I also found that sometimes I was unable to setup maximum output power 5W. I used this radio for SOTA only. Some correspondents reported poor sound quality. Finally the microphone fail to operate, and I replaced the microphone element to fix it. Than FT-817ND stopped to operate from external power supply. I opened an enclosure and found very poor manufacturing workmanship on the main board- some ICs were soldered by hands and not cleaned from flux. I decided that it is not worth to repair it , and I sold it for parts. I will not recommend to buy FT-817ND. I also evaluated new Yaesu model at local HRO - FT-991, and it had parasitic receiving channels that I did not hear on other radios. It seems that Yaesu amateur radio product line is going down, considering quality and performance. |
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| HA8MZ |
Rating:      |
2017-04-22 | |
| Great little RIG |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is my first HF TRX, and I'm very happy with it. There are a lot of accessories for it, and very easy to use, especially in digimodes. In RX the power consumption is great, but in TX the 2A is a bit too much, I think.
The VHF/UHF is a big plus. For small portable operation it's a great RIG, and at home you can use amplifier if 5W is not enough.
I can bring it everywhere in my laptopcase.
It was a good decision to buy this one for first TRX, someday I will buy a bigger one, but I will not sell my 817ND. |
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| WB4CNL |
Rating:      |
2017-04-14 | |
| Great Radio |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I use it for Digital and QRP SSB a great little transceiver |
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| SV1AGK |
Rating:      |
2017-01-27 | |
| excellent |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| i have more than 5 years , no any problem ,excellent receiver, |
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| M0GNA |
Rating:      |
2016-07-29 | |
| The cats whiskers. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| A gem of radio.I sold one and almost went into deep depression afterwards.The only way out of the darkness was to buy another.A superb all singing all dancing QRP rig that is so hard to beat.Everything you want wrapped up in a bullet proof case.All radio hams should be given one at birth. |
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| DJ3UN |
Rating:      |
2016-07-15 | |
| More then I had ever before |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
My first impression was man, I needed full table couple of years ago to fit all the stuff on it that I have now in this small piece of gear!
I bought it new, and I have only superlatives about it. In very beginning, before I got it outside, I wasn't quite sure if I like the way it's buttons and UI are working, but once I started really using it as portable device I'm more than happy with it. Never had any issues with neither transmitting or reception, and receiving is REALLY nice even with my cheapest earplugs I bought some time ago and found somewhere at home.
This is something I'm definitely not getting rid off. |
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| N8AUC |
Rating:      |
2016-06-16 | |
| Nothing else like it! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've always enjoyed QRP, and I always wanted one of these. So when I spotted a used 817 (pre ND) on an indoor table at Dayton a few years ago, I jumped at it. The only thing I can say is, "Why did I wait so long to get one of these?"
This tiny little radio literally does everything (except receive NOAA weather radio). It's a "jack of all trades". And while it's a master of none of them, it performs competently at all of them.
It will use just about anything as a power source, including internal batteries if you must.
Sometimes, 5 watts is a challenge. Sometimes, it's so easy it will blow your mind. Put one of these on a resonant dipole, and real fun awaits.
I absolutely love mine. If it died, I'd buy another one to replace it in a heartbeat. This is the ultimate, go anywhere, do anything, fits in a coat pocket, QRP rig. Yaesu hit the ball so far out of the park with this little radio, that no one else has even tried to compete with it after all these years. There truly is nothing else like it.
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| KF9MP |
Rating:      |
2016-06-16 | |
| Best QRP Transceiver |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I dearly love my FT-817. This rig was purchased new in 2006 and has performed flawlessly ever since. My favorite uses so far have been as a mobile fro 2m in the car or as a QRP rig at home to work JT65 or PSK31 from home. I don't think I've ever worked SSB on HF with it but as a digital transceiver it always works fine.
I use mine on HF with the Yaesu SCU-17 USB unit to sit between the win-10 laptop and the 817. I've also used the LDG tuners and the tiny HF amp sold on amazon giving it up to 40 watts output. Never a problem once you get used to the settings and requirements for operating digital modes.
All in all my most dependable, easy to operate in almost any environment, HF rig.
There are tons of aftermarket programs for using this like a big rig, lots of accessories too.
My only complaint is some of the buttons are tiny, so fat fingered people may find it frustrating poking the V/M and F buttons. If this radio ever died I would immediately replace it with the exact same rig. |
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| VK5GI |
Rating:      |
2016-05-07 | |
| RIPPER |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've had this wee rig in my home qth for a couple of years now, but this is the first time I've travelled with it. So, I'm sitting on the verandah of my daughter's house in Brisbane, a glass of Sauvignon-blanc in my hand, perfect sunshine. Bliss! The 817 has a bit of a wet noodle attached to it (4state end-fed, home brew) tossed horizontally to a nearby tree at verandah level and I'm listening and working French Polynesia, Hawaii, Norfolk Island and the US west coast.all on 20 metres. Heavens above, what more can an old guy want? Ok, ok, so the battery runs out after an hour or so - next time I try and smuggle my li-po pack onto the plane! A gem of a radio, and I have had them all. So, buy one! |
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