| K5MGK |
Rating:  |
2023-03-12 | |
| Long On Features and Short On Price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought my FT-450AT earlier this year from an estate sale. The radio was new in the box and only used for testing by the ham who was handling the sale of the SK's ham gear. I have been using the new rig for over a month and have found it to be a great radio for the price (I paid $525 including shipping). After my first week or so of experimentation I found that the monitor feature was not working well for me to choose a mic equalizer setting. I had also found that the automatic tuner was too finnicky compared to my FT-991A's ATU. I had it attached to my external tuner, so I didn't use the internal tuner for the next couple of weeks. Then, I did a firmware update (it updated 60m memory channels) and reset the radio like the instructions said and both the internal tuner and the monitor feature both are working correctly now, yeah :o)
Over the period of several weeks, I have tried some digital modes, SSB phone, and listened to CW. For phone, I have played with the DSP features and found them easy to use and with some experimenting, I have found them useful. The first several DNR settings don't seem to have any affect on the noise level, but the last 5 or 6 are noticably quieter. For my hand mic, I use the default flat mic equalizer setting after monitoring myself with headphones. When I transmit, the output power seems up to snuff according to my external tuner's analog meter.
Setting the rig up with digital modes was not difficult as I use a similar setup with my G90. I bought a USB CAT cable and a split 6-pin data jack cable to plug into a the dongle USB soundcard at my computer. The digimodes worked without a problem. The only program I had a problem with was Winlink as it doesn't recognize the USB CAT cable connected to the FT-450. I use digital VOX on Winlink to bypass the CAT cable issue.
One nice feature that my FT-991A doesn't have is the ability to assign the C.S. button to a 10w carrier for tuning my external tuner. I haven't experimented yet with the memories, repeater settings (we don't have 10m repeaters near me) or with the RX/TX recording features.
As for using the menu system, I leave it on the extended longer menu option because I found the short menu not as useful. I have found that the included microphone is a condenser microphone and I prefer it to the optional dynamic MH-31 mic that comes with the FT-991A and the FT-450D models. I know at some point, those three mic buttons on the MH-31 would be useful to program. I wish the included MH-67 had those buttons, especially for transmitting the two pre-recorded message for POTA activations, etc.
The compact size of the radio is a real plus for taking portable and the internal speaker is loud and clear. I am glad I jumped at the chance to buy this rig! |
|
| VA3XQ |
Rating: |
2022-02-27 | |
| easy to operate |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| used mostly for digital. easy to use not much menu input needed and when there its set and forget. Very solid and a great receiver, actually better than most and i have used many. don't hesitate to try one. |
|
| G0JPF |
Rating: |
2022-02-14 | |
| Not for me... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Has pretty good reciever, easy to operate, but the audio is terrible |
|
| NN2X |
Rating: |
2021-03-31 | |
| It works |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I got this radio as a "Loaner", for the used price nowadays of $500, you can't beat it...It does have Noise Reduction, which for me is a must..
Once you get around the menus, it is not all that complicated. I never owned a Yaesu, only Kenwood, so it took me a little to get around the knobs, so to speak
I had some fun getting this to work on digital modes, but all good..
All in all, you can't beat the functionality versus the price...
|
|
| KE7MU |
Rating: |
2019-07-07 | |
| Ok for small cheap radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I compared my ft897, came out in 2002, with my ft450, came out in 2007, with my ft891, came out in 2016 and my ft991A came out 2017, here are the results.
Easy to use ft450, least menus
Best DSP, all have draw backs
Ft897 & ft450 good but some noise
Ft891 good but doesn't reduce noise when station isn't present, blanker distorts SSB
Ft991 best but requires external audio amp to hear
Lowest cost ft891 $599 Sale
Highest cost ft991a $1199 Sale
Largest footprint tie Ft897 and ft991a, also both uhf and vhf.
After almost 20 years, I would have expected more and better performance differences rather than repackaging mediocre performing designs. After listening to ft1200 and ft3000, the have more knobs but same mediocre performance.
I understand if you spend more money you would expect better performance and defend your choices, but it is what it is!
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KE7MU on 2008-12-21
First let me say, I do not ridicule the radio because it has a small tuning dial, it's monochrome display, different power connector etc. In fact I do not have a problem with anything I could evaluate before the purchase. Hams that give radios a poor review on such things baffle me. Here are the
Pro's
1. DSP Filters are nice and work great.
2. DNR Dynamic Noise Reduction works great.
3. Mic EQ works good.
4. $635 delivered.
Con's
1. Noise blanker doesn't seem to work at all.
2. Not being able to use the tuning dial in AM mode is inconvenient.
3. SWR meter goes to max with an SWR of 2:1 as indicated on an external meter.
4. I couldn't get the notch filter to notch out hetrodynes on 40m.
5. Not being able to reprogram useless front panel buttons such as NB and Keyer should be addressed in future software upgrades.
So why did I give it a 4, it's all about features per $ invested. A hi-tech HF rig for a weeks pay, not bad. Of course if I could get an Orion, SDR5000 or K3 for a weeks pay, that is what I would have chosen.
|
|
| N7HO |
Rating: |
2019-02-18 | |
| My Favorite |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I got mine from a trade. I bought a FT-897D new and although it did everything it was supposed to, it was just the most boring radio I've ever owned. So an opportunity came up to trade with a friend for his used FT-450 (non-D/AT) + accessories, I jumped on the deal, and haven't regretted it a bit. I won't jump into details that are already covered here, but I will mention that I own a TS-940S/AT, an IC-781, and two IC-7200's, but this is the radio I prefer on my desk. The Icoms are good radios and I have no desire to part with them, but the little 450 is just fun to operate, and holds it's own against the 7200's. If you want an excellent "beginner" radio, I suggest the FT-450(D). |
|
| ZR1PJA |
Rating: |
2017-04-27 | |
| Great Practical Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The FT450 has proved itself over and over again. It has travelled in my hand luggage on many flights.
I have combined it with the LDG AT100 and works well together.
I have been able to setup a station quickly and easily in various locations with some very basic antenna systems that fit the location.
ThE DSP works well and able to isolate a signal very well.
Great display with large charaters and easy to use.
Changing the display colour is a bonus as I am partially colour blind.
The 450D has the advantage of the more visable fonts on the keys which is a big plus.
Highly recommended.
|
|
| W1WM |
Rating: |
2017-03-07 | |
| Tremendous Value |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned my FT-450AT for over 8 years and I have to say that I am still amazed as to what a great value it is. IF DSP in a radio of this price class is incredible. There are numerous features to eliminate QRM. Many choices are "stepped" rather than continuously adjustable (like the speech processor) but it doesn't deter from practical operation. Yaesu even provided the file for updating the 60M band. This has to be one of their best efforts yet...So much performance for so little money! |
|
| AF5CC |
Rating: |
2016-10-24 | |
| Great value! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
If you look around on the used market, you should be able to find one of these in the $400-450 price range, and it is an incredible radio for that price. People are asking that much for a used Yaesu FT840 or Kenwood TS140, and this radio comes with so much more.
Look at what you get as standard with this radio:'
1. IF DSP noise reduction
2. Narrow DSP based CW and SSB filters
3. TXCO
4. Manual IF notch filter-much better than AF auto notch filters
5. CW memory keyer
6. Voice keyer
7. Voice synthesizer
8. Transmit audio equalizer
9. Transmit audio monitor
#2, #3, and #7 would run you a couple of hundred dollars for the Icom 718, and you still wouldn't have 6 meters on it, nor the voice keyer or CW memory keyer-the 718 does have a built in keyer but no memories with it.
The receiver on the FT450 is very good for its price range. It isn't in the same class as the FT1000 or Icom 756PRO series receivers, but then it didn't cost near as much either. It's receiver is better than entry level radios. The noise blanker is pretty good at taking out the power line noise I am getting at my QTH that the power company is in the process of fixing.
Also, this radio does have a menu system, but most of those are set and forget things. You can do all of the basic functions from the front panel.
The only downside to the non-D model of the FT450 is that you can't use the narrow CW filter on the digital modes for RTTY contesting. You can use it if you run split and use CW for receive.
If you need a dedicated RF power knob, or CW speed knob, you can program the MULTI knob to service as one. I use mine to change CW keyer speed.
Get the MH-31 hand mic with the UP/DOWN/FAST buttons (standard with the FT450D) as you can program those buttons to control different radio functions. I use the DOWN button to send voice keyer message #1 and the UP button to control voice keyer message #2.
Another nice function of this radio is that they call the SWR function. I program the C.S button to control that, so when I push in the button it switches the meter to SWR, and sends out a 10 watt carrier. Great for using the external antenna tuner. This is just another function which shows how well thought out the design of this radio is. |
|
| K9NZ |
Rating: |
2014-10-28 | |
| what's not to like |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
What can I say it's leaps a head of a IC 718 and many other starter rigs. I have had a couple in the shack as back up to a K3. It is great radio in the $450 to $550 price range. A very good receiver, good filtering and I get great audio reports with a $20. radio shack microphone and its very nice CW rig. A lot of neat stuff in a small package. Again whats not to like.
K9NZ
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by K9NZ on 2013-06-02
I have had the FT450 for about a month. In my opinion it a great little rig for the money. I get great audio reports and the receiver is good
the dsp works fine . The tuner is great I can tune a 135 foot zep using a 4:1 balun and the internal tuner on all bands but 40 meters not bad
for a $600- rig. I have a Elecraft K3, is the FT450 in its class no! But it cost less than the second receiver in the K3. I am a CW operator and the 450 does a good job on CW better than most entry level radio's, dont buy this radio expecting a high preformance contest radio. I like it even with the shortcomings. To me its a very good casual radio. |
|
