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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-450

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-450
Reviews: 219MSRP: aprox 999.00 new
Description:
The FT-450 is a rugged, innovative multi-band, multimode portable transceiver for the amateur radio HF & 6M bands. Providing coverage of the 160-10 meter bands plus the 6 m, the FT-450 includes operation on the SSB, CW, AM, FM, and Digital modes, yielding the most comprehensive performance package available for field operation.


Designed for use from an external DC power source, the FT-450 provides 100 watts of power output from a 13.8-Volt external power supply, 160 - 6 meter coverage
Product is in production
More Info: http://foxtango.org/FT-450/Yaesu_FT-450.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
152194.6
N8TCZ Rating: 2009-07-17
You can't beat it for the price. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've only used the transceiver for a couple months on 6 meters. The receiver works great, copy signals that don't even show up on the "S" meter. I get excellent audio/signal reports from the transmitter. One note about the small tuning knob. I use the DSP/SEL knob for fast tuning since it tunes in 2.5KHZ increments per click(it's adjustable) and just use the main tuning knob to get within the other 1-1.5KHZ if necessary. On 6 meters I can change from 50.125 to 50.180 in one turn of the DSP/SEL knob and be waiting for anyone's QSY before they get there. I've only used for SSB so far and I can see there are features on this radio that I will never use.
Marv
KC2ULJ Rating: 2009-07-12
Great portable Rig Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this radio for a few months now and i am really enjoying it. I opted for the non AT because i planned on using it portable with long wire. It has performed well off a deep cycle battery and an old mfj manual tuner on a few camping trips. I am actually using it more as my primary rig at home because of the filtering, it is a joy to listen to. I would have given it a five but it was a pain to get it tx on 60 mtrs. Great radio for the money. 73s kc2ulj
G8UBJ Rating: 2009-06-23
Basic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sort of does what it should but no more.
Thats the point.. the build quality is excellent, has lots of nice features, I can't fault the TX and its really compact. But... the DSP isn't narrow enough for serious digital use and there's no option to fit a filter. Also the tuning knob is very small.
If neither of these are a problem to you then consider it a five..
K0UA Rating: 2009-06-21
great radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works well, I have it for a backup rig to my 756proIII. I bought the bail for an FT847, and put on it. It looks great and works great! Thanks to K2PJW web page! Mine is one of the 2007 models, and therefore you can change the display to any color you want, I really like that. Ok it is not quite the receiver the 756proIII is but it is also 1/4 the price. Good audio reports. the tuner is good, but wont quite match the loads the 756 does. they really mean 3 to 1 max. The contour control is really nice for cw audio peaking. The DSP is as good as the ICOM. All in All a great value for the money.
N3IBX Rating: 2009-06-12
Great value for the money! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hello All, I've always wanted a Ft-450 since their inception, and finally acquired one a few weeks ago. I've been playing around with it and really like what I find. The true IF DSP works wonders on some QRN/M, the addition of a singe 10KC roofing filter is a good thing but a couple of other roofing filters would be nice, but considering the price I paid for the radio, I'm not complaining. It's a definite class leader, and I think you'll find that after you figure out a few quirks the operation will come natural to you.

I anticipate running "HRD" - Ham Radio Deluxe with the FT-450, and can use the same serial cable I acquired for it's operation on my FT-950.

The FT-450 is a lot like the FT-950 in some respects, but it's operation is just a little different.

I do have a issue with the transmitted audio quality. From what I've read, your transmitted audio won't go below 400hz, even when enhanced by the onboard voice frequency synthesizer. At best, it's punchy but very clear, and good for general ssb work. I've been using the stock microphonium and plan on trying a MD-100 desk mic to see if it's any improvement.

There are two quirks I think you should know. First,the microphone gain control is a function of a menu. You're given three choices: low, normal, and high!
Secondly, their is no conventional speech processor as we're accustomed to. Speech processing is a enhancement from a mix of audio settings in the menu, tailored to your specific need. I personally like to push a button for my speech processor when trying to bust a pileup! I digress.

Good luck and I think you'll be very happy with your purchase, considering it's initial cost.

Joe Cro N3IBX
AD5QP Rating: 2009-06-02
Great affordable radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I operate casually on HF and 6m. As such, I find this radio to be a keeper. Have had many radios over a period of about 40 years, but this one will probably be the last. It has a great receiver and covers all the bands and requirements that I have. The knob is not a problem to me. As long as it turns...... When I get to it, I will open it up for MARS. It works better than my Kenwood TS-850S as far as pulling a signal out of the noise. Recommend this radio to anyone...
former_K8CEB Rating: 2009-05-21
Great Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just recently bought this rig. Prior to that I had been using a IC-718 which is a good rig. I wanted 6 mtr capability, so after reading reviews and comments bought this rig. The price was in my range with the coupon offering that Yaesu had at the time. I have heard some FT 450 owners complaining they are told their audio has a background hum when they transmit. I have also heard they can get rid of this hum by turning the displays "bright" control to a number "4" set point and this gets rid of the hum. Well, I use a Astron 50 amp regulated power supply and HAVE NOT experienced this as I have my brightness set to a number 1. I have been told by Yaesu tech support that this hum will be noticeable if you operate the rig with a 22 or 25 amp power supply. The rig isn't seeing enough amperage with these supplies. The larger the amp rating on a regulated supply the better off your rig will be. The receiver is much better (hotter) than my IC-718 which does have a good front end. I have already been complimented several times about the great sounding audio my rig has using the stock handheld mic. I can tune out adjacent freq QRM much better than I could with my Icom. I truley believe that dollar for dollar you can't get a better rig than this one. I have my rig set on top of my Palstar tuner so I don't have an issue with the small VFO knob or any of the other buttons to operate the rig. I would recommend this rig to anyone that is looking for 6 mtr operations along with regular HF bands. Have a great day.
Greg
k8ceb
KA4AIY Rating: 2009-05-09
It's OK I think Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Can't give it a 5 yet. I don't like the manual and I thought ICOM's was deficient. ICOM seems virtuous compared with the FT 450 manual, my experience with Kenwood and ICOM was better.

My gripe is that the 450 manual does not present a clear direct instruction set fro doing a simple thing like invoking 60 Meter operation. You have to do some digging and then it isn't clear how to go straight to 60 Meters. The around about way (my opinion) you have to get to 60 meters suggests it was an add on or after-thought in programming for it in the factory. 60 meters has been a reality for a couple of years now and one would think Yaesu would have re-programmed their eProm to have it more directly accessible like the other bands are. I'm picky here, but why not be able to go to 60M with the panel band switch like the other bands? You can't. To get 60M you have to go to menu setting option followed by another panel button in a rapid sequence and then select the part of the memory menu that includes the 60M presets. Cumbersome and cryptic. It would be better to have it in the band band selection function, as are the other bands.

It took some trial and error to invoke the pre-set section of the 60 meter portion; no mention in manual of how to simply get there directly, as the data is all combined with the protracted memory program option.. when the 60M part is factory preset; getting to it is not easy as it could be. Invoking menu settings several times, it finally popped in.. yet no clear directions are in the manual's memory section... thus you have to "fight" for it.

The filtering and DSP tuning functions are good things... they were the attributes that attracted me to this rig, as I like to go Packet and CW modes, each having a different audio tuning requirement.

The 450 manual is not very user friendly. It could be better organized. Finally, I think this rig is a little over-priced at full retail; Discount program made it price attractive.
W4HIJ Rating: 2009-04-13
Great value! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got my radio in late Febuary of this year and after "leisurely" operation in the ARRL International DX SSB and the CQ WPX SSB contest I will say that I like this little rig a lot. I've mostly owned Kenwood radios and a couple of Icoms before buying this one and I'd have to say all in all that I'm pretty happy with it. I can do without ever owning an Icom again and I think I'll always be a Kenwood guy at heart but when you look at the Yaesu 450 and the feature to dollar ratio there is nothing that comes close. The receiver is quite good for a radio in this price range and as I'm getting the hang of the DSP and all the adjustment options, I'm really starting to enjoy it more and more. The only real problem I've had is with the DIGI VOX when trying to operate soundcard modes. Might just be me but it seems finicky at best. I got frustrated with it quickly. When I got it sensitive enough to key the radio consistently I found I had no room for leeway in adjusting my soundcard receive levels.
The DIGI VOX would trip while my software was in receive mode anytime I got the volume near a comfortable listening level. I finally just whipped up a circuit to hard key the PTT from a serial port and turned the DIGI Vox off. It's a minor issue and it could be something exclusive to my setup so I still gave the radio a 5 because of the exceptional value and feature to dollar ratio.
WB4TJH Rating: 2009-03-25
Nothing can touch it for performance and value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have only had my FT-450 a few days, but I have put the little rig thru its paces and I'm very pleased with it. No, it's certainly not a perfect radio, and there are a couple of things I would like to have seen done differently. The RF power control should be a dedicated knob instead of being buried in the menu, but that's not really too big a hassle. The second thing is that the radio should have been provided with a folding bail to get the viewing angle higher off the desk. I would also like to see a narrower CW filter setting than 500hz, perhaps 250hz. But overall all, the little radio performs very, very well, and has all the basic features and performance I need in an everyday HF+6 meter radio. I've been licensed for 38+ years, and have owned dozens of different HF radios in that time, but I do believe the FT-450 offers more radio, performance, and features that anything anywhere near its price class. I'll still give it 5 stars despite a few things I would have preferred differently, but for the features and performance it offers, weighed against its cost, it's a definite winner and a keeper. The FT-450 is light years ahead of the Icom IC-718. It offers new-tech IF DSP over the Icom's old-tech audio DSP, and it does not require several $180 accessory filters like the Icom does to make it more versatile. With the FT-450, there's basically nothing else you really need to buy to have a comlete and versatile radio. I would not hesitate to buy another one.