Tuesday, October 28, 2014

My devotion to the Yaesu FT-817

About 3 days ago I bought yet another FT-817. This time (unlike the first two radios) this 817 it was the "ND" version which features on-board digital signal processing. I sold off the first two 817s to finance other radios that I had an interest in. All things being equal, I should have just kept my 2nd FT-817 since I had the CW/SSB filters and the BHI DSP unit from W4RT.

My love affair with the 817 goes all the way back to the early 2000s when I procured my first unit from Universal Radio in Reynoldsberg, Ohio. I had this one fitted out with the 500hz CW filter and used it on trips, vacations, and the occasional Field Day outings. Peppermint Patti (KB3MCT) found a padded cooler that would hold the rig, V/UHF Mirage linear amp (40w on 2m and 35w on 70cms) along with an HF antenna and coaxial feed line, CW paddles, straight key, mini-log book, and a whole bunch of other "stuff" that was designed to help me have fun with the rig while on the go.

The second FT-817 was procured from e-bay. I'd had it about 3 months when the driver went south and I had to send it to Yaesu USA out in California for repair. After $140 including parts, labor and postage both ways, I had my little gem back. I then sent it to W4RT to have them add the 500 hz CW and 2.3 khz SSB filters and the BHI DSP unit. I also upgraded the pathetic 1400 aHr rechargable pack with a pair of 2400 aHr packs from, of all places, Radio Shack!! This is the rig I used while house sitting at my daughter's place in Tampa. The housing area had definite "no antenna policy" but that didn't stop me. Oh, no....Up went 30/20m dipole and an 80/40m dipole into a handy palm tree. Height at the feed point was about 15 ft off the ground! It was still enough to allow me to work the K5D DXpedition on Desecheo Island on 3 bands with only 5w output from the 718. Not bad. Unfortunately, I sold this rig to finance yet another radio set that I thought I really needed. OOPS....bad move.

So, that brings me up to earlier this week when I took the plunge, went to HRO and picked up my new FT-817ND. This new radio will eventually receive a 500 hz CW filter  and the 2.3 kHz SSB filter, along with a Heil HC-4 mic element (I saved one from the last time I ordered one from Heil....they no longer offer these elements).

My very first accessory will be the Tactical Transceiver Bag from AMP-3 (http://stores.amp-3.net/amateur-radio/) which is the first intelligent bag system I have seen for this rig, especially for an ARES/RACES go-bag. There is room for a lot of "stuff" in that Tac Transceiver Bag, including a 7aHr gel-cell battery, coaxial cable, and all sorts of operating goodies.

Next comes the Mirage BD-35 dual band linear amp (FM only) from MFJ/Mirage (http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mir-bd-35?seid=dxese1&gclid=CJGxg5f00MECFUMV7Aod1jQAwQ). The small form factor and extremely light weight make this linear a must-have for anyone needing more than 4-5 w output on V/UHF bands.

At a future time W4RT will get the rig to install the 500 hz and the 2.3 kHz Collins mechanical filters (http://www.w4rt.com/FT-817-Accessories/filters.htm). I already have the mini-paddles along with a small straight key.

One thing I will need to procure is a netbook-type mini-computer for the go-bag. With the emphasis being placed on using FLdigi and other digital modes on our ARES deployments I need a small computer to meet these ARES requirements.

Long ago Fair Radio Sales in Lima, OH, sold a set of fiberglass poles that fit together to yield a portable mast about 16 ft long. Included with this mast set was a ground plane antenna cut for around 80mHz. By trimming off the radials and the primary radiator I got the ground plane antenna to resonate on 146mHz with no trouble at all. This antenna also had about 25 ft of 50 Ohm coaxial cable in the kit so I have a ready made mobile antenna system thanks the the Israeli Defense Force!  That Israeli mast system was so cool I obtained another set so now I can go up over 30 ft using all the sections including the the antenna.

Personally, I like the 817 a lot. Several folks I have talked to wanted to know why I didn't buy an Elecraft KX-3 transceiver. Simple answer: the KX-3, while a really great radio, is way too expensive. At a cost of $1000 for the bare bones rig, you rapidly escalate that price tag as soon as you start adding crystal filtering, and other options. Besides, I could not even imagine me taking a $2000+ radio out into the bush. Not gonna happen. My K3 lives in my shack and it stays there....I have no desire to drag my K3 out to Field Day, etc. While the KX-3 is a great radio with outstanding specs, unless you are on a DXpedition or living in a condo and have your shack in a closet, I cannot really see the need to procure a KX-3.

I honestly think that the FT-817 is the most flexible radio set currently on the market. It gives you access to all the HF bands from 160 to 10 n, 6m, 2m and 70cms. All modes (AM/CW/SSB/Data), access to the MF and SW broadcast bands, the commercial FM freqs, along with air band. In short the tiny package makes the FT-817 my personal choice of a go-anywhere rig at a very reasonable price.

Vy 73

Rich, K7SZ

8 comments:

  1. Hi Rich... I always enjoy your writings. The ND version, unfortunately, does not have DSP like its bigger brother the FT-857. So, the BHI unit is still a nice add-on. The ND does include 60M and a much improved noise blanker over the original design.
    73, Mike W5RST (ex-N5JKY)

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    1. You are absolutely correct, Mike. The :ND version does NOT have DSP. My mistake. Thanks for writing. Hope to wk you on the bands.

      Vy 73
      Rich K7SZ

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  2. Hi Rich, I own two FT-817nd radios, have for many years. In 35+ years as a licensed amateur, I've had the best high end rigs and I've had some not-so-nice rigs.

    I sold everything except the two FT-817nd rigs. They really are all that I need. While at home, One stays on HF while the other is on VHF & UHF. This allows me to monitor & talk on two bands simultaneously. I'm even thinking of adding a third. On HF at home, I use a good quality external 100w bandswitched amplifier if I need more power. Most of the time I don't need it though. Both radios have the optional 2.3k SSB filters installed. I also use a Timewave DSP-9+ for DSP.

    One of these radios has been with me everywhere over the years. From long (20+ mi.) wilderness hikes & mountain climbs to camping to a 7000+ mile cross-country road trip in 2012. Never once have these little wonders let me down, and I have made many, many contacts & good QSOs on all bands & modes.

    With the FT-817, I can listen to many other services besides amateur radio - VHF air traffic, FM broadcast, Shortwave, and even public service if I plug in a small receive converter (MFJ-313). And all in a box about the size of a thick paperback book.

    The KX-3 doesn't even come close in this regard.

    Some have complained about internal battery life of the FT-817. In my case, I bought & installed the Windcamp 2500mah LiPo batteries & associated charging doors on my 817s and have no problem with battery life. For long-range hikes I also carry one or two small external AA packs which have eight NiMh batteries each.

    For digital modes, I use simple transformer-isolated audio cables along with USB CAT cables. They work flawlessly.

    So to sum, what I have with my FT-817s is:

    All mode, all band amateur capability including HF/6m/2m/70cm in a station which performs very well and which I can use anywhere - at home, backpacking, camping, in motels, park tables, even pedestrian mobile.

    I did consider selling my FT-817s awhile back and buying an Elecraft KX-3 but after awhile my sense came back and I realized what I'd be losing vs. what I would gain then I quickly banished the thought! :). And I'm also pretty sure that a KX-3 is much to fragile for the type of use which one of my FT-817s has endured.

    Anyway, thanks for the nice post!

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    1. "And I'm also pretty sure that a KX-3 is much to fragile for the type of use which one of my FT-817s has endured."

      Fragile. That was what stopped me. I love the KX-3's DSP receiver but my 817 is meant to be outdoors and I can take it anywhere without worrying that I'm going to break it. Once I actually had my hands on an 817 I forgot about wanting a KX-3. I've used it in all the digital modes, used it for SO-50 Satcom with an arrow antenna and have found the radio to be all round fun to use. As for batteries, I just tote a couple of 5000MaH LiPo batteries for external power and that get's me through the time I'm out. Usually on of the externals ends up not being used.

      QRP CW out in the woods, camping with friends.. That makes for a great way to spend a summer night.

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    2. Hi Chuck.

      Thanks for writing. I agree that the KX3 is too fragile to take the beating it would get on an EmComm deployment. Unfortunately, I don't do much camping anymore. Peppermint Patti (KB3MCT) and I will be selling our place next year and picking up a RV and do some serious Road Warrior trips. The 817s will come in mighty handy then. The K3 will probably get sold (sob!!) but we just won't have the room in the camper for a big (physically) station.

      vy 73

      Rich K7SZ

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    3. Thanks for writing, Darrell. I had thought about the Timewave unit and I may still try to procure one in the future. It seems that everyone on the planet has one of those Windcamp 2500mah LiPo batteries but me!! I upgraded the pathetic 1400 mA/hr pack that came with the 817 and got a 2400 mA/hr pack from a battery vendor at the local hamfest last year. It works OK, but the current requirements on receive for the 817 suck it down pretty fast. I do have a 5000 mA/hr LiPo pack that I picked up to go in the Amp 3 tactical bag. It works fine but DO NOT let them discharge too much or the pack is ruined. That little lesson cost me $48!!!

      Vy 73

      Rich K7SZ

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  3. I had several 817s the past 10 plus years and made tons of contacts. Its a great radio even if the built battery is a joke. I have the Windcamp lion battery and have used the W4rt in the past. This radio is a keeper. I have the kx3 as well and the Icom 703 but the one I grab the most is the yaesu. I was in Vancouver and with a balcony hotel room and my vest pocket vertical , an additional 9.6v battery pack was able to work the local repeaters and work stateside , vp2 and pj4 and a few ja',s on 10m. Sure the kx3 and 703 could do the same but the Icom is bigger and the elecraft doesn't do uhf. Grab the 817 and I am down at the nearby park sipping a coffee listening to the BBC with a 8 foot wire. Its the case, shoulder strap and form factor that makes it ideal. Only recommendation is the cw or SSB filter depending on your preferences.

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    1. John, thanks for taking the time to write. I totally agree about the KX3 and the 703. I had a 703 and was using it as a portable rig but didn't like it very much. The 706 and the 703 have hard to master ergonomics (for me anyway) so I'll stick with the 8178.
      Vy 73
      Rich K7SZ

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