FT-817ND , FT-857D or FT-897D ????
Paul Starship
Or IC706MkIIG, IC703 etc etc , a second hand FT100D etc etc etc.
Intended operations include:
Portable/SOTA/DF'ing,
Mobile,
When not out&about, to be used for WSPR,
Must have decent CW capability.
Which one and why ?
GI7B
I use the 897 portable for the UKAC Tuesday night contests, it's not the
best radio in the world but works well enough and more importantly for a
portable radio it works well when the supply volts drop when using a
caravan battery down to about 11.5V. Some of the icom and kenwood
radios start to sound very wide and splatter at lower supply voltages.
The DSP CW filter works very well on VHF but on HF with a crowded band
it is next to useless due to any strong signals in the pass-band of the
main filter pumps the AGC. The little 817 is used in the car every day
but the internal battery pack only lasts for about an hour of operating,
a small alarm system battery will last all afternoon.
Gerry ....
Conor
FT897 is just feckin ugly and too big really.
FT857 suffers from the select knob failing and is menu hell
FT817 seems to be very popular although QRP and again, menu hell.
--
Conor I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.
luc...@eternal-flames.gov
You'll appreciate the weight of the 817 if you plan to do a lot of /P
and SOTA.
I've had mine a relatively short time and am well pleased.
Walt's had his longer. Get his opinion.
Nick.
Michael
"Paul Starship " <p.bl...@google-nospam-email.com> wrote in message
news:4bdef46b...@news.albasani.net...
Someone other than you going to use it then? Or do you get someone to do
your CW QSOs as well?
Smart Arse
The best compromise of - portable / QRP / mobile / shack-in-a-box /
multi-mode / multi-band /
Rig ever made - bar none!
Other rigs do various things better. But none give you so many
possibilities "out of the box".
I sold mine a few years ago and regretted it ever since.
Sounds a bit like an eHam review, I know.
I recommend you get a s/h one with as many accessories as possible.
You can even do CW on it!
Arse
Frog
"Conor" <co...@gmx.co.uk> wrote in message
news:848dnc...@mid.individual.net...
> On 03/05/2010 17:12, Paul Starship wrote:
>> Or IC706MkIIG, IC703 etc etc , a second hand FT100D etc etc etc.
>>
>> Intended operations include:
>> Portable/SOTA/DF'ing,
>> Mobile,
>> When not out&about, to be used for WSPR,
>> Must have decent CW capability.
>>
>> Which one and why ?
>
>
> FT897 is just feckin ugly and too big really.
> FT857 suffers from the select knob failing and is menu hell
Bull!
Arthur Fallowfield
wrote:
FT817 Fitted with a cw filter is my #1 choice.
Works well in the shack on WSPR, the best hf/vhf/uhf radio for SOTA by
far.
For mobile the FT857 or IC706 are very good only bettered by the
TS480, but thats a bit more money though and has no coverage above 6
metres.
Running an FT817 in a car is ok but the lack of power can be a very
big disadvantage.
IC703 is a funny rig, it had problems on it's first production run,
but the later ones are fine. I'd rather have a 706.
FT100D is pretty good but again try and get a more reliable late
serial number and one with all the bits needed to go mobile.
Conor
>> FT897 is just feckin ugly and too big really.
>> FT857 suffers from the select knob failing and is menu hell
>
> Bull!
Everyone I know with a FT857 has a selector knob that wobbles like hell
and randomly chooses when to work.
And the FT897 is ugly unless you're blind and its way bigger than the
other two.
Spike
Paul Starship wrote:
The IC-703 and the FT-817 both have weaknesses.
In the latter's case it's a not over-long operating period on the
small-capacity internal battery (meaning an external one will have to
be brought along), and no auto ATU, implying that for best performance
an external box might need to be part of the /P equipment to be
carried.
The IC-703 needs an external supply but has a very good internal ATU,
ideal for coping with differences in antenna matching due to variable
ground conditions at different /P sites. No 2m or 70cm, so if those
bands are important to you, there's only one choice. Very good
built-in DSP too.
Difficult choice...but partly depending on intangibles. Good luck.
Aero Spike
--
Not a member of the RSGB since 1959
One's straighter talk is drowned yet unsurpassed;
dBs, tune-ups, connectors, heat-bands: all B-classed
Jeff
> On 03/05/2010 22:04, Frog wrote:
>
>>> FT897 is just feckin ugly and too big really.
>>> FT857 suffers from the select knob failing and is menu hell
>>
>> Bull!
>
> Everyone I know with a FT857 has a selector knob that wobbles like hell
> and randomly chooses when to work.
>
> And the FT897 is ugly unless you're blind and its way bigger than the
> other two.
>
but only because it can have internal battery packs and still run 20W
73
Jeff
Nick B.
>
> Paul Starship wrote:
>
>> Or IC706MkIIG, IC703 etc etc , a second hand FT100D etc etc etc.
>>
>> Intended operations include:
>> Portable/SOTA/DF'ing,
>> Mobile,
>> When not out&about, to be used for WSPR,
>> Must have decent CW capability.
>>
>> Which one and why ?
>
> The IC-703 and the FT-817 both have weaknesses.
>
> In the latter's case it's a not over-long operating period on the
> small-capacity internal battery (meaning an external one will have to
> be brought along), and no auto ATU, implying that for best performance
> an external box might need to be part of the /P equipment to be
> carried.
>
> The IC-703 needs an external supply but has a very good internal ATU,
> ideal for coping with differences in antenna matching due to variable
> ground conditions at different /P sites. No 2m or 70cm, so if those
> bands are important to you, there's only one choice. Very good
> built-in DSP too.
I had an (early, non-ND) 817 and found it extremely fiddly to use,
probably just familiarity. I've had a 703 for 5 or 6 years and the only
thing I can fault the CW performance on is a slight blow-by just outside
the passband when using a 250Hz filter. There were problems with the PA
driver in some of the earlier ones but I believe that has been solved
now. Frequency stability/accuracy is better than the 817 as it uses a
TCXO (IIRC).
--
Nick B.
Brian Morrison
"Nick B." <ni...@replytoisnot.invalid> wrote:
> I had an (early, non-ND) 817 and found it extremely fiddly to use,
> probably just familiarity.
Depends what you're trying to do I suppose, it isn't too hard to
configure it with the usual controls available for immediate use.
Remembering the menus is a bit harder though.
> I've had a 703 for 5 or 6 years and the
> only thing I can fault the CW performance on is a slight blow-by just
> outside the passband when using a 250Hz filter. There were problems
> with the PA driver in some of the earlier ones but I believe that has
> been solved now. Frequency stability/accuracy is better than the 817
> as it uses a TCXO (IIRC).
You can get a TCXO for the 817, it's pricey for what it is though, a
TCXO module is only a few quid and the board and connectors can't be
more than a couple more.
Early 817s also had some problems with the PA as the power devices
would tend to fail under some circumstances, due to self oscillation at
low supply voltages IIRC.
--
Brian Morrison
Jeff
> On Tue, 04 May 2010 21:48:57 +0100, "Nick B."
> <ni...@replytoisnot.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Frequency stability/accuracy is better than the 817 as it uses a
>> TCXO (IIRC).
>
>
> 73 de G3NYY
>
It the thing that stops you drifting up and down the band due to the
low temperatures on all of these summits.
73
Jeff
Jeff
> On Wed, 05 May 2010 12:37:59 +0100, Jeff <Je...@bertsysems.com> wrote:
>
>> It the thing that stops you drifting up and down the band due to the
>> low temperatures on all of these summits.
>
>
> 73 de Wlat
>
That's due to too much single malt!! (for medicinal purposes only of
course).
Jeff
Frog
"Arthur Fallowfield" <lazya...@live.co.uk> wrote in message
news:81eda7e9-1c54-4fdc...@o11g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
> On 3 May, 17:12, p.blas...@google-nospam-email.com (Paul Starship )
> wrote:
>> Or IC706MkIIG, IC703 etc etc , a second hand FT100D etc etc etc.
>>
>> Intended operations include:
>> Portable/SOTA/DF'ing,
>> Mobile,
>> When not out&about, to be used for WSPR,
>> Must have decent CW capability.
>>
>> Which one and why ?
>
> FT817 Fitted with a cw filter is my #1 choice.
> Works well in the shack on WSPR, the best hf/vhf/uhf radio for SOTA by
> far.
Good for Sota and vacations.
> For mobile the FT857 or IC706 are very good only bettered by the
> TS480, but thats a bit more money though and has no coverage above 6
> metres.
857 ok, but you get's what you pay for.., AF DSP is pants.
NB does not work, 6m issues, CW poor
480 good, but too big for mobile use, no good for sota as it is too heavy
and too current hungry
> Running an FT817 in a car is ok but the lack of power can be a very
> big disadvantage.
> IC703 is a funny rig, it had problems on it's first production run,
> but the later ones are fine. I'd rather have a 706.
> FT100D is pretty good but again try and get a more reliable late
> serial number and one with all the bits needed to go mobile.
>
Don't discount the IC-7000 as it had a much better RX and DSP than the
others, BUT is power hungry, so
needs more battery power, lipo is the way to go. Best of the lot of the
mobile rig's for CW with it's IF based DSP.
Would still go for the 817 for your requirements if you want off the shelf,
however, if you want a rig that will match
what you want to do with the least compromise, then go for the K2 from
Elecraft, it will do what you want and more,
but takes some effort to build it, an altogether more satisfying project.
Paul Starship
(Paul Starship ) wrote:
>Which one and why ?
Thank you (most of you) for your replies.
It's looking like the 817ND is the "peoples" choice,
but I prefer the 897D even if it is heavier.
Robin
Multiband CB rig
Paul Starship
>Multiband CB
exactly... designed for countries where multiband cb is now the norm.
GI7B
he was 5KHz away from G4 DEZ and I was on a hilltop 5 miles up the road
from Bryn. I would have been far better off with a better radio but it
can still be useful on a crowded band.
Gerry ....
DieSea
"Walt Davidson" <g3...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:r6i0v5lmg17h0po3r...@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 May 2010 17:59:18 +0100, GI7B <OC...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>I've just worked G3 NYY/P with my FT897 during the May 144MHz contest,
>
> GW3NYY/P. I was on top of a mountain in South Wales!
>
> 73 de GW3NYY/P
>
> --
> Walt Davidson Email: g3nyy @despammed.com
Missing Cardiff Wlat ???
Didn't know they had an mountains in sarff Wales boyo
DieSea
Peter Day
>
> Didn't know they had an mountains in sarff Wales boyo
>
> DieSea
>
>
Oh yes they do!
Black Mountains, Brecons Beacons, Twmpa, etc, etc... anything over
2000ft asl in fact.
Peter Day
> On Sun, 16 May 2010 20:43:22 +0100, "DieSea"
> <DieSea.No...@nnttwlwoorrlldd.ccoomm> wrote:
>
>> Missing Cardiff Wlat ???
>>
>> Didn't know they had an mountains in sarff Wales boyo
>
That's a mere hill :-)
GI7B
> On Sun, 16 May 2010 17:59:18 +0100, GI7B<OC...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> GW3NYY/P. I was on top of a mountain in South Wales!
>
> 73 de GW3NYY/P
>
the contest, I only worked 34 in total:c( You were the only GW in the
log so thanks for the 3 multipliers.
Gerry ....
Peter Day
>
> Didn't know they had an mountains in sarff Wales boyo
>
> DieSea
>
>
Further to my earlier post, I should say that the definition of a
mountain varies from country to country and in the UK we don't have any,
by world standards.... ours are all really hills, even Ben Nevis:-)
However the Mountain Leadership Certificate is required for leaders to
take school parties and the like above 2000 feet asl in the UK (at
least it was the requirement when I did it in the '80s).
In South Wales they call any pimple a mountain :-) SOTA have a better
idea and call their pimples 'summits'.
Peter G3PHO
Paul Starship
<micro...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> It was 1855 feet asl!
>
> That's a mere hill :-)
me thinks that it doesnt even qualify as "uplands"
Paul Starship
<micro...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>Black Mountains, Brecons Beacons, Twmpa, etc, etc... anything over
>2000ft asl in fact.
me thought mountain was a lot higher than that.
me thought UPLANDS were the bits on the 2,000 foot area.
DieSea
"Walt Davidson" <g3...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> On Sun, 16 May 2010 20:43:22 +0100, "DieSea"
> <DieSea.No...@nnttwlwoorrlldd.ccoomm> wrote:
>
>>
>>Didn't know they had an mountains in sarff Wales boyo
>
>
>
> 73 de Wlat
AND
I always thought mountains started at 2001 feet
DieSea
DieSea
"Peter Day" <micro...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:JbYHn.72687$3w4....@newsfe14.ams2...
Think you've spelt one word wrong there
I'm told there's plenty of pimples in wales
( again Spelt wrong there , deliberately this time )
;-)
DieSea
Peter Day
> Think you've spelt one word wrong there
>
> I'm told there's plenty of pimples in wales
>
> ( again Spelt wrong there , deliberately this time )
>
> ;-)
>
Naw... Lancashire and Cheshire has far more pimp(le)s than Wales :-)
luc...@eternal-flames.gov
ISTR in that Hugh Grant film, they claimed it was 1000ft and the
villagers added to their "hill" to turn it into a mountain.
That's the bleedin' Welsh for you.
Nick.
Len GM0ONX
>
> I won't be sending in an entry because - as you know - I am not a
> member of the RSCB !
>
> 73 de G3NYY
>
Nether am I Walt! :-)
Steve Terry
> On Sun, 16 May 2010 22:24:21 +0100, luc...@eternal-flames.gov wrote:
>
>>Could you smell Cardiff, or were you 50 miles away?
>
> Fortunately the wind was blowing from the North West!
>
> 73 de G3NYY
> Walt Davidson
>
>
If it blows from the south east, does Iceland cancel it's flights?
Steve Terry
--
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