Yaesu Ft-897d

[N1XDS]

Alright guys plus ladies! I have a question for you, im gonna be upgrading my current technician license to general in the next test coming up hopefully if nothing come's up I would like to hear the review's of the 897? Has the color lcd screen? Is the read out small or large? I checked the review's over on the eham's website for the radio and everyone gave it the 4.6% rating out of a possible 5. Jamie (Git-R-Done)

 

[K9GTJ]

I am also in the process of upgrading and really consider this rig as one of my top choices. It seems to be an all around solid performer.

 

[N1XDS]

Yeah same with me, I was gonna go with the Icom 706mk2g as my first pick, I dont know if I can swing all the money up I know I can go with the 897d. There's a local around here where I live that talks on one as a mobile and it sounds good full quieting and etc sounds like base setup but he run's it mobile.

 

[prcguy]

The 897 is a good all around rig, not great but it suits most peoples needs for an HF/VHF/UHF multiband radio. I have an 897 and 857 mobile and love them both but I think the Icom 706MKIIG has a few less quirks, the noise blanker is slightly better and the DSP notch filter is way better. The 897 with built in power supply makes a nice base station that you can grab and go with. The 897 display background can be varied to just about any color and the basic freq readout is between 1/4” and 5/16” high and very easy to read. I purchased my 897 with internal batteries and it makes a good picnic table radio as long as you don’t need extended operation on battery. I now use mostly HF military manpacks for portable use so my 897 sits idle most of the time. The 857 is the exact same radio in a smaller package and you can mate it to gel-cells or other batteries and come out with a smaller package than the 897 with a little ingenuity.
prcguy

 

[K3GI]

Are you going to be using the radio mobile or base?

 

[N1XDS]

PrcGuy..Thanks for the helpful information looks like im gonna be choose'ing the 897d! I heard alot of great thing's about the radio also I heard that the 897 and the 857 has the same user menu's so its easier to setup the radio? How many watts do I need to run the radio with and so on?

K3GI. I'm gonna be using the radio as a mobile

 

[K3GI]

You should have a lot of fun with it. Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[N1XDS]

I appreciate that its going to be fun listen'ing onto that radio

 

[prcguy]

How many watts? If you mean what is the 12V current requirement, get a power supply rated at 20A and you should be fine. I use an Astron 18A switching supply (nice and small) and it has plenty of current even at full power on CW or FM. The 897 is OK of occasional use mobile sitting on the passenger seat, etc. For full time mobile use I would recommend the 857 because the 897 is big and very heavy to mount permanently in a vehicle.
prcguy

PrcGuy..Thanks for the helpful information looks like im gonna be choose'ing the 897d! I heard alot of great thing's about the radio also I heard that the 897 and the 857 has the same user menu's so its easier to setup the radio? How many watts do I need to run the radio with and so on?

K3GI. I'm gonna be using the radio as a mobile

 

[N1XDS]

Im gonna have to run it mobile for right now due to the private home owner's association saying no antennas inside/outside/roof around the house or you will be fined big time for breaking the rules. As for running it mobile im going to run it in my expedition on the console perhaps or when im in the back seat traveling around with dad & mom, i'll put it on my lap! and run it like that since I havent found the right place to mount the radio yet.

 

[prcguy]

That doesn’t’ sound completely legal on the side of your homeowners association. By federal law your allowed to have at least a satellite dish up to 1m in size outside and visible if it is confined to a common area of your residence as in a balcony or small yard. They can keep you from drilling holes or attaching to their property but cannot stop you from sitting the dish on the ground or using another non building penetrating method. There are federal laws pertaining to amateur radio antennas and you should read PRB-1. I haven’t read it in awhile so I cant quote anything specific but no one can prevent you from having an antenna inside your residence if its not damaging the property.
prcguy

Im gonna have to run it mobile for right now due to the private home owner's association saying no antennas inside/outside/roof around the house or you will be fined big time for breaking the rules. As for running it mobile im going to run it in my expedition on the console perhaps or when im in the back seat traveling around with dad & mom, i'll put it on my lap! and run it like that since I havent found the right place to mount the radio yet.

 

[aaron315]

That doesn’t’ sound completely legal on the side of your homeowners association. By federal law your allowed to have at least a satellite dish up to 1m in size outside and visible if it is confined to a common area of your residence as in a balcony or small yard. They can keep you from drilling holes or attaching to their property but cannot stop you from sitting the dish on the ground or using another non building penetrating method. There are federal laws pertaining to amateur radio antennas and you should read PRB-1. I haven’t read it in awhile so I cant quote anything specific but no one can prevent you from having an antenna inside your residence if its not damaging the property.
prcguy

Slightly off topic..... But:

PRB-1 does not apply to private agreements, such as covenants, deed restrictions ETC. These are the type agreements that would be enforceable by a homeowners association.

The satellite dish preemption is a separate federal ruling, which does not apply to amateur radio, scanner, or any other antenna not specifically required to receive satellite television service.

 

[N1XDS]

the thing I dont like is how they told me to not put up any type of antennas any where but my next door neighbor beside me hasnt cut his grass in almost 4 months looks like total crap and he has a busted window screen laying next to side of the house his back yard looks worse than his front yard does. But anyhow what power setting for low/meduim or high for power (watts) how you recommend me on using? There's a few repeater's here locally I can hit with low and meduim power and some I need to turn up to meduim and high power with my Icom Ic-91ad handheld.

 

[Paris]

The Ft-897D

The Ft-897D is a fine radio. It's a bit heavier than you'd expect with either the buit in power supply or the dual rechargeable batteries, but it's not too bad. The DSP is very good, and, on CW or SSB, you get good results with the Collins filters. Overall, as I said, it's a very nice radio, and I'm glad I bought it. I have the Icom 756 Pro III, and, for the price, the Yaesu matches up favorably. The main drawback for me is the small size of the display, and the extensive menu trees; until you get used to them, you really need a crib sheet to operate it . W4RT sells cheaper, better, repalcement batteries, cheaper mechanical filters, and a nifty quick charger which I'd buy instead of the more expensive Yaesu gear. Yaesu used to offer a package deal with their auto-tuning ATAS-120 antenna, but, if you're going to use a different brand, www.N2VZ.com sells a very handy auto-tuner for screwdriver antennas that works with the Yaesu.

All that said, consider the Icom IC-7000. Once you buy the batteries and/or the power supply, and the SSB and CW filter for the 897D, you're getting into the price range of the IC-7000, which has built-in digital filters, and which has been discounted to $1.3K for the Christmas season. I just bought the IC-7000, and it's no doubt a better choice for mobile, and nothing can match its TFT display -- although I love my 897D still.

 

[elk2370bruce]

I've also heard about the complexity in programming the 897 from several operators. I have also been told that the ICOM 746 is somewhat easier, as is the Kenwood 570D. As you would expect, for every possible rig, there are at least five opinions. As a self-admitting ICOM fan, my opinion is obvious. There are some ergonomic differences. Try before you buy to get the feel of each rig. For that kind of money, I would not purchase through the mail or obtain one from sleazebay (but I agree that I'm cheap).

 

[Reloader]

Suggestion: I have both the 897D and the VX-7r. Get the "cheat sheets" for both from Nifty Ham accessories. Much better than trying to set them up from the manual that comes with them. It is very helpful and comprehensive with better step by step instructions.

 

[N1XDS]

Thanks for the reply's everyone I have made up of mind im buying a Icom 706mkiig that I found for a excellent price thats in excellent conditon! 73's Jamie

 

[N4UYV_Al]

Hope ya have fun with it Jamie, I've got a 706mk2g as strictly mobile HF...Havent had any complaints from me or those I work in Europe & Asia....

 

[N1XDS]

I appreciate the kind words im gonna make sure I make contacts when im here locally and in Birmingham Alabama on business