I use the FT-897D. The internal battery pack capability is awesome. The beauty of it is that both the 897 and the 857 use the same Yaesu programming software & cable. Both are fantastic radios.
The FT-897D is another great rig. I am kicking myself for not buying a new in box unit for $800 at the last hamfest. The batteries are hot swappable, right? If you ever decide to sell it, I'd be interested. Cheers!
Finally the video I’ve been waiting for. Great review of the 857D man pack, that’s the radio I recently found and will be using for my portable/POTA setup. Will be going all in with Armoloq and High Ground Gear bag, looking to do some hiking in/out for activating and that setup as you’ve shown will be perfect. Thanks for all the great content Gaston and keep it coming!
Glad to hear it! Thank you. I have taken this 857 up mountains and it is brutal, but very capable. You will be a rockstar with the FT-857D on your POTA activations. It's the right amount of power and perfect footprint if you don't have hike too far from your vehicle. Enjoy!
I love my FT-857D. I bought mine new back when I first got my General ticket back in 2014. It definitely does everything! The only things I haven't tried yet are 2m SSB and satellites; just because I haven't got around to them yet. I've been having too much fun with other stuff. Your antenna choices look really good too. I'm about to start working building a 6m - 40m linked dipole (now that the weather is starting to be more tolerable). I can't wait to see the No Random Contacts series! Take care, Gaston!
Thanks for stopping by, Richard. You are a lucky man for securing your 857 when they were still available. I will be doing a linked dipole build for NVIS that covers: 40m, 60m, 75m and 80m (digital) in the No Random Contacts series. 73 de KT1RUN
Thanks for sharing this. Very good info. I used to have a PRC 117G pouch but I got rid of it before I had the idea to have a Tactical Prep-com situation. Really appreciate this share.
Funny that you mention a TOC. I will be covering this in the next series. My TOC will consist of the FT-857D, FT-8900 and a Panasonic CF-20 Toughbook. I'll explain why in that video. The AOC's have the same deployment.
I’m really enjoying the man pack videos. I’m not a diehard tactical prepping person, but I like seeing what you have put together for comms when you head out into the wilderness. I’m about a week away from taking the General FCC exam so I can start playing with HF. I’m definitely interested in going out and doing SOTA activations. Nothing like combining hiking and radio in one activity. Have a great weekend!!!!! 73, KC2KNA
Glad to hear that you're still enjoying the videos even if the tactical view point is not your style. I get a lot of negative feedback from hams when discussing anything that includes gear that is housed in a Coyote Tan bag with MOLLE webbing. 73's
@@TheTechPrepper you won’t get any negative feedback from this ham. I actually use the molle gear- slinger packs from Maxpedition for hiking and biking. I attach my Yaesu handheld and GPS to the molle straps..
I really like the looks of that radio, if only I could afford it. I think a similar but a bit less capable radio is the Wouxun KG-UV980P. Similar frequencies covered but output is 40W on UHF and 50 on VHF. It does have a detachable front end so that could add some flexibility to a comms loadout and the dual receiver is a handy feature. I'm not sure of its power consumption, but given its output, I'd say it's probably pretty good. It runs $329 so its about a third of the 857 so I guess thats an advantage as well. Still, I like yaesu radios more. Great vid. Keep them coming.
Thanks for putting the KG-UV980P on my radar. Unfortunately, it is only a quad band radio and does not fully cover HF. It just covers 10m and only on FM. If that covers your needs, excellent! If you don't mind low power (5 watts), take a look at used Yaesu FT-817ND. I think you can find one for the same price as the Wouxun. It's all band and all mode. I covered it in part 4.
@@TheTechPrepper Thanks, I'll have a look. My biggest concern is where I live/work/play is heavily tree'd so I tend to go for as much power as I can since I can't guarantee getting to a sufficient clearing.
@@TheTechPrepper Oh man I can't believe I didn't mention this earlier. Better safe radios has a couple SHTF HTs that while a bit different, are pretty interesting. The Wouxun KG-UV9PX is a custom radio that has some potential, for the target audience. If you know someone who needs something somewhat simpler, and more of a turnkey kind of thing with heavy emphasis on monitoring, this is the one to look at. It has nearly every useful freq already programmed so all people would have to do is turn on the scan mode and wait for traffic. It has two freq ranges for tx but is limited so again its a particular target audience. Still, for an ht it does a lot.
Good demo. I think you’ll like the cha hybrid antenna. My group switched to that antenna system earlier this year because of the simplicity of design and multiple bands. We tried all sorts of stuff, buddipole products, wolf river products, home brew stuff, etc. The issue with other brands is they’re designed for hobby use, much like the radios we use. I can’t say enough good about the emcomm and field durability of our cha products. We employ the end fed, the 17’ whip and even the delta loop, mission dependent of course. My only gripe is I wish the 17’ collapsible whip would collapse to a shorter length. It’s the only part of that system that is difficult to pack. The tactical delta loop setup really surprised me.
I've only homebrewed one delta loop. Every now and then I think about a tactical delta loop, but I've gotten lazy and sort of stuck on my 80m-10m EFHW. In the southeast like Florida where I live finding trees for long wire antennas is generally not a problem. Recently, I've been focusing on fielding my Cha Emcomm III portable. It is very well built, but as yet I would not say its a stellar performer, but I am still experimenting to find its best configuration.
@@vironpayne3405 we are using that exact emcomm III portable, and I’ll agree I’m not sure if it’s stellar, but it has been adequate. I think it certainly performs better than a ground mounted vertical, but the delta loop has been a very good addition, it’s from chameleon as well.
Morning, Ryan. I am really pleased with the build quality of the CHA LEFS. Chameleon is officially sponsoring portions of the next series, so we may even see a CHA TD 2.0. These reviews will all be unbiased. My goal is to let the scenarios that I am trying to solve speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will give the viewers the data they need to determine whether the Chameleon antennas will work for them. We are going to attempt targeted contacts across the state, region and country with these antennas (as well as others). Thanks for sharing your experience.
Viron, thanks for always jumping into the comments section. I appreciate the support. It's easy to get lazy with any EFHW. We have terrible trees out here for antennas, so having a single mast is always easiest. For this next series we are going to experiment with a lot of different antennas.
@@TheTechPrepper what separates a good operator from the rest is the ability to make the most out of whatever antenna setup he has. The more we practiced the better prepared we will be those challenges. Every time we have a training event here we learn something that makes us stronger, collectively.
Damn son! You've done it again and put out a great series! Can't wait for the "FT-818 Manpack" video and the "No Random Contacts" series as well!! Got my ARMOLOQ for the 857, but probably will be buying a FT-818 soon.......((Two is One and One is None)). Both Yaesu and Seth are happy, my bank account not so much! ;-)
Thanks, David! You should see the new custom manpack. I plan to film that and share the private video with just the Buy My a Coffee supporters as this bag is not ready for the world (yet). I plan to film it before work tomorrow. I need to get a second FT-818ND now that the manpack bag is exactly the way I want it for my style of operations. Everyone's bank account is hurting these days (mine included). I am building an ultra light manpack at the moment that is getting pricey... The new "No Random Contacts" series launches this evening or early tomorrow morning! Cheers, my friend.
That was a great FTX to show the capability of a simple "retrans" station....it would seem to me. Also shows signal propagation, with the "directional" antenna situation. Keep up the great work !!!
Glad you enjoyed the demo(s). Yes, I have used this station to relay communications for local hams that can't reach other stations. I'll cover the '"relay" use case in my upcoming series. The directional antenna also cuts down the RF noise from unwanted stations. Omni-directional antennas pickup more noise. Take it easy.
Thank you for your videos, especially on the manpack! After going thru hurricane Ian here in Florida I was without power and comms,cell phone) for two weeks! Couldn’t let my son’s know I was ok as I was in the main path of it. Thanks to your video I’m setting up my man pack with a Yaseau Ftm300dr, Armoloq frame and such!!! Great Videos and thanks for sharing your knowledge 💪✊😎
Those moments in life are rough, but they certainly are good food-for-thought. I prefer the manpack-style over the go-boxes. Glad you found the content useful.
Awesome, thank you! If I can execute on my vision for the next series, I think you'll be pleased. Be warned, I am starting with the basics and will be kicking things off with a dual-band HT. Each video will be a progressive build with more advanced radios, antennas and topics.
I know I have become a fan boy (imagine that at my age!) But you really are addressing the concerns of my circle. DX is certainly a nice hobby BUT "No Random Contacts" describes my NEEDS for ham radio. I MUST be able to maintain comms with family and friends. Both local, (VHF) and those 700 miles away! GREAT JOB! I look forward to the series!
My first fan! I am truly humbled. Glad to hear that I will be hitting on something that provides value to you and your group. I plan to share all the failures too. This series should be fun. We'll cover lots of techniques, modes, bands, radios and antenna. I am trying to establish a network of known operators spread throughout the my state and country. This will be an interesting ride. I appreciate your ongoing support. 73's
The 857 is a great rig and sometimes you do need to extra power. However you will learn more using the 818 and become a better operator for it. Thanks for the series I really enjoyed it
Glad you enjoyed it. The FT-818ND was my first HF radio. Boy did I struggle...but I am grateful that I struggled to make QRP work for me. The 857 feels like cheating now. Take care. I hope you enjoy my next series on No Random Contacts. 73's
I enjoyed this series. I'm a former Army RTO looking to get back into stuff like this. I had an FCC license when I left the Army, but have not renewed in years. The whole series I have been trying to telepathically tell you about PRC117 bags, but I'm glad I waited till the end. Even with the weight, is the FT-991A a good option to the scarce 857? Great videos!
I'm glad you enjoyed the series. It's probably time for an update as I designed a couple of custom bags called the TTP Manpack. Unfortunately, I'm no longer producing them. Thank you for your service. Do you have any recommendations on good FMs and TMs from when you were in the service?
All right......I waited like you said, for your next video......and I was NOT disappointed..........now I know what I need to save my lunch money for and get my comms set up going. This is a great final episode for the "Manpack" series, I can't wait for the "No random contacts" series and subsequent antenna builds. Roger out
Morning, Roger. Glad you enjoyed it. If you don't need VHF/UHF (2m/70cm) you may also want to do your research and look at the Yaesu FT-891. It's a great HF-only with 100 watts that works in the same manpack configuration. The digital noise reduction is amazing. The next series is going to be fun to story board (mostly done) and produce. I hope you enjoy it.
@@TheTechPrepper, I have another question, which is the best radio (for the situation I mentioned before and you've touched on it in this series) Yaesu FT-818ND, Yeasu FT-857, TYT TH-9800D?
@@rogerwilcoxii359 I can't seem to find your comment with your exact need. If you don't mind, please state it again and I'll give you me two cents. All the radios in these series solve different needs.
Ok, My plan was local/neighborhood comms with handheld and then city/county/regional and state and beyond with manpack....I would like to have as many options(HF, UHF/VHF, FM & digital) as possible....trying to cover as many bases as possible to help disseminate info and or intel.
@@rogerwilcoxii359 In that case, my answer will be included in several of the videos that are part of the No Random Contacts series that is going live tonight. The first part just talks about local community comms...what I am calling "Ring-0" communication. I can't respond here inline as this topic is going to take me an entire series through the end of the calendar year. I am starting with the community and working up in terms of distances, radios, antenna systems, techniques and skills. Stay tuned. Ultimately, the FT-857D is the do everything manpack radio for the serious radio prepper.
Excellent. 2m SSB is one of my favorite bands. That little yagi has allowed me to work a larger portion of my state than expected. I think you'll enjoy the new series.
Thank you. Enjoy the new TPA pack frames. Occasionally that pouch goes on sale depending on the color. I picked mine up for 50% off early last year, but I had to go with OD Green. I am fan of Coyote Tan for the desert. Have fun with it.
You are very welcome. The FT-100 is radio that I completely missed. It was before my time, but looks like another comparable rig in terms of capabilities that is suited for a manpack. Glad to see that you still have it. 73 de KT1RUN
Great video and great series. Someone already mentioned it, but I'll second the recommendation to check QRZ. 857's come up now and then. I bought mine there about two years ago for a very good price.
Thank you for mentioning QRZ, Mark. Hamfests are also a great place. Get there early and bring cash. Cheers to another 857D owner. It looks like we picked up ours around the same time. 73's.
I just picked up my 857d with box and the standard mic and the dtmf mic, powercable, etc. for $600 at the Louisville Hamfest. There were two others there for the same price but this one was the cleanest one and i got it with in the first 20 min of the gates being opened. I suggest check out the fest...there are deals out there just got to be patient and keep looking. 73 de N9PMI
Great score and congrats on the find! Thanks for adding to the comments. I failed to mention this. I have also seen better deals at the hamfest compared to what's available online. Like you said, get there early bring $500-$800 in cash. Personally, I jog the venue quickly looking for them and then take my time to revisit the vendors after a quick survey. 73 de KT1RUN
Boy, you are hitting all of the areas that I am interested in, like regional comms to, say, a 50 mile radius. Thanks! I'm wondering, though, what use the techie "hf" freqs of 6m, 10m, and 15m may be in this regard?
Awesome video I recently built the exact same manpak that you have You've definitely been a huge inspiration for my interest in the hobby I have a question for you first, the model that you have, do you have the Japanese European export or do you have the English? I ended up going with the Japanese export because it's a little cheaper it's 100 w however, apparently for my understanding there is some restrictions on the radio frequencies and the second question is what do you plan to do for the zebra stripe issue on the LCD if you have not yet experienced it, what would you recommend?
You are welcome. Glad to hear you like the content. I hope you enjoy the new series that's starting up in a couple of days. I'll be recording the intro video tomorrow. 73's
Thank you! I am really excited about the next series. We will be starting small in this first video and will be covering some basic VHF/UHF repeater work. So, it will not be for everyone. Each video will build on each other. The radios, antennas and techniques will get more sophisticated as we progress. Pick what you like. Have a great weekend.
Another great video!!! Been thinking about buying a CHA 80-10m LEFS. I got the 40-10m version for portable operations and works great on 40, 20, 15 and 10m. Looking forward to see how the 80-10m version performs. 73, W4ISB Mike in Tennessee.
Glad to hear you already have this antenna. There will be lots of testing. I plan to run lots of NVIS tests as well as explorer ALE with this antenna. Happy Friday, Mike!
The 40-10m version works great for portable operations. Low SWR on 4 bands, low enough not to worry about tuning it on my IC-7300. The 80-10m version would be great to have as a portable or back up base station antenna as well. I'll try to catch the next sale on Chameleon's website and buy one. They're not exactly cheap, but they preform well next to some higher priced antennas.
I am 65. Am looking more for a rollpack concept. That is, a station in a rolling bag. But I do like the idea of a mobile radio with a BNC port facing you. Actually, I think ALL RF ports on a rig need to be BNC. There are caps for BNC's if that port is not used. Those Y 6, 2, .70M manpacks of 30 years ago have a BNC port about the same place as the717, 718.
Greetings from northern Finland. I relay like your videos and when I look few of these, I got exited of ham radios after long brake. In some video you talk about voice keyer or something? I try to find ..
Thank you, but no. I am very new to the hobby and I am still figuring this out like everyone else. This channel is about me sharing my experiences as I work through and evolve my communications capabilities. The manpack concept has been an evolving project over the last 18 months. However, I did find that by using QRP radios that it forced me to ditch the tuners and work with resonant antennas and really get comfortable with the DSP, filters and RF gain, etc. on these radios. It almost feels like cheating when I jump to 20+ watts. Cheers!
First, you have a really great call sign, Don. Glad you enjoyed the video. I am pretty sure I included a full list of the items in the video description. Hopefully, they can supplement your notes. The only difficult part is finding a good condition FT-857D at a reasonable price these days.Cheers.
Great video brother! See you are a reader. I’m currently reading a fictional book Partisan Operator Journal by John Jacob Schmidt. The author is the founder of Amrron and was special forces radio operator. I know you get all kinds of suggestions but it’s a fun read and very much relates to your video topics.
Thanks, man! Yes, have been all my life. I enjoy books in print even though I am a software engineer. My wife is a big a reader too. We raid the Goodwill for books once a month. Thank for putting the Partisan Operator Journals series on my radar. I am buying that now. I think you would enjoy a book I just finished called "Tomorrow War" by J. L. Bourne. I actually listened to this one on Audible. I split my time between print and audio. I can get through an extra book every two weeks on my trail runs. Keep the book recommendations coming!
Actually, I was testing the solar charging on both devices. The Casio is not a smart watch and lacks GPS, but lasts forever with the solar cell on the face. As for the, Garmin Instinct, I turned off all smart features and do not pair it with a phone. Both are great watches.
I have an SDR receiver on a combination 2 meter / 70 meter antenna. The antenna is vertical, thus it is orientated best for horizontal signal reception. I know that will make for weak receptions of Yagi type and vertically polarised transmissions. But, I hear nothing on 2 meter sideband on both upper and lower sideband. It is very disappointing.
Hi Gaston. I really have enjoyed your videos. Just curious as to your preference between the Signal Stick and Comet whips. Are you mainly using the SS for higher wattage use? Does it sag too much on the TrekMount to use in the horizontal application? Wondering about the benefits vs using a single model of antenna.
Excellent question. For me they are different tools. I use the SignalStick on any manpack that requires more than 20 watts. This includes all the VHF/UHF rigs that I covered in the first part of the series. I use the BNC-24 for the 818 and anytime I run the TrekMount in the horizontal configuration. The SWR is almost a perfect 1:1 to match in that configuration with the Comet BNC. It's so good, that George from PackTenna cleaned out every Comet BNC on the market after I did my early testing last year. He now bundles the Comet's with his TrekMount as an option. The SignalStick SWR is too high for this application on the TrekMount.
I love what you do for the community! Thanks, one question I am concerned about the man pack with the 857 in possible or inclement weather! I know you live in an arid region but I don’t and even rare you could get rain while out. I would like to hear your advice and insight on this topic. I thought about a dry bag but it’s going to impact portability and If your gear got killed by water intrusion then all mission goals are also going to be rendered impossible. Thanks in advance
Thank you. I get a lot of email from angry hams that insistent that I am ruining this hobby by explaining communications using simple language and examples. We have been hit by more than a dozen monsoons in July and August, so I am thinking about the solution to this problem more and more. I have a manpack bag design that is almost finished for the smaller manpacks (i.e. FT-817/818) that incorporates a detachable rainfly. My ruck also has an integral rainfly. To operate while it's raining, I deploy my USGI poncho as a tarp shelter. My ultimate goal is to build a rugged, weatherproof (IPX8 rated) radio. I am trying to get some time with the big-three Japanese manufactures.
An all band, all mode, packable, waterproof rig would basically be the holy grail. An internal ATU with the impedance matching capabilities of the one in the G90 would be icing on the cake.
Gaston, thanks for all of the content! I've been watching everything you've put out so far and have come to the conclusion that I have the paddle but can't even begin to find the creek I should be lost up. That being said, could you go "tune" up Yaesu and have them build an updated QRP rig? I want to try 3 day inclement weather (cold/wet) hiking while conducting radio ops during the evenings; however, the TX500 appears to be a lighter weight option at present. Any chance of seeing TX500, or other suitable rugged equipment, content? That sounds bad...rather, what would you suggest for operations in the aforementioned situation? I'm still looking at FT- 818ND setup akin to the one you use but am unsure of its suitability in the conditions. Also, what benefit are the filters that are hard to find?
Thanks for another thought-provoking addition to the Manpack series! I currently have just an FT-60R, though I plan to add a mobile rig and put together a manpack over the next few months. I'm wondering whether you have any opinion on how the FT-891 in addition to a good HT would compare to the all-band, all-mode rigs that you've been focusing on. Obviously, such a combo would sacrifice SSB capability on 2m and 70cm as well as the FT-857D's higher transmitting power on the upper frequencies. But it's my understanding that the FT-891 offers some useful improvements (e.g. DSP, better filtering, larger LCD screen) over Yaesu's older but still very popular shack-in-the-box options for a little less money. Are there any other disadvantages to relying on an HT for VHF/UHF communications?
You are very welcome. The FT-60R is a fantastic radio. It was my EDC radio until very recently. I still have a number of FT-60's that are now being used for other tasks. Back HT's for the vehicles and go-bags. This is a great question. Here's my personal opinion: 1. If you don't need SSB on 2m/70cm, there's not need to get an all-band, all-mode rig. 2. A 100 watt HF rig can be supplemented with a secondary that provides dual-band VHF/UHF capabilities. 3. If you need more power than HT, supplement your HF rig with a good 50 watt dual-band mobile rig. Good luck!
@@TheTechPrepper I'll have to do some digging to find out how much SSB activity there is in South Florida. On the other hand, if I can convince some family in the region that they ought to get into amateur radio at least for emcomm, then I could make use of the higher power on VHF/UHF or even SSB for sure.
Im not a radio fanatic just basically getting some for emergencies but my question is how is digital gonna be when SHTF and we loose the grid or EMP and dont have cell or that type of services available
Actually, this is a perfect application for radio and precisely why I have been training using my gear for targeted communication in the backcountry with no grid tie. It has take some work, but in doing this for the last 3 years, I have also built a network of likeminded operators and train without any grid tie on weekly basis. We have communication capabilities from our local communities, to the country, state, region and county. As for EMP, there ways to mitigate damage that can be caused during an event. I've been using to do a series on early detection of such events as well as how to protect primary and backup gear.
Great video as always. Really appreciate the work you did for this series. Coincidently, I am in the process of building a pack like this and really like what you say about the Yaesu 857. Unfortunately they are unicorns right now. What is the best alternative equal to or better than the 857 in your opinion?
Glad you enjoyed the series. I am getting this question a lot. Here some options: 1. If you don't need all-mode support on 2m/70cm. I would suggest getting two radios. A 100 watt HF rig and a 50 watt dual-band mobile rig. I personally like the FT-891 for HF. There are too many options for dual-band mobiles. If I were to buy a new dual-band VHF/UHF rig, I would go with the Kenwood TM-V71A. It's dual VFO and supports crossband repeat. 2. If you want all-band, all-mode (like the 857D) and currently available, look at the Yaesu 991A. It's huge, but it is a shack in the box. It also has some nice modern features like a waterfall to visualize the radio spectrum. The Icom IC-7100 is another option. It is older and has a goofy head unit. I hope this helps.
@@TheTechPrepper this is a huge help to me, thank you very much for the reply. I really like the 991 however it's power draw is holding me back. I'll do more research on battery life with it. I'm going to stalk ebay for a month or so and see if any good 857's pop up.
So the FT-891 isn't an updated version of the FT-857D? I'm new not licensed yet and trying to figure out the difference in the radios. I see it's an "all modes" radio, but does one radio have capabilities the other doesn't? DMR, APRS type stuff? Not sure what APRS is so I don't know that I would need it but? Nice video I'll be watching it again to see if I missed anything (probably the whole series again).
The FT-891 does not have UHF/VHF, but if you do not need those in an all in one package like what this video shows, you can get a new 891 for not much more than what a used 857 is going for.
Excellent questions. 1. No, the FT-891 is not a true updated version. It is missing the VHF (2m) and UHF (70cm) capabilities that are found on your typical dual-band handheld radios. The great thing about 2m/70cm on this rig is that is all-mode. It does more than FM. For example, it does Single Side Band (SSB). This is much for efficient as shown in the demo where I am on the roof. 2. I'll cover APRS in detail in the upcoming series. What it is? What it can do? Why you might want to use it? And, how to set it up. 3. The closest thing to a currently available replacement is the Yaesu FT-991A. It's all-band and all mode like the FT-857D, but is much larger and heavier. This good be an option if you don't have a requirement for being truly man portable. It also has some nice features like a waterfall display so that you can visual the RF spectrum. Take care and thanks for the question. A big thanks to the other viewers that beat me to the response.
Yep. I have that radio too along with the pack frames for it. I picked it up at a local hamfest this past January, but have not used it yet. I love that it has built-in GPS, APRS and C4FM. I have it on my to-do list to try C4FM for the first time. 73's
I misread the model. I have the FTM-100DR not the FT-100D. They are very different radios. I'll definitely check this out and its viability for a manpack. Thanks!
@@TheTechPrepper Uses too much power. 1/1.6A RX (squelched/max audio). Compared to FT-857d at 0.55/1A RX. Still, It's better than the Icom's IC-706mk2g and IC-7000 at 1.3 to 2 Amps.
Seeing as how the 857D is discontinued and increasingly difficult to find, is it feasible for you to suggest or test out a model that is in current production? Or should we band together and stage a sit-in at Yaesu HQ until they start making more 857's?
I vote for a sit in at Yaesu. I'll be there with you. I have a very specific style of operating and there isn't anything available on the market from any manufactures that is this is this size/weight and covers these bands with this amount of power. It's not in the same class, but take a look at the IC-705. That radio is not for me for a number of reasons, but it's something for you to research as it could work for your needs. Good luck!
Excellent video as always Gaston! I think all of us see you as one of the best EmComm Operators at this point. You have a lot we can all learn from! But man, that 857D be expensive though haha! But like you said, it’s an investment and there aren’t any radios in its class unfortunately. Godspeed and 73
I am very humbled, but no. I am still very new to amateur radio (< 3 years). I am just 100% focused on solving real-world scenarios with radio that largely take place in the field. You guys are literally coming along for the ride as I work through this journey, Yes, the FT-857D is expensive. I should have made a firearm analogy in this video. A large portion of this community has no problem stockpiling multiple weapon systems with each firearm falling into the 1K price point. I have tools from Harbor Freight and tools for when I really need to make sure my DiY projects get done properly. These principles apply to radio too in my humble opinion.
@@TheTechPrepper Yeah that’s a very good point. The same could be said for medical supplies or food storage that not many people pay attention to! I feel there will be a time in our lifetime where radio operators will be one of the most sought after class of people to keep friends and family in contact. And unfortunately there aren’t too many of us compared to the population.
Thanks, man. And there will be a mug! I just need to get off my ass and get a test print going. More hours in the day would be good. See you next Thursday.
Hi Gaston! I'm just getting started in HAM. While working on my license I've started a build project starting with an 857D. Did you get the speaker relocation on your frame? I want to do a full digirig setup. Besides WinLink what other software is involved. Is is mainly windows software? Love the RasberryPi setup. I have a couple I'm not using. Do you use those for spotting in the field also. Still working through the videos. Would love help on this project. Do your Amazon links give you credit or is there another step?
Welcome to the hobby. No, I do not utilize the 3.5mm relocation option on the manpacks. I run a lot of software for digital: - Winlink: Pat (ARDOP and ax.25 packet) - APRS: YAAC - fldigi/flmsg/flamp - JS8Call I stopped using the Pi in the field due to frequent failures. I'm using a Panasonic FZ-M1 Toughpad these days. Yes, I get credit. It does not cost you anything, but helps the channel.
Hi. I live in Europe. I've been watching a lot of your videos, I'm trying to get some sort of radio system that allows me to communicate in an urban area, say 10km range. I have 2 ailunce hd1 but it seems that even on max power. I want the ability to encrypt Comms and possibly even connect it to a pc to send text and data. I have basically zero radio experience, especially with HF, which I'm very interested in. Can you suggest a radio i can get to start learning some of this stuff? Do you think a 25/50w manpack in UHF/vhf would be enough or do I need HF?
10KM should work well for VHF/UHF as long as you have line of site. Try adding a better antenna. If you still have issues look into a j-pole. Moving to higher ground also helps.
Actually, the 891 and 857 are about the same size. I've had an FT-891 for a couple years now and run it nearly identical to the 857. My only complaint is that it does not have 2m/440 capabilities. We have a lot of activity on SSB out here on VHF/UHF.
Thank you for the reply. I just stumbled upon your videos and got alot of good info from this first one I saw. I realized after watching other vids that you already had the 891. Haha. Thank you
PRC/117G is too big (height-wise) in my humble opinion if you are planning on using the FT-8800/8900 with the TPA frames. You can get around this by stacking the radio on top of your battery. Just add a piece of plastic/wood/cardboard between the frame and battery. The dimensions are posted on the High Ground Gear website for PRC/117G bag. I have an FT-8800/8900 and covered in an earlier episode in this series. The FT-8889 frame works with the Helikon-Tek bag if modified. I am also just about to release a custom bag that is designed specifically for the FT-8800/8900. Here's the private video: ruclips.net/video/OV3VfN-xdac/видео.html
Not at the moment. I have ATAK on my list of to-do's for next year. I briefly installed it along with the HAMMER plugin, but can't really speak to it yet. I plan to make a plugin for ATAK as well to extend its capabilities for preparedness. I have a software project called EmComm Tools that I have been working on for over a year that shares a lot of the same concepts as ATAK. It's not release yet.
Based on my use and operating style (short commo windows and minimum power to make the contact)--NO. I have never had an issue. I will periodically feel the radio and bag for heat build up. My newer rigs (i.e. FTM-6000R) have built-in temperature sensors which are nice. I have been running these bags in the desert for 18+ months. Yes, you will likely cook it if you run for long periods of time to "rag chew" and run much higher power.
The FT-891 is about the same size, weight and footprint as the FT-857. If you're looking for an HF-only rig that is still currently available and is manpack-able this is a great option as it supports 100 watts. I've taken the 891 to the field and have showcased on the channel many times. I am not a fan of the menu system compared to the 857 and 818. The DSP and digital noise reduction are nice. I have an easier time pulling out weak signals with the 891 compared to the 857. Honestly, I believe the 891 could have been a real replacement for the 857 if 2m and 440 MHz were added. Just my two cents.
2 Questions: What mobile radios on the market are waterproof? I know there is a fan on the back, but with it being enclosed like that, wouldn't it limit the airflow for it to stay cool enough to not overheat?
I don't know of any, but the closest is the Lab599 Discovery TX-500. No, the radio does not overheat based on my usage: short communication windows and run the minimum power. I have been running the manpacks for 18 months like this in the Sonoran Desert with the ambient temperatures up to 115F. No over heating issues yet. This style of operating is not designed for rag chewing.
I personally use a 6Ah LiFePO4 from Bioenno, but I never run more than 20 watts in this configuration. It fits in the 6"x6"x3" admin pouch in the front. You will be limited on how much RF power you can use as it can't supply enough current for the higher RF power levels. If you need more current, checkout the 9Ah model dimensions as it may fit in the 6x6x3 pouch.
This is a very naive assessment point of view in my opinion. The government relies on RF comms, too. There is a lot of spectrum out there. It's not all going to be jammed. In fact, some frequencies and operating techniques make jamming very difficult.
@@jamesholcombe435 There are plenty of EMP protections that operators can put in place in advance. I've been wanting to do a video on this subject for awhile. Even with EMP, it's not black and white. There are different scales of severity when it comes to EMPs (man-made or solar-made).
I HAVE WATCHED the videos on the five manpack ham radios. if had to only take on radio which one radio would it be? is it the 875? I am a beginning prepper and travel for work, so i would like a man pack radio.
I would recommend the FT-857D if you can find it. It's the "does everything radio" with enough power. If you don't mind a bigger radio, the Yaesu FT-991A is another all-band, all-mode option. It's still on the market so you can get it new it and will likely run you the same as a used FT-857D. It's twice the weight and size, so man portable could be a serious problem. There is an ARMOLOQ frame for it. You may want to check out the 991A in person and go to your local Ham Radio Outlet or Gigaparts if there's one in your area. Also note, if you don't need HF capabilities, most the Japanese VHF/UHF radios are good options. Thanks for sticking with the series.
I have not measured it as I still do not have an inline SWR meter. Ordering one now. I have received reports from other users that's not too bad. What was your SWR before the swap to 3/8 wave antenna?
@@TheTechPrepper 2.4 ish on 5w ....I have the diamond sx-600 so it's pretty accurate....I tried getting it to come down with a counterpoise but it just wasn't happening. Definitely worth a check though.
I'm trying to decide between the 818 and the 857. I would prefer the 818 for it's cost, size, and weight but I'm not sure if it can fit my needs. I absolutely need a radio that can regularly transmit around 100 miles but would really like one that can do 300 miles. Is this possible with the 818's 6 watts or will I need to step up to the 857?
I am not sure if this answer helps, but I started with the 818 when first I was licensed to operate on HF. I really struggled to make the contacts on low power, but after some time I found how to maximize this radio's performance. I have used the 818 with NVIS antennas on 40m, 75m and 80m to make consistent contacts within the same distances that you are needing. However, a little more power has always helped. If you don't need all-mode capabilities on 2m/440, you may want to take a look at the Yaesu FT-891. It's still available and offers 100 watts. The digital noise reduction and DSP are great. I use that radio for the scenario you are describing often. Search my channel video page for "NVIS". I believe that there is no perfect radio for everyone. You need to pick the one that meets your needs. So, if your goal is reliable county/regional contacts, I would recommend a good 100 watt rig and some resonant wire antennas for the bands you want to work. There will be several videos in my next series that will answer specifically your 100-300 mile reliable contact question. Stay tune.d
The FT-991A is the newest all-band, all-mode rig that's the closest radio in terms of the FT-857D. It's big and heavy, but makes a good shack-in-the-box for the home QTH. It has a waterfall and some other nice features.
I’m a big fan of buy once cry once, I have a high mountain near me and according to line of site online thingy I should have a clear shot from central va to de and pa where I have family and we would all like to have off grid battery powered comms for disaster. They are all with in 300 miles. Is this the set up I should go for?
@@kellerhopkins3184 Yes, I have. these radios are discontinued, so I am waiting for a new product release from one of the big three Japanese manufactures that meets all the needs of a field operator. As of right now, there is not thing currently available.
@@TheTechPrepper ill wait for now, look forward to buying something from you. also am I correct that you made a 265 mile contact with a 5w radio ? does that mean I could do it with an 8w beofang?
Yea- good luck getting the Yaesu FT-857D on ebay- you will be paying an inflated outrageous price for a discontinued radio. Why not just get the 891- you will pay about the same price as a ridiculous priced 857d on ebay.
I have personally found SSB on VHF/UHF to be very powerful and more effective than FM. The FT-891 is HF only. Another option is to go with two radios HF + VHF/UHF mobile. While there aren't any good higher power VHF/UHF all-mode rigs, most people can get by with the FT-891 and something like a Dual VFO/crossband repeat rig (Kenwood TM-V71A, D710GA; Yaesu FT-8800/8900; TYT TH-9800). It all depends on the tools you need.
@@TheTechPrepper …ok!,…I will!,…also,…what more ,can a MARS mod expand an 857d??…I mean,it looks to have everything,already,including a kitchen sink,and maybe even a pumpkin spice band!,…i dunno!!…🤷🏾♂️🤣,…also!,…thank you,for all of your content,that I’m extremely late arriving,to…😑 ko4jlk🇺🇸
@@iamnotraylewis5838 It will transmit out of band. On VHF/UHF you will be able to communicate the marine, MURS, FRS and GMRS radios just to name a few. On HF, you will be able to transmit on the marine and military frequencies. None of this is legal, but it's good to have in an emergency.
Man, what radios Yeasu has NOT discontinued...the ones I want, can't get anymore. Only one I'm able to look at and purchase is the 891...
You’re a very good presenter and I have thoroughly learnt many valuable things from this series!
Glad you like them!
I use the FT-897D. The internal battery pack capability is awesome. The beauty of it is that both the 897 and the 857 use the same Yaesu programming software & cable. Both are fantastic radios.
The FT-897D is another great rig. I am kicking myself for not buying a new in box unit for $800 at the last hamfest. The batteries are hot swappable, right? If you ever decide to sell it, I'd be interested. Cheers!
Finally the video I’ve been waiting for. Great review of the 857D man pack, that’s the radio I recently found and will be using for my portable/POTA setup. Will be going all in with Armoloq and High Ground Gear bag, looking to do some hiking in/out for activating and that setup as you’ve shown will be perfect. Thanks for all the great content Gaston and keep it coming!
Glad to hear it! Thank you. I have taken this 857 up mountains and it is brutal, but very capable. You will be a rockstar with the FT-857D on your POTA activations. It's the right amount of power and perfect footprint if you don't have hike too far from your vehicle. Enjoy!
I love my FT-857D. I bought mine new back when I first got my General ticket back in 2014. It definitely does everything! The only things I haven't tried yet are 2m SSB and satellites; just because I haven't got around to them yet. I've been having too much fun with other stuff. Your antenna choices look really good too. I'm about to start working building a 6m - 40m linked dipole (now that the weather is starting to be more tolerable). I can't wait to see the No Random Contacts series! Take care, Gaston!
Thanks for stopping by, Richard. You are a lucky man for securing your 857 when they were still available. I will be doing a linked dipole build for NVIS that covers: 40m, 60m, 75m and 80m (digital) in the No Random Contacts series. 73 de KT1RUN
Love seeing how your videos and content have matured over time. Keep up the good work KT1RUN!
Glad to hear it. The video/audio quality still needs improvement, but the vision for field expedient communications is indeed maturing. Take care.
Thanks for sharing this. Very good info. I used to have a PRC 117G pouch but I got rid of it before I had the idea to have a Tactical Prep-com situation. Really appreciate this share.
You're welcome. It's almost the perfect bag for the 857 and 891. That U-shaped zipper is a bonus feature for venting and access.
Two FT-857Ds wide-banded and three operators with digital accessories and you a full-blown TOC.
Funny that you mention a TOC. I will be covering this in the next series. My TOC will consist of the FT-857D, FT-8900 and a Panasonic CF-20 Toughbook. I'll explain why in that video. The AOC's have the same deployment.
That is an American Milsim Hat. Very Cool Guys
I’m really enjoying the man pack videos. I’m not a diehard tactical prepping person, but I like seeing what you have put together for comms when you head out into the wilderness. I’m about a week away from taking the General FCC exam so I can start playing with HF. I’m definitely interested in going out and doing SOTA activations. Nothing like combining hiking and radio in one activity. Have a great weekend!!!!! 73, KC2KNA
Glad to hear that you're still enjoying the videos even if the tactical view point is not your style. I get a lot of negative feedback from hams when discussing anything that includes gear that is housed in a Coyote Tan bag with MOLLE webbing. 73's
@@TheTechPrepper you won’t get any negative feedback from this ham. I actually use the molle gear- slinger packs from Maxpedition for hiking and biking. I attach my Yaesu handheld and GPS to the molle straps..
I concur!…’never really even considered the idea,of a man pack,before I started watching these videos!👍🏾
I really like the looks of that radio, if only I could afford it. I think a similar but a bit less capable radio is the Wouxun KG-UV980P. Similar frequencies covered but output is 40W on UHF and 50 on VHF. It does have a detachable front end so that could add some flexibility to a comms loadout and the dual receiver is a handy feature. I'm not sure of its power consumption, but given its output, I'd say it's probably pretty good. It runs $329 so its about a third of the 857 so I guess thats an advantage as well. Still, I like yaesu radios more. Great vid. Keep them coming.
Thanks for putting the KG-UV980P on my radar. Unfortunately, it is only a quad band radio and does not fully cover HF. It just covers 10m and only on FM. If that covers your needs, excellent! If you don't mind low power (5 watts), take a look at used Yaesu FT-817ND. I think you can find one for the same price as the Wouxun. It's all band and all mode. I covered it in part 4.
@@TheTechPrepper Thanks, I'll have a look. My biggest concern is where I live/work/play is heavily tree'd so I tend to go for as much power as I can since I can't guarantee getting to a sufficient clearing.
@@TheTechPrepper Oh man I can't believe I didn't mention this earlier. Better safe radios has a couple SHTF HTs that while a bit different, are pretty interesting. The Wouxun KG-UV9PX is a custom radio that has some potential, for the target audience. If you know someone who needs something somewhat simpler, and more of a turnkey kind of thing with heavy emphasis on monitoring, this is the one to look at. It has nearly every useful freq already programmed so all people would have to do is turn on the scan mode and wait for traffic. It has two freq ranges for tx but is limited so again its a particular target audience. Still, for an ht it does a lot.
Good demo. I think you’ll like the cha hybrid antenna. My group switched to that antenna system earlier this year because of the simplicity of design and multiple bands. We tried all sorts of stuff, buddipole products, wolf river products, home brew stuff, etc. The issue with other brands is they’re designed for hobby use, much like the radios we use. I can’t say enough good about the emcomm and field durability of our cha products. We employ the end fed, the 17’ whip and even the delta loop, mission dependent of course. My only gripe is I wish the 17’ collapsible whip would collapse to a shorter length. It’s the only part of that system that is difficult to pack. The tactical delta loop setup really surprised me.
I've only homebrewed one delta loop. Every now and then I think about a tactical delta loop, but I've gotten lazy and sort of stuck on my 80m-10m EFHW. In the southeast like Florida where I live finding trees for long wire antennas is generally not a problem.
Recently, I've been focusing on fielding my Cha Emcomm III portable. It is very well built, but as yet I would not say its a stellar performer, but I am still experimenting to find its best configuration.
@@vironpayne3405 we are using that exact emcomm III portable, and I’ll agree I’m not sure if it’s stellar, but it has been adequate. I think it certainly performs better than a ground mounted vertical, but the delta loop has been a very good addition, it’s from chameleon as well.
Morning, Ryan. I am really pleased with the build quality of the CHA LEFS. Chameleon is officially sponsoring portions of the next series, so we may even see a CHA TD 2.0. These reviews will all be unbiased. My goal is to let the scenarios that I am trying to solve speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will give the viewers the data they need to determine whether the Chameleon antennas will work for them. We are going to attempt targeted contacts across the state, region and country with these antennas (as well as others). Thanks for sharing your experience.
Viron, thanks for always jumping into the comments section. I appreciate the support. It's easy to get lazy with any EFHW. We have terrible trees out here for antennas, so having a single mast is always easiest. For this next series we are going to experiment with a lot of different antennas.
@@TheTechPrepper what separates a good operator from the rest is the ability to make the most out of whatever antenna setup he has. The more we practiced the better prepared we will be those challenges. Every time we have a training event here we learn something that makes us stronger, collectively.
Damn son! You've done it again and put out a great series! Can't wait for the "FT-818 Manpack" video and the "No Random Contacts" series as well!! Got my ARMOLOQ for the 857, but probably will be buying a FT-818 soon.......((Two is One and One is None)). Both Yaesu and Seth are happy, my bank account not so much! ;-)
Thanks, David! You should see the new custom manpack. I plan to film that and share the private video with just the Buy My a Coffee supporters as this bag is not ready for the world (yet). I plan to film it before work tomorrow. I need to get a second FT-818ND now that the manpack bag is exactly the way I want it for my style of operations. Everyone's bank account is hurting these days (mine included). I am building an ultra light manpack at the moment that is getting pricey... The new "No Random Contacts" series launches this evening or early tomorrow morning! Cheers, my friend.
Got mine new in 2004 best radio ive ever had Getting the display repaired by andy ✌🏻
That was a great FTX to show the capability of a simple "retrans" station....it would seem to me.
Also shows signal propagation, with the "directional" antenna situation.
Keep up the great work !!!
Glad you enjoyed the demo(s). Yes, I have used this station to relay communications for local hams that can't reach other stations. I'll cover the '"relay" use case in my upcoming series.
The directional antenna also cuts down the RF noise from unwanted stations. Omni-directional antennas pickup more noise.
Take it easy.
Manny? What the heck? Good to see you again!
@@PatrickKQ4HBD, Brother Poe !!!!
What up, My Man !!!
Thank you for your videos, especially on the manpack! After going thru hurricane Ian here in Florida I was without power and comms,cell phone) for two weeks! Couldn’t let my son’s know I was ok as I was in the main path of it. Thanks to your video I’m setting up my man pack with a Yaseau Ftm300dr, Armoloq frame and such!!! Great Videos and thanks for sharing your knowledge 💪✊😎
Those moments in life are rough, but they certainly are good food-for-thought. I prefer the manpack-style over the go-boxes. Glad you found the content useful.
Just came across your channel. Loved the manpack series and I’m looking forward to your upcoming series.
Awesome, thank you! If I can execute on my vision for the next series, I think you'll be pleased. Be warned, I am starting with the basics and will be kicking things off with a dual-band HT. Each video will be a progressive build with more advanced radios, antennas and topics.
@@TheTechPrepper That actually sounds perfect. I’m just starting out as it is.
It's good to see people employing mid-level gear in innovative ways. Very nice. How many of these exist within your organization?
Everyone in our group has one. Some have two identically configured. Group standards making support considerably easier.
I know I have become a fan boy (imagine that at my age!) But you really are addressing the concerns of my circle. DX is certainly a nice hobby BUT "No Random Contacts" describes my NEEDS for ham radio. I MUST be able to maintain comms with family and friends. Both local, (VHF) and those 700 miles away! GREAT JOB! I look forward to the series!
My first fan! I am truly humbled. Glad to hear that I will be hitting on something that provides value to you and your group. I plan to share all the failures too. This series should be fun. We'll cover lots of techniques, modes, bands, radios and antenna. I am trying to establish a network of known operators spread throughout the my state and country. This will be an interesting ride. I appreciate your ongoing support. 73's
Thank you for this excellent series! I have learned a lot and definitely inspired to put a manpack of my own together.
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your build.
Nice, well thought out setups. Love the idea of having individual resonant wire antennas.
The 857 is a great rig and sometimes you do need to extra power. However you will learn more using the 818 and become a better operator for it. Thanks for the series I really enjoyed it
Glad you enjoyed it. The FT-818ND was my first HF radio. Boy did I struggle...but I am grateful that I struggled to make QRP work for me. The 857 feels like cheating now. Take care. I hope you enjoy my next series on No Random Contacts. 73's
I enjoyed this series. I'm a former Army RTO looking to get back into stuff like this. I had an FCC license when I left the Army, but have not renewed in years. The whole series I have been trying to telepathically tell you about PRC117 bags, but I'm glad I waited till the end. Even with the weight, is the FT-991A a good option to the scarce 857? Great videos!
I'm glad you enjoyed the series. It's probably time for an update as I designed a couple of custom bags called the TTP Manpack. Unfortunately, I'm no longer producing them. Thank you for your service. Do you have any recommendations on good FMs and TMs from when you were in the service?
All right......I waited like you said, for your next video......and I was NOT disappointed..........now I know what I need to save my lunch money for and get my comms set up going. This is a great final episode for the "Manpack" series, I can't wait for the "No random contacts" series and subsequent antenna builds. Roger out
Morning, Roger. Glad you enjoyed it. If you don't need VHF/UHF (2m/70cm) you may also want to do your research and look at the Yaesu FT-891. It's a great HF-only with 100 watts that works in the same manpack configuration. The digital noise reduction is amazing. The next series is going to be fun to story board (mostly done) and produce. I hope you enjoy it.
@@TheTechPrepper, I have another question, which is the best radio (for the situation I mentioned before and you've touched on it in this series) Yaesu FT-818ND, Yeasu FT-857, TYT TH-9800D?
@@rogerwilcoxii359 I can't seem to find your comment with your exact need. If you don't mind, please state it again and I'll give you me two cents. All the radios in these series solve different needs.
Ok, My plan was local/neighborhood comms with handheld and then city/county/regional and state and beyond with manpack....I would like to have as many options(HF, UHF/VHF, FM & digital) as possible....trying to cover as many bases as possible to help disseminate info and or intel.
@@rogerwilcoxii359 In that case, my answer will be included in several of the videos that are part of the No Random Contacts series that is going live tonight. The first part just talks about local community comms...what I am calling "Ring-0" communication. I can't respond here inline as this topic is going to take me an entire series through the end of the calendar year. I am starting with the community and working up in terms of distances, radios, antenna systems, techniques and skills. Stay tuned. Ultimately, the FT-857D is the do everything manpack radio for the serious radio prepper.
Caught my attention witht the 2 meter SSB, and then took my lunch money with the "no random contact'" announcement. Can't wait.
Excellent. 2m SSB is one of my favorite bands. That little yagi has allowed me to work a larger portion of my state than expected. I think you'll enjoy the new series.
Check out the old vietnam style PRCs. I was thinking of going back to those.
Will do. I can eye out for them. Thanks.
great video! Really enjoying this series.
Glad you enjoyed the series. Take care.
Great vid, I received my TPA frame today for my 857D. Getting that pouch next. Keep up the great work.
Thank you. Enjoy the new TPA pack frames. Occasionally that pouch goes on sale depending on the color. I picked mine up for 50% off early last year, but I had to go with OD Green. I am fan of Coyote Tan for the desert. Have fun with it.
Gaston .... tnx and nice coverage Sir! Glad I saved my FT 100. 73 - KF6IF
You are very welcome. The FT-100 is radio that I completely missed. It was before my time, but looks like another comparable rig in terms of capabilities that is suited for a manpack. Glad to see that you still have it. 73 de KT1RUN
Great video and great series. Someone already mentioned it, but I'll second the recommendation to check QRZ. 857's come up now and then. I bought mine there about two years ago for a very good price.
Thank you for mentioning QRZ, Mark. Hamfests are also a great place. Get there early and bring cash. Cheers to another 857D owner. It looks like we picked up ours around the same time. 73's.
I just picked up my 857d with box and the standard mic and the dtmf mic, powercable, etc. for $600 at the Louisville Hamfest. There were two others there for the same price but this one was the cleanest one and i got it with in the first 20 min of the gates being opened. I suggest check out the fest...there are deals out there just got to be patient and keep looking. 73 de N9PMI
Great score and congrats on the find! Thanks for adding to the comments. I failed to mention this. I have also seen better deals at the hamfest compared to what's available online. Like you said, get there early bring $500-$800 in cash. Personally, I jog the venue quickly looking for them and then take my time to revisit the vendors after a quick survey. 73 de KT1RUN
Boy, you are hitting all of the areas that I am interested in, like regional comms to, say, a 50 mile radius. Thanks! I'm wondering, though, what use the techie "hf" freqs of 6m, 10m, and 15m may be in this regard?
Awesome video I recently built the exact same manpak that you have You've definitely been a huge inspiration for my interest in the hobby I have a question for you first, the model that you have, do you have the Japanese European export or do you have the English? I ended up going with the Japanese export because it's a little cheaper it's 100 w however, apparently for my understanding there is some restrictions on the radio frequencies and the second question is what do you plan to do for the zebra stripe issue on the LCD if you have not yet experienced it, what would you recommend?
Really enjoy your channel. Thanks for what you do. Cheers.
You are welcome. Glad to hear you like the content. I hope you enjoy the new series that's starting up in a couple of days. I'll be recording the intro video tomorrow. 73's
@@TheTechPrepper thx. I will check it out.
Excellent video. Looking forward to the new series of videos! 👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks! The next one is going to be nuts. I hope to record the AAR and edit tomorrow. Most of the footage was captured in the Sierra's.
Awesome series Gaston. Looking forward to the next series.
Thank you! I am really excited about the next series. We will be starting small in this first video and will be covering some basic VHF/UHF repeater work. So, it will not be for everyone. Each video will build on each other. The radios, antennas and techniques will get more sophisticated as we progress. Pick what you like. Have a great weekend.
Another great video!!! Been thinking about buying a CHA 80-10m LEFS. I got the 40-10m version for portable operations and works great on 40, 20, 15 and 10m. Looking forward to see how the 80-10m version performs.
73, W4ISB
Mike in Tennessee.
Glad to hear you already have this antenna. There will be lots of testing. I plan to run lots of NVIS tests as well as explorer ALE with this antenna. Happy Friday, Mike!
The 40-10m version works great for portable operations. Low SWR on 4 bands, low enough not to worry about tuning it on my IC-7300.
The 80-10m version would be great to have as a portable or back up base station antenna as well. I'll try to catch the next sale on Chameleon's website and buy one. They're not exactly cheap, but they preform well next to some higher priced antennas.
I am 65. Am looking more for a rollpack concept. That is, a station in a rolling bag.
But I do like the idea of a mobile radio with a BNC port facing you. Actually, I think ALL RF ports on a rig need to be BNC. There are caps for BNC's if that port is not used.
Those Y 6, 2, .70M manpacks of 30 years ago have a BNC port about the same place as the717, 718.
Your rollpack is an interesting approach. That's worth exploring. Thanks.
I run the BNC dust covers. They are a nice little accessory.
I was looking for a 8800 or 8900
Seems to be a popular model as they don't swap owner that much
That's a great radio. Part III of this series covered the 8900.
Greetings from northern Finland. I relay like your videos and when I look few of these, I got exited of ham radios after long brake. In some video you talk about voice keyer or something? I try to find ..
We might have to start calling you, Sensi. Having power doesn't mean you have to use power. Not when you have skills.
Thank you, but no. I am very new to the hobby and I am still figuring this out like everyone else. This channel is about me sharing my experiences as I work through and evolve my communications capabilities. The manpack concept has been an evolving project over the last 18 months.
However, I did find that by using QRP radios that it forced me to ditch the tuners and work with resonant antennas and really get comfortable with the DSP, filters and RF gain, etc. on these radios. It almost feels like cheating when I jump to 20+ watts.
Cheers!
Great video keep it up. I think this will all be much needed in near future
Thanks! I think so, too. It's a bit heavy, but there's nothing like it when comes to the feature set given its size and footprint. Take care.
Awesome video! looking forward to the series!!
Thanks. It's going to be blast. Take care.
another awesome video. I saved it to take notes and follow up the info and gear you showed.👍🍻🤓
First, you have a really great call sign, Don. Glad you enjoyed the video. I am pretty sure I included a full list of the items in the video description. Hopefully, they can supplement your notes. The only difficult part is finding a good condition FT-857D at a reasonable price these days.Cheers.
@@TheTechPrepper thank you so much. :)
Yes, I have looked today and nothing. I have saved a search to alert me.
@@DonzLockz Good luck!
Great video brother! See you are a reader. I’m currently reading a fictional book Partisan Operator Journal by John Jacob Schmidt. The author is the founder of Amrron and was special forces radio operator. I know you get all kinds of suggestions but it’s a fun read and very much relates to your video topics.
Thanks, man! Yes, have been all my life. I enjoy books in print even though I am a software engineer. My wife is a big a reader too. We raid the Goodwill for books once a month.
Thank for putting the Partisan Operator Journals series on my radar. I am buying that now. I think you would enjoy a book I just finished called "Tomorrow War" by J. L. Bourne. I actually listened to this one on Audible. I split my time between print and audio. I can get through an extra book every two weeks on my trail runs.
Keep the book recommendations coming!
Been waiting for this video! Thanks A Lot!
You are very welcome. Wait until we start the "NO RANDOM CONTACTS" series. We are going to use this radio a lot. Cheers!
Had a little chuckle at first video clip 2 watches, 2 is 1 1 is none... one's a smart watch apparently
Actually, I was testing the solar charging on both devices. The Casio is not a smart watch and lacks GPS, but lasts forever with the solar cell on the face. As for the, Garmin Instinct, I turned off all smart features and do not pair it with a phone. Both are great watches.
I have to get one of these for mobile/portable to fill out my gear better. I have the 991a, 818, and 60 HT. This is a missing piece.
You have good taste in radios
you can make a more small portable one made with a arrow and piano wire
Wow, we are swimming in the deep end now. All lightweights out of the pool.
Yes, we are. ;-) Morning! I love it when you stop by. That pesky day job keeps me busy during the day. 73's
Great video Gaston!
Thanks, Donnie. You and the community are amazing. Happy Friday.
I have an SDR receiver on a combination 2 meter / 70 meter antenna. The antenna is vertical, thus it is orientated best for horizontal signal reception. I know that will make for weak receptions of Yagi type and vertically polarised transmissions. But, I hear nothing on 2 meter sideband on both upper and lower sideband. It is very disappointing.
Hi Gaston. I really have enjoyed your videos. Just curious as to your preference between the Signal Stick and Comet whips. Are you mainly using the SS for higher wattage use? Does it sag too much on the TrekMount to use in the horizontal application? Wondering about the benefits vs using a single model of antenna.
Excellent question. For me they are different tools. I use the SignalStick on any manpack that requires more than 20 watts. This includes all the VHF/UHF rigs that I covered in the first part of the series. I use the BNC-24 for the 818 and anytime I run the TrekMount in the horizontal configuration. The SWR is almost a perfect 1:1 to match in that configuration with the Comet BNC. It's so good, that George from PackTenna cleaned out every Comet BNC on the market after I did my early testing last year. He now bundles the Comet's with his TrekMount as an option. The SignalStick SWR is too high for this application on the TrekMount.
I love what you do for the community! Thanks, one question I am concerned about the man pack with the 857 in possible or inclement weather! I know you live in an arid region but I don’t and even rare you could get rain while out. I would like to hear your advice and insight on this topic. I thought about a dry bag but it’s going to impact portability and If your gear got killed by water intrusion then all mission goals are also going to be rendered impossible. Thanks in advance
Thank you. I get a lot of email from angry hams that insistent that I am ruining this hobby by explaining communications using simple language and examples.
We have been hit by more than a dozen monsoons in July and August, so I am thinking about the solution to this problem more and more. I have a manpack bag design that is almost finished for the smaller manpacks (i.e. FT-817/818) that incorporates a detachable rainfly. My ruck also has an integral rainfly. To operate while it's raining, I deploy my USGI poncho as a tarp shelter. My ultimate goal is to build a rugged, weatherproof (IPX8 rated) radio. I am trying to get some time with the big-three Japanese manufactures.
@@TheTechPrepper I would buy a weather proof shack in the box. Be nice if Yaesu made it, I love how clear the digital fusion sounds.
An all band, all mode, packable, waterproof rig would basically be the holy grail. An internal ATU with the impedance matching capabilities of the one in the G90 would be icing on the cake.
Good stuff
Thanks!
Gaston, thanks for all of the content! I've been watching everything you've put out so far and have come to the conclusion that I have the paddle but can't even begin to find the creek I should be lost up.
That being said, could you go "tune" up Yaesu and have them build an updated QRP rig? I want to try 3 day inclement weather (cold/wet) hiking while conducting radio ops during the evenings; however, the TX500 appears to be a lighter weight option at present. Any chance of seeing TX500, or other suitable rugged equipment, content? That sounds bad...rather, what would you suggest for operations in the aforementioned situation?
I'm still looking at FT- 818ND setup akin to the one you use but am unsure of its suitability in the conditions. Also, what benefit are the filters that are hard to find?
Will the battery that you used and linked on this video safely operate the BTech UV-50 x2 GMRS VHS/UHS Transceiver?
Thanks for another thought-provoking addition to the Manpack series! I currently have just an FT-60R, though I plan to add a mobile rig and put together a manpack over the next few months. I'm wondering whether you have any opinion on how the FT-891 in addition to a good HT would compare to the all-band, all-mode rigs that you've been focusing on. Obviously, such a combo would sacrifice SSB capability on 2m and 70cm as well as the FT-857D's higher transmitting power on the upper frequencies. But it's my understanding that the FT-891 offers some useful improvements (e.g. DSP, better filtering, larger LCD screen) over Yaesu's older but still very popular shack-in-the-box options for a little less money. Are there any other disadvantages to relying on an HT for VHF/UHF communications?
You are very welcome. The FT-60R is a fantastic radio. It was my EDC radio until very recently. I still have a number of FT-60's that are now being used for other tasks. Back HT's for the vehicles and go-bags.
This is a great question. Here's my personal opinion:
1. If you don't need SSB on 2m/70cm, there's not need to get an all-band, all-mode rig.
2. A 100 watt HF rig can be supplemented with a secondary that provides dual-band VHF/UHF capabilities.
3. If you need more power than HT, supplement your HF rig with a good 50 watt dual-band mobile rig.
Good luck!
@@TheTechPrepper I'll have to do some digging to find out how much SSB activity there is in South Florida. On the other hand, if I can convince some family in the region that they ought to get into amateur radio at least for emcomm, then I could make use of the higher power on VHF/UHF or even SSB for sure.
Im not a radio fanatic just basically getting some for emergencies but my question is how is digital gonna be when SHTF and we loose the grid or EMP and dont have cell or that type of services available
Actually, this is a perfect application for radio and precisely why I have been training using my gear for targeted communication in the backcountry with no grid tie. It has take some work, but in doing this for the last 3 years, I have also built a network of likeminded operators and train without any grid tie on weekly basis. We have communication capabilities from our local communities, to the country, state, region and county. As for EMP, there ways to mitigate damage that can be caused during an event. I've been using to do a series on early detection of such events as well as how to protect primary and backup gear.
Great video as always. Really appreciate the work you did for this series. Coincidently, I am in the process of building a pack like this and really like what you say about the Yaesu 857. Unfortunately they are unicorns right now. What is the best alternative equal to or better than the 857 in your opinion?
Glad you enjoyed the series. I am getting this question a lot. Here some options:
1. If you don't need all-mode support on 2m/70cm. I would suggest getting two radios. A 100 watt HF rig and a 50 watt dual-band mobile rig. I personally like the FT-891 for HF. There are too many options for dual-band mobiles. If I were to buy a new dual-band VHF/UHF rig, I would go with the Kenwood TM-V71A. It's dual VFO and supports crossband repeat.
2. If you want all-band, all-mode (like the 857D) and currently available, look at the Yaesu 991A. It's huge, but it is a shack in the box. It also has some nice modern features like a waterfall to visualize the radio spectrum. The Icom IC-7100 is another option. It is older and has a goofy head unit.
I hope this helps.
@@TheTechPrepper this is a huge help to me, thank you very much for the reply. I really like the 991 however it's power draw is holding me back. I'll do more research on battery life with it. I'm going to stalk ebay for a month or so and see if any good 857's pop up.
So the FT-891 isn't an updated version of the FT-857D? I'm new not licensed yet and trying to figure out the difference in the radios. I see it's an "all modes" radio, but does one radio have capabilities the other doesn't? DMR, APRS type stuff? Not sure what APRS is so I don't know that I would need it but? Nice video I'll be watching it again to see if I missed anything (probably the whole series again).
FT-891 does not do 2m or 70cm, only 6m through HF
The FT-891 does not have UHF/VHF, but if you do not need those in an all in one package like what this video shows, you can get a new 891 for not much more than what a used 857 is going for.
Excellent questions.
1. No, the FT-891 is not a true updated version. It is missing the VHF (2m) and UHF (70cm) capabilities that are found on your typical dual-band handheld radios. The great thing about 2m/70cm on this rig is that is all-mode. It does more than FM. For example, it does Single Side Band (SSB). This is much for efficient as shown in the demo where I am on the roof.
2. I'll cover APRS in detail in the upcoming series. What it is? What it can do? Why you might want to use it? And, how to set it up.
3. The closest thing to a currently available replacement is the Yaesu FT-991A. It's all-band and all mode like the FT-857D, but is much larger and heavier. This good be an option if you don't have a requirement for being truly man portable. It also has some nice features like a waterfall display so that you can visual the RF spectrum.
Take care and thanks for the question. A big thanks to the other viewers that beat me to the response.
No, it's all mode , not all band.
@@TheTechPrepper Thank you all for the help! Can't wait for the next video.
Look at the FT100D also discontinued, but smaller, lighter and cheaper. I have an FT897, and I wish I had bought 100 instead.
Yep. I have that radio too along with the pack frames for it. I picked it up at a local hamfest this past January, but have not used it yet. I love that it has built-in GPS, APRS and C4FM. I have it on my to-do list to try C4FM for the first time. 73's
I misread the model. I have the FTM-100DR not the FT-100D. They are very different radios. I'll definitely check this out and its viability for a manpack. Thanks!
@@TheTechPrepper Uses too much power. 1/1.6A RX (squelched/max audio).
Compared to FT-857d at 0.55/1A RX.
Still, It's better than the Icom's IC-706mk2g and IC-7000 at 1.3 to 2 Amps.
I'm finding that my usb hubs and other usb devices are a weak link when I am working digital. They don't like the HF.
Man what sucks is I'm trying to get into amateur radio but it's tough and I'm a couple years late and now everything's discontinued
Did you ever come up with a permanent solution for your problems with mounting a Digirig on the FT-857D frame?
Seeing as how the 857D is discontinued and increasingly difficult to find, is it feasible for you to suggest or test out a model that is in current production? Or should we band together and stage a sit-in at Yaesu HQ until they start making more 857's?
I vote for a sit in at Yaesu. I'll be there with you. I have a very specific style of operating and there isn't anything available on the market from any manufactures that is this is this size/weight and covers these bands with this amount of power. It's not in the same class, but take a look at the IC-705. That radio is not for me for a number of reasons, but it's something for you to research as it could work for your needs. Good luck!
Excellent video as always Gaston! I think all of us see you as one of the best EmComm Operators at this point. You have a lot we can all learn from! But man, that 857D be expensive though haha! But like you said, it’s an investment and there aren’t any radios in its class unfortunately. Godspeed and 73
I am very humbled, but no. I am still very new to amateur radio (< 3 years). I am just 100% focused on solving real-world scenarios with radio that largely take place in the field. You guys are literally coming along for the ride as I work through this journey,
Yes, the FT-857D is expensive. I should have made a firearm analogy in this video. A large portion of this community has no problem stockpiling multiple weapon systems with each firearm falling into the 1K price point. I have tools from Harbor Freight and tools for when I really need to make sure my DiY projects get done properly. These principles apply to radio too in my humble opinion.
@@TheTechPrepper Yeah that’s a very good point. The same could be said for medical supplies or food storage that not many people pay attention to! I feel there will be a time in our lifetime where radio operators will be one of the most sought after class of people to keep friends and family in contact. And unfortunately there aren’t too many of us compared to the population.
@@SwiftShamisJustus You are dead on my friend. I have a video on medical coming up soon. It's been awhile since I've talked about medical preps.
@@TheTechPrepper That would be fantastic! Thanks for all the insight and 73 brother!
I love the "no random contacts" theme! kc8owl
Thanks, man. And there will be a mug! I just need to get off my ass and get a test print going. More hours in the day would be good. See you next Thursday.
Hi Gaston! I'm just getting started in HAM. While working on my license I've started a build project starting with an 857D. Did you get the speaker relocation on your frame? I want to do a full digirig setup. Besides WinLink what other software is involved. Is is mainly windows software? Love the RasberryPi setup. I have a couple I'm not using. Do you use those for spotting in the field also. Still working through the videos. Would love help on this project. Do your Amazon links give you credit or is there another step?
Welcome to the hobby. No, I do not utilize the 3.5mm relocation option on the manpacks. I run a lot of software for digital:
- Winlink: Pat (ARDOP and ax.25 packet)
- APRS: YAAC
- fldigi/flmsg/flamp
- JS8Call
I stopped using the Pi in the field due to frequent failures. I'm using a Panasonic FZ-M1 Toughpad these days.
Yes, I get credit. It does not cost you anything, but helps the channel.
QRZ is a good resource too.
Very good point. Thanks for the contributing. I've had great success at hamfests, too. 73's.
Awesome setup! Do you use the 10' or 16' for your jpole from N9TAX?
I have both. I use the 16' at home and the 10' when I go portable.
Where do I buy the bag that fits the Rack mount, it looks awesome.
That's the PRC/117G pouch by High Ground Gear.
Thanks for all the great info. Can you recommend a good travel bag for the yeasu 891?
I use the same bag for the FT-891. It's the High Ground Gear PRC/117G radio pouch.
@@TheTechPrepper thanks for sharing. Appreciate that
Do you get a decent SWR with those handheld antennas on 2M/70CM? Im finding mine going up to 4 or so with the 857D.
You need two things: 1. Put two snap on ferrite beads below the 2m/440 relocation mount. 2. Add a 19" counterpoise.
Hi. I live in Europe.
I've been watching a lot of your videos, I'm trying to get some sort of radio system that allows me to communicate in an urban area, say 10km range. I have 2 ailunce hd1 but it seems that even on max power.
I want the ability to encrypt Comms and possibly even connect it to a pc to send text and data.
I have basically zero radio experience, especially with HF, which I'm very interested in.
Can you suggest a radio i can get to start learning some of this stuff?
Do you think a 25/50w manpack in UHF/vhf would be enough or do I need HF?
10KM should work well for VHF/UHF as long as you have line of site. Try adding a better antenna. If you still have issues look into a j-pole. Moving to higher ground also helps.
Have you checked out the ft891? All mode 100w with smaller form factor. Might be what you are looking for in a man portable rig
Actually, the 891 and 857 are about the same size. I've had an FT-891 for a couple years now and run it nearly identical to the 857. My only complaint is that it does not have 2m/440 capabilities. We have a lot of activity on SSB out here on VHF/UHF.
Thank you for the reply. I just stumbled upon your videos and got alot of good info from this first one I saw. I realized after watching other vids that you already had the 891. Haha. Thank you
@@nathanapatton Welcome to the channel!
What about an Icom IC-705?
Can you speak on the dimensions of High Ground Gear PRC/117G bag? I'm thinking about running the TPA-8889 frame in that bag. Thanks in advance.
PRC/117G is too big (height-wise) in my humble opinion if you are planning on using the FT-8800/8900 with the TPA frames. You can get around this by stacking the radio on top of your battery. Just add a piece of plastic/wood/cardboard between the frame and battery. The dimensions are posted on the High Ground Gear website for PRC/117G bag.
I have an FT-8800/8900 and covered in an earlier episode in this series. The FT-8889 frame works with the Helikon-Tek bag if modified. I am also just about to release a custom bag that is designed specifically for the FT-8800/8900. Here's the private video: ruclips.net/video/OV3VfN-xdac/видео.html
Hi how well does your radio stay cool in that bag, I know my FT891 gets rather hot even in open space, using 20w
Have you figured out how to interface a U94 to the FT857D?
I have not tried. I've only done this with the VX-6.
Do you have a video or some close up pictures of the mount you used to attach the arrow yagi to the painters pole?
Just pictures. Here's my original from my Instagram account: instagram.com/p/CVDILTgFaRU/
Yaseu FT-891 an acceptable alternative to the one listed in the video??
If you don't need VHF/UHF, then yes. The FT-891 is HF only, but they're both about the same size.
Was wondering if you had an opinion about the ATAC system and if it would work with radios with data links.
Not at the moment. I have ATAK on my list of to-do's for next year. I briefly installed it along with the HAMMER plugin, but can't really speak to it yet. I plan to make a plugin for ATAK as well to extend its capabilities for preparedness. I have a software project called EmComm Tools that I have been working on for over a year that shares a lot of the same concepts as ATAK. It's not release yet.
but nice job
I need an 857 to go with my 897
That's a great combo. Most of the components are interchagable.
@@TheTechPrepper The rails for the 897 are not available anymore! :(
So...what you are saying is? You're Not worried about your radio, getting HOT in that bag?! 😁😉
Based on my use and operating style (short commo windows and minimum power to make the contact)--NO. I have never had an issue. I will periodically feel the radio and bag for heat build up. My newer rigs (i.e. FTM-6000R) have built-in temperature sensors which are nice. I have been running these bags in the desert for 18+ months. Yes, you will likely cook it if you run for long periods of time to "rag chew" and run much higher power.
Curious how you feel about the FT-891?
The FT-891 is about the same size, weight and footprint as the FT-857. If you're looking for an HF-only rig that is still currently available and is manpack-able this is a great option as it supports 100 watts. I've taken the 891 to the field and have showcased on the channel many times. I am not a fan of the menu system compared to the 857 and 818. The DSP and digital noise reduction are nice. I have an easier time pulling out weak signals with the 891 compared to the 857. Honestly, I believe the 891 could have been a real replacement for the 857 if 2m and 440 MHz were added. Just my two cents.
@@TheTechPrepper Thanks for the info, I also have been looking at the FT-891.
Thanks for the question, Ive been looking at that same radio!
2 Questions:
What mobile radios on the market are waterproof?
I know there is a fan on the back, but with it being enclosed like that, wouldn't it limit the airflow for it to stay cool enough to not overheat?
I don't know of any, but the closest is the Lab599 Discovery TX-500. No, the radio does not overheat based on my usage: short communication windows and run the minimum power. I have been running the manpacks for 18 months like this in the Sonoran Desert with the ambient temperatures up to 115F. No over heating issues yet. This style of operating is not designed for rag chewing.
What battery would you recommend for a 857D manpack setup with the radio pouch you have shown?
I personally use a 6Ah LiFePO4 from Bioenno, but I never run more than 20 watts in this configuration. It fits in the 6"x6"x3" admin pouch in the front. You will be limited on how much RF power you can use as it can't supply enough current for the higher RF power levels. If you need more current, checkout the 9Ah model dimensions as it may fit in the 6x6x3 pouch.
With govco able to jam and monitor all the freqs what use is a radio.
This is a very naive assessment point of view in my opinion. The government relies on RF comms, too. There is a lot of spectrum out there. It's not all going to be jammed. In fact, some frequencies and operating techniques make jamming very difficult.
@@TheTechPrepper thank you, I thought military jammers covered the broad spectrum. What about emp, won't radios be paperweights after such an event
@@jamesholcombe435 There are plenty of EMP protections that operators can put in place in advance. I've been wanting to do a video on this subject for awhile. Even with EMP, it's not black and white. There are different scales of severity when it comes to EMPs (man-made or solar-made).
what logging software do you use
What do you use to protect for an EMP attack or blast?
That's a large set of videos on its own. I plan to do a series this year.
I HAVE WATCHED the videos on the five manpack ham radios. if had to only take on radio which one radio would it be? is it the 875? I am a beginning prepper and travel for work, so i would like a man pack radio.
I would recommend the FT-857D if you can find it. It's the "does everything radio" with enough power. If you don't mind a bigger radio, the Yaesu FT-991A is another all-band, all-mode option. It's still on the market so you can get it new it and will likely run you the same as a used FT-857D. It's twice the weight and size, so man portable could be a serious problem. There is an ARMOLOQ frame for it. You may want to check out the 991A in person and go to your local Ham Radio Outlet or Gigaparts if there's one in your area. Also note, if you don't need HF capabilities, most the Japanese VHF/UHF radios are good options. Thanks for sticking with the series.
@@TheTechPrepper thanks for the info. And I bought you some coffee thanks again
@@kiethlowry2862 Thank you so much for the support. This really helps the little (but growing) channel. Are you a ham yet?
@@TheTechPrepper yes I have had tech for 3 weeks and already looking for bigger better toys! The 991 sure is nice.
What's your swr with that signal stick? Mine was very high on the same set up so I had to switch to a 3/8 wave antenna
I have not measured it as I still do not have an inline SWR meter. Ordering one now. I have received reports from other users that's not too bad. What was your SWR before the swap to 3/8 wave antenna?
@@TheTechPrepper 2.4 ish on 5w ....I have the diamond sx-600 so it's pretty accurate....I tried getting it to come down with a counterpoise but it just wasn't happening. Definitely worth a check though.
I'm trying to decide between the 818 and the 857. I would prefer the 818 for it's cost, size, and weight but I'm not sure if it can fit my needs. I absolutely need a radio that can regularly transmit around 100 miles but would really like one that can do 300 miles. Is this possible with the 818's 6 watts or will I need to step up to the 857?
If you primarily use digital modes 8w should be reliable at that distance. Especially with modes such as Olivia. Take care.
Correction, 6w
I am not sure if this answer helps, but I started with the 818 when first I was licensed to operate on HF. I really struggled to make the contacts on low power, but after some time I found how to maximize this radio's performance. I have used the 818 with NVIS antennas on 40m, 75m and 80m to make consistent contacts within the same distances that you are needing. However, a little more power has always helped.
If you don't need all-mode capabilities on 2m/440, you may want to take a look at the Yaesu FT-891. It's still available and offers 100 watts. The digital noise reduction and DSP are great. I use that radio for the scenario you are describing often. Search my channel video page for "NVIS".
I believe that there is no perfect radio for everyone. You need to pick the one that meets your needs. So, if your goal is reliable county/regional contacts, I would recommend a good 100 watt rig and some resonant wire antennas for the bands you want to work.
There will be several videos in my next series that will answer specifically your 100-300 mile reliable contact question. Stay tune.d
@@TheTechPrepper Awesome! Thank you for your help!
FOUND SEVERAL ON THE USED MARKET WITH A WIDE PRICE RANGE.
Yep. They do range in price. Good luck!
Is the Yaesu FT-991 the new model?
The FT-991A is the newest all-band, all-mode rig that's the closest radio in terms of the FT-857D. It's big and heavy, but makes a good shack-in-the-box for the home QTH. It has a waterfall and some other nice features.
So what does that whole set up cost
Everything here is discontinued and was purchased used, but this setup is about $3,000.00 plus or minus $500.
Have you ever considered building these out and selling them for 3500-3700
I’m a big fan of buy once cry once, I have a high mountain near me and according to line of site online thingy I should have a clear shot from central va to de and pa where I have family and we would all like to have off grid battery powered comms for disaster. They are all with in 300 miles. Is this the set up I should go for?
@@kellerhopkins3184 Yes, I have. these radios are discontinued, so I am waiting for a new product release from one of the big three Japanese manufactures that meets all the needs of a field operator. As of right now, there is not thing currently available.
@@TheTechPrepper ill wait for now, look forward to buying something from you. also am I correct that you made a 265 mile contact with a 5w radio ? does that mean I could do it with an 8w beofang?
Yea- good luck getting the Yaesu FT-857D on ebay- you will be paying an inflated outrageous price for a discontinued radio. Why not just get the 891- you will pay about the same price as a ridiculous priced 857d on ebay.
$1000 is ridiculous price- it didnt even sell for that when it was out.
I have personally found SSB on VHF/UHF to be very powerful and more effective than FM. The FT-891 is HF only. Another option is to go with two radios HF + VHF/UHF mobile. While there aren't any good higher power VHF/UHF all-mode rigs, most people can get by with the FT-891 and something like a Dual VFO/crossband repeat rig (Kenwood TM-V71A, D710GA; Yaesu FT-8800/8900; TYT TH-9800). It all depends on the tools you need.
…hey dude,(or anyone)…ever hear of an 857DM??…🤔…what’s the difference,between the two versions?!,…anyone??!
Someone else mentioned that model number recently. It's not for the US market. That's about as much as I know. You may want to pass on it.
@@TheTechPrepper …ok!,…I will!,…also,…what more ,can a MARS mod expand an 857d??…I mean,it looks to have everything,already,including a kitchen sink,and maybe even a pumpkin spice band!,…i dunno!!…🤷🏾♂️🤣,…also!,…thank you,for all of your content,that I’m extremely late arriving,to…😑 ko4jlk🇺🇸
@@iamnotraylewis5838 It will transmit out of band. On VHF/UHF you will be able to communicate the marine, MURS, FRS and GMRS radios just to name a few. On HF, you will be able to transmit on the marine and military frequencies. None of this is legal, but it's good to have in an emergency.
@@TheTechPrepper …ok!…..well,…’got one on the way!…thank you for your diligence!🤙🏾KO4JLK-🇺🇸