Yaesu FT-897D - Is It Still A Great Portable Transceiver?
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- Yaesu has discontinued the FT-897D and replaced it with the greatly updated FT-991. Where does this leave the FT-897D as a choice for portable HF operations? Let's take a look.
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After being without a FT-897 for several years, I finally reacquired one. I am so pleased. This is a radio like no other for home or portable. I added the AT-897Plus tuner and a narrow cw filter to make it even better. This one is a keeper!
Thank you for sharing your opinion on the 897. It is such a useful, versatile radio, that I can't bear to part with mine.
Great video, I was gifted this station when I got my license, nice to hear the feedback on the noisy receiver, thought it was my location, Its helping me get some impressive contacts, and I like it.
Well done! 897 has a lithium-ion mod that has the same capacity as that slab, at a fraction of the weight.Great video, excellent points.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Julian! I need to look into that Li-ion mod. I hope that everyone who reads this comment checks out your terrific RUclips channel.
Very fine overview. I purchased an FT-897D on the used market in 2016 and have used it both in the shack and for portable operations. I still count it as one of the finest radios in my shack. I have really appreciated your videos on the FT-897 and the FT-817. Well done.
Hi Tracy
Great videos! I share your enthusiasm for the 897. I acquired one just after they were released and really liked it but eventually sold it and regretted it ever since. I have a couple of much newer ‘fancy’ radios but I’ve been looking for a good used 897D for field use for a while now and finally found one today at a rally. I’m coming up for retirement in the New Year and really looking forward to some outdoor Hamming, so much more enjoyable than sitting behind a desk in the ‘shack’! Keep the videos coming!
Thank you, Phil! Enjoy that 897D and your upcoming retirement.
Thanks for the info. You touched on the most important points a person new to ham radio must consider. I am in the process of reevaluating my commo needs. I am looking at something for a Harvey or worse situation.
You're welcome Bill, and thank you for your comment. Hopefully you never have to face that situation.
Great review! This was the first radio I fell in love with. I ended up with a TS-2000 as our first base radio, but later sold it to downsize to the FT-817ND and a couple of FT-60R and accessories. I'm still interested in this radio since we were attracted to the portability of ham radio. We really like the looks of the FT-991A, but you made some great points in your comparison. I think we're gonna have to track down a FT-897 for our new QTH. Thanks! 73
Thank you for your comment, Don! 73 from VE3TWM.
Great video Tracy! I recently got an FT-897D and love the thing although it does have a lot of menus, but if you use it regularly you get so you memorize the most often used menus like the mic gain and transmit power level menus. I use mine as a backup for my FT-1000MP Mark V, but mostly for JS8Call, Feld Hell, and PSK31 digital modes. The FT-897D has a cooling fan mounted directly in front of each final transistor and those fans being mounted as they are make it an ideal rig for digital mode operation. Even if I get a bit long-winded on a digital transmission it still runs as cool as can be! It runs much cooler than my FT-1000MP Mark V when using digital modes! I highly recommend the rig, not only for portable use, but very much so for digital mode operating due to its excellent cooling system. Very 73 de Cliff, KU4GW
Not being a digital operator myself, I was completely oblivious to this feature Cliff. Thank you for sharing your wisdom! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Just bought my 2nd FT-897D because of all the pros you mentioned. I love the FT-897D! As you mentioned, these radios are built to be portable and are power conscious, yet make a fun base. I am in NO hurry to buy an FT-991A.
Thank you for your comments, much appreciated.
Very nice video... like the fact you were in the field with all the noises in the background... I have a small go kit with mine inside a Colman portable ice chest with carrying handle... taken it out in the field many times for a day of fun... carry antennas inside with small external speaker. Good rig... mine is twelve years old and still works great.
Thank you, Bob! I like your idea of making a go kit in an ice chest.
I’ve been an owner of a Yeasu FT-897 for over ten years and I love it. I originally purchased it for use in the field but it has performed so well that I intend to purchase another one for home to replace my current radios. The build quality and the over all look is a major plus to me.
I am purchasing a sailboat presently and I can not wait to make contacts while sailing the Gulf this winter.
Thank you for sharing your experience, fellow 897 fan!
Thank you for the info, have purchased an ft897 today from eBay after watching your video and following you're channel. Keep up the good work 👍
Carl m3kum
Thank you and have fun with that 897, Carl!
I had to re-watch this video, never get tired of seeing the 897D, cheers Tracy 73
It is a great rig, isn't it? 73 Tom!
Well done review. It gives the advantages and disadvantages in a straightforward manner based on personal experience. Thank you.
Thank you!
Four years late to the party, but I just found this video (and your great channel) and just wanted to say thanks! I've recently started looking into operating HF while hiking/camping (hilariously, I wondered if I might have somehow been one of the first people to think of such a thing - HA!) and have been looking for a portable rig. Everything I have at my QTH are boat anchors and most are as old as me (circa 1974 - almost an antique!). There are a ton of tiny QRP rigs out there to choose from, but I also operate primarily SSB voice and wanted more power without the fuss of an additional amp.
I overanalyzed my options for quite a while over the past few weeks ;) and had narrowed my choices down to the Yaesu 897, 857 or 891 lines - and several of the great points you made in this video really pushed me to 897. I just found a decent deal for an 897D online, and... "it's in the mail"!
Thanks for your great content and for encouraging folks to get out of the shack and operate outdoors. This is a whole new world of fun for me, and combines a couple of my favorite things - camping/hiking and HF radio! Hope to catch you on the air one day.
73s de kc4kqe
Never too late to this party! I'm looking forward to that contact with you. 73 from VE3TWM.
Thanks for this. I bought a very nice used 897D because of this video. Very truthful....laymans terms, and good photography. I would suggest mitigating the wind noise in the future though. Thanks again, and thumbs up.
Thank you! Agreed on the wind noise...I now use a "dead cat" when shooting video.
Great review and overwhelming response to it, Tracy! I bought my FT-897 back in 2005 and used it especially every summer during our summer cottage holidays in OH5-land. Have lot of fun and many DX with it till today, although used it a lot outside and under humid conditions. Till today I also have no problems with the TOKO ceramic filters, as reported by others OMs. I don´t think, that I will sell my FT-897 any time in future - it´s a solid companion and I love it!
Thank you for sending in your comment! I still own my 897 and have no plans to part with it.
Well done on a well thought out, well constructed and well presented review. i own two of these fantastic FT 897d i have a headset attached and a dedicated Morse streight ke for the rig. please continue making these good commentries ZS1 ADG
Thank you, David! One day, I'd like to add a second FT-897D to my shack as you have done.
Thanks to videos like yours and @TheTechPrepper, I am now actively looking for the FT-897D. I already have the FT-857D, and it will *not* be leaving my arsenal of gear anytime soon. The FT-991A and FT-DX10 are future base station purchases that I want to make for my ham shack, but when it comes to emergency communications, POTA activations, and general mobile operations, my priority right now is to permanently secure a good FT-897D and train with it as if someone's life depended on it. Because one day, it may well be the case.
I hope you find one soon! I admire your passion.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir UPDATE: I have found a good FT-897D , and will have it up and running this time next week! So excited!!
I bought one of these when I first passed my m6 licence, I have a yeasu 991 now and still use the 897d for mobile and it is a great radio.
Thank you for your comment!
Really good review... I am looking for my first HF rig... Will give this one a good look... Really enjoy your videos
Thank you very much! Whichever rig you get, I hope you have a lot of fun with it.
Very good review and all valid points. My (second hand) FT-897D is my base station rig and they'll prise it from my cold, dead hands. My local club has an FT-1000 MkV Field which is four times bigger and heavier and doesn't do much that the 897 can't.
Thank you for the comment! They'll have just as tough a time with my 897 after I'm gone.
Great video. I just found I had one packed away in a protective, humidity proof case. Its like brand new.
Just like Christmas! Enjoy the rig and let me know how it goes.
Bought one of these just before they were discontinued. Not getting rid of it any time soon. Does the job as my alternate/backup radio.
Am keeping mine. Bought it 14 Years ago. I use a Flex at home. When I go portable/mobile this is the one. Great explanation. Ars W7RU
Nice! Thank you for leaving your comment, it's appreciated.
Excellent and thorough argument, thanks! I'm looking for a portable/mobile rig and have had my eye on a few different Yaesu models for some time. Everything you say in the 897D's favour kind of describes what I consider to be my needs in a radio. And frankly, as full-featured and "sexy" as a radio like the 891 appears to be, it certainly does look a bit "malnourished" to be able to handle the inevitable rigours of serious outdoor use. I need a rig I can count on. Thanks again!
You're welcome! Thank you for watching and for your comments. Good luck with whichever rig you choose.
Tracy, excellent video particularly with regard to your points about power consumption making the 897D a field champ. I use mine on my boat when cruising the San Juan Islands and north. I was considering putting a larger "base" rig on board until your video and I realize now that when I'm at anchor and using the boat house batteries, minimizing my power consumption is absolutely critical. By the way, I've had great contacts while being maritime mobile, not the least of which was making contact with a co-pilot on an Airbus 320 heading to St. Louis one evening. Apparently all Airbuses come with a built-in Rockwell Colling HF transceiver and I got a good report from him using the 897. Sticking with her now and thanks for your support.
Ted (W6TYZ)
Hi Ted, thank you for your comment! Great case study you have presented. 73 from VE3TWM.
Hey there, just stumbled across your channel and it's right up my street ! I have the 897 and would never part with it, its rugged reliable and I've talked all over the world on it whilst portable. I have taken it to remote Scotland on several occasions and worked the world by just stringing a G5RV up into the trees on the shores of Loch Voil. I do have the 991 also but if I only had one radio on a desert island it would be the 897 every time. 73 Mike M0VOZ
Great stuff, thank you for sharing your experience Mike! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Still looks good, my pick is icom ic 703 my 703 will work ok at 10 volt.The points you make is very good. Tks for FAB video
Thank you, Rob. Like you, I 'm also a fan of the Icom 703.
Outstanding review! This rig still holds its value up to this day! 73! DE KD5ERP
Thank you, Pablo! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
This was very interesting. I'm getting into this hobby,and need to start looking for proven performers for my money. I was just looking at this unit as a used option. Very good info. From a real user.
I hope you get yourself a good rig, Andy! Thank you for watching.
Great "straight up" evaluation of what the 897 was designed to do. Be portable, rugged, powerful, battery conserving, All-Band, powerhouse that will fit comfortably in a small rucksack along with a motorcycle battery and get the job done. Got one coming for all of those reasons. Well done sir.
Thank you! I hope you get as much enjoyment from your 897 as I do from mine.
I bought my 897 when I became a ham in 02. To this day I love my 897 as my base. I have a blast with this radio.
I usually get the itch to sell a radio after owning it for a year or two. So far, I have no such thoughts in regard to my 897. In fact, I like it even more now than I did when I bought it. And I REALLY liked it when I bought it 😀
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve had my FT-897 since they came out in the late 1990’s, with the Yaesu antenna tuner and the bolt on AC power supply, and CW filter. I’ve used all bands except 160 and 6 meters, on SSB, CW and RTTY. You can’t find a more versatile radio for home, remote and portable service, I have a custom battery unit in a water tight carry case to accompany this unit for remote/portable use, a push-up fiberglass pole with a modified chalk line cased wire antenna with matching balun. You don’t find many current radios with this full coverage. One feature I used frequently was the adjustable output power. I later purchased an accompanying FT-817 for truly portable/mobile use. Recently I struggled with the decision to locate a FT-857 to round out the collection! Instead, I located a used FT-991A, still adjusting to the additional bells and whistles, but it is a power hog! I customized a emergency transport case and the battery unit will power the 991A, but with significantly less air time available. But, the one reason I stayed with this additional radio was the 160 to 440 coverage, one of the few current radios with full coverage. I’m still a die-hard old tube radio guy too, loyal to my 50+ year old Collins KWM-2A and the 30-L1 amp. I use a Heathkit SB-230 amp to boost the Yaesu line when power is needed. In my opinion, the FT-897 has lasted nearly as long now as my Collins, passing 25+ years residing in my shack, you don’t find many solid state rigs around on the market now with that longevity of production. They had a true icon of a fully versatile transceiver during its life. Both my sons are also amateur operators, one now also an extra class, his rig is the FT-897D model. Thank you for your review of the 897!
Thank you for your very informative comment! Long live the 897.
This past year, what started out to be a search for a 2m/70cm rig (as I didn't have a rig with CTCSS due to being QRT for 20 years), as well as wanting a rig to take on camping trips, I ended up with the FT-897. I did so for all the reasons you state. I use the rig in the shack, and although it's not my main HF rig, I still use my old FT-707 for that, it is a great radio! I call it "DC to light" coverage - although not quite, but it covers just about all I'd like it to. I also bought the rig used and when I got it, did a master reset to clear all the memories and settings. I then took a few hours to play with all the settings to set it up as I wanted to. Within a couple hours, the menu driven settings will be easily mastered, if I did it, anybody can - hi hi... If there is one feature I would have wanted, it would have been full duplex capability to work the satellites. Full duplex would allow you to hear your own signal returning from the birds.
With all aspects of ham radio out there to enjoy - modes, bands etc..., the FT-897 may not fit your particular needs. But as for myself, being basically a CW (and a tad of SSB) operator, all in all, I definitely am happy with the rig and if I had to search again for a rig, with all factors involved, I still would come up with the FT-897. 73 de Gary - KQ2N
Thank you for the comments, Gary. I hope you have as much fun with your 897 as I do with mine.
Great presentation of this great and rugged rig with much less than an amp as RX consumption lots of time neglected by ops in the field.
With a different mike, it's a heck of a rig. Got mine not a long time ago as a 2013 rig NIB.
A keeper for sure as a vacation rig, or having as a 2nd rig at home, or just like me, also using it at home to monitor VHF and UHF SSB freqs.
Thank you! Enjoy that rig.
Got one of these myself, wanted one since I first seen one. My intention is to use it /P with SOTA and a few contests. I love the ruggedness of it and the simplicity operating it, the 0.6 - 1A receive current draw is a massive plus and one which will make the rig popular for a few more years.
PS I also have the 817ND which is also excellent. Love the videos, keep up the good work...73 de 2E0DBZ
Thank you for your comments! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Nice review. I also chose a used unit too. I like its rugged features. I have 2 original batteries that need to be replaced. I'll work it as a base or mobile. I can use a portable small generator when I have a truck near by. Good choice. Your comment on the menus & sub menus is true. You just have to learn their proper steps to access them.
Thank you for your comments! Hope you have lots of fun with your 897.
Thank you. I’m seriously thinking of getting an 897 for portable use and a 991A for base. The 897 is a fantastic looking rig. I would be interested in being shown how to operate it though. Subbed.
Thank you! 3 and a half years later and I still love my 897.
What a GREAT review of the 897. Well made video and you hit the mark on all of your comments. When I first saw the 897 at Dayton, I thought it had kind of a military quality look. I have to say, for a 100 watt. multi band portable radio, I have not seen anything that has come close to the 897. I have the "D" model and love it for high power portable. For QRP portable I use either Elecraft KX2 or KX3. I have other portable radios, but my 897D has found a permanent home.
KU3X
Thank you, Barry! After more than 25 years as a licensed amateur and experience with a lot of rigs, I've come to the conclusion the 897 is my all-time favourite 100W transceiver.
It's 2018 and I'm still running my 897d and it's absolutely brilliant, I don't find the noisy reciever too annoying and I even use it as a base station
Thank you for throwing in your thoughts on this fine rig!
Thx bro I'm sold I'm looking to buy 1 now and you convinced me;)
Enjoy!
Excellent Video, I am about to buy a pre-owned device. Great decision help!
Thank you!
Great video! I had debated between this and the FT-857D. While I did end up getting the FT-857D I would like to pick up an FT-897D at some point.
Thank you! I hope others who read this comment check out your RUclips channel, you've posted some interesting stuff.
I only ever operate portable and will never part with my 897 for all the reasons you mentioned. Excellent professional grade review, carefully scripted, concise, perfectly executed and with great audio even in the wind! N1OB
Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them. I feel the same way about my 897. Had one, sold it and now have another. This one's here to stay. 73 from VE3TWM.
Here's a little tip for those using the side mounted antenna tuner, either the one from Yaesu or LDG. If you want to mount the radio using Yaesu's mounting kit, you will not be able to mount the tuner using the Yaesu tuner mounting kit. And that kit doesn't work with the LDG tuner anyway. The solution is to use standoffs. I obtained eight aluminum standoffs, each about 1/4 inch thick by 3/8 inch wide, and four longer metric machine screws that are needed to compensate for the extra distance between the tuner and radio housing. These provide plenty of strength and stability for the tuner case and room to install the radio mounting kit screws and brackets. The overall width of the assembled unit is slightly greater but it is worth it. The radio still fits into the Pelican case that I use for field use when the radio is not mounted in my travel trailer that serves as my shack and mobile emergency command post.
Thank you for the tip, Scott!
Excellent informative Vid. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching and for your comment, Allan!
I just bought one 2 days ago! Can't wait until it gets here. This will fit the bill for portable use unlike my 991A. Going to use aftermarket batteries and a home brew charger...
Good luck, I think you're going to have a lot of fun with that rig.
Great review. Thank you.
You're welcome! Thank you for leaving your comment.
One of my favorite transceivers. Just add the BHI DSP (AF level) and it will serve you quite well.
Thank you for the tip. One of those BHI filters is on my wish list.
Thankyou, still have my 897D :)
Very nice thank you. I think it is worth pointing out that battery terminal voltage can be quite a poor indicator of battery condition in terms of potential current delivery.
Interesting point, thank you for raising it.
I own one again (last one 10 years ago) and I love it. The receiver isn't THAT noisy and there is a BHI noise cancelling kit that can be purchased to improve the receive but I will probably just use the rig the way it is. On SSB you can adjust the IF shift to lower the hiss as well. As to the display you forgot to mention that you can double the size of the readout by selecting the function DISP with the C button. Then the readout becomes easier to read. I don't have any problem with the menu items and find them pretty easy to use. There is a lot of versatility possible with this rig including installing an internal AC power supply. I also like the fact that the rig offers a Morse code practice function.
All in all a terrific, versatile rig that covers 160 meters to 440 mHz, all modes and with general coverage receive. I can also listen to the aircraft band and FM! I found mine in mint shape, 5 years old and I paid $400. One of the best amateur deals I have ever had. Even if I get a "high-end" rig later this 897D will likely act as the backup, VHF/UHF, portable, or mobile rig. I'm very pleased to have another one.
Oh, yes, and I love that rugged handle!
73,
Bruce K6RQR
Great comment and points, thank you Bruce! 73 from VE3TWM.
Great reviewing style. The pros and cons are made very clear and concise. That makes it easy to analyze and align to requirements. As to the radio itself, is this model still in production?
Thank you very much for watching and for the nice comments. Sadly, the FT-897D is no longer in production.
Had one back in 2003, bought it new from Amateur Electronic Supply, now out of business. Had a blast with it, worked the world from my car with hamstick antennas. Used it a lot on 2 meters, SSB and FM. Cool looking radio too, everyone said it looked like something made for the government or military. Sorry I sold it. Been out of the hobby for many years and now just getting back in. My buddy in Colorado found a mint Yaesu Ft1000d for me and I am going down there to pick it up soon. Not selling anything anymore, just will buy more stuff when I want it. Been listening to the bands on the SDR receivers online and can't believe all the activity. If the hobby is dead as some claim why are there wall to wall signals on 80 and 40 at night. Even heard a bunch of guys yaking on 160.
73 Pete WB4CGA
Thank you for sharing your experience! 73 from VE3TWM.
The FT-991 is a nice rig, with lots of bells and whistles, but it is not a replacement for the FT-897 as a field radio. I have the FC-30 attached to my rig as well. It is much maligned as a tuner, but it fits very nicely to the FT-897, as shown in the video, and makes it very convenient to pick up and go to the field.
I have a 991 and 818, but I'd like one of these classic rigs eventually too.
I have a ft 991 and ft 857d and now you are making a strong case for me to pick up a 897.
i have a 897D nice radio . good point about the IF DSP . it stands on top of the ft-2000D here . in normal use it is indistructable a real workhorse . great review thanks . PE2EK
Thank you! 73 from VE3TWM.
I just recently bought a Yaesu FT-897D at a hamfest. I have been searching for a good video on how to use it since I am new to ham radio but not having much luck. I seem to have better luck comprehending watching a video than reading the manual for some reason. If you know any places with good infomation on this radio that would be appreciated. Thanks for your video KE0QBN.
Hi, thank you for your question. I don't know of any instructional videos for the 897/897D. The best resource I can think of is is the FT-897 Yahoo group. There are a number of knowledgeable, helpful people there who can help you get up to speed.
Hi Mike Thanks for the info . I just put together a mobile rig like the one on your table. I had to buy it in 2 pieces but I can't wait to check it out. Picked up a MFJ 1910. What antenna are you using on that as a dipole/ wire antenna. Thanks Around Seattle out
Have fun with that rig! I mostly use HyEndFed antennas with my gear. They work very well.
Very good i nformation n the video! Thank you,
Clear and concise. Given your experience, comment on your camping layout. in another video you used a 60' pole. I have never been able to deploy anything that high. Say more about it.
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate the feedback. I intend to release a video showing the easiest way to erect a tall fiberglass pole this spring, and will add more camping comments in my videos as time goes on.
Great video Tracy! It is 2020, do you still feel the same way about the FT-897D? When I first got licensed I really wanted a new 897D but the price kept me away so I got a new FT-817ND as my first HF rig. I have just sold that rig and was looking to replace it with an FT-991A until I came across this video; now I am really thinking about picking up a used 897D instead. I like to operate from my house and from my car and this would be my only HF rig (for Portable and Base). The only other rig I have is a VX-7R which I also bought new. I am a bit nervous about buying a used rig (getting one that has blown finals) and that I might be missing out on some tech the newer rig has. On the plus side, I live 15 minutes from the Yaesu USA HQ and could take it there to get it fixed if needed. Any advice you could give would be appreciated! 73! KJ6VAP
Hi Jeff, thank you for your comment!
I still feel the same way about the 897 as a portable rig. As far as having it as your only rig for base/mobile/portable, that would depend upon how good a price you can get it for on the used market and what kind of battery you have for portable ops. Here is what I mean:
Look at the new price of an Icom 7300 and Yaesu FT-991A (if 2m and 440 are important to you). You shouldn't pay more than about 2/3rds that price for a used 897 (even though the 897 has VHF-UHF). If you have a battery with enough Ah's to run the 7300 or 991A for the amount of time you'll spend in the field, one of those two would be your #1 pick due to all the modern technology and (especially in my estimation) QRM fighting features to combat the QRM found in modern ham shacks. If you really need the rig to use battery power sparingly, go with the 897.
73 from VE3TWM.
Great video and my FT897D will be coming this week. Can you inform me what the attached speaker make and model is? Much appreciated and 73!
Hi Orlando, have fun with your FT-897D! The attachment that looks like a speaker is actually the matching Yaesu FC-30 automatic antenna tuner. You'll read some negative reviews about this tuner but it works well for what I ask it to do. 73 from VE3TWM.
Thanks for the review i'm considering a used one to take caravan (or trailer as you would say) 73 Craig
You're welcome! 73 from VE3TWM.
Great review of the radio, I have an 897 coming my way to try out for HF APRS. I have an IC-7200 that I'm using right now, I'll be interested to compare the 2. Looks like someone was having a bit of trouble finding the ANT port at the beginning there! 73, VE7MHW.
Have fun with your 897! 73 from VE3TWM.
Geee ! Your video made me go and buy one - even two!!
Very happy!
73
Dan VA3MA
Nice! I'd like a second one, too.
73 Tracy VE3TWM
Every time I'm tempted to sell my FT-897 in favor of an FT-991A, I visit this video. It's always interesting and I seem to find a new take-away each time I see it. I do Parks on the Air and SOTA and while the 897 is a bit of a load for SOTA, I always find that the 100 watt output is worth the extra work backpacking up to a peak.
I've done the same mental gymnastics as you concerning the 897 vs. the 991A. Bottom line, I still have my 897. Take care my friend.
Thanks for the great review/overview Tracy. I use an FT-818 daily and I wonder if the receiver is the same or better on the FT-897D compared with the FT-817/818 rigs? Will the DSP make a noticeable difference in receive compared to my non DSP FT-818? I've wanted an FT-897D for awhile but the cost of used rigs has been right up there with the cost of new radios lately so I'm still tempted to pick up something new like a 891.
Thank you for your comment and question!
I find the receiver on the 817/818 to be very similar to the one in the 897.
I seldom use the DSP in my 897 as I only use it in the field where DSP noise reduction is not an issue due to higher ambient noise levels (birds, wind, traffic, etc.).
If using the rig in a typical modern home with QRM generating devices, you might want to go with the 891 as it will provide a more pleasant listening experience.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Thanks for your reply Tracy, I appreciate your input. There's a lot to like about the 897 and it might be just fine for what I do. The 891 does seem like a bargain for what it does though so maybe I'll pick one of those up first.
Fantastic review I learned a lot. What’s the ideal mag mount antenna for this?
I would not use a mag mount for HF with the 897 or any other rig. I've had bad experiences with them (i.e ability to stay on at highway speeds).
I have one 897D since 2009. Last month I decided to turn the unit back online after a sleeping period of 7 years. Boy I like that radio. It may be heavy like hell. But it will survive SHTF I never leave without it now.
We think alike!
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Thank you (read my email)
Just worked Rwanda and Australia (long path), today, with my Buddipole using the FT897D. It consistently performs. I use the Bioenno LIthium 30ah battery. Five hours on the air, with the FT897D, and battery recharges full in one hour!
Nice setup and great contacts!
Question. I have a yaesu FT-897 and just got the bolt on antenna tuner just like the one in this video. How do I get the radio to tune with the tuner. The radio manual says to go to menu option number 85. On my radio 85 isn't an option. It's not there. How do I use the tuner in this situation?
I apologize for the delay in response. Go into the menu and turn on Menu item 1 (EXT MENU). This will activate all menu numbers, in particular the high numbered one. You'll now have access to 85. Why they didn't just ship the rig with all menu items available is a mystery to me.
Spot on. I am not crazy about the radio when used in your home shack. Portable or mobile is an entirely different story. Glad that you pointed out power consumptions, as an Electrician, and "watt watcher at home. 20 dollar electric bill" I am always watching current draws. Wifi and GPS almost always off on my phone, while I watch my coworkers struggle with charging their phones at work, with both turned on and not using it for 8 hours.
Thank you for your comment! Good points.
love my FT-897, I use it as my main receiver. You mention the menu's, I use a computer to do my logging and to control some aspects of the rig via the CAT output - this solves the menu problem. I have also done a mod to take the I.F. out to the back of the rig on an SMA connector. This allows me to operate a Bandscope from the Rig with a cheap RTL dongle and also able to view that bandwidth on a larger screen , not even available to the FT991. I have used internal battery's for extensive use on receive and the power pack , which is great because I'm not lumping a power supply around when I go portable. So even mobile/ portable I can run the rig easily with x2 laptops running on their batteries do my logging and rig control on one and the band scope on the other. I've looked at the FT991 but for me it offers no real advantage and my familiarity with the FT897 further causes me to pause before I would trade it in.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I have two of them now. The first 897D I bought from a club member it lasted 4 weeks and died. The radio shop said the logic board needed replacement which affected my transmissions, the radio would stop transmitting and the work around was a master reset. The tech suspected the radio my have been hit by lightening. I use it for parts and monitoring now (Be careful when purchasing used radios). The cost was more then purchasing another used 897D so I decided not to repair. Four weeks later I found another FT897 Yaesu c/w Collins filter, FT30 Yaesu antenna tuner, internal AC power supply and purchased this radio after testing.
I love this radio! Almost as much as my FT817ND QRP. Love Yaesu radios!
Every point you bring up is 100%. The 991 has now been replaced by a 991A as I have heard rumours the 991's where prone to the Blown finals club. I suspect Yaesu did some changes internally. I could have bought a 991 with the money I paid for two 897's, but I'm glad I didn't. I wish the 897 had more electronics in it for filtering, but when running a headset its not that big of a issue. Your antenna is key ;-)
Fantastic Review! VE3TWM! Love your videos.
VE3FKN
Hi Tomas, thank you very much for your comments. I'm sorry to hear of the issue with your first FT-897D. I know a technician in the Toronto area who might be able to help fix it for you for a fee. Let me know if you'd like his contact info.
Like you, I'd absolutely prefer 2 897's to one 991. In fact, I'm thinking of getting second (one to show, one to go).
73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Thanks Tracy...Logic board is bad and RW said it was cost prohibitive so I'm using it for spare parts and monitoring. There is a 897 on kijiji right now for 500 bucks. Hope to see you at a BARC meeting sometime ;-)
I am in the market. Everything you mentioned the tradeoffs in low power consumption for static, the rugged design, the weight, all suits me. I was wondering about antenna options, and I have also heard about some sort of cage for the so called "man packs" although I am not sure what they are for if not for protection.
hey all. i have the 897D, new to ham ,still learning. not licensed as yet, but working on it. VK2---.
i am trying to find, without much luck ,the AT897 to suit. i know this is an old utube, but hey its worth a shot. anyways, loved this vid as it helped me understand more about this rig.. glad i got this one instead of the newer versions of any brand. as a Prepper/Survivalist downunder, it will be my got to shtf...
Thank you and good luck finding that AT897.
Hi what battery are you using there and how many watts does the 897 put out with that?
Thanks
Richard KD4LEC
Hi Richard, thank you for watching. I was using an external 17 Ah SLA battery and had the rig set to 20 watts. You'll be set for a few hours of SSB operating at that power level with that battery. You do have the ability to adjust the power level on the 897 of course, and if you set it lower than 20 watts you'll extend operating time.
Just got this radio , and I love it , Alfred NYC /PR WP4WF
Glad to hear that! I still love mine.
Sir, Please excuse my ignorance , but I am planning to purchase a used Yaesu FT-897D as my first HAM radio (I'm getting into the hobby). Where did you get the item that is on the left hand side of the radio? Is that an external battery or charger? Your help is appreciated.
Hi Gerardo, thank you for watching my video. The item bolted to the side of the FT-897 is not a battery or charger, it is the Yaesu FC-30 automatic tuner.
The 897 has provision for up to 2 internal 4.5 amp hour battery packs. These are quite costly and have to be carefully maintained or they will fail to hold a charge and thus lose their effectiveness. For these reasons I prefer to use external SLA batteries with the rig when operating portable.
Look for the LDG897 tuner that fits in the same place. Wider range tuning. External or internal LiFePO4 batteries such as Bioenno power are a good solution. If you want more than 20 watts bring the battery leads out and plug into the rear connector, then full power will be available.
Great video reminding us that "old technology" isn't a bad thing. How many more Q's per hour would you get with a newer more expensive rig? This radio works, is tried and true, and has a good history as per your review. I still use my "old" FT 817 and get a lot of pleasure from it. If fact I just had my Heathkit HW 9 reworked and will get many miles of joy just playing with it. This IS a hobby, isn't it. Now that the 897 has been discontinued the price should get even better. Thanks for your effort with this review.
Dave K8WPE
Thank you for your comments and for the compliment, David. You make some very good points.
Tracy- I love my 897D and just acquired a NIB FC-30 tuner! I am struggling with the figuring out how to attach it to the radio. Need some help here 😒
HI Adam, congrats! Check out page 67 of the Owner's manual for installation instructions of the FC-30.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I’ve discovered the issue! Although the tapped holes all line up, there is a small, specialty 3 piece bracket set that was not included in the “as new in the box” delivery. I will stay at it. Thanks for the quick reply and the great productions.
I can't get my 897 to send power out on cat keying but will on vox .im useing I a Adriano sound card .any help in this will be appreciated
Hi Robert, check out the Yahoo group for the FT-897. There are a lot of helpful people over there who may be able to give you a hand.
I love my 897 original model. I had to replace the caps. But I would never take the 991 out into the woods. Its way to expensive to do that. I got my 897 for $450
Thank you for your comment and congratulations on that great deal!
would you recommend the Yaesu FT-897D for a sial boat?
Yes, but bear in mind the 897 is not waterproof. You might also want to consider the Icom 7200.
I need one of these yesterday type of thing , but so damn hard to come by because of discontinuation. Im told to go for the ft897d rather than just the ft897 . Is there much of a difference ??? And could I still be lucky to find one of these knocking around ? Best Regards All
Hi Rob, there is very little difference between the 897 and 897D. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is the 897D came standard with the TXCO, on the 897 it was an option. Performance-wise the models are identical.
enjoyed the video, looking for first hf rig 160-6M do you recommend Ft 991 Ft DX 1200, or does another come to mind for both base and mobile opns
Thank you, Philip. If you are looking to do any portable operating, I strongly recommend you at least consider buying a used FT-897, 857 or even an 817. They'll last a lot longer on battery power than the new models.
If operating portable is not in the cards, then jump over to eHam and read the reviews carefully for each rig. Separate the wheat comments from the chaff comments over there and that should give you a good indication of which way to go. I've no experience with either so I don't have a useful opinion. I will say that I was completely blown away by the receiver on an Icom 746Pro I had the chance to use a few months ago. They are selling for about $800 on the used market. I've even seen 756 Pro II's in the $1,000 range lately and that is by all accounts a great rig. If I wasn't so deep into portable operating I'd have one.
Sorry, I just noticed you specified base and mobile. It's getting tougher to fit even small sized rigs into modern vehicles unless they have a removable face plate. Be careful and measure before buying a rig.
Excellent points. I have an 897 that I have used portable/AC with great contacts using a dual hamsticks on tripod in a V fashion. I like the idea of external batteries for the points you mention AND also that I *could use more power then the 20watt limit that is imposed when using the internal batteries.. this could be important in some scenarios. I wanted to ask you how much power have you found to be usable with your 18A battery and still have an acceptable operation time? I have many 7.2Ah batteries at my disposal, but haven't experimented yet. Thanks and 73 de KD2GMB
Hi Kevin, thank you for your comment and your question. Nice to hear from a fellow 897 fan.
I like to use 20 watts, and here is why: if I am running 20 watts, in order to be one S-unit higher at the receiving end I would need to quadruple the power to 80 watts. That's is going to reduce battery life considerably.
So what's the best strategy for a longer battery life? Use a better antenna. That can increase your signal strength at the far end even more than 1 S-Unit. Let's face it, in most situations, 1 S-Unit is a negligible difference. On the other hand, 2 or 3 S-Units is potentially enough to go from not being heard to being solid copy. Run 20 watts and a halfwave resonant endfed or dipole up high and you are going to see a notable difference from the results you are getting with your hamsticks.
Sincerely, Tracy VE3TWM
Thanks Tracy I will be going to Hawaii later this year and I will bring the 897 with a dipole
.... AND 100 Watts... just to be on the safe side! 73!
Now I am officially envious. I hope you have a great trip and work some good DX!
great video, thanks!!
Thank you!
I enjoy my 897D but it succumbed to the dreaded 'filter pandemic'...however it is repaired now and doing a great job again!
Glad to hear your 897D is back from the dead. Thank you for your comment!
So did I, and I had a squelch fault and eventually found the culprit, a missing SMD capacitor!
Tracy, any comments on the FC30 tuner compared to other tuners you've used? I'm trying to decide between that and the LDG AT897+. Or if I should just stick with my Elecraft T1 when operating portable. 73, Greg
Hi Greg, thank you for the question.
I'm a fan of resonant antennas, especially when operating QRP portable. That negates the need for a tuner. Not needing a tuner is my first choice.
Having said that, several years ago I owned another FT-897 and that one had an LDG AT-897 attached. The LDG tuner worked fine on a variety of antennas, though I seldom used it to operate on bands other than what the antenna was designed to cover. I do recall it could allow an antenna resonant on 20m to be used on 17m. A big plus for some people is the CAT port pass-through. Another good feature is that this tuner does not continuously draw power from the CAT port as does the FC-30.
When I purchased the 897D I have now, the owner offered me the choice of either an AT-897 or the FC-30. I made the decision in favour of the FC-30 based upon the following criteria:
- the FC-30 looks WAY better than the AT-897. From a practical perspective this should not be a consideration, but I personally like gear that looks like it belongs together.
- I will only ever use it with resonant antennas or antennas that work well with limited range autotuners. For example, I'm not going to try to load a 40m antenna to work 80m. In my experience, that sort of operation usually leads to frustration.
- The FC-30 works well as a "range extender" to allow operation on an entire band when the antenna is only resonant on part of the band.
- I don't use a computer to do my logging in the field. This obviates the need for the CAT port passthrough found on the LDG tuner.
- I carry a large enough battery when operating portable that I do not need to worry about the small amount of current the FC-30 draws when in line.
And that's it! I hope this has been helpful. Thank you for watching and let me know which way you go.
73 from Tracy.
Thanks Tracy. I agree with resonant antennas but always nice to have a tuner in a pinch. Good DX, 73, Greg
The ATG897+ is superior and will match well in quite difficult situations when the FC30 just gives up.
Thoughts on the iCom IC-7200 as a comparable rig?
Interesting you should ask that question. I was at a Hamfest yesterday and was asked the same question by someone else.
For the record, I owned an IC-7200 and really liked it. It remains one of my favourite 100 watt rigs.
I sold the 7200 to finance the purchase of an FT-897D. The FT-897D draws less power on receive than the IC-7200, which results in longer battery life when in the field. This was the determining factor for me.
Let me state this for the record - if I had to choose between the two and the radio was never going to leave my desk in the shack, I would choose the 7200. The 7200's DSP works really well to get rid of the hash produced by household electronics.
What a battery do u use on your FT 897?
I am thinking about to buy one for my FT-897D, but i don't now what capacity i really need for comfortable use.
73 de ON1BYN
I use external Sealed Lead Acid batteries. For a few hours outdoors I would suggest a 12V 18 Ah or higher. Thank you for watching! 73 from VE3TWM
Many thanks for your answer.
73 de ON1BYN
Great review! Can you computer control the ft897?
Thank you! Yes, you can get a computer interface for the 897/897D.
Hi,I am Ciro,ik6aiz. Please,what can you tell me about the noisy receiver and a possible solution.?Thank you very much!73
I love all 3 of the FT-8x7. I have all 3 of them. Yes they are noisy in the shack. Out in the field. A way from QRM/EMI. They are quite. I have worked a lot of DX (voice) on all 3 of them. It's easier with the FT-857 or the FT-897. I bought my FT-857 new in 2005. Christmas 2018 I bought the FTDX3000 to replace the FT-897 for the shack. I'll be taking my FT-897 to Scotland and leaving it there. Great video.
Thank you for sharing your experience, David!
Question I just bought one myself it's not the D model it's just the 897 when they delivered it they didn't have a mic when you plug it in all it has a static I thought maybe I could hear something without a mic hook to it I hear nothing but static is that normal
You don't need to have the mic plugged in to hear the receiver's audio. The audio should be the same whether the mic is plugged in or not. Good luck with your new rig.
What was the model number again?, great review thank you :)
You're welcome!