An Informal Review
Yaesu's FT817
+
Super Antennas MP-1
George Heron, N2APB
(See images
indicated in the text by the underlined hyperlinks)
I've got to agree in a big way with people saying the FT-817 is a
*fabulous* QRP radio.
I've had an FT-817 loaned to me for the past month or so and I've been
evaluating it from a personal usage standpoint to see if this rig would be
a good and worthy Grand Prize for Atlanticon this year. Well, in my
opinion, the answer is an unequivocal YES!
My evaluation was purely from a portable, and transportable perspective
while using it at work and while traveling on business during January.
I have a thin little leather carrying case (about 12" x 12" x 2") that used to hold a 3-ring notebook (sorta like the like the DayTimer things that everyone has seen). See the OPEN CASE and the CLOSED CASE. It nicely holds:
1) FT-817 radio wrapped in a small hand towel. (My wife didn't appreciate that part, but I didn't want any scratches on my prized loaner rig);
2) "Mr. Super Antenna" Vern Wright's very, very cool MP-1 HF antenna -- DISASSEMBLES *so* very nicely and fits perfectly in this little case, along with its mounting accessories (clamp and universal bracket);
3) a thin 12V gel cell (borrowed from my K2) to use if/when the internal batteries are depleted;
4) a coil of RG-58 and the microphone; and
5) a special version of the NJQRP Rainbow Tuner -- the absorptive SWR bridge only (not the tuner part), mounted in a small box that provides great inline LED indication of SWR, super useful for setting the adjustable antennas like the MP-1 and the screwdriver antenna on the truck. (Don't need or want a big SWR meter or ATU when doing portable like this!) This was suggested to me by my good friend and antenna guru Joe Everhart, N2CX during our almost-weekly coffee sessions in DE, halfway between MD and NJ. This obvious-but-very-useful accessory will be described in the next issue of QRP Homebrewer.
Okay now, as mentioned, I take this to case to work each day and set
the radio up ON MY DESK
and drape the coax around the corner to a nearby emergency door of our
small building. I can CLAMP
THE MP-1 TO A RAILING on the outside porch, uncoil the ground
radials, and voila, I'm in business. I can see the MP-1
FROM OFFICE WINDOW, and FROM
OUTSIDE. I have the engineers in my group constantly
coming by to tune around and listen for some exotic DXer to be heard, and
it's quite the commotion when one is found.
I've got to say a few words here about the Super Antenna "MP-1".
This is indeed a super antenna and I've been taking it with me everywhere
since I was lucky enough to win it at Pacificon last October. I also
took it with me on my December biz trip to Switzerland where I took a day
trip up into the Alps and set up station at 2800 meters elevation.
(I have some real nice photos and a short recap of my mini-expedition
hopefully to be accepted as an article by World Radio.) The MP-1 is HERE
against a cloud-spec'd sky of pointed, snowcapped Alps ... Vern, you'll
love it! And I do love the antenna.
N2CX also suggested a simple wire clip-on to the MP-1 that makes it
applicable also for the VHF bands offered in the '817. This too is
described in a review Joe did of the MP-1 in the upcoming QRP Homebrewer.
More on the "usage" aspects of the FT-817 ... it's a dream to
have all-band transceiver in such a small package at a great price.
Nothing beats it! Hard to believe that we can get something this
professional, full coverage, all mode, all band, super small, built-up and
tuned and ready to operate for under $750.
Some others in their reports here on QRP-L have bemoaned the small front
panel, the depth of menus, the noise of the semi-breaking CW, and the
short lifespan of the batteries. Well, IMHO life itself is a
tradeoff (as I often tell my engineers!) and once you get in a usage
"groove" the radio is very low maintenance - just turn it on and
start using it. I'm mostly a CW guy, but SSB contacts are pretty
easy even at 5W on the higher bands during the daytime, and it's so
much more fun to demonstrate using a voice mode. (CW is awe
inspiring to the casual public observer, but its attention-garnering
duration is quite short.)
My little leather case used to store all pieces of my station easily goes
into my luggage during business travel, or even into my sports bag for the
same-day trips to our Boston development office. Ultimate, all-band
portability.
Battery life hasn't been a big problem for me. Perhaps my listening
time is longer than transmit time, I don't know. But when the
internal AA cells do run low, I plug in the external gel cell and I'm in
action for even longer.
I use one of the Little Red Keys from our buddy Gil Kost of American QRP
Manufacturing Company, but I have a homebrew paddle in progress based on
the cool little design of Dave Gauding NF0R and the St Louis QRP Society,
as described in the latest issue of NorCal's QRPp. That little
paddle-in-a-plug will fit even more neatly into the leather carrying case,
and Dave assures me that it operates just as smooth as can be. Can;t
wait until that one gets done!
Well, that's the simple report from this "man on the streets".
The FT-817 operates *more* than well enough for my usage while portable in
the field, and at work. The price/performance out-does anything else I've
seen and is a joy to use once you get into the groove of its features and
controls. Keeping in mind that nothing is totally perfect, the '817 comes
as close to being so in its marketing "sweet spot" of
portability, low power, all-mode, all-band communications.
Yaesu has really worked with us QRPers this one -- it is really nice to
see a manufacturer appreciate its customers and provide a product in
direct response to the voice of the crowd.
Yes, I will be returning the FT-817 back to its rightful owner this week
... but I will be ordering two right afterwards: one for me
personally, and one by the NJQRP Club.
Folks, it is a such great thrill for the NJQRP to be able to give away the
ABSOLUTELY HOTTEST selling QRP radio in the world as the grand prize at
the Atlanticon QRP Forum next month. A world class prize for what we
think is a world class event.
72/73, George N2APB
PS: If anyone is interested, I'll put some photos on the NJQRP
website of the '817 and MP-1 all tucked inside the case, as well as the
MP-1 mounted on the railing at work, and of the MP-1 flying high in the
Swiss Alps.