Wanted: Your opinion about Yaesu FT-857 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:01:18 am
content: I am looking for a good and affordable (< €/$ 800.-) transceiver to get me started on the 6m band.At the moment, I have some ancient Icom radios (IC-730 and IC-251) that would allow SSB operation with a 6m-transverter. But if you consider purchasing the transverter along with a decent linear amplifier with some 100 watts of output power, you easily end up spending €400 or more.That made me consider to buy a radio like the Yaesu FT-857(D) - prices here in EU are ~ €780.- for a brand new one and you can get good used radios for 500-600 bucks. The extra bonus of having an all-mode, all-band (VHF/UHF included!) radio would easily justify the additional expenses.So I'm looking for comments, recommendations (both positive and negative) for this radio. I've read a lot about a "deaf" receiver, ineffective/bad modulation etc. but for most of the weak aspects there are solutions available on the web. Other opions are that this is the best device they ever had.So let me know what you think about this radio. Or maybe you have other/better radios to recommend in my price range. Since I'm more of a Icom/Kenwood "aficionado" and never had a Yaesu radio, any input is welcome!

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2019, 10:28:19 am
content: I wouldnt give yaesu rigs the time of day!all the ones ive had have been aufull,look at the specs of say the finals for example,they run things at the limit,with no headroom to keep profit up but not the cost down!,most kenwood stuff i see has components way over spec,do yourself a favour and give yaesu a wide birth,just my opinion.73

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 12:24:49 am
content: i wasnt refering to the 857 directly but yaesu in general seem under built in my experiance.

author: MaBerY
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 02:44:55 pm
content: I have a FT857 for many years now and I have a LDG AT-897 tuner to hook up my G5RVI also have a programming cable (DIYS) and FTBasicMMO channel programming cable. Also have the MH-59 DTMF microI did not feel the need for something bigger and it has tons of mods and info on the Internet.If you don't need VHF/UHF 2/70, you could opt for the FT891 HF/6M set which is newer.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 02:52:33 pm
content: If possible i'd really suggest saving up a bit more and going with the Icom 7300, unless your looking for the portability. These can be had new with free shipping for $1000 if you hold out for a sale and they are great radios with a ton of features.

author: G7OVK
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 08:49:14 pm
content: Well m3vuv, you're wrong about Yaesu. No better, no worse than the others.As for the FT-857D, it's a decent all-rounder, but agree that if you can push for an IC-7300, get one. It's newer, modern and overall better.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 10:03:31 pm
content: Thanks for all your input so far.Well, the IC-7300 is a very popular TRX and clearly another league (haven't seen it here in EU for less than 1150.-). And like I said, most of my equipment that I bought after I was licenced in 1980 is Icom (and all of it is still working). But frankly I'm (still) kinda reluctant when it comes to SDR: I'm so happy with the performance of my old IC-730 (which unfortunatelly lacks 6m and FM) and on the other hand read a lot about SDR show stoppers like ADC overflows. But I guess I'm going to accept an offer from a good friend of mine to test his 7300 for a while before I make my choice.I know that there are way better receivers than the FT-857 out there. But I don't do contests and I don't have other radio amateurs in close proximity so there are no big unwanted signals to deal with. And I really love the idea of having "a shack in a box" like CJay said. Maybe I won't miss 2m/70cm though (I have dedicated equipment for these bands), so the FT-891 could be an option, too.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2019, 11:28:10 pm
content: Quote from: sundance on December 03, 2019, 10:03:31 pmI was a bit reluctant to SDR myself, but only due to the lack of repairability, also thought my FT-950 was all I needed. I was all happy and comfortable until I bought an Elecraft KX3 with Panadaptor for portable use, the display quickly grew on me.Be VERY careful though, now I own an 7300, 7610 and the new 9700, almost as expensive as test equipment!

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2019, 12:13:32 am
content: Yaesu might be okay these days but I recall a time when this was not the case. A large fraction of their radios were DOA from new and had to be fixed under warranty. I think that was back in the 1980s but don't really remember.I have owned several radios by Yaesu and Kenwood and ICOM and Alinco and many US brands. In my experience, the Yaesu were at the bottom of the heap. The reliability wasn't so bad but I didn't like the design. I remember FT-101, FT-980, FT-ONE, and an HT for 2 meters. I got rid of all because I just didn't like them. I have repaired a few too, and my conclusion holds.I did like my ICOM radios, although there were some issues. My Kenwoods easily outdid all the rest and I still use a couple of them. The US made units were mostly okay (except Swan) as far as they went but they dropped the ball when the Japanese hit the market. I leave Heath and Knight out of consideration because so many were kits that it's hard to decide where to put the culpability when things weren't right.So for the nonce I guess I'm a Kenwood user, and happy to be. As I said at the outset, maybe Yaesu is better these days (they likely are) but I have better things to do than reevaluate the brand. When the time comes to modernize I will look around.

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2019, 03:09:00 am
content: Ive had an ft-840,that fried the finals when a crappy chinese cat lead keyed it into no load,not realy the radios fault but the swr foldback was iffy out of the box,sold that one,still have a ft-290mk1,has agc issues due to the shitty phenolic pcb,horrid thing to work on!,had an ft-101b,that was ok but drifty,mostly use kenwood gear,just seems better than yaesu stuff,currently run an 850-s brought with the normal issues with carrier caps leaking etc,its working like a champ now,ya pays ya money!! 73.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2019, 06:27:40 am
content: I quite like my Yaesu FT-817 for a small portable allmode radio. For something larger I would much prefer something like the Icom IC-7100 - the DSP is very effective. Or if you can find a good working used Icom 7000 they are also very nice(I'm never selling mine).End of the day if you want a 857 I say go for it, you'll enjoy it.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2019, 10:06:46 am
content: btw, just realized there is similar "shack in the box" radio from ICOM: The IC-706MKII/G. Did I say I really dig ICOM radios?Any comments about that TRX?@CJay & completely OT:Did you come up with the "shack in the box" phrase or is that marketing from one of the BIG3?(People in my age probably get reminded to the well known "Jack in the box" by Clodagh Rodgers from 1971...)

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2019, 12:47:22 pm
content: No love for the FT-450D here? It’ll hit 6m and actually has some user interface unlike the 857D. Also the DSP functionality and noise reduction is pretty good.Totally disagree about m3vuv’s comment on Yaesu being under built. If you fuck up a Yaesu you shouldn’t be allowed to have hands.But yes IC-7300 if you want something modern.

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 05:20:50 am
content: Don't see the appeal of HF+V/UHF in one box, unless i guess if you want to do V/UHF SSB.I'm much happier having separate radios.I have a 7300, by the way, and it's a great radio. It is my first and only HF radio, and what can I say except it works without any hassle or problems at all, at least for casual ops like I do.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 07:59:07 am
content: My main objective is to get on 6m.And from what I've seen up to now is that it doesn't make much sense to go the transverter way - you end up with some extra boxes for transverter and PA and additional wiring and antenna switching. I think the extra money for a 2nd hand TRX with HF/6m is well spent.I also prefer to have separate radios for HF and VHF/UHF (my everyday radio is a Kenwood TM-702 and I still have my ICOM IC-251 for 2m SSB).So I don'tneed2m/70cm in my HF/6m, but it's definitely nice to have, esp. when the radio has a portable size.Since most of the radios discussed here (FT-857/891, IC-706MK2G, FT-450D) are intended for mobile use:How's the main dial constructed? Smooth operation (like my Icoms) or rasterized like my Kenwood?@bd139: The FT-450D sounds like a good option, too. And it comes with an ATU...!

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 08:13:21 am
content: FT-450D’s ATU only tunes 3:1. I don’t think that’s much of a problem really but if you’re using a crappy G5RV for HF it may be. 450D is not portable - too heavy at 4.4kg. The dial is a smooth optical encoder.Also to mention if you are doing low power stuff the Elecraft KX3 is a good option.

author: profdc9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 12:43:47 pm
content: I have a FT-857D and mostly use it portable on HF because sometimes I want more than QRP. It works great for the most part, and in particular it draws less power receiving than most other 100 watt rigs that are suitable for portability, mostly because it uses AF and not IF DSP. The downside is that the receiving is not as good as other rigs I own such as the IC-7300. If you are in a quiet area it's not a problem, but if you are in a big city with S9+ background your reception is clobbered. This probably also has to do with the portable antenna I use which is certainly worse than the 100 ft tall antenna at my relatively quiet QTH.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 01:31:11 pm
content: Thanks for your valuable report.I also don't want to go below 100 watts, so QRP rigs are not an option here. Andrealquiet locations (rf wise) are pretty hard to find these days with all them LEDs, switched power supplies, DSL and power line adapters around (I'm still hunting down some nasty, sporadic rf noise that covers most amateur bands (can't say anything about other frequencies since my IC-730 only has amateur bands) up to 440 MHz).How's the main dial on your FT-857D? Smooth Optical encoder also?

author: profdc9
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 02:22:03 pm
content: I do not know if the FT857D has an optical encoder in the tuning knob but generally I have found tuning with it easy and I have never had any problem with it. However, when you transport it, the knobs and buttons on the front panel are quite vulnerable, and I fashioned myself a cover to go over the display and knobs when I transport it.One known problem with the FT857D is that the LCD starts to have bands or stripes in it over time. I believe this is mostly caused when it is a hot car during the summer. If you are not subjecting your FT857D to temperature extremes than it should be ok I think, but its something to consider if you want to remote mount it in your car.Another issue is that being so compact it can't necessarily cool itself as effectively as a bigger radio can. So I would make sure that you don't transmit into mismatch loads (> 2:1) for too long without realizing it. I have heard only a handful of reports about blown finals, especially VHF/UHF, but be aware of it. And of course, if you use it with an amplifier, especially a tube amplifier, make sure that the T/R relay sequencing is right and any upgrades to old amplifiers for solid state exciters are applied (examples are the SB200/SB220). Finals can get fried if even a little high voltage passes to it.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 02:59:25 pm
content: Quote from: sundance on December 04, 2019, 10:06:46 amI operated an MKIIG mobile in my car both on HF and UHF into Diamond whip antennas for several years, nothing but great experience for that operational setup. Sold it for same price (less the inflation loss) after several years, it held resell value very well. I was careful though not to expose it to a high VSWR. Was easy to snatch DXs from pile-ups when CW transmitting with the /m suffix.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 04:33:35 pm
content: Bud, thanks for your input, highly appreciated.Do you remember what street price this radio had when it was still sold? Just to evaluate what a fair price would be for a 2nd hand rig.I guess the main dial knob operation was smooth (like in the IC-730) and not with fixed mechanical raster?

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 05:17:51 pm
content: I think i sold it for $600 USD, but that wasyears ago. You can get an idea what it may cost now by searching eBay Completed listings.The main control knob rotated smoothly, it had no detents if this is what you mean. I recall the tension was adjustable, to prevent the knob from wobbling if the car was moving.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 08:04:38 pm
content: Have a look on QRZ.com for second hand prices. They seem to be slightly less insane than eBay values.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2019, 08:39:20 pm
content: The thing is on eBay you have to look at the Completed, not active listings.

author: vk4ffab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2019, 03:38:15 am
content: Quote from: sundance on December 02, 2019, 10:01:18 amits a potato

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2019, 07:46:57 am
content: QuoteSorry, but I don't get this one...

author: shved
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2019, 04:08:09 pm
content: I'm using ft-857 for about 1.5 years. Remote head, very compact. A bit menu - heavy. I like it.Smooth sailing.I also made home-brew L-match tuner, remote controlled(ATAS) mag-loop antenna and some other gadgets for it.Photos of the loop and stuff:https://flic.kr/s/aHsmHPwA1M.If you have some questions - PM me.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2019, 08:14:41 am
content: Thank you for the report about your FT-857 - really amazing what you're doing there...Atm I'm collecting all the information I can get (device reviews, test results, user opinions) about my favourite TRXs and monitoring platforms where 2nd hand amateur radio gear is sold. Seems chances are good here to get away with 400-500 €/$...

author: SM3VLC
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 13, 2019, 10:18:42 pm
content: There is a danish site where they sell lots of used ham stuff.https://ham.brugtgrej.dk/itemlist.php?cat=18&type=1Maybe you can find something there, or at least get a hint on prices.

author: cncjerry
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 21, 2019, 06:44:14 pm
content: I've had Ft817 and FT897 for 20yrs. I like them. They work fine. The 817, 857, 897 all had the "crackling CW audio problem" that I found years ago. Yaesu ultimately admitted it and sent a couple of parts or would fix it if you sent in the radio. Other than that there are a million of them out there and you should be able to find one for less than that number. At 800 euros, I think you said, you should be able to find something more modern though, with better specs.But if you are stuck on that radio, there used to be a Yahoo group for that (and other Yaesu variants) but I don't know if they transitioned it to groups.io or not.Overall, I think they are decent for the money plus there were lots of mods as well as filters you can add inexpensively. Someone mentioned the finals and they are strong and setting the bias is easy I remember.By the way, the battery operated (option) FT897 is a great radio. Built like a brick, will run quite a while on batteries, very portable, and probably the same price (if you can get someone to part with it).

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2019, 04:02:06 pm
content: I had an FT-857D a while ago, it was the worst transceiver I’ve ever used. The issues were:CW key clicks, very poor ALC resulting in 100 Watt peaks when set to 20 Watts, noisy receiver making listening fatiguing (hissy), internal CW keyer useless (can’t store AR except as A R to end a CQ call, etc).I also had the loan of a friends Icom 706G mk II. That had synthesizer spurs every few KHz on receive (symptoms were noisy but strong receive on signals that were clear on an adjacent receiver using the same antenna) it lasted 15 mins in my shack and went back the next day.I replaced the 857 with a Kenwood TS-480SAT. The only minor niggle (and it is minor) is that when used with a transverter the frequency data sent on RS232 is the HF frequency, not the dial frequency (the radio display shows the VHF final frequency correctly). A second hand 480 can probably be picked up cheaply, they are very well designed and perform well, especially on 6m. They are probably not popular due to the remote head arrangement.New, the Icom 7300 is hard to beat. There are two issues with them: If you have a fast switching linear, beware that RF continues for 4mS after the linear key line goes low, resulting in hot switching the linear. Secondly, the clock uses a rechargeable lithium battery, if it goes flat it’s permanently damaged and awkward to change... you need to power the radio for 2 days each month.Most radios have some issues, some more so than others...

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2019, 04:29:56 pm
content: Good reviews are herehttps://www.eham.net/reviews/view-category?id=14FT857 (428 reviews)https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=3046

author: vk4ffab
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 02:56:45 am
content: Its a potato. Seriously wait till the new Icom shack in a box is released in the new year.Quote from: sundance on December 06, 2019, 07:46:57 amIf you had the option of buying a radio or a potato which would you choose? Not the potato obviously. I owned an Ft897 same radio, different box, it was a pile of crap. Front end overloaded when a signal looked at the radio, filters were rubbish and buying filters to fix the problem cost as much as the radio did, the attenuation was hopeless, the audio dsp hopeless, it was all around a 20 year old radio, so expect 20 year old performance. And the menu system was a nightmare.If you need a shack in a box either wait for the new icom or the FT991a is meant to be ok. As for the 8x7 line of radios, bypass them unless you have the desire for using something horrid from last century.

author: nenea dani
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2019, 06:41:51 am
content: All band 857 is noisy, but with very good protection against high SWR. For a start it is a cheap rig and you can work the whole globe. With only 5W in digital modes is a pleasure.73YO8SAKDaniel

author: vinlove
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2019, 01:49:22 pm
content: I used to have a FT897.It worked OK, but I didn't like the menu system. The received audio was flat and tiring.Selectivity was not best either.It a practical rig, but not fun to use rig.It will be similar to FT857, I guess. Buy it if it is very cheap, cannot refuse price.And keep it and use for 2nd / stand by or mobile rig.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2020, 11:15:37 am
content: Thanks to everyone for your contributions to my "selection process".Atm, I am evaluating an Icom IC-706MKII which I got from ebay in rather good condition, although I cannot do real-life tests on 50 MHz since I don't have an antenna yet.On 145 MHz, the RX's sensitivity is a bit worse compared to my Kenwoods TM-702 and TM-241, but that was expected after studying the ARRL test reports.Biggest disappointment so far is the excessive heat the device produces when using full power on 2m FM (some 25 Watts): The airflow is sort of sub optimal, the 6x6-cm-fan is quite loud and it gets REALLY hot - I'll have to check for dust deposits in the case.

author: on7yi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 08, 2020, 10:56:12 am
content: I own an FT847 bought for less than 600 euros last year.+ Good performance on all HF/VHF/UHF bands except the 4m band where some PA retuning is required, I didn't do it yet. Lot's of mod available on-line.- The volume potentiometer is a pain in the neck, very sensible pot, very hard to get the right audio level. Well known problem described on many forums.I have done several contacts on 6m without any issues, great performance

author: El Rubio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 04:17:31 pm
content: I purchased an 857D after hurricane Katrina went through here in the mid 2000's. I had purchased it with intent of it being a portable emcomm radio. It was a fine radio that was used as a backup/ portable rig most of the time. It was also the only rig I owned that would operate all-mode on 2 meters. The small display and deep menus were the only knock I have. I was able to get the computer interface and computer control via Ham Radio Deluxe. I was really into sound card modes at the time and the computer control made this easier. What I especially liked, performance-wise was the effective DSP filtering - lots of control and it worked well. In contrast, the Icom 706 variants used the UT-106 DSP option which was horrid. I recall the only setting was "noise Reduction" and it was seemed to be more of an audio tone control. It didn't seem to do much of anything. Same for the Kenwood TS-480. The 706 was extremely popular with guys in my local club at the time and at the end of the day, they worked just fine as well. As far as hissy receive audio or other fatigue issues related to that, I didn't notice anything like that except on the TS-480 and it was not a deal breaker for me. Maybe years of listening to loud music has desensitized my listener fatigue threshold, LOL.I have owned several Yaesu rigs and find comments like "it's a potato" to usually be based upon some preconceived bias, or comparing to something that totally outclasses it. I sold it a few years later for more than I purchased it for. I have owned several Yaesu rigs and have liked every one of them. The only problem I ever had with any of them was a mobile FT-1500 2M rig. The tuning knob was damaged and the rotary encoder had to be replaced. I called yaesu and they had it in stock and sold me a replacement. That was more than 15 years ago and I still use that radio. I have an FT7800 dualband with detachable face that I use in my vehicle. I've had it for years and also have no complaints.I'm not some 5-9 contest operator, so I'm sure those guys will find fault when comparing to their high end contest K3's and FT-1000's, but I believe the 857 serves its purpose as well or better than some of its rivals.

author: sundance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 06:47:44 pm
content: Did you also notice this sort of "hotness" with your FT-857?Due to the compact construction of the IC-706 the airflow is a bit problematic as there hardly is any space to "breathe"...