I’ve decided the time has come for me to consolidate my twenty-four (or however many it is) VHF/UHF transceivers and radios and get something specifically for SOTA. I prefer something which is easy to carry and gives me more than just the 2m I’m restricted to at the moment. I’ve actually got to the point where I don’t do any radio work above and beyond SOTA now anyway.
I’m reading up on the 817 and it appears to be an attractive package; lightweight, small, built in SWR meter etc…
BUT…
While there are potential shortfalls, like the internal batteries are junk and need replacing, lower power output (2.5w) with the internal batteries and the like - the biggest thing that’s concerning me is the reviews I’m reading.
Just how much of an issue is running only 5 watts on, say 40m, during a SOTA activation?
The reviews I’m reading seem to either say :
‘worked the world with just 5 watts and a piece of damp string for an antenna’ or;
‘couldn’t contact anyone in 52 years of calling CQ using the damn thing, 15 hours every day’
I’m sure many of you in SOTA land have faced this one… do I just need to get the 857 or ic-706 or whatever and put up with the extra weight - or can I really use those 5 watts and do some great activations?
I know the answer is based a lot upon conditions and ‘how long is a piece of string’ (damp or otherwise) - I just want to get a feel as to whether I’ll make the contacts using the 817 on a ‘typical day’…
5W is ok. I have no problem getting 20+ QSOs on 40m ssb just about
every time I do an activation, typical reports 56-59 throughout europe.
When conditions are ok 5W will also get you 59 reports on 80m all over
the uk.
I’ve also worked over the pond on 20m and 15m from time to time.
The main problem I find is competing with QRO stations to get a space
but once spotted by the chaser crowd the rest is easy.
You have read ALL the reports and comments archived on SOTAwatch haven’t you?
I was aware of the 817’s performance to be happy enough to take it out to an island in the mid-Atlantic and run it barefoot into a very simple antenna of average performance. I worked Europe and NA on CW and SSB with about 4.5W of RF. 17m and 21m worked fine for me.
Will it work for SOTA on 40m SSB? Yes. Will be it easy? Not as something running more power.
Biggest bugbears:
power consumption on RX, miserable internal battery life, RX could be better, menus are a pain when you have gloves on.
There are better RF radios, there are lower consumption radios, there are radios with better ergonomics. The question is can you find an all mode topband to 70cms self-contained radio that does all it does for similar money and is easier to use. The answer is no. Especially when you consider how cheap a “pre-owned” example can be.
Hi Rob,
I had the same objections as you running the FT 817.
The last 2 SOTA,s (OE/TI-502 and OE/TI-414) I did with the 817 and Dipol.
After I was spotted by Hans, OE7PHI I had nice pile-up´s I never expected.
I learned, it is possible to work with 5 watt and a decent antenna, but it seems to be very helpful to have someone who is spotting you or you make a selfspot.
Of course once in a while it`s difficult to break through between QRO-Stations.
Rob, ten years ago I came back to ham radio after a long sabbatical, and got an 817 as a starter radio. In the first year I worked 34 countries on 6 metres and I think 14 on 2 metres, then HF became available to me and I worked just under a hundred countries before getting a hundred watt rig. All this HF on SSB and a low G5RV. Power is not a problem - after all, going from 5 to 100 watts only makes you two S-points stronger.
Oh yes, and you CAN run 5 watts from the internal battery, though I performed the green wire mod and put in a set of 2500 mAh cells.
I wouldn’t be without an 817, its a lovely little rig with a personality of its own!
I’m reading up on the 817 and it appears to be an attractive package;
lightweight, small, built in SWR meter etc…
BUT…
While there are potential shortfalls, like the internal batteries are
junk and need replacing, lower power output (2.5w) with the internal
batteries and the like - the biggest thing that’s concerning me is the
reviews I’m reading.
I’ve bought and sold about half a dozen of them over the last couple of years. Sold an absolute minter 2 weeks ago at the Cambridgeshire and District Rally. Every time I buy one, I regret it and every time I sell one, I regret it. The supplied Yaesu batteries are way overpriced for what they are. Nice rig, but I prefer the much heavier 857.
Brian bet me to it, but to reiterate, you can run 5w from the internal batteries. The rig defaults to 2.5w when it detects use of the internal battery, you simply have to re select 5w again from the menu.
During a nice quiet day - a weekday- 5w of SSB will be fine. 5w of CW is almost overkill!
I think it’s a great little radio. If you can’t afford a KX3, get the FT817. If you’re going to run 5W ssb as a main mode of operation, it is imperative that you also buy a good external voice processor for the FT-817. I would recommend the fairly inexpensive one that I use (DYC-8x7), but it’s no longer available.
Just how much of an issue is running only 5 watts on, say 40m, during
a SOTA activation?
The reviews I’m reading seem to either say :
‘worked the world with just 5 watts and a piece of damp string for
an antenna’ or;
‘couldn’t contact anyone in 52 years of calling CQ using the damn
thing, 15 hours every day’
Been there, done both of them!
However, last 2 activations I did (from WB hills) I managed across the pond on both occaisions first time with 5W SSB, second time, because I’d forgotten the SLAB-rig cable, 2.5W SSB as I didn’t know how long the internal batteries would last!
One stateside contact actually called back as he thought he’d mis-read I was running 2.5W!
Both of these were with a doublet (and a tuner, I really could do with a smaller QRP one!)
Only thing I would say is, if you’re trying to do s2s it’ll probably be hard work due to all the other higher powered stations you’d be competing against.
I don’t think I’d be without mine, As others have said, simple, if a little fiddly, mod for 60m
In reply to G7LAS:
I dithered for ages, going around the same loop as you! I then bought one, added a 500Hz CW filter, and opened it up for 5MHz.
So far I have only used it on 2m and HF CW (apart from one surprise S2S on 5MHz SSB using the 30m dipolee), but I’m really pleased with it. As others have said there is nothing quite like it for versatility.
The current consumption on RX was my main gripe, but in fact I rarely spend more than an hour on a summit, and even after activating several in a day my small 4.8AH slab is nowhere near flat.
Many of the reviews complain about the menu system, but even an old codger like me finds it simple to use after a few minutes with the manual.
As for those who say they can’t make any contacts with it, I suspect that they would struggle to make contacts with any rig for one reason or another ;o)
5 watts from the FT-817 from a hilltop will get you the contacts into anywhere where the propagation is working to. On CW, it is easy and you don’t have to be a great CW op, you can just fumble along and get away with it, the CW chasers are very forgiving. 5w CW from a summit is plenty and you can work the world.
5w SSB from the 817 requires a bit more operator skill and experience, and a self-spot can be very useful here too! But it does work. In years gone by, I found that 5w SSB from the 817 on HF bands was next to useless, and so I learned CW. However, I can now do successful HF SSB activations with the 817 as well, which suggests I am a better op these days.
The 817 is a jack of all trades, master of none. For an all band all mode portable radio, there is none better for the sort of money you would pay. The KX3s are better, but not by so much as to justify the difference in price I would say.
My HB1B has a better receiver and better ergonomics - but then it is a CW-only radio, and only covers 4 HF bands. I seem able to do plenty of S2S with the 817, and get in after only 2 or 3 calls. Again, it is operator experience and timing that helps here.
I never really did get on with the internal batteries or replacement higher capacity internal batteries. A 7Ah SLAB keeps an 817 going for several activations over several days though!
I’d get one. There’s nothing I cannot do with mine. The acquisition of the HB1B was a bit of a treat-to-self; the 817 was doing perfectly fine on everything the HB1B does.
Now you will see the truth about what people REALLY think about the 817 - by virtue of the fact that it is rather difficult to find one at an attractive price!
I use mine since nearly 2 years and I can get 5 watts out of it with a external battery for long time on the summits. It seems the auto-change to 2,5w is only performed when running the internal batteries.
I run it using a cheap 11,1 V Lipo, and even when the voltage is going down to 9 to 10V level, the display is blinking showing 5w out activated…
I’m quite happy with it, and plenty of QSO either 40 / 20m.
Anyway I think you are convinced enough!
Good luck with your search. VY 73
Ignacio
Now you will see the truth about what people REALLY think about the
817 - by virtue of the fact that it is rather difficult to find one at
an attractive price!
Mine is a bit oversized in a 130 X 64 X 44 Maplin box because I used miniature air-spaced tuning caps so that I could run about 20 watts, it could be made smaller with PolyVaricons and would be more than adequate for an 817. It only took a couple of hours to make. Its only disadvantage is that on some bands the tuning is a bit delicate but if you have ever mastered the reaction control on a regen Rx you’ll be OK!
I wouldn’t be without an 817, its a lovely little rig with a personality of its own!
Says it all really. I know a certain person who has 2 of them… no names mentioned… and when you’ve won the lottery and have moved on to a KX3, use it in the shack for 472kHz reception or as the exciter for a transverter.
I can’t imagine ever selling mine it is so useful.
I know a certain person who has 2 of them… no names mentioned…
I resemble that remark!
FT-817 (original batch) + case + Inrad 500Hz CW filter
FT-817N + case + Inrad 300Hz CW filter
Both bought second hand. The first one cost £500 including a Tokyo Hi-Power 50W amp, Miracle Whip, DTMF mike, laminated quick ref guide, a full set of 2000mAh NiMHs, case plus other stuff. I sold all the accessories for a total of £250 meaning it cost £250. The other was £325.
I blew up the PA in the first one. Fitted a new one and found I’d blown a driver as well. Could not desolder the SMD FET and all the people I know who worked where there were SMD rework stations have moved jobs. So I sent it North for rework. Whilst it was a away I picked one up for sale locally.
I’ve owned 4 in total, 2 others came from local sales and were sold on within the week for a modest markup. Repetitive buying of local gear and moving it on for a small profit is how I pay for the vast majority of my radio gear.
