Opinions on Yaesu FT-857D
- Thread starter gjackson
- Start date
gary in ohio
Explorer
The 857 and the big brother 897 are the same radio, just different packaging. THe 857 is nice little radio. It looks a little clunky with that big knob on one side, but as a small mobile radio its not a bad unit. The unit is smaller than the icom but I consider that a disadvantage. I want a large display to see when I am trying to mobile and change frequencies. Being an all in one radio you dont get some standard items like filters. Figure your going to need a filter for your mode of choice (SSB or CW) to make it really perform. Also considering The price at junk under $700 without filters, its only 2x the price of a dual band or only $200 more than the yaesu 8800 quad band.
For a mobile, small base or portable system its well worth its money. With all that said I personally would go for the ICOM, Having used both, I perfer the Icom 706mKIIG. Nothing major that moves me to the icom, but the larger display, more user centric controls the icom wins my vote. Yes its a bit more money for very similar package but I like the 706. Like it so much I have several 706's.
I dont think you do bad either way, get the remote head, get the mode filter and remote head kit.
For a mobile, small base or portable system its well worth its money. With all that said I personally would go for the ICOM, Having used both, I perfer the Icom 706mKIIG. Nothing major that moves me to the icom, but the larger display, more user centric controls the icom wins my vote. Yes its a bit more money for very similar package but I like the 706. Like it so much I have several 706's.
I dont think you do bad either way, get the remote head, get the mode filter and remote head kit.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
I have no experience with either, so take Gary's response with a lot more weight. But I'll say this much that in my shopping I felt the size of the 857D would be an advantage in my small truck. My intended use would not include moving mobile operation on HF very much, the size would not impact me as much. Since I don't have time on them beyond fiddling with knobs at the store, it might be a bad conclusion to say this, but I didn't think it would be much harder to operate than my current dual band VHF/UHF for rag chews and repeaters. While on HF I figured I'd be most often stationary and the smaller display and controls would be less of an issue, with the upside being able to fit it into my cab easier. Just my thoughts, for what they're worth.
gjackson
FRGS
Thanks for the response guys. The size of the 857 was a concern for me, in both directions. I was worried that the display would be too small, but was really liking the size of the unit as a whole. I don't expect to be using HF very often, but want it avaliable in case things go bad in the outback.
Right now I don't have a mounting location in my truck, so that will come after I get a radio. That makes the mounting size a little less of an issue for me. Cost, on the other hand, is an issue.
Gary, do you run filters on the 706? I notice it has a slot for an SSB filter which I assume means it does not come with filters either. Also, do you use it for internet access at all? Either web or email? If so, how did you set it up and do you have any idea on the additional cost of that.
cheers
Right now I don't have a mounting location in my truck, so that will come after I get a radio. That makes the mounting size a little less of an issue for me. Cost, on the other hand, is an issue.
Gary, do you run filters on the 706? I notice it has a slot for an SSB filter which I assume means it does not come with filters either. Also, do you use it for internet access at all? Either web or email? If so, how did you set it up and do you have any idea on the additional cost of that.
cheers
gary in ohio
Explorer
I have always been a big fan of going up with HF radio heads.
Here is 706 head in my Tahoe. Just above the mirror, right in your sight line. Works well.
My Blazer had them down low and it was hard to use down low and hard to see.
I do have SSB filters in the radio. Since I dont much CW, SSB and the DSP works well. If I need to use CW, I can work with the DSP to copy signals.
On the ham bands there is really no way to use HF to access the internetThere are some winlink stations that will allow the exchange of email, but no direct access. With the HF speed limits even if you had a link to the internet it would be to slow to be usable, Think 300 baud dial up.
Gary
Here is 706 head in my Tahoe. Just above the mirror, right in your sight line. Works well.
My Blazer had them down low and it was hard to use down low and hard to see.
I do have SSB filters in the radio. Since I dont much CW, SSB and the DSP works well. If I need to use CW, I can work with the DSP to copy signals.
On the ham bands there is really no way to use HF to access the internetThere are some winlink stations that will allow the exchange of email, but no direct access. With the HF speed limits even if you had a link to the internet it would be to slow to be usable, Think 300 baud dial up.
Gary
gjackson
FRGS
Thanks for the input Gary.
I assume then, that you use a different radio for internet if you do at all?
Ultimately I'm trying to avoid getting more than one radio, but that may not turn out to be possible with the features I would like. I would like to use Winlink except they don't support my operating system. Getting a TNC and throwing it on will give me some options. I like the Kenwood D700A which is dual band with a built in TNC. But at this point getting HF would be a really good idea and will probably outweigh the TNC in my final decision. Thanks for your input on the Icom and the pic of your mounting location. I'm thinking of something pretty similar for my truck, but I'll have to build the overhead console myself.
Do you ever use the 706 for 2m or 70cm operation, or do you keep it for HF only and use a different radio for those bands? Is it even a good rig for 2m and 70cm?
cheers
I assume then, that you use a different radio for internet if you do at all?
Ultimately I'm trying to avoid getting more than one radio, but that may not turn out to be possible with the features I would like. I would like to use Winlink except they don't support my operating system. Getting a TNC and throwing it on will give me some options. I like the Kenwood D700A which is dual band with a built in TNC. But at this point getting HF would be a really good idea and will probably outweigh the TNC in my final decision. Thanks for your input on the Icom and the pic of your mounting location. I'm thinking of something pretty similar for my truck, but I'll have to build the overhead console myself.
Do you ever use the 706 for 2m or 70cm operation, or do you keep it for HF only and use a different radio for those bands? Is it even a good rig for 2m and 70cm?
cheers
Disclaimer: I own a 706MkIIG, so I'm biased - but I know people who own the 857, and have been able to make some comparisons.
The size is attractive, but the display is tiny - too hard to see necessary information while driving, IMO. Some of my acquaintances complain that the 857 is deaf, particularly on 6m.
There were some reliability issues with the first ones, but those seem to have been worked out over time.
Overall, I get the impression that there's a reason it's less expensive than the Icom. If you need the size, or if there are budgetary constraints, the 857 is probably a fine rig. If you can fit in the Icom, and can afford the higher price tag, you may want to consider it instead.
-=[ Grant ]=-
The size is attractive, but the display is tiny - too hard to see necessary information while driving, IMO. Some of my acquaintances complain that the 857 is deaf, particularly on 6m.
There were some reliability issues with the first ones, but those seem to have been worked out over time.
Overall, I get the impression that there's a reason it's less expensive than the Icom. If you need the size, or if there are budgetary constraints, the 857 is probably a fine rig. If you can fit in the Icom, and can afford the higher price tag, you may want to consider it instead.
-=[ Grant ]=-
gary in ohio
Explorer
Your not going to find any ham radio that is going to be a good "internet" radio until you get into the Dstar UHF system and then its only good if there is a Dstar repeater and infrastructure near by. They are pretty rare right now. Big cities only and if your in a big city then a broadband cell system would be better, faster and cheaper.
I use my 706 on VHF all the time and it works very well. There are not many UHF repeaters near by but I do use it when I get info the city and again, it works well. With the high power option 2m simplex is easy, with a good gain antenna. I talk pretty much to anyone I can hear. I do think in my next radio/truck build out Ill go back to multi radio's and away from the single radio but not because the 706 is bad but that I would like to listen to more than 1 radio at a time. I scan police/fire with the 706 when I am running around the county, but would like to also listen to HF at the same time. While waiting for a traffic net to finish I would like to be monitoring 52 calling. Its not big issue and isnt a requirement but a nice option in the future. I think I am going to add in a nice high end scanner as well.
I have most of the radio's for the next build out, The 706 will remain as the primary radio, Ill be adding commercial Kenwood radio's for VHF and UHF, that way I can do MURS/ham on VHF and GMRS/ham on the UHF radio. Ill toss in a 780 uniden scanner, a 900mhz system to allow crossband repeat and a small CB to round out the system.
cheers[/QUOTE]
I use my 706 on VHF all the time and it works very well. There are not many UHF repeaters near by but I do use it when I get info the city and again, it works well. With the high power option 2m simplex is easy, with a good gain antenna. I talk pretty much to anyone I can hear. I do think in my next radio/truck build out Ill go back to multi radio's and away from the single radio but not because the 706 is bad but that I would like to listen to more than 1 radio at a time. I scan police/fire with the 706 when I am running around the county, but would like to also listen to HF at the same time. While waiting for a traffic net to finish I would like to be monitoring 52 calling. Its not big issue and isnt a requirement but a nice option in the future. I think I am going to add in a nice high end scanner as well.
I have most of the radio's for the next build out, The 706 will remain as the primary radio, Ill be adding commercial Kenwood radio's for VHF and UHF, that way I can do MURS/ham on VHF and GMRS/ham on the UHF radio. Ill toss in a 780 uniden scanner, a 900mhz system to allow crossband repeat and a small CB to round out the system.
cheers[/QUOTE]
thallca
Observer
I don't think you could go wrong with either radio, both will serve you well. I bought the 857D last year when I made a trip to my local HRO store. They had a great deal on the 857D w/separation kit and a Yeasu ATAS 120 moblie antenna. All of that was still cheaper then the ICOM.
I used a 897D, the 857D's big brother, this past weekend during our local Ham radio club's field day outing. Even though all of the bands where very busy with traffic I was able to work Michigan on the 40-meter band with a homebrew antenna. Man that was fun!
I really like having more than one radio to work with while I am out in the middle of nowhere. Along with my 857D I have a Yeasu FT-2800 2-meter and a couple of dual-band HT's.
I used a 897D, the 857D's big brother, this past weekend during our local Ham radio club's field day outing. Even though all of the bands where very busy with traffic I was able to work Michigan on the 40-meter band with a homebrew antenna. Man that was fun!
I really like having more than one radio to work with while I am out in the middle of nowhere. Along with my 857D I have a Yeasu FT-2800 2-meter and a couple of dual-band HT's.
gjackson
FRGS
Wow, you multi radio guys are talented! I can barely keep track of talking to myself, let alone keeping track of multiple radios!
Seriously, guys, thanks for all the good info. I'm going to go down to HRO and get my hands on both radios. I'll see how much my pocket is willing to bleed!
cheers
Seriously, guys, thanks for all the good info. I'm going to go down to HRO and get my hands on both radios. I'll see how much my pocket is willing to bleed!
cheers
gary in ohio
Explorer
thallca said:
The ATAS 120 is a nice little antenna and as long as you dont need 80m its a good mobile solution. While the 120 will load on 80m, there is almost nothing radiated. Its just to small to get a good signal out on 80m.
