This is why I am looking at several radio’s: My trip back in May 09 was plagued with either no cell coverage most of the way, no battery life due to searching for cell towers and / or both problems. There was hours of no way to contact anyone if there had been an emergency. For those folks trying to reach me could only wonder if I was alive or dead on the side of the road. So I am trying to isolate and pick the best backpack amateur radio rig I can put together with out to much cost and weight. I have thought about getting a 75watt 2 meter rig, but did not want to limit myself to only 2 meter when I an capable of working the MF/HF/VHF/UHF bands covering 160m to 10m, plus 6m, 2m and 70cm. with my Technicians Class license. Of course money will always be an issue in choosing the right rig.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Looking at the FT-857
I found this data from YO3HJV site:
TIP for mobile users:
Two male RJ11 and 3m of 6 wire telephone cable for front panel, one male and one female RJ45 and 3m of 8 wire FTP cable for microphone.
The main issue is how to find a proper receptacle for the front panel... Well, this receptacle is right on the radio, and is fixed on 4 screws. It's part number on the service manual is RA0450600 as shown on the picture below:
You can unscrew that receptacle and used it with some PDA support to attach it on the windshield with a suction cup. I use the same solution with my FT 8900...
It is the best solution for who is interested in a permanent mobile solution. Why spend a lot of $$$ on a "mobile separation kit"???
73! de yo3hjv
Adrian
Compact, full featured, modern look
Crammed into the little enclosure is an 100kHz-500MHz transceiver (receiving. Transmitting is subject to ham band limitations) with most of the modern bells and whistles that anyone could want, and which can supply 100 watts on 160-6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters, and 20 watts on the 440 MHz band.
Is operating in the CW, AM, SSB, FM, and digital modes.
The main purpose of this radio is to be installed as a mobile rig, with removable front plate which can be mounted away from the main unit.
The single limitation of this kind of installation is the microphone and the speaker, which are connected directly to the main unit thus a second cable will be necessary.
I purchase this radio in the spring of 2006 from WIMO, a reseller located in Germany. I was, somehow, budget-orientated. My HSU (Ham Speding Units) was around 650 EUR and this radio fits very well (620EUR+shipping 36EUR) so I ordered right away!
I was very happy to have a "all band-all mode HF+VHF+UHF transceiver in one box. Furthermore, I needed a radio which could be the basis for a very portable station for field use. The FT-857 fills both requirements nicely.
The first approach to this radio was to download a pdf user manual (operations manual) to see the features and to imagine what I can do with it. This is a habit to me in order to be already familiar with a new radio because I am a real ham and real hams do not read the manual when a radio is sitting in front!
The first thing I did when the radio arrived was to look inside...
I liked the solid aluminum frame in the central section and how the circuit boards are fitted! A solid frame is the key for a good thermal behavior and also a good backbone for a mobile or portable radio.
The FT-857 is build to last and to survive a lot of mechanical abuse. 
The top circuit board contains all of the low level electronics. Although there is no space left over, nothing seems crammed into the space at all.
I saw a lot of radios from inside. Also I was a constructor of radios and other electronic things... It's like a classic painting what the Yaesu engineers manage to do in this box! Nevertheless, their work has made a design which is logical, clean, easy to repair and should be very reliable.
The bottom circuit board contains the separate HF and VHF/UHF power amplifiers, and all of the band switching components. Once again, the board looks full but very logical, with a very clean layout. The heat from the power transistors is coupled directly to the main casting, and the twin fans provide the air movement necessary to extract the heat from the unit. The fans run only when necessary, with variable speed, so the unit is quiet most of the time.
I purchase an optional original Yaesu SSB filter but on receiving it isn't what I expected! But in Tx-ing reports are better than the built-in ceramic filter, so i will keep it. The picture shows the two optional filters.
I like
This radio is tiny and modular. The removable faceplate is a good thing for mobile installation and even for a crowded ham shack. If space is principal consideration, then the FT-857D is the best all=mode all-band full-power space-saver currently available.
The price also is good! Do not expect to have performances like a Kenwood TS2000! It is a very good radio in it's price range!
Reasonable front panel – With small size comes along the necessity to cram the front panel functionality into a minimum of controls. Reading the manual is absolutely required in order to get the maximum functionality out of the FT-857. However, the controls are well-thought-out, and benefit from a couple of generations of small equipment with few controls. The function selection and the menus allow everything to be controlled, and they have obviously thought through the usability of these. After a few weeks of trying every feature, I can go directly to what I need without referring to the manuals any more. For anything this complex, that is high praise.
Receive audio is quite good – The primary limitation on receive audio is the tiny speaker in the case. For any real use, it cries out for an external speaker. I have plugged in high-quality external speakers, and the audio is as good. There is also plenty of audio power available. Driving an inefficient old acoustic suspension speaker is no problem at all. Furthermore, there is a headphone jack on the front left side of the FT-857, which makes headphone use an easy thing. They provide a switch to change the power level on the headphone jack so that if you should want to power a larger speaker from that jack, the FT-857 will drive it. This is very well thought-out.
External programming software – After I bought the radio, I also bought the ADMS-4B programming software. The programming cable I made it myself with just two bipolar transistors and some passive components. Also I like how interacts with the Ham Radio Deluxe CAT, but the credits goes to the authors of the software!
DSP - Is OK for a audio only DSP and performs well on a crowd band. Also useful with the QRM and best on static noises.
All band coverage, including the CB which is very useful on the road! Unfortunately, I was not able to make a good installation on my new car...
Adjustable drag on Dial Knob. No more to say about! Not to many hams are aware about this feature!
I don't like
No direct frequency entry - Unless you buy the fancy external microphone, it is not possible to do direct frequency entry. I can solve this with one easy purchase, but I already know how difficult can be as I have a ICOM IC2100 with a remote mic. Not so bad, but sometime I miss this feature.
No built-in tuner – I solved this with an external LDG AT-11MP and later a Z100 also from LDG (in portable operations) which matches the size of the radio, and will load up nearly anything. I read a lot of reviews for Yaesu tuners and I don't want to buy one! I also miss a OTT (One Touch Tuning) switch on the front panel! Could be useful a single switch to put a CW, 5W for external ATU.
Unlabeled back panel – There is a sticker on the bottom of the radio showing which of the many back panel connectors do what, but I miss having the labels where I can see them. I used a permanent ink pen to make my own "labels".
A connector or a hole or whatever to ground the radio direct to the chassis. I really miss this because I like to have a well grounded shack! I drive a hole through the rear aluminum solid block to connect a wire for grounding... Grrrr...
The SELECTOR knob is very poor! Is some optical switch with a high failure rate! Mine is fail to switch in the needed direction. Forward-back-forward when switching only forward or backward...
So that is it. I consider the FT-857 to be a really good deal in a ham radio transceiver, and one which is well-suited to anyone needing one which will fit into a very small space or need a second radio for field day, portable or DX-expeditions. I really like my Kenwood TS-2000X "Big Rig" with all of the controls up-front, but the FT-857 does very well within the small space it requires.
In the spring of 2007 I sold the radio to purchase a Kenwood TS2000X. After the radio "travelled" from ham to ham, I bought it back in order to go in Elba Island, portable. So, Is here to stay... or to go portable again!
73! de YO3HJV
I found similar information from W4TI.
Review: Yaesu FT-857 
The Tiny Powerhouse
The Yaesu FT-857 is a little marvel. Crammed into the enclosure is an MF, HF, VHF and UHF transceiver with most of the modern bells and whistles that anyone could want, and which can supply 100 watts on 160-6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters, and 20 watts on the 440 MHz band. It is capable of operating in the CW, AM, SSB, FM, and digital modes. The engineers have built what seems to be intended as a mobile transceiver, suitable for installation in a vehicle, with a removable face plate which can be mounted separately from the electronics package.
I purchased the FT-857 with a dual purpose in mind. First I need a compact transceiver which can fit into a little folding desk in our den, so that there is a radio I can use when I am not able to get out to the the big station in the second building in our facility. (I have stage IV pancreatic cancer, and frequently am very sick. My cancer blog is here.) So in the near term, the FT-857 would provide a radio I could use conveniently, which would fit into a small space. Furthermore, I needed a radio which could be the basis for a very portable station for field use. The FT-857 fills both requirements nicely, and is quite affordable, so it arrived during July from Gigaparts (great ham radio store in Huntsville, Alabama) and I have been learning all of the features of this compact wonder since it arrived.
How did they fit everything in such a small box?
One of the first things I did after it arrived was to remove the covers to see what Yaesu had done to cram all of this functionality into such a small enclosure, and the pictures below show how it is built. The basic frame is an aluminum casting, which makes a very solid mechanical backbone for the radio. The covers are made from steel, and everything fits well. From what I can see, the FT-857 is built to survive and work through long-term heavy-duty use.
The top circuit board contains all of the low level electronics. Although there is no space left over, nothing seems crammed into the space at all. As an electronic engineer who designs boxes and circuit boards for a living, I can appreciate the wonderful engineering which went into this design. It all looks so straightforward as to be obvious, although I can tell that there is nothing obvious about it. This was the result of very diligent hard work. Nevertheless, their work has made a design which is logical, clean, and should be very reliable. 
Top of FT-857, showing low-level electronics
Notice that in the top left hand corner there are two Collins mechanical filters. These are optional, additional cost items. I have had radios before which used the Collins filters, and they have always proven to be excellent performers, so I ordered both filters at the same time I ordered the radio. These particular filters came from W4RT Electronics http://w4rt.com rather than from Yaesu. They cost roughly 2/3 of what the Yaesu filters cost, and use the same Collins filters as the Yaesu filters have. I used to work for W4RT Electronics, and know how excellent their products are, so I did not hesitate to buy the W4RT filters. They work excellently, and provide the improved receive and transmit audio on SSB, and the narrow bandwidth without ringing on CW, just as I have come to expect from the Collins filters.
The bottom circuit board contains the separate HF and VHF/UHF power amplifiers, and all of the band switching components. Once again, the board looks full but very logical, with a very clean layout. The heat from the power transistors is coupled directly to the main casting, and the twin fans provide the air movement necessary to extract the heat from the unit. The fans run only when necessary, so the unit is quiet most of the time. 
Bottom of FT-857, showing the RF power amplifiers and band switching
Features I Like
This radio is tiny – If space is a consideration, then the FT-857 is the best full-power space-saver currently available. It is also a good value, as far as the performance-to-cost ratio is concerned.
Good performance – While the FT-857 is not the radio that my Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V Field is, Yaesu has succeeded in designing and building an excellent combination of features into it. The performance is better than all but two of the HF radios I have ever owned, and those two were expensive, high-end systems.
Reasonable front panel – With small size comes along the necessity to cram the front panel functionality into a minimum of controls. Reading the manual is absolutely required in order to get the maximum functionality out of the FT-857. However, the controls are well-thought-out, and benefit from a couple of generations of small equipment with few controls. The function selection and the menus allow everything to be controlled, and they have obviously thought through the usability of these. After a few weeks of trying every feature, I can go directly to what I need without referring to the manuals any more. For anything this complex, that is high praise.
Receive audio is quite good – The primary limitation on receive audio is the tiny speaker in the case. For any real use, it cries out for an external speaker. I have plugged in high-quality external speakers, and the audio is as good as or better than any other ham radio I have used. There is also plenty of audio power available. Driving an inefficient old acoustic suspension speaker is no problem at all. Furthermore, there is a headphone jack on the front left side of the FT-857, which makes headphone use an easy thing. They provide a switch to change the power level on the headphone jack so that if you should want to power a larger speaker from that jack, the FT-857 will drive it. This is very well thought-out.
External programming software – When I bought the radio, I also bought the computer control cable and the ADMS-4B programming software. This is the first time I have ever used programming software on a multi-mode radio, and it is a real blessing. It makes it possible to logically think through how I want to logically organize the memories, so that the 200 memory locations can be used to their best advantage. So for instance I have set up all of the VHF and UHF local repeaters and simplex frequencies with their respective tone/DCS squelch settings, all of the weather service frequencies, all of my usual starting frequencies and modes for HF use, and all of the net frequencies I frequent. I am used to doing this for a channelized VHF or UHF radio, but this is the first time to try this on HF, and I really like it. It makes use so logical.
CW Receive Filtering - The combination of the Collins 500 Hz mechanical filter and the DSP filtering is very good for separating signals in a busy CW band. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the DSP does at both narrowing the bandwidth and reducing the general noise level on receive.
What I miss
No direct frequency entry - Unless you buy the fancy external microphone, it is not possible to do direct frequency entry. I can solve this with one easy purchase, but I had not thought of how much I would miss this feature.
No built-in tuner – I solved this with an external LDG Z-11 Pro which matches the size of the radio, and will load up nearly anything. Having used the Yaesu tuners in the past, I avoided them this time because they do not try hard enough to load into unusual loads, and take a long time to tune.
Unlabeled back panel – There is a sticker on the bottom of the radio showing which of the many back panel connectors do what, but I miss having the labels where I can see them. Having the sticker on the top of the radio might not be as pretty, but it would make actual use of the radio somewhat easier.
So that is it. I consider the FT-857 to be a really good deal in a ham radio transceiver, and one which is well-suited to anyone needing one which will fit into a very small space. I really like my Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V Field "Big Rig" with all of the controls up-front, but the FT-857 does very well within the small space it requires.
To read the operating manual for the FT-857, click here.
To read the technical supplement for the FT-857, click here.
73
Diehl Martin
W4TI
August 2006
Robin 2W0LAZ wrote this about the FT857D:
After about 6 weeks of using this radio I think I know it well enough to write a small review, so here goes.
I chose this radio mainly because of its specification i.e. all band and all mode. It is capable of working the MF/HF/VHF/UHF bands covering 160m to 10m, plus 6m, 2m and 70cm.
As standard it has AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW plus a range of digital modes I have not even explored yet.
I wanted a radio that would last for a while as I fully intended to go beyond the 10W foundation limitation, and work towards the intermediate and full license.
This radio is capable of 100W from 160m to 6m, 50W on the 2m band and 20W on 70cm.
The radio is housed in a very compact case measuring approx. 6" wide, 2" high and 9" deep (you can do your own metric conversions) and weighs just over 4.5 lb.
The main controls are all front facing or on the side of the front panel with some button having more than one purpose depending if it is given a short press or a long press.
The 3 multi function buttons beneath the LCD are menu select buttons and refer to the options that appear above the buttons. These options will change depending which menu segment is active. I suppose this feature could be compared to most modern mobile phones where the choices on screen change depending upon the menu that is active at the time, with the buttons referring to the menu choices on screen.
I expect the big questions for everyone are: 
- How easy is the radio to use?
- Are the controls laid out methodically?
- Can you discard the user manual after a short time?
Not easy questions to answer, with a lot depending on your ability to remember sequences of button presses to achieve the desired result.
The tuning function is by rotary knobs similar to most radios, but these are configurable for mode, step etc. from the menu system.
The band change function is achieved using two buttons (up and down) on the top of the front panel above the main dial. The mode change is achieved using two similar buttons (up and down) above the top left of the display.
For each button press the selection changes and cycles around from the last choice to the first choice, and vice versa. They are very easy to use as the display updates with every button press.
The entry point into the menus is the "Func" button. If this button is pressed momentarily then the radio enters "Multi Function Mode". The lower part of the LCD will show 3 options that can be selected by the 3 multi-function buttons. If the Select knob is rotated then these sets of options will change, with sets of options from MFa to MFq.
These quick menus hold the most common and frequently used features such as writing to memory, scanning memories, bandscope, repeater shifts and CTCSS tones. Some options are simple toggle on or off and some options have multiple choices that need repeated button presses.
The deeper use of the "Func" button is entered if you press and hold the button for one second. This enters the main (configuration) menu system. Rotating the Select knob will now cycle through 91 different menu choices covering all aspects of the radio such as output power, DSP parameters, tuning steps, mic gain, LCD colour etc.
As an example I will summarize the steps needed to initiate a scan through the stored memories:
-
Press and release the V/M (VFO/Memory) button to enter memory mode. - Press and release the Func button.
- Rotate the Select knob until MFg is displayed.
- Press Multi-Function button A (SCN) to start scanning memories.
The big question is about the manual. Is it up to the job? I find the manual a little unusual. It appears to have been written by an expert who knows the radio inside out but with an expectation that the reader also has a certain level of pre-existing knowledge. At times I find myself seeking further knowledge elsewhere because the manual explains exactly how to configure a particular function but fails to explain when I would need to use that function or why? This is my first amateur radio and I have no base for comparison. Perhaps all radio manuals are like this! However I certainly think it could have been done a little better than this.
As to performance, so far so good. I have managed a number of HF contacts across Europe and have worked through numerous local VHF repeaters and links with ease. I have had nothing but good reports from these contacts.
In summary, I think this is a excellent radio, well worth the time and effort getting to know its many features and options.
Check out the manufacturers website at Yaesu UK.
Read hundreds of other reviews of this radio at EHam.net.
Review by Robin 2W0LAZ.
March 2007.
I will be posting more articles as I find them on this and other radios That I find interesting.
Why amateur radio operators are called HAMS
Doing some research on this and this is what I came up with. Interesting reading.
The true reason why amateur radio operators came to be called "HAMS" is no longer known.
More specifically, the truth has been lost to time over the many years. Various speculations do exist, however, each with their own degree of believability. Presented below are some of the more common theories, presented in no particular order of importance or preference. The theories presented have been gleaned from internet searches, printed works, and word of mouth from some of our more experienced... (Older) hams !
Theory One: The three letters (H.A.M.) are initials, which pay homage to the last names of three of the great radio experimenters of bygone years. George HERTZ, who demonstrated the existence of electromagnetic waves in 1888, Edwin ARMSTRONG, who developed a resonant oscillator circuit for radio frequency work, and finally, Guglielmo MARCONI, the 1909 Nobel laureate in Physics, who in the year 1901 established the first transatlantic radio contact.
Similar to this name / initials honorarium of the past great minds of radio,
comes one based on slightly lesser minds, but nonetheless
most heroic in their own right. Let's look at:
Theory Two: This theory suggests that "HAM" is the combination of initials of the last names of three college students at Harvard, who supposedly had their own amateur radio station in the early nineteen hundred teen something. This was at a time when experimenters had free reign of the radio spectrum, and any legal administration, red tape or federally assigned callsigns were in their infancy or altogether non-existent. Their last names were (supposedly) HYMAN, ALMAY, and MURRAY, and they operated their little amateur radio station with a (self-assigned) call sign of "H.A.M." The three young men were merely identifying their station as "theirs" by using their names. ("H.A.M.")
Shortly after this fledgling station emerged, the government DID start proceedings to license, administrate, and "control" all radio operators, amateurs included. Amateur radio stations, Commercial broadcast stations, and rogue radio operators were springing up all across the nation. Some of these transmissions were causing interference, and thus the government was attempting to gain control and administration of the entire radio spectrum. Early amateur radio operators had quite a fight to maintain any radio spectrum what so ever for their use in their experiments. This fight for government control threatened to eliminate all amateur radio stations entirely by placing all radio transmissions under the control of the Department of the Navy. The Navy’s official position on this issue was, "the ONLY radio transmissions that should be authorized should be those of a military nature."
Now, with that brief history concerning the control of radio spectrum in mind, let’s get back to our college students and their "H.A.M." station. "Supposedly", an impassioned speech was made on the floor of the US Congress in behalf and support of amateur radio operators and their commercial broadcast counterpart stations as well. The Harvard boys, which operated "H.A.M", became the poster child, so to speak, of ALL of amateur and commercial radio's experimental advancements and endeavors nationwide. They became known as "the little HAM station that could". This congressional speech, citing the station "H.A.M.", supposedly turned the tide and defeated the bill that would eliminate commercial and amateur radio entirely, and turn the airwaves completely over to the navy.
The problem with this theory is that an exhaustive search of the Congressional Record turns up no such speech, and the Harvard School histories have no record of the Amateur Radio station called "HAM". However, that having been said, it is also a very well known fact there were inaccuracies in the Congressional Record in the early part of this century, yielding it a dubious tool for proof or disproof of any topic. Before Congressional reforms were enacted later on in the 1900’s, the rules of Congress were very lax indeed. Enough so, that just about any member of congress could have just about anything posted as having been read into the congressional record, whether it was actually SPOKEN on the floor of Congress or not. Likewise, members of Congress who knew the "right people" and had enough "pull", could have certain "non-essential" items REMOVED from the Congressional record, under the guise of shortening an already impossibly large document. The potential here for misuse and abuse is obvious. Back then, many members of Congress could appease their constituents and special interests by claiming to have made an impassioned plea for their cause on the floor, and pointed to the "Congressional Record" as proof. This led to many obviously ridiculous paradoxes on "matters of record," such as speeches made by members days or weeks AFTER they boarded a plane or boat which crashed or sank, killing them. These paradoxes and inaccuracies have been documented, so the fact that no (congressional) record exists of the HAM debate remains suspect and subject to conjecture.
Theory Three: Drawing from the congressional "control" theory above, and in an attempt to explain "technical, radio, and electronic matters" to a non-technical congress and general public, here is yet another theory of why Amateur Radio operators are called HAMS: During the earlier days of radio communication, the commercial and Amateur Radio broadcasters had won their fight against the NAVY, (see above). The government (not the military) stepped in to organize and control frequency allocation of these new "short-wave" frequencies. When all was said and done, the government allowed radio amateurs to operate only on certain frequencies which were scattered in an amongst the other licensed (authorized) frequencies. This holds true to this day. The Amateur Radio frequencies were said to be sandwiched "like the HAM in a sandwich" between the other frequencies, and so Amateur Radio frequencies came to be known as the "HAM" segments of a particular band.
Theory Four: Another theory attributes the term "HAM" to: Hugo Gernsback, publisher of a magazine called "Home Amateur Mechanic" which was very, very popular back in the early days of radio. It was so well know, it was a household word, just as the magazines "People", or "Reader’s Digest" are today. Although it was primarily more mechanical in content, it did contain fairly regularly, Amateur Radio construction projects. Thus, when asked what sort of radio a person had, the reply, more often than not, was he: "had one of those "H.A.M." (using just the initials of the well known magazine name.) This theory becomes a bit more believable when you consider the Amateur Radio practice of using just initials or letters for many commonly understood words in order to shorten transmissions and ease sending of messages, especially when using Morse Code. "Home Amateur Mechanic" was simply shortened to H.A.M.
Theory Five: Some speculate the term "HAM" stands for "Help All Mankind" as reflected in the radio amateur’s long history of service towards people in distress during natural calamities, disasters and civil emergencies. In fine S.O.S. tradition, this gives us H.A.M.
Theory Six: Others believe the term "HAM" derives it’s origin from the British. From late in the nineteenth century forward, British sports writers used the "AM" to describe rank AMateurs in sports. It first came into the "electronics arena" from the "wire telegraphers" used by these sports writers. The telegraph operators originally applied it to the younger and inexperienced "cub" reporters. These young sports writers often provided illegibly written or poorly worded copy for the telegrapher to transmit. The professional news telegraphers had beginners in their own line of work, and they picked up the 'AM terminology from the sportswriters, and applied it to their own field. Often the inexperienced new telegraph operators were called "AMs", for the amateurish way they sent messages.
That theory is further explained in the following account...
Theory Seven: (or maybe theory: 6.5): This theory holds that the term "HAM" actually derives from what the seasoned commercial (professional) telegraph operators called the (hobby) amateur radio operators. When the inexperienced hobby radio enthusiasts began to venture on air with crude spark-gap transmitters, based on vehicle ignition coils, their code transmissions must have been pretty poor compared to the commercial telegraphs of the day. The commercial operators referred to the amateurs by using a modification of the old telegrapher's insult (from above) by saying the operator was "ham fisted", meaning that they weren't of professional skill. "Ham Fisted" referred to their style and proficiency of sending telegraph code which could have been done just as well by using a ham (the cut of pork) on the telegraph key to pound out their rudimentary code.
Theory Eight: Along those same lines of thought, came this theory linked to the stage and theater, where the term "HAM" is used to denote an actor of indifferent ability, or one who shows off his skill (or lack thereof), by performing in spite of and mostly oblivious to his own ineptitude.
Theory Nine: This following theory seems to combine the "ham fisted" and the "un-professional operator" theories from above, but also adds a bit more insight as to why amateur radio operators might be called "HAMS": Definition of HAM: "A poor performer. [in this case:] "An operator of poor performance and courtesy". Even before wireless radio, that's the gist of a definition of the word "Ham" given in the G. M. Dodge book: "The Telegraph Instructor." The definition never changed throughout wire telegraphy history. The first WIRELESS operators were, of course, originally land based (wire) telegraphers, who left their offices to go to sea or to man the coastal stations. They brought with them to their now jobs their old habits, both good and bad. Along with them came also slang terms, operating practices, and much of the tradition of their older profession.
In those early days, spark-gap radio transmissions were king, in fact it was the only type of transmission readily available, and every station occupied the same wavelength - or, more accurately perhaps, every station occupied a very large portion of the bandwidth with its broad spark signal. Government stations, ships, coastal stations and the increasingly numerous Amateur Radio operators all competed for signal supremacy, causing quite a cacophony noise and interference in each other's radio receivers. Many of the amateur stations were very powerful indeed. Two amateurs, who were just talking to each other across town or in neighboring cities, could effectively "jam" all the other operators in a very large area with their strong signals. When this happened, the frustrated commercial operators would telegraph the ship whose weaker signals had been blotted out by the amateurs and send: "SRI OM THOSE HAMS ARE JAMMING YOU." ("Sorry old man, those "HAMS, (meaning poor and discourteous performers), are jamming you’).
Amateur radio operators, who may have been unaware of the real meaning of that derogatory term "HAM", picked it up and applied it to themselves and wore it with pride. Much as the term "Yankee Doodle" started out as a derogatory term from the British, and then came full circle to be worn with pride to those it was once intended to ridicule. As the years advanced, the telegrapher's original meaning of inept and poor performing completely disappeared.
These past few derogatory theories may well be close to the true origin of the term, but it seems unlikely that amateurs would willingly adopt a term meant to be insulting to them as their name. However, consider this: There was an English professor at University of MD who pointed out that "bad" or "insulting" words sometimes fall into a period of disuse, which causes the meaning to become obscure, setting the stage for them to be (ironically) resurrected with more polite, or merely self-deprecating, meanings. Consider, for example, the word "naughty." In Shakespeare's time, it directly translated as "evil" or "demonic," and therefore fell out of polite usage in most social circles of the time. In current usage, however, it's much more benign, and often used to good-naturedly scold friends or even children. It would not be implausible then, for what started out as an insult, to later become adopted by the very group it was intended to ridicule. Today, to be "branded" a "good Ham", is one of the highest compliments an Amateur Radio operator can receive.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Amateur Radio Q-Codes
| Signal | Question | Answer, Advice or Order |
| QRG | Will you indicate my exact frequency in kilocycles? | Your frequency is ... kc. |
| QRH | Does my frequency vary? | Your frequency varies. |
| QRI | How is the tone of my transmission? | The tone of your transmission is ... 1. Good. 2. Variable. 3. Bad. |
| QRJ | Are you receiving me badly? Are my signals weak? | I cannot receive you. Your signals are too weak. |
| QRK | What is the legibility of my signals (1 to 5)? | The legibility of your signals is ... (1 to 5). |
| QRL * | Are you busy? | I am busy (or busy with....). Please do not interfere. |
| QRM * | Are you being interfered with? | I am being interfered with. |
| QRN * | Are you troubled by static? | I am troubled by static. |
| QRO * | Must I increase power? | Increase power. |
| QRP * | Must I decrease power? | Decrease power. |
| QRQ * | Must I send faster? | Send faster ... (words per min.). |
| QRS * | Must I send more slowly? | Transmit more slowly ... (w.p.m.). |
| QRT * | Must I stop transmission? | Stop transmission. |
| QRU * | Have you anything for me? | I have nothing for you. |
| QRV * | Are you ready? | I am ready. |
| QRW | Must I advise ... that you are calling him on ... kc? | Please advise ... that I am calling him on ... kc. |
| QRX * | When will you call again? | I will call you again at ... hours (on ... kc.). |
| QRZ * | By whom am I being called? | You are being called by ... |
| QSA | What is the strength of my signals (1 to 5)? | The strength of your signals is ... (1 to 5). |
| QSB* | Does the strength of my signals vary? | The strength of your signals varies. |
| QSD | Is my keying correct? Are my signals distinct? | Your keying is incorrect; your signals are bad. |
| QSG | Must I transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time? | Transmit ... telegrams (or one telegram) at a time. |
| QSK * | Shall I continue the transmission of all my traffic? | I can hear you between my signals. Continue: I shall interrupt you if necessary. |
| QSL * | Can you acknowledge receipt? | I am acknowledging receipt. |
| QSM | Shall I repeat the last telegram I sent you? | Repeat the last telegram you sent me. |
| QSO * | Can you communicate with ... directly (or through...)? | I can communicate with ... direct (or through...). |
| QSP | Will you relay to ...? | I will relay to ... free of charge. |
| QSV | Shall I send a series of VVV....? | Send a series of VVV. |
| QSX | Will you listen for ... (call sign) on ... kcs? | I am listening for ... on ... kcs. |
| QSY * | Shall I change to ... kilocycles without changing the type of wave? | Change to ... kc. without changing type of wave. |
| QSZ | Shall I send each word or group twice? | Send each word or group twice. |
| QTA | Shall I cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent? | Cancel nr ... as if it had not been sent. |
| QTB | Do you agree with my word count? | I do not agree with your word count; I shall repeat the first letter of each word and the first figure of each number. |
| QTC | How many telegrams have you to send? | I have ... telegrams for you or for .... |
| QTH* | What is your position (location)? | My position (location) is .... |
| QTR | What is the exact time? | The exact time is .... |
| QST * | General call preceding a message address to all amateurs and A.R.R.L. Members. | |
| QRRR | Official A.R.R.L. "land SOS." A distress call for emergency use only. | |
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Compiling info on Yaesu FT-817ND
Yaesu FT817ND info from Yaesu.
FT-817 The Ultimate Backpacker!
Multi-mode Portable Transceiver
The world’s first self-contained, battery-powered, Multi-mode Portable Transceiver covering the HF, VHF, and UHF bands!
For more than four decades, Yaesu has been a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance multi-mode base station and mobile transceivers, as well as FM handhelds.Yaesu broke new ground with the introduction of the FT-817: the world’s first HF/VHF/UHF self-contained battery-powered Multi-mode Portable Transceiver. Providing up to five watts of power output, the FT-817 is designed for operation on the 160-10 meter HF bands, plus the 6 meter, 2 meter, and 70 cm bands. Whether your preferred operating mode is SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet, or SSB-based Digital modes like PSK31, the FT-817 is ready to join you on your next hiking, camping, or search-and-rescue adventure!
Now the 817 legacy is even better with the introduction of the FT-817ND, which includes coverage of the U.S. 60-meter (5 MHz) band, and it also includes a 1400 mAh NiMH Battery pack (FNB-85) and NC-72B Charger!
Ultra Compact HF/VHF/UHF Multimode Rig
Despite its incredibly small size (5.3" x 1.5" x 6.5"), the FT-817 delivers big performance! Its next-generation PA puts out five watts on all HF bands, plus the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 430 MHz bands, on all popular operating modes: USB/LSB/CW/AM/FM/Packet/PSK-31/RTTY.Wide Receiver Frequency Coverage
Enjoy shortwave and FM broadcasts, , public safety communications, and air band calls thanks to the extended frequency coverage of the FT-817, which includes reception on 100 kHz - 56 MHz, 76 - 108 MHz (W-FM only), 108 - 154 MHz, and 420 - 470 MHz.Two Antenna Connectors for Ease of Installation
The front panel includes a convenient BNC connector for attachment of a whip or VHF/UHF rubber flex antenna (supplied). The rear panel includes a type “M” (“SO-239”) connector. As shipped from the factory, the BNC jack is active on 50/144/430 MHz, while the “M” connector is active on HF. But using the Menu, you can assign, for example, 50 and 144 MHz to the rear panel, if your coaxial cables have matching plugs.Receiver Enhancement Features
• IF Shift – For reduction of adjacent-frequency interference. • IF Noise Blanker – For reduction of ignition and other impulse-type noise. • IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) – Bypasses RX Preamp on HF/50 MHz for improved performance during strong-signal conditions. • ATT (Front End Attenuator) – For more pleasant reception of very strong signals.Outstanding CW Features
• CW “Semi Break-in,” with T/R recovery delay programmable from 10 ms ~ 2500 ms. At 10 ms setting, performance emulates QSK operation. • CW Reverse: provides BFO injection from LSB-side, instead of default USB-side. • CW Pitch Control: adjusts TX offset and (identical) side tone between 300 Hz and 1000 Hz in 50 Hz steps; this allows precise spotting on DX stations. Side tone level is adjustable. • Built-in Electronic Keyer, with speed adjustable between 4 WPM and 60 WPM, and Weight (Dot:Dash Ratio) adjustable between 1:2.5 and 1:4.5. • For emergency use, the Menu allows you to set up the Microphone’s [UP] and [DWN] keys for generation of “Dots” and “Dashes” on CW!Versatile, Easy-To-See Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
A wealth of information is available on the front panel LCD: • When you have to be away from the radio for a few minutes, but would like a visual indication of activity while you’re away, activate the Spectrum Scope Monitor. The Spectrum Scope Monitor allows you to watch activity ±5 channels from the current operating frequency. • The LCD illumination color may be set to either Blue or Amber color, using the Menu. • Watch for low battery trouble using the Battery Voltage Meter display selection. • For ease of viewing while outdoors, you can double the size of the frequency displayHigh Performance Collins® Mechanical Filter Options
An optional filter slot is provided in the FT-817, allowing the owner to install one of two available Collins® Mechanical Filters. For CW operation, choose the 7-pole YF-122C (500 Hz bandwidth), or for very natural-sounding SSB select the 10-pole YF-122S (2.3 kHz bandwidth).Internal Battery Power
The FT-817 is the only rig in its class with internal battery operation capability. Shipped from the factory with a battery tray for 8 "AA" batteries, the FT-817 may also be operated from the optional FNB-72 Ni-Cd battery pack. full power output is available under battery power. Other manufacturers make you carry around a heavy external power source. . .but the FT-817 is entirely self-contained, making it ideal for backpacking or search-and-rescue work.
Universal Radio, Inc. info on the FT-817ND.
he Yaesu FT-817ND is a new deluxe version of the hugely popular FT-817. The FT-817ND includes 60 meter coverage plus the new high capacity FNB-85 battery. The radio is a fully self-contained, battery-powered, low power amateur MF/HF/VHF/UHF transceiver for portable/camping/mountain top use. Providing coverage of of the 160-10 meter amateur bands including 60 meters, plus the 6 M, 2M and 70 cm bands, the FT-817D includes operation on the SSB, CW, AM, FM and digital modes. This radio is designed for use either from an external DC source or internal batteries and provides up to 5 watts of power output when on external DC power. When using the battery pack or 8 AA cells (not supplied), the radio automatically switches to 2.5 watts. The multi-function LCD screen includes selectable blue or amber backlighting which may be disabled for battery conservation. This radio comes with: MH-31A8J Hand mic, FNB-85 Ni-MH 1400 mAh battery, FBA-28 Battery case (for 8 x AA cells not supplied), NC-72B charger, YHA-63 Whip antenna for 50/144/430 MHz, E-DC-6 DC cable and shoulder strap.
Features
* TX Frequency Coverage: 160 - 10 Meters, 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 430-450 MHz, plus Alaska Emergency Channel (5167.5 kHz).
* RX Frequency Coverage: 100 kHz - 56 MHz; 76 - 154 MHz; 420 - 470 MHz. (Exact frequency range may be slightly different)
* Power Output: 5 Watts SSB/CW/FM with 13.8V External DC; 1.5 Watts AM Carrier. 2.5 Watts SSB/CW/FM with 9.6V Ni-Cd Pack or 8 "AA" batteries (AM: 0.7 Watt), Up to 5 Watts SSB/CW/FM power (max.) programmable via Menu on Ni-Cd/AA cells.
* Operating Modes: USB, LSB, CW, AM, FM, W-FM, Digital (AFSK), Packet (1200/9600 FM).
* Digital Modes: RTTY, PSK31-U, PSK31-L, and User defined USB/LSB (SSTV, Pactor, etc.).
* Case Size: 5.31 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches (WHD)
* Weight: 2.6 lb (with Alkaline and Antenna, w/o Mic.).
* Two-Color LCD Multi-function Display (Blue/Amber).
* Bar-Graph Metering of Power Output, ALC, SWR, Modulation.
* Optional Narrow CW and SSB Filters.
* AGC Fast-Slow-Auto-Off Selection.
* RF Gain/Squelch Control.
* Built-in Noise Blanker.
* Transmit coverage of the new 60 meter band
* IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) and ATT (Receiver Front End Attenuator).
* Dual VFOs, Split Capability, IF Shift, and R.I.T. ("Clarifier").
* Wide/Narrow FM Selection.
* AM Aircraft Reception.
* Dedicated SSB-based Digital Mode for PSK31 on USB/LSB, AFSK RTTY, etc.
* Built-in CW Electronic Keyer and Semi-Break-In (down to 10 ms delay) Capability.
* Adjustable CW Pitch; CW Paddle Normal/Reverse Connection Selection.
* Built-in VOX.
* Automatic Repeater Shift.
* Built-in CTCSS and DCS.
* ARTS™ (Auto-Range Transponder System).
* Smart Search™ Automatic Memory Loading System.
* Spectrum Scope.
* Front and Rear Panel Antenna Connectors (BNC on Front; M [SO-239] on Back).
* 200 Regular Memories, plus Home Channels and Band-Limit (PMS) Memories.
* Alpha-Numeric Labeling of Memory Channels.
* Automatic Power-Off (APO) and Tx Time-Out Timer (TOT) Features.
* Rear Panel Data, Accessory and Key jacks.
* CAT System Computer Control Capability (4800/9600/38400 bps); Cloning Capability.
eHam.net has a spot that offers views from folks who have really been touched by this remarkable radio. Click on their link.
Of course Yahoo Groups as a link.
Observations from Scotland 3rd September 2006 GM1SXX
The Yaesu FT817ND.
SXX has been for some time thinking about portable operations. His venerable FT290 and FT790 while useful are now old and somewhat dated. I was looking for something with more functionality in a small package and the FT817ND seemed to fit the bill. I like operating in the hills while out walking with the dog and the FT817 offers DC-440Mhz multimode performance at the 5W level, an ideal replacement for my ageing transceivers.
As you'll see from the above photo, the 817ND is a TINY radio, much smaller and lighter than my FT290 yet it covers 1.8 - 440 Mhz all mode, BUT, there IS a catch, and it's NOT the small but excellent display but the photo above gives a hint of the problem. The display is actually a LOT better than it looks in the photo. The camera flashgun washes it out.
The basic specifications are as follows.
Frequency Coverage:
RX: 100 kHz - 30 MHz, 50 - 54 MHz
76 - 108 MHz (W-FM only)
108 - 154 MHz (USA)
144 - 148 (146) MHz (other markets)
430 (420) - 450 (440) MHz
TX: 160 - 6 Meters, 2 Meters
70 Centimeters (Amateur Bands only)
Ultra Compact: 5.3" x 1.5" x 6.5" WHD (135 x 38 x 165 mm)
Multimode Design: SSB, CW, AM, FM, FM-Wide (RX),1200/9600 bps Packet, Digital (including PSK-31U/PSK-31L)
Power Output: 5 Watts (selection of 0.5/1.0/2.5/5 W)
Wide choice of power sources: AA Battery Holder included; FNB-72 Ni-Cd Battery Pack (9.6 V, 1600 mAh); external DC cable included for 13.8 V operation
Two Antenna Ports: BNC on front panel, UHF (Type "M") on rear panel; may be assigned via Menu on HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz
Built-in CW Electronic Keyer, Normal/Reverse Paddle connections, adjustable CW Pitch, Normal/Reverse sideband
Built-in CTCSS and DCS Encoder/Decoder circuits
208 Memory Channels, including 200"regular" memories, assignable in up to ten memory groups; Alpha-Numeric label may be attached to each memory
Dual-Color Liquid Crystal Display: choice of Blue or Amber display
Spectrum Scope records five channels above and below current frequency while you're away
Optional Collins Mechanical Filters: 10-pole YF-122S (2.3 kHz) for SSB, 7-pole YF-122C (500 Hz) for CW
The main difference between the 817 and 817ND appears to be that the Ni-CD battery and charger are included and the PA stage FETs have been upgraded. But, there's a catch!
The small size and light weight of the FT817ND make it the perfect backpacking radio. Add to that the multimode coverage of the ham bands from DC-430Mhz plus airband and FM broadcast band receive and it's a VERY versatile little radio.
The receiver is excellent and can copy anything that my RACAL RA1772 can hear (and more) but the user has to learn to 'fly' it properly. By that I mean that the receiver preamp must be used in an appropriate manner. For some reason, Yaesu have elected to call the preamp switch 'the IP3 Intercept Optimiser or IPO Optimiser' ... read PREAMP! Stupid or what?
I was very impressed indeed by the receiver in what is essentially a budget radio. It covers 50Mhz TRX but NOT 70Mhz so if 70Mhz is your thing, look elsewhere. The receiver performance on all bands except 50Mhz is very good indeed. On 50Mhz, performance was less acceptable, probably due to the proximity to the 68.33Mhz first IF. The receiver is a dual conversion type with the second IF being 455Khz. On Wide FM, a 10.7Mhz IF is used.
Not being a great CW fan, I chose the YF-122S Collins mechanical SSB filter which results in better selectivity on SSB. The audio output power is 1Watt, more than adequate in the small speaker used and enough to make you deaf when using phones.
The quoted power drain on TX is 2 amps and on RX should be 400ma. I found that the RX took somewhat more that this, and with the battery tray holding only AA sized cells. On TX the rig takes two amps. You can now understand what the 'BUT' is...... put simply, the batteries are woefully inadequate.
I think Yaesu might have been better designing the radio to be even smaller and having an external clip-on battery pack with something like a 7Ah or 10Ah battery option. Alternatively, keeping the same size package, the space vacated by the battery could hold some optional extras, like more filters.
Battery life is the Achilles heel of this radio. For myself, the solution is simple. Ditch the internal battery pack and use an external 7Ah Gell battery from our local model shop. The combined weight of the radio, battery, my wire antennas and a cheap fishing pole is still very acceptable. Apart from the fishing pole, the lot fits easily into a day bag with plenty of space left for nosh, dog food for my radio companion and my spirit stove etc.
Rather than spend my hard earned dosh on a lousy inefficient walkabout antenna, I just have some pre-cut wires I can string up as required to make a variety of antennas. They are 'terminated' at one end in some thin Dacron line that serves as both insulator and attachment point. With this simple kit, I can manage inverted Vee's,' slopers and EFHWA's. One end of each wire has a Dacron line and the other a crocodile clip. I made a simple T shaped plastic dipole centre with a couple of brass screws to which the feed line is connected and the wires just clip on to the screws and are led through a couple of notches in the plastic to take the strain.
The radio works very well with my Z11-Pro auto tuner which is similar in size but very lightweight.
The transceiver is CAT equipped and the very excellent FT817 Commander or Ham Radio Deluxe software will drive it through a simple interface. Both software products are free of charge and VERY good indeed. As a bonus, Ham Radio Deluxe also sports a very acceptable satellite tracking program although sadly the FT817 is NOT a full duplex radio and therefore not the most suitable for satellite operation.
If you want a cat interface for this or any other Yaesu radio, don't waste your money and time ordering one from Yaesu. You can build one to the many designs available on the wobbly-wide-web or simply buy a ready made one for a fraction of the cost from ZLP
More on the FT817 etc.
First and foremost I am not intentionally doing anything wrong by this compilation. This information is freely available on the internet. I am just collecting the data and place it here on my blog, as a one stop source for info. I am sure this is not all the data available, but only what I have found.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Introducing the unique Goblin Cricket fairing specifically designed for the popular Catrike 700 recumbent trike / tricycle.
Now I can not wait to see the Catrike Expedition version. GoblinCriket looks pretty darn good to me, what do you think? Of course I need one in “Basic Black” for Onyx.
I need front fairing and back tailbox to fully complete my Expedition. I can not seem to wait to see what Jim does with "Silk". His "700" is beautiful, I am wondering how "Silk" will look when the tailbox and fairing is added.