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Re: New Tuner - Recommendations?

 

In my experience ZS6BKW is one candidate. In my experience it performs well. Easy to erect and portable also
VU2TE
Unni

On Sun, Oct 8, 2023 at 5:27?AM David Smith <flashover52@...> wrote:
I recently became the owner of a FT-857. I've been using a vertical whip and tuning it each time to get it resonant on the respective operating band. I am looking at some other multi-band wires that would be best to use with a tuner.?

I am hoping to use this radio while portable in the future. What suggestions do folks have on current tuners that are approximately the same footprint/width of the radio for packing purposes??

David
W6RKT

Re: New Tuner - Recommendations?

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

What modes and power do you wish to operate? ?I use an LDG AT-100PROII auto tuner. It¡¯s good for 100W SSB, but only 35W digital. It¡¯s a nice small form factor and there¡¯s a Yaesu cable to connect it to the FT-857D. You can get an AT-200PROII, and it will handle higher power on digital. They actually are available all the way up to 1000W.?

Jim S. KM6WWY?


On Oct 7, 2023, at 4:57 PM, David Smith <flashover52@...> wrote:

?I recently became the owner of a FT-857. I've been using a vertical whip and tuning it each time to get it resonant on the respective operating band. I am looking at some other multi-band wires that would be best to use with a tuner.?

I am hoping to use this radio while portable in the future. What suggestions do folks have on current tuners that are approximately the same footprint/width of the radio for packing purposes??

David
W6RKT

New Tuner - Recommendations?

 

I recently became the owner of a FT-857. I've been using a vertical whip and tuning it each time to get it resonant on the respective operating band. I am looking at some other multi-band wires that would be best to use with a tuner.?

I am hoping to use this radio while portable in the future. What suggestions do folks have on current tuners that are approximately the same footprint/width of the radio for packing purposes??

David
W6RKT
Re: FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

 

Take a look at this



I run it in Linux and can actually connect to the Bluetooth "dongle"
attached to Ft857 serial CAT port. I use "connect serial"...
But that is about it - from there I have to actually access stty and
configure the serial port ( rfcomm0).
I have not figured out how to use "Bluetooth manager" to send just
binary code - not ASCII - to the CAT port...
I am trying to decode source code to convert ASCII to 8 bits binary.....
PS I have not found a single amateur radio application actually using
Bluetooth instead of hardwired cable...
Re: FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

 

Thank you Roger. Will look into it
73s and Regards
Unni
VU2TE

On Wed, Oct 4, 2023 at 7:55?AM Roger Bury <simplex-2@...> wrote:

See attached PDf this may or may not help.

Bought one those dongles and never got around to installing it.

Did save the instructions.

?

73

?

Roger KC7OM

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Easwaran Unni Tharakkal VU2TE
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [FT-857] FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

?

Recently bought a bluetooth rig control dongle through E Bay.? Could not get it configured. Please help.
VU2TE
Unni

Re: FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

See attached PDf this may or may not help.

Bought one those dongles and never got around to installing it.

Did save the instructions.

?

73

?

Roger KC7OM

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Easwaran Unni Tharakkal VU2TE
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 6:35 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [FT-857] FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

?

Recently bought a bluetooth rig control dongle through E Bay.? Could not get it configured. Please help.
VU2TE
Unni

2015 Bluetooth instructions.pdf
2015 Bluetooth instructions.pdf

FT857 and Bluetooh Dongle

 

Recently bought a bluetooth rig control dongle through E Bay.? Could not get it configured. Please help.
VU2TE
Unni
Re: CAT reverse engineered ? #cat

[email protected]
 

Hi
?FT8x7 EEPROM Analyzer is very useful for CAT commands and online user guide is quite helpful.
Thank you.
Re: Loss of CW ?

 

Hey I had the same issue. The 1k resistor on both the dit and dash inputs was destroyed. After replacing it with a regular 1k resistor, keying worked again. There is plenty of space to just solder a big resistor there.
Re: FT-857D forgetting it was in memory mode after being turned off.

 

Replacing the EEROM is one possible fix.
--
Compton
VK2HRX
Sydney, Australia
FT-857D forgetting it was in memory mode after being turned off.

 

I have an older FT-857D that has worked very well since I got it the beginning of this century. In the past few weeks it has started to switch from the memory mode to what ever VFO I last used in VFO mode. Example if I used MEM 003 when I turned it off and had last used VFO A on 50.125 earlier, when I turn off the radio either by the power off button or remove DC (relay connected to ignition with delay timer and surge protection) the radio when powered up again will be on VFO A 50.125 and not on MEM 003 where I left it. At first this was happening when it was off for 2 or 3 days or so then over night and now today about 15 minutes off. I have replaced the Control Head because of the zebra stripes in the LCD about a year ago and the microphone a few months ago (could not find a microphone cord for that mic).
Any ideas as to what it might be? I suspect the memory in the CPU is going out from too many write cycles over the years.
Re: TCXO vs Calibrated dial freq. Was: Re: [FT-857] New Head

 

J.D. is correct Neil, a TCXO won't help correct any frequency error, rather a TCXO is intended to provide frequency stability.? 1 PPM accuracy is about all one can expect with ham grade transceivers, so even with good calibration that could put you noticeably off of the intended frequency on 2 meter USB that wouldn't be noticed on FM.? Just tune to the others before responding and enjoy.? ?The only violation risk is near band edge where one should consider.? Keep in mind that operating USB the dial reading indicates the lower edge of the pass band or signal. Regards, Phil / K4PO
TCXO vs Calibrated dial freq. Was: Re: [FT-857] New Head

 

On 2023.09.17 22:57, Thadius Pigman - K2AMF wrote:

snip

Speaking of the TCXO unit .. the other day someone asked if I could
do some SSB on VHF so I did that and found my transmission was a few
KC away from the rest of the group. My 857 has always been rock solid
(I only use it indoors) but it caused me to investigate a new TCXO and
it looks like it is inexpensive, not difficult to install and actually
fixes something.
73, Neil
Hullo Neil,

I'm pretty certain a TCXO will give one frequency _stability_ (aka dampen or eliminate frequency _drift) vs giving one a calibrated dial.

I work VHF+ contests a fair bit, a so called Weak Signal op. I also hosted a 50 MHz activity for a couple of years which included USB work.

My FT-857D was my first rig to cover 50, 144, and 432 MHz and was used a week ago in the ARRL Sept. VHF Contest on 144 and 432 MHz.

I've noted the same issue you're describing and have never bothered to sit down and calibrate the dial. I might, however not during a contest! I've created few opportunities in between those. I work portable/mobile so would need add'l in-the-car time.

So, two things from that -- Zero Beat, Zero Beat, Zero Beat. What I told our local lads, repeatedly.
Also during a 'test I'll leave one VFO on 144.2 and the other on 432.1 MHz and toggle them. I might stick the adjusted freqs in memory. Maybe.

We might also calibrate the dial.

I also picked up an FT-736 last wknd, which is a rather extreme approach to evolution of the shack. <grin>

So I don't think a TCXO will do that calibration for us, or make much difference at 144 or 432 MHz, let alone 50 MHz. Do I wish frequency stability? Sure, however I believe it's more likely to affect my ops more at 1296 MHz and up.

Have noticeable drift? Try a TCXO. "Off" frequency? Calibrate, whether the dial or the operation.

Cheers, John

PS Before I hit Send I went off to have a look about. A few searches in turned up, and as well as other very interesting stuff, this:



73
--
J. D. Erskine
VE7MHI VA7OTC
CN88hk VA7RCN
Re: New Head

 

I know what you mean John.?? The 857D was my first HF radio and I got it BEFORE I got the General upgrade.? I spent what I thought a lot of time and effort getting ready to test and when I thought about what I could do with the General vs my Tech it was great motivation.

My secret plan (don't let my 857 know) .. is to have that spare/replacement head unit ready to carry on thereby keeping the original head always work clear and clean.?

Speaking of the TCXO unit ..? the other day someone asked if I could do some SSB on VHF so I did that and found my transmission was a few KC away from the rest of the group.? My 857 has always been rock solid (I only use it indoors) but it caused me to investigate a new TCXO and it looks like it is inexpensive, not difficult to install and actually fixes something.

73, Neil
Re: New Head

 

Last time I did the math, 2001 would only be 22 years. ;) Still a long time for electronics though.
--
Leonard K. Pennock (AD7AS)


On September 17, 2023 2:28:23 PM CDT, Thadius Pigman - K2AMF <t.pigman@...> wrote:

It was the same 8 week guess from them when I ordered in July.? The deal is they don't charge your credit card till they ship it so really I did it just because if I COULD get it I would and if I couldn't then I wasn't out anything.

I have read more than one observation about zebra stripes and other display issues with the 857 and they all say it's not IF but more of a WHEN thing.

I wouldn't consider buying a used 857 for that exact reason.?? These guys are already long in the tooth coming out around 2001 I thought I read.? Damn!? that's more than 40 years ago!?? My 857 isn't my main radio in the shack but it sure is for portable use in my RV where the abilities to go all modes (w/SignaLink) and bands make it a great compromise of features and use case.

?

73,
Neil

?
Re: New Head

 

I got my FT857D back in 2005.
It has been in and out of two different vehicles.
At the time it was new to four years old, I lived on the West coast of British Columbia, in Victoria.
This area gets a lot of rain hence the moniker of "The Wet Coast":.
My unit is 18 years old, still going strong, all I have done to it is install a W4RT narrow SSB filter and a Chinese TCXO unit, absolutely nothing else.
Seems I have been very lucky with my unit.
I'm actually debating whether or not to post this just in case I jinx my 857.
Here goes...

John
VE7KKQ


On Sun, Sep 17, 2023 at 1:28?PM Thadius Pigman - K2AMF <t.pigman@...> wrote:

It was the same 8 week guess from them when I ordered in July.? The deal is they don't charge your credit card till they ship it so really I did it just because if I COULD get it I would and if I couldn't then I wasn't out anything.

I have read more than one observation about zebra stripes and other display issues with the 857 and they all say it's not IF but more of a WHEN thing.

I wouldn't consider buying a used 857 for that exact reason.?? These guys are already long in the tooth coming out around 2001 I thought I read.? Damn!? that's more than 40 years ago!?? My 857 isn't my main radio in the shack but it sure is for portable use in my RV where the abilities to go all modes (w/SignaLink) and bands make it a great compromise of features and use case.

?

73,
Neil

?
Re: New Head

 
Edited

It was the same 8 week guess from them when I ordered in July.? The deal is they don't charge your credit card till they ship it so really I did it just because if I COULD get it I would and if I couldn't then I wasn't out anything.

I have read more than one observation about zebra stripes and other display issues with the 857 and they all say it's not IF but more of a WHEN thing.

I wouldn't consider buying a used 857 for that exact reason.?? These guys are already long in the tooth coming out around 2001 I thought I read.? Damn!? that's more than 20 years ago!?? My 857 isn't my main radio in the shack but it sure is for portable use in my RV where the abilities to go all modes (w/SignaLink) and bands make it a great compromise of features and use case.

?

73,
Neil

?
Re: New Head

 

Hi again, Neil

I agree the HRO is a great company to deal with. I was considering ordering one but since they're out of stock at all locations I? was just curious how long a wait I might expect for the backorder. Looks like about 8 weeks.

TNX es 73 de Bill NT1N
Re: New Head

 

Hi Bill

I checked the on line order and it was 13 July.?

The HRO Portland store manager (Bill Eaton | K7WCE?? 800-765-4267) was great!? He kept me in the loop of how things were going and when he expected to get the unit to his store.? He shipped it to me the same day HE got it and double boxed with bubble wrap around the unit, the original Yaesu box and rolled up on either side of the boxed up Yaesu box and sent it off..

NICE!?? He sent it with free shipping and priority mail.?? If you check out the HRO website on the link in the OP you can see some other HRO stores may have them in stock .. they go very fast though.? Since the 857 came out in the early 2000's I doubt these OEM ones will be available much longer but of course I don't know how many Yaesu has/had.

BTW ... I have no financial relationship with HRO other than the transfer of MY money TO them ..haha


73,
Neil
Re: New Head

 

Hi, Neil
Just curious, how long after you placed the order did they ship it out to you?
Bill NT1N
721 - 740 of 54272