That is interesting Peter.

The solder-blob change to the ND version panel unit was a requirement to pass type-acceptance.? Before that, using the software to modify it made it too easy to use the radio in places it was not designed or accepted for.?? I do not believe CB was the issue in this case.? While VFO control of the transmitter is still illegal on CB, I can’t see any free-banding CBer going through the trouble of using an FT-817 on a measly 5-watts when so many other 100W+ radios were available.? OTOH, why do we use the FT-817-series on a measly 5-watts?? Portability!? The FT-817 provides a level of portability that no other SSB-CB radio can match.

Side-note:? I once owned a Belcom LS-202.? That was a 2m-HT.? It worked FM, and SSB!? Someone talked me out of it, and to this day I regret selling it.? And I’ve never seen another.

There were 4 major changes to the FT-817ND.? The software programming was changed to the solder-blob configuration.? The violet back-lighting was added.? The 60m-band was added.? And the final board was improved.? I believe your radio is likely a very rare exception.? If you know, what version did you get?? If you modified it some time ago, you may not remember.? I also wonder if you ever replaced the final board, and if so, was the original the non-ND final?

Long ago I had copies of the Yaesu technical bulletins spelling out the serial number effectivity of the changes.? The change from 817 to 817ND was in lot-30.? I no longer remember how many radios were built in each lot, I only recall is wasn’t an even number that one would expect.? I wonder if you ever tried to decode your serial number totally?

One of the minor difficulties with the USA version of the 817ND was that the USA 60m channels was changed, and CW/digital was also added.? Yaesu made no attempt to correct this in radios already sold.?? However, the free program CHIRP will allow you to edit the 60m frequencies and modes, and I have done so here, adding CW for the two lower channels.? I have considered modifying mine for full 60m coverage for when I visit Europe, but I really cannot recall if I ever made a 60m contact there at all.? I can check that quickly…… NO.? Of the hundreds of contacts I’ve made throughout Europe, not a single 60m contact.? I need to fix that, next visit.

I was talking last night on the local 2m-SSB net.? I was sitting out in the garden using the FT-817ND.? I think there was only one or two stations on the net I could not copy.? Several stations were surprised at how well 5-watts on a rubber duck antenna was doing.? The farthest station I worked was 26 miles away, and the other side of a 7,000+ foot tall mountain.? He mentioned that he had owned an FT-817 several years ago, but sold it.? And hearing me sitting in the garden, he wished he had kept it now.? I told him that in my opinion, 80% ± that sold an FT-817 had bought another within 2 years.? He said it was just about 2 years ago when he sold it, and maybe it was time for another.? We were both laughing about it.

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Mike – KD5KC -- El Paso -- Texas.

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The canyons are calling, colorful and deep.? But I have promises to keep.

And miles to go still in my Jeep...?? And miles to go still in my Jeep...

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ADVENTURE:? The respectful pursuit of trouble.

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