As a reminder, Yaesu shipped the FT-817, FT-817nd, and FT-818 with not only a battery pack, but also an antenna collection (2m, 6m, and 70cm) and shoulder strap. They obviously viewed this as a portable radio which could also be used in a shack.
In that context, defaulting to the front panel BNC makes sense, or, at a minimum, isn't a 'mistake' when considered logically.
The power consumption of the antenna select relay is 20 mA/hr (??), if an operator kept that relay energized for the entirety of their operating session, how much shorter would their operating session be? In un-squelched receive the radio consumed 450 mA, full-power transmit 2,000 mA. In pure, un-squelched RX, it would reduce operating time 20 mA / 450 mA, or about 4.45%. If keying down constantly, 20 mA / 2,000 mA, or about 1%. If we were running constant, worst-case FT8 (15 seconds of RX, then 15 seconds TX, -continuously), then the reduction in operating time would be 20 mA / 1,225 mA, or about 1.6%.
That's a loss of about 1 minute for each anticipated hour of operation.
Is this really something we need to consider as a meaningful "waste" of battery power?
I don't think so, but I understand opinions vary.
/soapbox
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On Oct 17, 2024, at 14:05, Al WB9UVJ <markaren1@...> wrote:
As a reminder, Yaesu designed the radio so that the front connector is the normally closed contact of the relay.? To use the rear connectors, power is supplied to the relay coil.? AS this is the most often used output, Yaesu kind of missed the definition of "low power" since the radio uses more power for the rear connector than the front.
