|
What FT-817 owners wanted was something different, yet the same - size, weight, features, etc. Yaesu instead added a few more years to the life of the FT-817 ecosystem with the very slightly redesigned FT-818 that was *almost* exactly the same as the FT-817, except the TCXO was now included, an additional watt of RF output, and higher-capacity batteries... and what did the user base do? They complained - the new finals use perceptibly more power, the battery life is shorter at full-power, and my 15 year-old FT-817 already has a TCXO! Why would I buy one to replace my trusty 15 year-old radio?
Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different - and now the community is saying "we don't like this new field radio, it's not an FT-817 replacement, it has the wrong shape, it doesn't have this, they left that out, was-waa-waa!"
Yaesu has produced a very interesting new radio - a dual-receiver, 'shack in a box' rig with a lot of the latest features, and people complain about the shape?
Wow.
If NOTHING ELSE, the new field radio should appeal to all those so-called FT-1634 owners who strapped two FT-817s together to have a great satellite radio. (but of course, they complain they can't hang tge new radio around their neck!)
/soapbox
Ken, N2VIP
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 5, 2024, at 21:27, Rudi via groups.io <wa2nub@...> wrote:
This rumor of a new 817 updated replacement has been going around for a decade or more. Thats why the ft818 was such a disappointment, it didn't look like the 'dream' replacement at all.
Wa2nub
|
On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 06:38 AM, Ken N2VIP wrote:
Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially)
the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio
with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different
Surely it was mainly for new hams, new owners?
My query is.
Is it an ASIC based DSP set (low power receive, but design fixed in silicon and high NRE? Or an FPGA based DSP which is much higher power consumpution on receive, but can be updated to fix bugs or change functionality?
It does look more suited to a dashboard than a belt punch. The FT81x series probably isn't much used like a 1950s WS88 (fitted in an amunition pouch with 1.5V + 90V combo battery in a second pouch.
The FT818ND always looked to me like simply a cost reduction and update because some parts were now obsolete or even unavailable. Likely with care any FT817ND can do 6W (a factory setteing), but 5W to 6W is insignificant and I swapped the 1800 mAH pack for a 2700 mAH and then a 2500 mAH (lower self-discharge). Most people don't need the TXCO, which is why it was an option, but those were cheap buy the time the FT818ND came out.
I looked at getting an FT818ND, but decided it was for people without a working FT817ND. Instead I bought an FTdx10 to replace my FT101ZD MkIII, though i'd wanted an FT897 when I had no spare cash. But it was gone and nothing else seemed as attractive. So I got a 20W UHF linear for the FT817 (shack or car) to add to the 20W VHF linear.
The FTX-1F isn't really an FT81x replacement, except in sense that the FTdx10 replaces the FT101 series. I used my FT101ZD mkII (I have the mkIII now with no battery adaptor) on a mountain top (road access) with a generator and also once on 12V. The FTdx10 is more portable & I have an old video projector carry case (like a fat laptop bag) that takes the FTdx10, its accessories and AC-DC PSU or big 12V gel cell. I may get an LiFePO4 pack if I can get mains and car chargers.
I'll wait and read real reviews of the FTX-1F. I'm not interested in video reviews of anything except TV/Movie productions. Videos of old gear working (1920s and later radios, manufacturing, etc) can be interesting, but written reviews and how-tos with photos ar better than video unless it's documentary or entertainment.
|
Hi Mike, ? PLEASE, if you’re going to use acronyms, spell them out the first time you use them unless they are obvious such as SSB, FM or DSP etc. ? For instance, what is ASIC? To me, it’s the Australian Securities and Investments Commission! ? Acronyms can be fine so long as everyone understands what they mean immediately. If not,, they should be defined the first time they are used in your writing. ? 73….Eric VK2VE. ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mike EI9FEB
Sent: Friday, 6 September 2024 19:05
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement? On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 06:38 AM, Ken N2VIP wrote: Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different
Surely it was mainly for new hams, new owners? My query is. Is it an ASIC based DSP set (low power receive, but design fixed in silicon and high NRE? Or an FPGA based DSP which is much higher power consumpution on receive, but can be updated to fix bugs or change functionality? It does look more suited to a dashboard than a belt punch. The FT81x series probably isn't much used like a 1950s WS88 (fitted in an amunition pouch with 1.5V + 90V combo battery in a second pouch. The FT818ND always looked to me like simply a cost reduction and update because some parts were now obsolete or even unavailable. Likely with care any FT817ND can do 6W (a factory setteing), but 5W to 6W is insignificant and I swapped the 1800 mAH pack for a 2700 mAH and then a 2500 mAH (lower self-discharge). Most people don't need the TXCO, which is why it was an option, but those were cheap buy the time the FT818ND came out. I looked at getting an FT818ND, but decided it was for people without a working FT817ND. Instead I bought an FTdx10 to replace my FT101ZD MkIII, though i'd wanted an FT897 when I had no spare cash. But it was gone and nothing else seemed as attractive. So I got a 20W UHF linear for the FT817 (shack or car) to add to the 20W VHF linear. The FTX-1F isn't really an FT81x replacement, except in sense that the FTdx10 replaces the FT101 series. I used my FT101ZD mkII (I have the mkIII now with no battery adaptor) on a mountain top (road access) with a generator and also once on 12V. The FTdx10 is more portable & I have an old video projector carry case (like a fat laptop bag) that takes the FTdx10, its accessories and AC-DC PSU or big 12V gel cell. I may get an LiFePO4 pack if I can get mains and car chargers. I'll wait and read real reviews of the FTX-1F. I'm not interested in video reviews of anything except TV/Movie productions. Videos of old gear working (1920s and later radios, manufacturing, etc) can be interesting, but written reviews and how-tos with photos ar better than video unless it's documentary or entertainment.
|
“If NOTHING ELSE, the new field radio should appeal to all those so-called FT-1634 owners who strapped two FT-817s together to have a great satellite radio. (but of course, they complain they can't hang tge new radio around their neck!)”
It’s not full-duplex, so you’ll still need a FTX-3E for satellite operation. Big missed opportunity for Yaesu after years and years of commentary that a full-duplex small battery powered radio was desired by the amateur satellite community.?
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 01:38 Ken N2VIP < ken@...> wrote: What FT-817 owners wanted was something different, yet the same - size, weight, features, etc. Yaesu instead added a few more years to the life of the FT-817 ecosystem with the very slightly redesigned FT-818 that was *almost* exactly the same as the FT-817, except the TCXO was now included, an additional watt of RF output, and higher-capacity batteries... and what did the user base do? They complained - the new finals use perceptibly more power, the battery life is shorter at full-power, and my 15 year-old FT-817 already has a TCXO! Why would I buy one to replace my trusty 15 year-old radio?
Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different - and now the community is saying "we don't like this new field radio, it's not an FT-817 replacement, it has the wrong shape, it doesn't have this, they left that out, was-waa-waa!"
Yaesu has produced a very interesting new radio - a dual-receiver, 'shack in a box' rig with a lot of the latest features, and people complain about the shape?
Wow.
If NOTHING ELSE, the new field radio should appeal to all those so-called FT-1634 owners who strapped two FT-817s together to have a great satellite radio. (but of course, they complain they can't hang tge new radio around their neck!)
/soapbox
Ken, N2VIP
> On Sep 5, 2024, at 21:27, Rudi via <wa2nub=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> This rumor of a new 817 updated replacement has been going around for a decade or more. Thats why the ft818 was such a disappointment, it didn't look like the 'dream' replacement at all.
> Wa2nub
|
I once went on a training course. The last 21 pages of the pre-read document were definitions of all the acronyms used on the course. By day 4 of the course, the letters of the new acronyms we learned stood for other acronyms we'd learned earlier.
I'm so glad I'm retired now.
73,
John G4EDX
Hi Mike, ? PLEASE, if you’re going to use acronyms, spell them out the first time you use them unless they are obvious such as SSB, FM or DSP etc. ? For instance, what is ASIC? To me, it’s the Australian Securities and Investments Commission! ? Acronyms can be fine so long as everyone understands what they mean immediately. If not,, they should be defined the first time they are used in your writing. ? 73….Eric VK2VE. ? ? On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 06:38 AM, Ken N2VIP wrote: Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different
Surely it was mainly for new hams, new owners? My query is. Is it an ASIC based DSP set (low power receive, but design fixed in silicon and high NRE? Or an FPGA based DSP which is much higher power consumpution on receive, but can be updated to fix bugs or change functionality? It does look more suited to a dashboard than a belt punch. The FT81x series probably isn't much used like a 1950s WS88 (fitted in an amunition pouch with 1.5V + 90V combo battery in a second pouch. The FT818ND always looked to me like simply a cost reduction and update because some parts were now obsolete or even unavailable. Likely with care any FT817ND can do 6W (a factory setteing), but 5W to 6W is insignificant and I swapped the 1800 mAH pack for a 2700 mAH and then a 2500 mAH (lower self-discharge). Most people don't need the TXCO, which is why it was an option, but those were cheap buy the time the FT818ND came out. I looked at getting an FT818ND, but decided it was for people without a working FT817ND. Instead I bought an FTdx10 to replace my FT101ZD MkIII, though i'd wanted an FT897 when I had no spare cash. But it was gone and nothing else seemed as attractive. So I got a 20W UHF linear for the FT817 (shack or car) to add to the 20W VHF linear. The FTX-1F isn't really an FT81x replacement, except in sense that the FTdx10 replaces the FT101 series. I used my FT101ZD mkII (I have the mkIII now with no battery adaptor) on a mountain top (road access) with a generator and also once on 12V. The FTdx10 is more portable & I have an old video projector carry case (like a fat laptop bag) that takes the FTdx10, its accessories and AC-DC PSU or big 12V gel cell. I may get an LiFePO4 pack if I can get mains and car chargers. I'll wait and read real reviews of the FTX-1F. I'm not interested in video reviews of anything except TV/Movie productions. Videos of old gear working (1920s and later radios, manufacturing, etc) can be interesting, but written reviews and how-tos with photos ar better than video unless it's documentary or entertainment.
|
Well said, Ken.
The FT-817 is a 25 years old design, based on a much older
architecture. The FT-818 was a bit of industrial CPR to keep a
very useful radio going as long as possible, because lots of
bits—components—are just not made any more. It's not just Collins
no longer making mechanical filters. And why would they? Far
better performance is available from digital filters, properly
designed. The FT-817 was introduced in 2000. inflation from 2000
to 2024 of USD or GBP is around 1.84. The cost of an FT-817ND from
2006 with SSB filter and DSP fitted, inflation adjusted to 2024,
is just over ?1050.
The FTX-1F has a different form factor. It's just as well, even
with good eyesight the 817/818 display was tiny. The so-called
spectrum scope is, well, the best that could be done dirt cheap.
As for adding the necessary bits for data of one form or another,
with CAT control, that's two mini-DIN plugs required. Modern kit
should have Ethernet connections, whether through RJ-45, Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, or USB for simplicity of interfacing. Fewer cables
equals more fun! There's a lot more that could be said, but in
essence with a new design us Radio Amateurs, and the
manufacturers, take full advantage of Moore's law over the past 25
years or so. In short, the design, good though it once was, is now
archaic.
One is far too polite to ask if anyone still uses a spark
transmitter, or keeps their favourite grandparent's 4H pencil in
their top pocket to draw grid-leak resistors on the breadboard!
[Not to say that heritage kit shouldn't be kept alive, or enjoyed
occasionally.] As for manufacturing an FT-818, with the market
cost of the BOM (bill of materials) plus the necessary overhead
and mark-up costs to encourage dealers to stock such radios, to
say nothing of the market competition reducing demand—one might
need some heritage beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, to
contemplate it.
Well done Yaesu,
Robin, G8DQX
P.S. IIRC, the biggest demand for the 817/818 came from Japan,
for a specific limited licence class who needed a constrained
radio. The export market was a bonus. But once one manufacturer
broke ranks—the Icom IC-705—then Yaesu had little option but to
follow and try to do it better!
On 06/09/2024 06:38, Ken N2VIP wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Yaesu has produced a very interesting new radio - a dual-receiver, 'shack in a box' rig with a lot of the latest features, and people complain about the shape?
|
Application Specific Integrated Controller. ASIC Steve VK2ARS
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message -------- From: Eric van de Weyer <groups.io@...> Date: 6/9/24 20:15 (GMT+10:00) Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement
Hi Mike, ? PLEASE, if you’re going to use acronyms, spell them out the first time you use them unless they are obvious such as SSB, FM or DSP etc. ? For instance, what is ASIC? To me, it’s the Australian Securities and Investments Commission! ? Acronyms can be fine so long as everyone understands what they mean immediately. If not,, they should be defined the first time they are used in your writing. ? 73….Eric VK2VE. ? ? On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 06:38 AM, Ken N2VIP wrote: Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different
Surely it was mainly for new hams, new owners? My query is. Is it an ASIC based DSP set (low power receive, but design fixed in silicon and high NRE? Or an FPGA based DSP which is much higher power consumpution on receive, but can be updated to fix bugs or change functionality? It does look more suited to a dashboard than a belt punch. The FT81x series probably isn't much used like a 1950s WS88 (fitted in an amunition pouch with 1.5V + 90V combo battery in a second pouch. The FT818ND always looked to me like simply a cost reduction and update because some parts were now obsolete or even unavailable. Likely with care any FT817ND can do 6W (a factory setteing), but 5W to 6W is insignificant and I swapped the 1800 mAH pack for a 2700 mAH and then a 2500 mAH (lower self-discharge). Most people don't need the TXCO, which is why it was an option, but those were cheap buy the time the FT818ND came out. I looked at getting an FT818ND, but decided it was for people without a working FT817ND. Instead I bought an FTdx10 to replace my FT101ZD MkIII, though i'd wanted an FT897 when I had no spare cash. But it was gone and nothing else seemed as attractive. So I got a 20W UHF linear for the FT817 (shack or car) to add to the 20W VHF linear. The FTX-1F isn't really an FT81x replacement, except in sense that the FTdx10 replaces the FT101 series. I used my FT101ZD mkII (I have the mkIII now with no battery adaptor) on a mountain top (road access) with a generator and also once on 12V. The FTdx10 is more portable & I have an old video projector carry case (like a fat laptop bag) that takes the FTdx10, its accessories and AC-DC PSU or big 12V gel cell. I may get an LiFePO4 pack if I can get mains and car chargers. I'll wait and read real reviews of the FTX-1F. I'm not interested in video reviews of anything except TV/Movie productions. Videos of old gear working (1920s and later radios, manufacturing, etc) can be interesting, but written reviews and how-tos with photos ar better than video unless it's documentary or entertainment.
|
Application Specific Integrated Circuit, if we're
being particular.
Greg? KO6TH
tomsdad97 via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Application Specific Integrated Controller.
ASIC
Steve VK2ARS
|
Thank you for saying what needed to be said, Ken!
The negativity, shortsightedness, and lack of gratitude around here
lately has been increasingly unpleasant.
I wish Yaesu all the best with their new offering and am glad
they're still in the game.
73, Jeff WN1MB
On 9/6/24 01:38, Ken N2VIP wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
What FT-817 owners wanted was something different, yet the same - size,
weight, features, etc. Yaesu instead added a few more years to the life
of the FT-817 ecosystem with the very slightly redesigned FT-818 that
was *almost*
exactly the same as the FT-817, except the TCXO was now included, an
additional watt of RF output, and higher-capacity batteries... and what
did the user base do? They complained - the new finals use perceptibly
more power, the battery life is shorter at full-power, and my 15
year-old FT-817 already has a TCXO! Why would I buy one to replace my
trusty 15 year-old radio?
Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out
(essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to
buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they
wanted something different - and now the community is saying "we don't
like this new field radio, it's not an FT-817 replacement, it has the
wrong shape, it doesn't have this, they left that out, was-waa-waa!"
Yaesu has produced a very interesting new radio - a dual-receiver,
'shack in a box' rig with a lot of the latest features, and people
complain about the shape?
Wow.
If NOTHING ELSE, the new field radio should appeal to all those
so-called FT-1634 owners who strapped two FT-817s together to have a
great satellite radio. (but of course, they complain they can't hang tge
new radio around their neck!)
/soapbox
Ken, N2VIP
|
I like that it has a more modern chassis. The trend for faceplate on a slab form factors is well established by icom with the 705, elecraft with kx2 and kx3, and the tx-599.
So far as features, I would rather they leave something out than cram it in poorly implemented.
I am most pleased that it looks like a miniature of my ft-710, hopefully I won't feel like I am starting from scratch learning buttons and menus.
I'll probably keep my 817nd for a good while, it will be perfect if the 8 year old shows interest in a few years. Or like K4SWL it may live in a pouch in my car.
Thank you for saying what needed to be said, Ken!
The negativity, shortsightedness, and lack of gratitude around here
lately has been increasingly unpleasant.
I wish Yaesu all the best with their new offering and am glad
they're still in the game.
73, Jeff WN1MB
On 9/6/24 01:38, Ken N2VIP wrote:
What FT-817 owners wanted was something different, yet the same - size,
weight, features, etc. Yaesu instead added a few more years to the life
of the FT-817 ecosystem with the very slightly redesigned FT-818 that
was *almost*
exactly the same as the FT-817, except the TCXO was now included, an
additional watt of RF output, and higher-capacity batteries... and what
did the user base do? They complained - the new finals use perceptibly
more power, the battery life is shorter at full-power, and my 15
year-old FT-817 already has a TCXO! Why would I buy one to replace my
trusty 15 year-old radio?
Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out
(essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to
buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they
wanted something different - and now the community is saying "we don't
like this new field radio, it's not an FT-817 replacement, it has the
wrong shape, it doesn't have this, they left that out, was-waa-waa!"
Yaesu has produced a very interesting new radio - a dual-receiver,
'shack in a box' rig with a lot of the latest features, and people
complain about the shape?
Wow.
If NOTHING ELSE, the new field radio should appeal to all those
so-called FT-1634 owners who strapped two FT-817s together to have a
great satellite radio. (but of course, they complain they can't hang tge
new radio around their neck!)
/soapbox
Ken, N2VIP
|
On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 11:15 AM, Eric van de Weyer wrote:
For instance, what is ASIC?
Application Specific Integrated Circuit, i.e. a custom part as opposed to a generic FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) for DSP (Digital Signal Processing), or indeed any custom IC replacing a number of generic parts. Pedantically an SDR (Software Defined Radio) relies more on DSP implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) than an FPGA (because it doesn't run software unless it has a CPU core),
These terms are common in radio / communication engineering for over 30 years.
|
G’day Greg,
I wasn’t being particular.
You are correct.
Steve VK2ARS
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: Greg
D
Sent: Saturday, September 7, 2024 1:18 AM
Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement
?
Application
Specific Integrated Circuit, if we're being
particular. Greg? KO6TH
tomsdad97 via groups.io wrote:
Application Specific Integrated Controller.
ASIC
Steve VK2ARS
?
|
Thanks, Steve. I would never have guessed that one. ? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of tomsdad97
Sent: Friday, 6 September 2024 21:25
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement? Application Specific Integrated Controller. -------- Original message -------- Date: 6/9/24 20:15 (GMT+10:00) Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement Hi Mike, ? PLEASE, if you’re going to use acronyms, spell them out the first time you use them unless they are obvious such as SSB, FM or DSP etc. ? For instance, what is ASIC? To me, it’s the Australian Securities and Investments Commission! ? Acronyms can be fine so long as everyone understands what they mean immediately. If not,, they should be defined the first time they are used in your writing. ? 73….Eric VK2VE. ? ? On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 06:38 AM, Ken N2VIP wrote: Lost on them was the reality of what Yaesu did - they put out (essentially) the same radio to give FT-817 owners one last chance to buy an FT-817 radio with a 3 year warranty, and the community said they wanted something different
Surely it was mainly for new hams, new owners? My query is. Is it an ASIC based DSP set (low power receive, but design fixed in silicon and high NRE? Or an FPGA based DSP which is much higher power consumpution on receive, but can be updated to fix bugs or change functionality? It does look more suited to a dashboard than a belt punch. The FT81x series probably isn't much used like a 1950s WS88 (fitted in an amunition pouch with 1.5V + 90V combo battery in a second pouch. The FT818ND always looked to me like simply a cost reduction and update because some parts were now obsolete or even unavailable. Likely with care any FT817ND can do 6W (a factory setteing), but 5W to 6W is insignificant and I swapped the 1800 mAH pack for a 2700 mAH and then a 2500 mAH (lower self-discharge). Most people don't need the TXCO, which is why it was an option, but those were cheap buy the time the FT818ND came out. I looked at getting an FT818ND, but decided it was for people without a working FT817ND. Instead I bought an FTdx10 to replace my FT101ZD MkIII, though i'd wanted an FT897 when I had no spare cash. But it was gone and nothing else seemed as attractive. So I got a 20W UHF linear for the FT817 (shack or car) to add to the 20W VHF linear. The FTX-1F isn't really an FT81x replacement, except in sense that the FTdx10 replaces the FT101 series. I used my FT101ZD mkII (I have the mkIII now with no battery adaptor) on a mountain top (road access) with a generator and also once on 12V. The FTdx10 is more portable & I have an old video projector carry case (like a fat laptop bag) that takes the FTdx10, its accessories and AC-DC PSU or big 12V gel cell. I may get an LiFePO4 pack if I can get mains and car chargers. I'll wait and read real reviews of the FTX-1F. I'm not interested in video reviews of anything except TV/Movie productions. Videos of old gear working (1920s and later radios, manufacturing, etc) can be interesting, but written reviews and how-tos with photos ar better than video unless it's documentary or entertainment.
|
Thanks, Mike. ? 73….Eric VK2VE. ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mike EI9FEB
Sent: Saturday, 7 September 2024 18:33
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ft817] FT-817 Replacement? On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 11:15 AM, Eric van de Weyer wrote: For instance, what is ASIC? Application Specific Integrated Circuit, i.e. a custom part as opposed to a generic FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) for DSP (Digital Signal Processing), or indeed any custom IC replacing a number of generic parts. Pedantically an SDR (Software Defined Radio) relies more on DSP implemented by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) than an FPGA (because it doesn't run software unless it has a CPU core),
These terms are common in radio / communication engineering for over 30 years.
|
The form factor as been around since WW2 (WS32 rigs?), Midland Chicken Banders,
Yaesu with the original FT290 etc from the early 80's and ending with the FT818.
?
A tried and tested format, easy to use, can be easily laid down and remain stable etc.
?
Now we get folk wittering on about the fake new replacement, sorry I'm still not biting
for that.
?
And for a field radio, it's not even got any ruggedization applied to it.
?
That would at least have been a step in the right direction for a OUTDOOR pursuits
rig.
?
It's not like they don't have experience with this stuff, their HT's have gasket seals etc
and built like nuclear bunkers.
?
I sure wouldn't wanna be /P in the English rain with this fake news replacement ;-)
?
73 de Andy
?
?
|
The FT-817/818 was an amazing collection of features and compromises, it's very unlikely it will be repeated any time soon. (As I recall it was a labor of love for one Yaesu Executive, he built the radio he always wanted.)
New technology uses more power than the turn-of-the-century technology in the FT-817/818, so the low-power consumption ship has sailed, for example...
The radios you describe had minimal info to display, so they could get away with minimal front panels (a meter and a seven segment channel display, for example on a CB), but modern radios are expected to have things like band scopes and waterfall displays, something that's all but impossible in the FT-817/818 form-factor.
The IC-705 has a similar shape, and plenty of after-market cages and lids to protect them have come to market, I see no reason the Yaesu after-market vendors won't do the same for the new FTX-1 Field radio.
You are literally rejecting the radio because of its shape, nothing more - amazing.
Tell you what, why not take the radio, it's ATU, and it's battery pack and then get a really big piece of heat shrink tubing and make it the radio you want it to be - a rectangular box with a conventional face... if you did that, I suspect it wouldn't be long before you complain about weight, and once that's addressed, I suspect power consumption will be the next thing you complain about.
Perhaps you just aren't the target market for this new radio?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 7, 2024, at 14:54, Andy Foad via groups.io <andyfoad@...> wrote:
? The form factor as been around since WW2 (WS32 rigs?), Midland Chicken Banders,
Yaesu with the original FT290 etc from the early 80's and ending with the FT818.
?
A tried and tested format, easy to use, can be easily laid down and remain stable etc.
?
Now we get folk wittering on about the fake new replacement, sorry I'm still not biting
for that.
?
And for a field radio, it's not even got any ruggedization applied to it.
?
That would at least have been a step in the right direction for a OUTDOOR pursuits
rig.
?
It's not like they don't have experience with this stuff, their HT's have gasket seals etc
and built like nuclear bunkers.
?
I sure wouldn't wanna be /P in the English rain with this fake news replacement ;-)
?
73 de Andy
?
?
|
I think it looks like a good little radio and I’m quite excited about it.? The aftermarket will come up with protective rails/cages very quickly, in fact I will probably have detailed measurements in the email to my buddy in Portugal within hours of receiving the radio and a prototype on my doorstep three of four days later. Final product within two weeks.? It would have been nice to have in a waterproof variant, but no big deal. I only have one waterproof radio and it was built by Harris and would have cost the GDP of a small island nation. Those sorts of radio are out of reach of most hams and truthfully it’s not a very good ham radio anyway. It’s fine for a military radio or just sitting in one frequency calling CQ Pota. But no vfo function, so not the best.? I’m (as I said) quite excited about this upcoming radio and can’t wait to get one…the trick will be coming up with the money for it.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 7, 2024, at 17:18, Ken N2VIP via groups.io <ken@...> wrote:
? The FT-817/818 was an amazing collection of features and compromises, it's very unlikely it will be repeated any time soon. (As I recall it was a labor of love for one Yaesu Executive, he built the radio he always wanted.)
New technology uses more power than the turn-of-the-century technology in the FT-817/818, so the low-power consumption ship has sailed, for example...
The radios you describe had minimal info to display, so they could get away with minimal front panels (a meter and a seven segment channel display, for example on a CB), but modern radios are expected to have things like band scopes and waterfall displays, something that's all but impossible in the FT-817/818 form-factor.
The IC-705 has a similar shape, and plenty of after-market cages and lids to protect them have come to market, I see no reason the Yaesu after-market vendors won't do the same for the new FTX-1 Field radio.
You are literally rejecting the radio because of its shape, nothing more - amazing.
Tell you what, why not take the radio, it's ATU, and it's battery pack and then get a really big piece of heat shrink tubing and make it the radio you want it to be - a rectangular box with a conventional face... if you did that, I suspect it wouldn't be long before you complain about weight, and once that's addressed, I suspect power consumption will be the next thing you complain about.
Perhaps you just aren't the target market for this new radio? Ken, N2VIP On Sep 7, 2024, at 14:54, Andy Foad via groups.io <andyfoad@...> wrote:
? The form factor as been around since WW2 (WS32 rigs?), Midland Chicken Banders,
Yaesu with the original FT290 etc from the early 80's and ending with the FT818.
?
A tried and tested format, easy to use, can be easily laid down and remain stable etc.
?
Now we get folk wittering on about the fake new replacement, sorry I'm still not biting
for that.
?
And for a field radio, it's not even got any ruggedization applied to it.
?
That would at least have been a step in the right direction for a OUTDOOR pursuits
rig.
?
It's not like they don't have experience with this stuff, their HT's have gasket seals etc
and built like nuclear bunkers.
?
I sure wouldn't wanna be /P in the English rain with this fake news replacement ;-)
?
73 de Andy
?
?
|
Exactly, Let apart what it can['t] do; this radio will be fine mounted on its bracket inside a car, or in a cabin table, probably even finer attached to a laptop. Radios with big touchscreens exposed and shaped like that aren't the kind of thing I like for the outdoor activations, no matter the brand. In this regard it has nothing to do with the KX2, which lies flat. On Saturday, September 07 2024, 12:54:35, Andy Foad via groups.io wrote: A tried and tested format, easy to use, can be easily laid down and remain stable etc.
Now we get folk wittering on about the fake new replacement, sorry I'm still not biting
for that.
And for a field radio, it's not even got any ruggedization applied to it. -- An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. --- Niels Bohr
|
Ahh--- being , "Made in Detroit" born and raised, I always loved the speculation every September when the new cars were "unveiled" and come the Detroit Auto Show 1st week of the year, the concept cars... The entire town was a buzz with comments both good and bad.?
?
That being said.. certain foo-phah's occurred, like the Motor Tend Car of the Year, that not a single unit was built.
?
However, no matter how modern and innovative the auto manufacturers were, the average Joe? still drove/ bought a mid-level auto that fit their needs, not the latest, greatest, can't wait for it under the Christmas tree item.
?
Given the banter expressed here this Sunday morning in Kansas, USA..? I had to comment..?
?
I hand carried a Yaesu FT-101 (30 pounds)? from NY to Shemya Island Alaska Air Force base at the end of the Aleutian Chain, literally so far west it was east.?? That was state of the art then. That was 50 years ago...
?
My point you wonder?
?
To my right as I type is my FT-991A... I think street price on a new one today is $1150 USD.. It has the same bands as FTX-1F, 100 watts adjustable, ( mine goes down to 5 watts on HF)? Weight 9.5 pounds (4.3 kg) and is 9 x 3.2 x 10 inches (229 x 80 x253 mm). All the features except a second receiver..
?
I submit that when the data is compiled regarding the FTX-1F - cost, the wait to buy one. Weight adding an antenna tuner battery and etc..(solar panel, computer, antenna even buying a back pack)... will the total weight and cash outlay be such that perhaps not having the newest fanciest flavor of radio (car) is a real advantage... plus-having a new learning curve to operate all the bells and whistles..
?
And I simply take my FT-991A on the road. As I suspect the weight difference may only be 2 pounds once all is said and done...I suspect the outlay for the FTX-1F will be more as well..
?
Like motorcyclists say, "Chrome won't get you home"
?
Now granted the FT-991A can do 100watts, but die hard QRPers, are rare that have never operated over 5 watts in their lifetime. I haven't used over 100 watts in 40 years...Don't need to. My homebrew antennas make my station.
?
Yes I have a FT-817 that was a Christmas gift in 2001... But these past few years it goes live only 5-8 times a year now... Many time I think I should sell everything but the FT-817 and a set of paddles.. buy a sail boat ...get back to "real ham radio"...
?
ahhhh? someday.... I'm only 75....got plenty of time...
?
Enjoy this fall season and band conditions. After 58 years of being licensed, Amateur radio still sparks a daily enjoyment for me..?? it's so diverse...that is it's allure.
?
Larry W8LM
embarrassed to be an ARRL life member..
Past president 2 terms VFW post 3115 Amateur Radio Club, W?VFW, Wichita, KS.
?
?
|
On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 10:40 AM, Luis Miguel Casta?eda wrote:
Exactly, Let apart what it can['t] do; this radio will be fine mounted on its bracket inside a car, or in a cabin table, probably even finer attached to a laptop. Radios with big touchscreens exposed and shaped like that aren't the kind of thing I like for the outdoor activations, no matter the brand.
Exactly ;-)
?
I have seen the required bracket required to keep it in a useable position,
not good at all. Who wants to carry that extra junk.
?
Bad bad design.
?
73 de Andy
|
Mike EI9FEB
Jeff WN1MB
Kevin - K5KTM
Larry Macionski