b b

#108495

good to see the move... long-time ft817 user (just sold my two old ones), and now using an ft-818 (same rig in many ways, just slightly updated)...

i've been trying to get rid of my boat anchors, and have for the most part... now using some more modern SDRs, but just can't leave the ft-81X form factor...

it is quite remarkable that after nearly 20 years, no manufacturer has come up with a rig to match it...

and still no NOAA WX - LOL! (but that's OK, as maritime HF WX-fax works FB)

bill, kg4zqz

#108501

开云体育

I didn’t know that there was an”818”? thanks for the heads up….

Gig? N2gig

?

Show quoted text

From: ft817@groups.io <ft817@groups.io> On Behalf Of b b via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2019 06:53
To: ft817@groups.io
Subject: [ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user

?

good to see the move... long-time ft817 user (just sold my two old ones), and now using an ft-818 (same rig in many ways, just slightly updated)...

i've been trying to get rid of my boat anchors, and have for the most part... now using some more modern SDRs, but just can't leave the ft-81X form factor...

it is quite remarkable that after nearly 20 years, no manufacturer has come up with a rig to match it...

and still no NOAA WX - LOL! (but that's OK, as maritime HF WX-fax works FB)

bill, kg4zqz

Mike Olbrisch

#108510

Bill, the 818 was a big nothing burger.? It was mostly because some of the parts in the 817 became unobtanium.? The specs are pretty much the same.? They did include a better battery, but still not as good as the after-market batteries available.? They now include the TCXO-9, but increased the price to reflect that addition.? Unless you are running transverters at micro-wave freqs. the TCXO-9 really isn't necessary.

All the hype preceding the actual release was amusing.? I imagine some were totally let down after the release? I didn't let myself get carried away, "wait and see" was my thought.

In my opinion, the 818 is worse than the 817.? They added a 6-watt high power.? Do the math and you'll see the difference between 5 and 6 watts is very little on the air.? But it is a 20% increase in battery consumption.? WHY?

Furthermore, to make room for the 6-watt level, they removed the 0.5 watt setting.? This 1/2-watt setting was wonderful for those of us who run transverters.? WHY again?

There are many many many WX radios that will run for days on two AAA-batteries, the 817/818 would be a waste in that respect as the RX consumption was not improved.? My vote is for tighter passbands on 2m and 70cm, better for those of us who do weak-signal V/UNF from noisy mountaintops.? There is no award for worked all pagers.

The more recent news about the pending new ICOM may actually do what the KX3 failed to do, that is to compete with the FT-817 across the board.? Many of us are watching and waiting....? "Wait and see"....

Vy73 -- Mike -- KD5KC.

-----------------------------------------

From: "Gigu chan"
To: ft817@groups.io
Cc:
Sent: Thursday November 7 2019 10:15:11AM
Subject: Re: [ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user

I didn’t know that there was an”818”? thanks for the heads up….

Gig? N2gig

?

Show quoted text

From: ft817@groups.io <ft817@groupsio> On Behalf Of b b via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2019 06:53
To: ft817@groups.io
Subject: [ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user

?

good to see the move... long-time ft817 user (just sold my two old ones), and now using an ft-818 (same rig in many ways, just slightly updated)...

i've been trying to get rid of my boat anchors, and have for the most part... now using some more modern SDRs, but just can't leave the ft-81X form factor...

it is quite remarkable that after nearly 20 years, no manufacturer has come up with a rig to match it...

and still no NOAA WX - LOL! (but that's OK, as maritime HF WX-fax works FB)

bill, kg4zqz

Bo W4GHV

#108531

The power output is just a software setting. Mine is set for 10 watts. No problem.

Works fine on 50% duty cycle FT8, CW, & SSB. ? NOT on the 2 minute WSPR or JS8CALL tho.

? Cute heatsink added for looks.?
The free FT-commander allows easy access. A little Googling gives some guidance.?
73, Bo W4GHV since '54

#108533

开云体育

Agreed Re: RX Power consumption … I regularly see 385 mA draw on receive for my FT-817ND. ?

For my MTR-3B, which is bare bones (no display, 40-30-20m, and CW only), I see 18 mA draw on receive (with 13 V). ??

I like them both and enjoy operating both, but I do lug a bigger battery with the 817 than I do with my MTR-3B for similar operating time in the field. ?I use the 817 much more for longer stints out operating from one location or when I want any of the other bands/features the MTR lacks. ?I tend to use the MTR when I am on the go hiking and want to pause for half an hour somewhere to scare up a QSO or two. ?

Each are optimized for different objectives; one of the MTR’s is power efficiency. ?Power efficiency clearly wasn’t a design objective for the 817; but it is a great one box solution for 160m - 70m all mode.

Like many QRPers, I passed on the 818. ?Watching the IC-705 with interest …?

Show quoted text

On Nov 7, 2019, at 1:19 PM, Mike Olbrisch <mike-2020@...> wrote:

Bill, the 818 was a big nothing burger.? It was mostly because some of the parts in the 817 became unobtanium.? The specs are pretty much the same.? They did include a better battery, but still not as good as the after-market batteries available.? They now include the TCXO-9, but increased the price to reflect that addition.? Unless you are running transverters at micro-wave freqs. the TCXO-9 really isn't necessary.
All the hype preceding the actual release was amusing.? I imagine some were totally let down after the release? I didn't let myself get carried away, "wait and see" was my thought.
In my opinion, the 818 is worse than the 817.? They added a 6-watt high power.? Do the math and you'll see the difference between 5 and 6 watts is very little on the air.? But it is a 20% increase in battery consumption.? WHY?
Furthermore, to make room for the 6-watt level, they removed the 0.5 watt setting.? This 1/2-watt setting was wonderful for those of us who run transverters.? WHY again?
There are many many many WX radios that will run for days on two AAA-batteries, the 817/818 would be a waste in that respect as the RX consumption was not improved.? My vote is for tighter passbands on 2m and 70cm, better for those of us who do weak-signal V/UNF from noisy mountaintops.? There is no award for worked all pagers.
The more recent news about the pending new ICOM may actually do what the KX3 failed to do, that is to compete with the FT-817 across the board.? Many of us are watching and waiting....? "Wait and see"....
Vy73 -- Mike -- KD5KC.

-----------------------------------------
From: "Gigu chan"?
To:?ft817@groups.io
Cc:?
Sent: Thursday November 7 2019 10:15:11AM
Subject: Re: [ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user

I didn’t know that there was an”818”? thanks for the heads up….
Gig? N2gig
?
From:?ft817@groups.io?<ft817@groupsio>?On Behalf Of?b b via Groups.Io
Sent:?Thursday, November 7, 2019 06:53
To:?ft817@groups.io
Subject:?[ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user
?
good to see the move... long-time ft817 user (just sold my two old ones), and now using an ft-818 (same rig in many ways, just slightly updated)...

i've been trying to get rid of my boat anchors, and have for the most part... now using some more modern SDRs, but just can't leave the ft-81X form factor...

it is quite remarkable that after nearly 20 years, no manufacturer has come up with a rig to match it...

and still no NOAA WX - LOL! (but that's OK, as maritime HF WX-fax works FB)

bill, kg4zqz?

Mike Olbrisch

#108541

开云体育

EXACTLY.? I have an ATS-3B and an ATS-4B, both wonderful radios for what they were designed to be. But 90% of the time I’ll grab the 817 before anything else.

?

If I had to replace one of my two FT-817NDs today, I’d seek out another clean 817, I’d not go with an 818 unless it was my only choice. But perhaps the new ICOM will kill off the 817/818.? Time will tell, so wait and see……

?

In the meantime, it is cold enough here that I’m not going out.? Instead I’m playing with an old FT-101B. JEEP club meeting tonight, dinner will be Mexican before the meeting.

?

Mike – KD5KC -- El Paso -- Texas.

?

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...

?

Big Bend JEEP Rear

?

ADVENTURE:? The respectful pursuit of trouble.

?

Show quoted text

From: ft817@groups.io <ft817@groups.io> On Behalf Of Don Huddler
Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2019 11:39 AM
To: ft817@groups.io
Subject: Re: [ft817] good to see the move - longtime ft817 user

?

Agreed Re: RX Power consumption … I regularly see 385 mA draw on receive for my FT-817ND. ?

?

For my MTR-3B, which is bare bones (no display, 40-30-20m, and CW only), I see 18 mA draw on receive (with 13 V). ??

?

I like them both and enjoy operating both, but I do lug a bigger battery with the 817 than I do with my MTR-3B for similar operating time in the field. ?I use the 817 much more for longer stints out operating from one location or when I want any of the other bands/features the MTR lacks. ?I tend to use the MTR when I am on the go hiking and want to pause for half an hour somewhere to scare up a QSO or two. ?

?

Each are optimized for different objectives; one of the MTR’s is power efficiency. ?Power efficiency clearly wasn’t a design objective for the 817; but it is a great one box solution for 160m - 70m all mode.

?

Like many QRPers, I passed on the 818. ?Watching the IC-705 with interest …?