The Yaesu FT-818 Is The Mazda Miata Of Ham Radio - Let's Mod it! 

For those international hams, the Miata is known as an MX-5

Clicked for the title. Miata is a fantastic, easy to fix, repair, mod, cheap to maintain and run car perfect to huck into corners. I drive an NA miata if not obvious. Absolute compliment if something is referred to as the Miata of X.

Yes, I am offended. (Just messing with you.) I still think that the FT-817/8 is the best SHTF radio. I wish Yaesu would make a 20 watt version with an IP67 rating and a built-in sound card. If I could only have one radio (HT's included), it would be the FT-818ND. Keep up the good work, Josh.

Love mine! Small canvas bag, extra battery and a few wire antennas and it works.

Thanks for this report. I did have the first 817 in 2001 and found it was great as an all purpose portable hf/vhf/uhf transceiver. Then I had the 817ND, and now the 818 version, which I still enjoy. Yes, I have added the feet and rear power connector too. The battery does interest me as you said the stock battery is a bit weak in performance and does self drain. 73 de W2CH Ray, New Hampshire.

Very cool, really enjoyed that video. I love seeing the products/mods that are available for various radios. Thanks for sharing Josh !

Wind camp battery and power pole adapter is a must upgrade for the 817/818. Great video Josh!

Just wanted to say, i love the channel, and I wanted to thank you for your videos on preparing for the exam. I passed my Technician test today and hope to get my callsign in the next couple days if all goes well. I can't wait to get on the air.

I just put the things that come off a radio back in the radio box. I do not throw away the boxes as they are required for warranty repair.

You make some very good and useful points here. I have an 818 and bought it as a returner to the hobby after a hiatus of 30 plus years. The 818 reminded me of my original FT290, so I felt comfortable. I have other rigs too but keep the 818 as my travelling and location radio and because I'm a bit of an old hipster! 73

Hi I have both the FT-817nd and an FT-818 , the 817 has many mods like dual collins filters and the BHI dsp unit, the G4HUN panadapter unit, a TCX09 and a few other goodies that you showed. The 818 had a collins ssb filter, hi capacity battery. I use them all the time and my other big radios sit idle. Thanks for the video Chuck K3ETD

Great video Josh! I had the original 817 and I always hated that power plug. What a PITA it was. Sold mine when I got 705 and KX2.

I have had both the 817 and 818, enjoying them immensely! Sure, my 818 isn't all screen or waterfall, lights and bling. But it's receiver is amazing and the rig is solid Yaesu construction. Thanks for the review, Josh! N7MYW

Thanks a LOT Josh…. I just ordered the wincamp battery setup, and the rear powerpole adapter. Was looking at the adapter the other day but have a battery coming now too. Haha.

Great set of mods Josh. I like the stand - if I may -it's a Pterosaur ("terro-saw") as in the flying dinosaur creatures in Jurassic park! I guess it makes the radio look like one!

Second rig ever, first qrp rig. Threw on the power pole adapter, 3ah bioenno and portable zero rails and took it to the field. After a year I loved qrp and upgraded to the 705. The 818 was a lot of fun and taught me a lot about qrp.

cool vid, haven’t used my 817 since getting the G90 but will be taking it to the field again now.

Love my 818! Side note, the L))) means 5W, if you get the "-" that is 6W. You have to select that.

I have all these mods on my 818 and I love the radio, especially its ruggedness. That said its age is catching up on it from the tech standpoint and my Xeigu X6100 has been my go-to QRP rig all this summer. I'll never sell the 818 as it was the first radio I bought when licensed but now it's my 2m/70cm rig in the shack.

very nice video. here in europe the ft817/818 is very popular in the community by HAMs for satellite communication, specially Es’hail 2 / QO-100, a amateur radio satellite.

I don't have the radio but my friend KB1KVJ does. He absolutely says you should get the compressor. He says set the mic gain to 45 and leave it like that. If you choose not to get the compressor he said set it to 100 on the mic gain as long as you're on the stock mic. I've been on the receiving side of his radio and the compressor makes a world of difference. He's checked into nets who asked what rig he was running and they were blown away when he told him he was running just 6w.

NICE Video!!! just looking into this radio.. Perfect timing...

It is a great radio ,also for learning by adding the mods, instead of buying the latest greatest. And you can be proud what you created. 😊

I got the SOTA Beams version of the rear power adapter with power poles, it took a week to get to me from the U.K. but it was worth it. Great video btw, thanks for making it. 73

I have the CW filter for both of my 817 radios. And you are right, I bought an inrad board and salvaged a Collins filter from another radio.

Great video. I bought an 818 recently mainly because of VHF/UHF capability and did the same battery and power connector mods. The Miata analogy is apt though so too is comparing it to a Toyota Corolla; it does everything okay but isn't too exciting. Small, rugged, and capable. I just wish LDG made a smaller tuner for it. Makes something like the G90 look almost as portable. Still, it's a keeper for me.

I love my 818, and I really have few if any accessories. Small micro straight key, and center 300hz filter (I got it much cheaper a few years ago). That’s all I need. Happy to see more realizing the value and RUGGED qualities of it!

I think the 818 has a place. It’s in your tactikool emp trash can. Rugged and dependable with no need of filtering after the grids down.

I just passed my Technician's class. Listening to your Q&A session helped even though the new test came out in 1 July 2022. Note be sure you have your FCC issued FRN number before you take your test. Thanks Bro!

In the motorcycle world you have the Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Single cylinder, utterly simple and outdated, greatly customizable (thousands of parts and aftermarket supliers). Great analogy on your part -- very informative).

One of the most informative mods videos for my 818nd. Thanks for sharing 🎉73

Great set of mods Joshua thanks 73

Good video Josh, I went the little X5105 used at a ham fest for less than $400 and I am quite pleased with it. I know you had heat issues with both your reviews with the X 90 and the Xiegu X5105 and I am am not experiencing heating issues. 73 KV5P

Josh, your Miata comparison is on point. You see both 817/818s & Miatas that have been “around the block” and are still going strong. . . . Ps; I bought the SSB Collins filter. I’m not sure it was worth it, time will tell. . . Thanks for the review, George N2YTA

The BX-184 voice keyer is also a solid choice for the G90, had one on my G90 and was perfect for it. The instructions have the info for the yaesu, but for anyone whos got a G90, wire exactly as a IC7000 wiring shows in the build guide.

All I can say is that I've had a lot of fun with the 817/818 radios, I would get to the point where I'd feel like I had outgrown it, then miss it and buy another. These little radios get the job done , they don't have desktop bells and whistles, but it doesn't really need them. If you make a good set of antennas and an outboard battery, using patience and perseverance it will bag you contacts. It doesn't do very well in crowded conditions without a filter especially in CW sub-bands but it has surprised me in that area as well. BTW I think that for the power on the 818 - no hash marks is full output power. 73 it's still a keeper for me.

I've owned 8 different Miatas. All were either NA's or NB's except for one NC in the mix. I've raced them, cruised them, long-distance traveled in them, and daily driven them. I still have a 1994 black and tan. I can't see myself ever being without at least one as they are that good of a car. I also have an FT-817. It was my first HF radio that I got at Hamcation for $300. And lo and behold, I can not imagine not having one in my radio collection. They are just that good.

I love my Ft-818, I have done one of your mods, the Wincamp is next.

Good video and info.....Tnx Josh

As I see more and more hams I realize how much of a "ham" I was before I got licensed. Pew-pews, prepping, hoarding little plastic boxes (I have an addiction to tiny zip-lock baggies) and saving every part I get my hands on.

Ft-817 + the Collins narrow filter for cw...fantastic morse machine!

Great comparison to the NA/NB. My 817ND is maxed out on mods including the DSP & Mechanical filters as is my Supercharged 2001SE...Time for a new project...

Got my 817 for a steal but then added about $200 of accessories to it. Just got the DVK mic running and yes it will be a big help for POTA activation.

Did not see stain till you pointed it out...lol. good vid!

I use a FT-2200 for 2 meter. Love it!

I like to think of the 817/818 as more of the Swiss Army Knife of radios. Does everything well enough but not the best at any one thing. My 818 is on the air daily and is stock except for the Portable Zero escort. I still don't feel the need for any extras after all the use and many contacts it has seen. Like a car though, I guess it's fun to trick out but not necessary. Enjoyed the video.

Great vid, Josh. Am thinking of getting a FT-818 as a radio for prepping as for a bugging out radio. Also, could you do a vid on the FT-450D as that will be for my base station.

I had one of these for my first portable hf radio I miss it for its small size and weight.

I have the same mods on my 818...great upgrades.

Great video. Wish I could get my hands on an 857. In my opinion it’s the best SHTF / POTA / SOTA radio ever made. I just picked up an 817ND but if I ever find an 857 I’ll scoop it up in a heart beat.

Like any radio, The compressor is useful when you’re down in the noise. I have one for my 818 and use it all the time. SOTA or satellite ops, it comes in handy. I’m usually a S unit stronger with it switched on. Just get it josh

People will hate this, so the 817/818 is the Glock of Ham Radio! Nice, sold!

Hello, I enjoyed your video but have a few comments that apply to the FT-817 and FT-817ND. I assume they probably apply to the FT-818. W4RT (also now defunct) at one time made a dual filter board for the FT-817 that contained both CW and SSB filters. I had one in my previous FT-817 but sold that radio. The filters worked well. If you use the outboard speech processor be sure to adjust it according to the instructions. It will pump up the average talk power which you can observe even on an average-power reading watt meter. If you're running the radio off external power at 13V, the final transistor heat sink on the back of the radio will get hot when using the speech processor. Not just warm, but hot (at least mind does). I bought a gadget which will reduce a 12v or 13v power source down to 9 volts. The radio will produce full output at 9 volts, and running it at the lower voltage also reduces current consumption a bit, and also causes the radio to run a bit cooler. One other worthy modification might be the BHI noise reduction board. It fits inside the radio and seems to work well but you have to perform some surgery on the radio to install it. Even today, with all it's omissions of now-standard features (no noise reduction, no speech processor, no internal antenna tuner, etc.) the FT-817/FT-818 are still the only QRP radios (other than the IC-705) that I can think of that work all HF bands including 60 meters, plus six meters, two meters, and UHF. Really quite a feat considering the design is 20 years old. 73, Mike - WB4HUC

Thanks Josh!!

Awesome radio, the fact people are still talking about it 22 years later positively is all you need to know. If you want a new one go out and buy one while stocks last because sadly it as been discontinued due to severe parts shortages at Yaesu.

Great radio! 🤝😎

This is a really good take I think. A lot of people dog on the ft 818 for not having "a full feature set" but it's not supposed to be top of the line full feature radio.

The SOTA compressor is a great option, just remember to turn it off when using VHF, your friends will let you know if you forget:-(. I also bought the SOTA Wolfwave. Great DSP, why you ask, it works on all radios, I have a few vintage sets the oldest being my FT101E. Good investment to upgrade a range of vintage / Classic equipment. Also for the SW listeners. 73,s

Yes! Great analogy

Good comments - I had high hopes for the 818 that they would maybe shoehorn a micro tuner into it which would have made it to nearly KX2 territory. I have 2 817's and they have been great radios but for a rig that's been out for 20 years, they should have been able to do a little enhancement rather than stamp out a nearly identical radio again.

I suppose that although one can spend as much or more upgrading this radio as buying an IC-705 or something similar, a person on a budget can do so incrementally. But your video is a good analogy. Another one is the “small block Chevy” moniker.

Yes get the SOTABeams compressor! Definitely makes a difference! I did a video showing the output signal waveform and it adds some punch! 73 de K2CJB

Ham Radio Crash Course . Josh> i would of thought you would of put some dielectric grace on the windgap plug adapter to help protect the original contact as well as its own on the windgap .also bubble gum plastic boxes work very nice as well for case, give the gum to the kids and keep the cses win win :)

Hi Josh, liked your video, but i think the focus should be on getting new HAMs getting their iron instead of buying of the shelf. And this radio is great to do so. A more deepdive on these internal mods would be great for new HAMs with rather low budget. They learn, and have fun!!. That,s what i missed in this video. But again i always respect each opinion. I still like yr channel. Greetz Pa1ant

I Enjoyed the video!

It's almost as bad as having your first Jeep ! Just Empty Every Pocket ! I am in the process of building mine. Added TCXO filter, Collins Filter, BHI DSP, SOTABEAMS Speech Compressor, Aluminum Side rails, Tuning Knob Spinner, Anderson Power Pole Adapter, build my own LiPoFe4 battery packs, Genasun Solar Charge Controller with PowerFilm Portable Solar Panels, LDG ATU with Spider strap to piggy back on top. Signalink USB, Cat display, MS SurfaceGo2, custom backpack and getting the voice keyer next ! I have several VHF/UHF antennas for the front, and a HyEndFed EFHW as well as the Chameleon Mag Loop 3.0 and getting the CHA MPAS Lite to round out my antennae. I even have a Mtek Router. Actually have two different laptops, The SurfaceGo2 and the older Toughbook ! I also have two nice Lambda Paddles ! Poor boy's Cadillac, a little bit at a time ! Getting ready to build a solar generator and a 12v Fused Distribution Center w/8 Power Poles, volt meter and 3 USB ports, one 5A for charging laptops and two smaller 2A for phones, etc. I'm also planning on getting a FT-891 to back up the QRP with QRO will be building bigger batteries for it ! This is going to double as my ham base station for now !

How difficult to deal with is the stock battery? One advantage it has over a larger capacity lithium battery is it won't deform (and become damaged) in high heat situations. Depending on where you are, you may have temperatures >100 F inside your car during the summer, which could be quite bad. Excellent video as always!

1994 a dealership in warren ohio had a "Monster Miata 5.0" wish i could find pics of it but it was sweeeeet

Got an FT817ND as a present and I'd never part with it EVER! Love QRP - Done most of the mods except legs, I opted for full protection rails. The voice keyer and speech compressor both are a huge help and improvement. Also did the filter Module but had someone fit it for me LOL.. By the way the plug on the Windcamp battery pack is not a UK plug I think it possible France / Gemmary? ; Also the RF power output can be selected by quick pressing button A - this selects power levels, full power is LIII flashing. Love ya vids bro. 73.

Good breakdown Josh. Its definitely a Nostalgia buy.73 Volkswagen 😁🚗

Nice overview of the 817/818. I like Yaesu radios, but I'm not sure that I would pay this money for a QRP radio. You mentioned Collins at 21:18. Note that Collins is now Collins Aerospace. I am a proud employee of the simulation division. Collins does not make any amateur radio products these days, but we have equipment on almost all commercial aircraft and many military aircraft. There are offices in many major cities with consistent employment opportunities. Sorry if this sounds like a advertisement for the company. Just wanted to let people know that we're alive and well. 73 Jim N4FAF

If one has a 3D printer....two of those mods are avilable to 3d print thus save some money. They are not exactly the same but very close. I printed the Anderson power pole adapter two or three years ago. It was a little more work than the one you purchased but works fine. I have an 817 that that I bought back during the ice age....I am really old. I also printed some side protectors...different style...but just looked and there is one that appears to have folding feet. Always am interested in 817/818 related videos. Not so much interested in the Miata which I thought was a Karate instuctor. HI HI....

when you keep old pieces, remember to write down what it is. i like green painters tape and a sharpie, the tape comes off easier than any other if you reuse the bag.

The Miata has always been valued in autocross and other motor sports as one of the best sports cars ever, even when those not in the know thought it “girly”. It even spawned its own recognized racing class, Spec Miata, under the SCCA starting in 1999. So not offended at all!

If you haven't pulled the trigger on the SB speech compressor, Chris from K2CJB radio has one for his 817, and loves it.

Regards additional inline speech compressor they make all the difference with the 817/818 they can suffer from RF feedback the case around the compressor isn't screened, I've found a metal project box for mine solved that problem (use the mic lead ground on the project box) re VHF UHF switch it off when changing mode's from SSB to FM .

You don’t have to explain. The 817, 818 is a true ham radio. It can communicate via CW, SSB, and other esoteric modes, all bands, etc. In other words it can “make contacts” which to me is basic ham radio. All the fancy screens and super filters may (I say “may” if you know how to use them) make it easier to make a contact and can be bragging points, but even the fancy tricked out rigs just make contacts. That’s what they are for. I have had an 817 for 20 years or more and it’s all tricked out with the W4RT add ons except the higher capacity battery. I still love and use it. But my full Elecraft stable of rigs do the same things, make contacts. For years I drove a 1987 VW Vanagon camper and we also had a nice shiny Cadillac and a fancy climb over anything Jeep. They all did the same thing, take us somewhere in the style that we enjoyed. Right now I am building a Pixie xcvr and having fun doing that. It too will make contacts. Those that may be irritated by your statement are just thin skinned. But those if us who have or may have had an 817 or 818 had fun, and that is what a hobby should do. Another point! Look at all the neat things VK3YE has done with an old beat up sand filled 817. How many of the new rigs would stand up to the punishment of the beach that his old 817 has done? I doubt my Elecraft rigs or even my Yaesu rigs would. So, comparing an 817 to a Miata would in my estimation be a complement of sorts. My only concern about the Miata (and I have ridden in a few) would be the outcome if it were involved in an accident. I can drop my 817 (and I have) and it still works and does what I bought it for, make contacts. Dave K8WPE since 1960

I inherited a 817nd, so with just a few hundred dollars I can can get my cool old radio near to IC705 capability, awesome!

Dunno if the 818 is the same, but on my 817 ANY time the the L with the waves is up, you’re less than full power. There is a setting to enable full power in the function menu and the L with waves will disappear completely. May want to check that as the bienno on the power poles should have been able to enable that, but won’t until you button through the menu. You may have been working at 3 watts or less so even more QRP than normal if you’ve only ever seen those waves. Edit: yes, found it on pg. 13 of the manual, function 9A. Should be L1, L2, L3, and high. With the levels being 1 watt, 2.5 watts, 5 watts (L3 is same as high on 817ND), and 6 watts on high.

I got an 817ND at a cheaper price just before the 818 came out. I'm happy with it. It does everything I want. I don't want gimmicky features. If you think these series of radios are outdated you should see my homebrew one. No feet on mine, I simply prop it up on a piece of bent aluminium. I made a case for it out of leather. I cut down a piece of heastsink and screwed it on the earth terminal and in contact with the aluminium case for extra cooling. Keep those p.a. transistors cool! For a c.w. filter I tried an HC6U 455 kHz xtal then when I knew it worked I soldered it in position. It works fine. G4GHB

I stuck with the standard power connector for fear that I'd get confused with my 25 amp power cords. Using an external battery and put the double AA tray in the radio for backup...

I have had the 817nd for years. I dislike the mike not having a keypad to type in freq. I use chirp but sometimes in the field I do not have my puter. I currently use a Rubber Door Stop costing me about $2 to angle the front up. They come is different heights.

Page 25 of the FT-818nd manual: 3 'waves' for the power level => RF poutput is max 5Watt. No 'wave' for power level => 6Watt RF output. Only when connectes to a 13Volt power supply.

As a new ham 817 owner, I was ecstatic to see you use the 818 for POTA. Getting a whole mod vid feels like Xmas came early!!! Then you called it a "girl's" radio (indirectly) and I knew I died and went to heaven lol More QRP for poor/beginner hams!!!

Hey Jash Small Goff, the power indicator bar, when there are no bars that indicates full power.

They are good radios. All band. All mode. Talk to the world. If you like emailing pictures, you might choose something else. I love mine.

More please!!

Just my 2c worth on power connectors...I fitted a Power Pole adapter to my 817nd but have subsequently removed it. Why? Because I felt it was putting a strain on the power connector inside the radio, also I have several other radios that use the same connector as the original one that came with the radio (FT-60, FT-70D) and I find it more convenient to just have the one type of plug, especially when out in the car as I can use the Yaesu cigarette lighter adapter. Finally, some users have commented that having something plugged in to the power connector all the time discharges the internal battery, this seemed to be the case with my 817nd as well but has stopped happening now I have removed the adapter. I concur with all the other stuff, compressor, filters etc. are all worth having. 73, G0CIQ

I own a 818nd and love it, shack in a box.

Can you charge the Windcamp battery while still in the 818, or do you have to disconnect and remove it for charging? That little white battery connector is a pain to disconnect without pulling out some wires.

Hi Josh! There is a brand of "quasi-Collins" narrow-band filters assembled in China using a filter made in Japan by a company named Murata. You should find them quite easily on Ebay. These are not the same as the original filters at all - the original Collins filter is 2.0 kHz wide, whereas the Murata model is wider at 2.7 kHz. I bought a Murata one a few years ago before prices went bananas, and I have to say that it makes a measurable difference with CW. I wish it could be narrower, but even at 2.7 kHz you can differentiate stations far easier during a CW pile-up than you would be able to without it. Would I recommend it? Nope, I don' t think so - rather go for the Sotabeams DSP filter board, and find somebody with the soldering chops to help you install it if you don' t want to do it yourself. It's far cheaper, and also works well for SSB. And yes, they are not made from unobtainium... :-) 73, Jan (M7HNK)

Get the bhi dsp module. It will blow your mind.

Just a clarification about the power icon L and the "waves" as you call them. You switch between the power levels using FN PWR setting. On the FT-817 1 bar (L|) is 0.5 watts, 2 bars (L||) is 1 watt and 3 bars (L|||) is 2.5 watts. If the icon isn't showing, it's full 5 watts output. If the icon is blinking the voltage is below 11.5 volts. Using the stock battery this usually ment that you wouldn't get full transmit power - but it will try.

I might have to dig into the 818 a little more

Lol... You offended me as a Chevy guy. J/K, I got the analogy the Miata was a fun car/platform to build on, and you know that I'm a huge fan of the FT-817. It is still my SOTA rig of choice. Great video Josh... 😎👍

I had a BMW Z3 instead of a Miata, does this mean I should get a X6100? (going to grab an 818 actually because I want the VHF/UHF with my QRP rig. Also the 705 is a little bit big for day hiking, which is what I want to use this for.)

radio: 600 compressor: 50 battery pack: 50 voice keyer: 50 ATU: 100 audio interface: 100 add two more things and you will have off the shelf radio that has it all in a single box. No cables, no separate power no incompatibility just works. Modding is great but that was fun 20 years ago, now when those functions are standard modding of FT818/817 feels like adding seatbelts to a car that doesn't have them - it is a "must do" that costs the same as a difference in value or more.

my 817 is modified, 1.8 to 56mhz, 130 to 156 iirc and 400 to 470mhz. lipo battery and some other mods too.

I owned two Mazda Miatas (they are named MX-5 here in Europe) some 20 years ago and I loved them! Still do, to be honest.There was one thing I always tried to explain to people complaining about the disadvantages of that car: it's perfect - if you get yourself adjusted to it. No compromise. You will love it, if you accept that. The Japanese compared the Maita to Ninja swords. Perfectly weighted and balanced. They sure are. But if your hands are two bis or two small for that sword - walk on and get another one. Or if one thinks it that perfect sword might be the right choice to join a "Mexican Stand-Off" with guns, you chose the wrong weapon. And you don't understand the Miatas if you are complaining about head room, luggage space or missing four cylinders to that Corvette you are dreaming of. Now I own a FT-817 since a feg months and I get prepared for the HAM license. Just SWL now and still enjoying my Bill II CB Radio whilst. But I get to learn about the possibilities and the compact size of the YAESU. And I am impressed by the FT-817. And I absolutely LOVE the comparism to the Mazda Miata! I completely Understand what you mean. :) Thank you very much for that deep dive video about 20 year old Mazda roadsters and that 20 year old HAM radio! You gave me good memories and teased me for the time when I gut my license done. Best greetings from Germany! 73

I've wanted an 817nd or 818 for a long time.