Thanks for this. I bought a very nice used 897D because of this video. Very truthful....laymans terms, and good photography. I would suggest mitigating the wind noise in the future though. Thanks again, and thumbs up.
It's 2018 and I'm still running my 897d and it's absolutely brilliant, I don't find the noisy reciever too annoying and I even use it as a base station
Here's a little tip for those using the side mounted antenna tuner, either the one from Yaesu or LDG. If you want to mount the radio using Yaesu's mounting kit, you will not be able to mount the tuner using the Yaesu tuner mounting kit. And that kit doesn't work with the LDG tuner anyway. The solution is to use standoffs. I obtained eight aluminum standoffs, each about 1/4 inch thick by 3/8 inch wide, and four longer metric machine screws that are needed to compensate for the extra distance between the tuner and radio housing. These provide plenty of strength and stability for the tuner case and room to install the radio mounting kit screws and brackets. The overall width of the assembled unit is slightly greater but it is worth it. The radio still fits into the Pelican case that I use for field use when the radio is not mounted in my travel trailer that serves as my shack and mobile emergency command post.
Great "straight up" evaluation of what the 897 was designed to do. Be portable, rugged, powerful, battery conserving, All-Band, powerhouse that will fit comfortably in a small rucksack along with a motorcycle battery and get the job done. Got one coming for all of those reasons. Well done sir.
I usually get the itch to sell a radio after owning it for a year or two. So far, I have no such thoughts in regard to my 897. In fact, I like it even more now than I did when I bought it. And I REALLY liked it when I bought it 😀
Nice review. I also chose a used unit too. I like its rugged features. I have 2 original batteries that need to be replaced. I'll work it as a base or mobile. I can use a portable small generator when I have a truck near by. Good choice. Your comment on the menus & sub menus is true. You just have to learn their proper steps to access them.
Well done! 897 has a lithium-ion mod that has the same capacity as that slab, at a fraction of the weight.Great video, excellent points. Thanks for sharing.
I own one again (last one 10 years ago) and I love it. The receiver isn't THAT noisy and there is a BHI noise cancelling kit that can be purchased to improve the receive but I will probably just use the rig the way it is. On SSB you can adjust the IF shift to lower the hiss as well. As to the display you forgot to mention that you can double the size of the readout by selecting the function DISP with the C button. Then the readout becomes easier to read. I don't have any problem with the menu items and find them pretty easy to use. There is a lot of versatility possible with this rig including installing an internal AC power supply. I also like the fact that the rig offers a Morse code practice function. All in all a terrific, versatile rig that covers 160 meters to 440 mHz, all modes and with general coverage receive. I can also listen to the aircraft band and FM! I found mine in mint shape, 5 years old and I paid $400. One of the best amateur deals I have ever had. Even if I get a "high-end" rig later this 897D will likely act as the backup, VHF/UHF, portable, or mobile rig. I'm very pleased to have another one. Oh, yes, and I love that rugged handle! 73, Bruce K6RQR
Clear and concise. Given your experience, comment on your camping layout. in another video you used a 60' pole. I have never been able to deploy anything that high. Say more about it.
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate the feedback. I intend to release a video showing the easiest way to erect a tall fiberglass pole this spring, and will add more camping comments in my videos as time goes on.
I find the RF gain is the best way to tackle any noisy receiver and does wonders on the 897. What I will say about the 897 is that even without the extra filter it's a great CW machine.
Hi, thank you for watching! Your note about the use of the RF Gain control on the 897 is a good one. I made the same point in regard to the FT-817 on my "How to Optimize the FT-817 for Contesting" video. Of course, the same general rule applies to any rig with an RF Gain control. Thank you for your comment about using the 897 without a filter on CW. As an SSB only op, I didn't realize that.
BTW i use my 897D on 70cm SSB and has WAY less drift than my IC-706 Mk2g. It also does a great job when hooked up to my 23cm transverter as it gives the option of '1296mhz' showing instead of '146mhz' on the display now that it's configured.
I love my 897 original model. I had to replace the caps. But I would never take the 991 out into the woods. Its way to expensive to do that. I got my 897 for $450
absolutely right. Their are no sensible replacement radios on the market for the ft897 - 857 - 817. BTW noisy receive??. Not when portable my friend. 73 2e0vov
If you route power from the internal batteries to the rear 12V jack the radio will not limit the power to 20W. The batteries need to handle the full power of course, however this is not difficult with Lithium types.
Say you go out for 4hrs, 2 hrs listening, 2 hrs engaged in conversation, transmitting 1/2 the the engaged time (1 hr tx total). That is 3 hrs Rx at 1 amp (3 ah) and 1Hrs tx at 23 amp (23 ah), or 26 ah total capacity needed. Switching to a 2 amp receiver would only require an additional 3ah (10% additional battery) so I don’t buy your main point. However, I agree it is a good radio, and much lighter. Which is important if you are carrying in in a backpack.
I just recently bought a Yaesu FT-897D at a hamfest. I have been searching for a good video on how to use it since I am new to ham radio but not having much luck. I seem to have better luck comprehending watching a video than reading the manual for some reason. If you know any places with good infomation on this radio that would be appreciated. Thanks for your video KE0QBN.
Hi, thank you for your question. I don't know of any instructional videos for the 897/897D. The best resource I can think of is is the FT-897 Yahoo group. There are a number of knowledgeable, helpful people there who can help you get up to speed.
Hello my friend! Nice vídeo! I agree with you. Such amazing equipment should not have been discontinued. Q: what do you have attached at the left of the radio?
As someone with a limited budget for fun stuff this is how I did it. I bought a really cheap used rig, used it for a while until I could save some more fun money. Then I sold the cheap rig for about what I paid for it, and with that money plus the saved money, bought a better one. And kept going :) It took me a few years and multiple rigs, but I finally ended up with some decent gear I really like.
Outdoors On The Air Hello Tracey..just ordered mine today! How about doing a tutorial video for newbies like me on the basics and how to get the most out of the radio? 73's KD9JEO
Congratulations and enjoy your new rig, David! Thank you for the interesting idea, I'm considering it. Might take a few months to come to fruition, though. 73 from VE3TWM.
Outdoors On The Air Of particular interest would be pulling in weak signals as well as pulling signals out of a crowded pileup. There seems to be far more videos on radio and equipment reviews that an actual operation of the radios for beginners. I for one would appreciate your efforts. 73 KD9JEO
The FT991's rx power consumption is 1A NOT 2! Yeasu made a mistake in their spec sheet, and many hams when putting an ammeter to the 991 have discovered this fact.
Sir, Please excuse my ignorance , but I am planning to purchase a used Yaesu FT-897D as my first HAM radio (I'm getting into the hobby). Where did you get the item that is on the left hand side of the radio? Is that an external battery or charger? Your help is appreciated.
Hi Gerardo, thank you for watching my video. The item bolted to the side of the FT-897 is not a battery or charger, it is the Yaesu FC-30 automatic tuner. The 897 has provision for up to 2 internal 4.5 amp hour battery packs. These are quite costly and have to be carefully maintained or they will fail to hold a charge and thus lose their effectiveness. For these reasons I prefer to use external SLA batteries with the rig when operating portable.
Look for the LDG897 tuner that fits in the same place. Wider range tuning. External or internal LiFePO4 batteries such as Bioenno power are a good solution. If you want more than 20 watts bring the battery leads out and plug into the rear connector, then full power will be available.
Thank you, Philip. If you are looking to do any portable operating, I strongly recommend you at least consider buying a used FT-897, 857 or even an 817. They'll last a lot longer on battery power than the new models. If operating portable is not in the cards, then jump over to eHam and read the reviews carefully for each rig. Separate the wheat comments from the chaff comments over there and that should give you a good indication of which way to go. I've no experience with either so I don't have a useful opinion. I will say that I was completely blown away by the receiver on an Icom 746Pro I had the chance to use a few months ago. They are selling for about $800 on the used market. I've even seen 756 Pro II's in the $1,000 range lately and that is by all accounts a great rig. If I wasn't so deep into portable operating I'd have one.
Sorry, I just noticed you specified base and mobile. It's getting tougher to fit even small sized rigs into modern vehicles unless they have a removable face plate. Be careful and measure before buying a rig.
What a battery do u use on your FT 897? I am thinking about to buy one for my FT-897D, but i don't now what capacity i really need for comfortable use. 73 de ON1BYN
Built in power supply and optional antenna tuner made it a grab and go proposition. Like an idiot, I sold mine. Sellers remorse, what are you going to do? 73, Adam, K5OCS
Turns out the 2.0 amp spec just not true. When tested by amateurs, we get .8 to .95. Check out survival tech nords video on this. It's a good thing, right ? 😃
Not a stupid question. The rig receives 118-174 MHz, so a good sized chunk of the Air Band is available. For full specs, download the owners manual from the Yaesu web site.
After being without a FT-897 for several years, I finally reacquired one. I am so pleased. This is a radio like no other for home or portable. I added the AT-897Plus tuner and a narrow cw filter to make it even better. This one is a keeper!
Great video Tracy! I recently got an FT-897D and love the thing although it does have a lot of menus, but if you use it regularly you get so you memorize the most often used menus like the mic gain and transmit power level menus. I use mine as a backup for my FT-1000MP Mark V, but mostly for JS8Call, Feld Hell, and PSK31 digital modes. The FT-897D has a cooling fan mounted directly in front of each final transistor and those fans being mounted as they are make it an ideal rig for digital mode operation. Even if I get a bit long-winded on a digital transmission it still runs as cool as can be! It runs much cooler than my FT-1000MP Mark V when using digital modes! I highly recommend the rig, not only for portable use, but very much so for digital mode operating due to its excellent cooling system. Very 73 de Cliff, KU4GW
Very fine overview. I purchased an FT-897D on the used market in 2016 and have used it both in the shack and for portable operations. I still count it as one of the finest radios in my shack. I have really appreciated your videos on the FT-897 and the FT-817. Well done.
Great review! This was the first radio I fell in love with. I ended up with a TS-2000 as our first base radio, but later sold it to downsize to the FT-817ND and a couple of FT-60R and accessories. I'm still interested in this radio since we were attracted to the portability of ham radio. We really like the looks of the FT-991A, but you made some great points in your comparison. I think we're gonna have to track down a FT-897 for our new QTH. Thanks! 73
The FT-991 is a nice rig, with lots of bells and whistles, but it is not a replacement for the FT-897 as a field radio. I have the FC-30 attached to my rig as well. It is much maligned as a tuner, but it fits very nicely to the FT-897, as shown in the video, and makes it very convenient to pick up and go to the field.
Just bought my 2nd FT-897D because of all the pros you mentioned. I love the FT-897D! As you mentioned, these radios are built to be portable and are power conscious, yet make a fun base. I am in NO hurry to buy an FT-991A.
Very good review and all valid points. My (second hand) FT-897D is my base station rig and they'll prise it from my cold, dead hands. My local club has an FT-1000 MkV Field which is four times bigger and heavier and doesn't do much that the 897 can't.
Hi Tracy Great videos! I share your enthusiasm for the 897. I acquired one just after they were released and really liked it but eventually sold it and regretted it ever since. I have a couple of much newer ‘fancy’ radios but I’ve been looking for a good used 897D for field use for a while now and finally found one today at a rally. I’m coming up for retirement in the New Year and really looking forward to some outdoor Hamming, so much more enjoyable than sitting behind a desk in the ‘shack’! Keep the videos coming!
I think I would still buy an FT-897D if I ran across one in good condition For POTA I see it as a great choice. Since I have no HF rig now, I won't miss the waterfalls, lol. 73, Dave, KU9L
The ft 891 draws much less than 2amps on receive. I know that is what Yeasu claims but my digital voltmeter says otherwise. Since you are talking about field units the 891 would be a better choice for a comparison. A voltmeter is tiny and so easy to connect via Anderson fittings. My 847 matches the 897s capabilities for transmit and receive. Why would I want uhf/ vhf in the field when it's integrated in my car?
I am in the market. Everything you mentioned the tradeoffs in low power consumption for static, the rugged design, the weight, all suits me. I was wondering about antenna options, and I have also heard about some sort of cage for the so called "man packs" although I am not sure what they are for if not for protection.
Great video Tracy! It is 2020, do you still feel the same way about the FT-897D? When I first got licensed I really wanted a new 897D but the price kept me away so I got a new FT-817ND as my first HF rig. I have just sold that rig and was looking to replace it with an FT-991A until I came across this video; now I am really thinking about picking up a used 897D instead. I like to operate from my house and from my car and this would be my only HF rig (for Portable and Base). The only other rig I have is a VX-7R which I also bought new. I am a bit nervous about buying a used rig (getting one that has blown finals) and that I might be missing out on some tech the newer rig has. On the plus side, I live 15 minutes from the Yaesu USA HQ and could take it there to get it fixed if needed. Any advice you could give would be appreciated! 73! KJ6VAP
Hi Jeff, thank you for your comment! I still feel the same way about the 897 as a portable rig. As far as having it as your only rig for base/mobile/portable, that would depend upon how good a price you can get it for on the used market and what kind of battery you have for portable ops. Here is what I mean: Look at the new price of an Icom 7300 and Yaesu FT-991A (if 2m and 440 are important to you). You shouldn't pay more than about 2/3rds that price for a used 897 (even though the 897 has VHF-UHF). If you have a battery with enough Ah's to run the 7300 or 991A for the amount of time you'll spend in the field, one of those two would be your #1 pick due to all the modern technology and (especially in my estimation) QRM fighting features to combat the QRM found in modern ham shacks. If you really need the rig to use battery power sparingly, go with the 897. 73 from VE3TWM.
Thanks for the info. You touched on the most important points a person new to ham radio must consider. I am in the process of reevaluating my commo needs. I am looking at something for a Harvey or worse situation.
I just bought one 2 days ago! Can't wait until it gets here. This will fit the bill for portable use unlike my 991A. Going to use aftermarket batteries and a home brew charger...
Meh... the power consumption issue only matters if you use an old battery like that. With Lifepo4 batteries, which are much lighter, more powerful, and long-lasting, the 891 is still the better buy. And RX is actually about 1 amp on RX , with the 891. The manual is wrong. Several internet tests will show this. Now the voltage issue? Not having the voltage does suck, but you can turn off the 891 and back on again to see it. You know it's time to replace the battery with the 891, when you start losing your AGC info on the read-out.
You forgot one import specification of the LifePO batteries...they are significantly more expensive. And the 897 will run considerably longer than the 891 on those same batteries due to its still lower power draw on receive. I don't like the idea of knowing it's time to power off the rig when the display starts going funky, that sounds like courting trouble to me. The microcircuits in modern rigs don't take kindly to under-powered conditions. To each their own.
Great review! Can you do digital with this rig (JS8Call and Winlink) with such a radio (possibiliy requiring some extra hardware, such as a digirig or such)?
Had one back in 2003, bought it new from Amateur Electronic Supply, now out of business. Had a blast with it, worked the world from my car with hamstick antennas. Used it a lot on 2 meters, SSB and FM. Cool looking radio too, everyone said it looked like something made for the government or military. Sorry I sold it. Been out of the hobby for many years and now just getting back in. My buddy in Colorado found a mint Yaesu Ft1000d for me and I am going down there to pick it up soon. Not selling anything anymore, just will buy more stuff when I want it. Been listening to the bands on the SDR receivers online and can't believe all the activity. If the hobby is dead as some claim why are there wall to wall signals on 80 and 40 at night. Even heard a bunch of guys yaking on 160. 73 Pete WB4CGA
DX Engineering says the following about the FC-30 auto tuner. Has this limited you or anyone else in using certain antennae? “On the HF and 50 MHz bands the impedance matching range is from 16.5Ù to 150Ù (up to 3:1 SWR). Accordingly, the FC-30 should not be expected to match "long wire" type antennas unless you have taken specific design steps to ensure that the impedance presented to the FC-30 is within these specifications.”
hey all. i have the 897D, new to ham ,still learning. not licensed as yet, but working on it. VK2---. i am trying to find, without much luck ,the AT897 to suit. i know this is an old utube, but hey its worth a shot. anyways, loved this vid as it helped me understand more about this rig.. glad i got this one instead of the newer versions of any brand. as a Prepper/Survivalist downunder, it will be my got to shtf...
Spot on.. More hams should pay closer attention to the details, and our available products available would stay the best they can be. Btw, compromises will always exist. Trade-offs always need to be made, which is why application specific products should be a given. One size fits all rarely works. Cheers!
Tracy, excellent video particularly with regard to your points about power consumption making the 897D a field champ. I use mine on my boat when cruising the San Juan Islands and north. I was considering putting a larger "base" rig on board until your video and I realize now that when I'm at anchor and using the boat house batteries, minimizing my power consumption is absolutely critical. By the way, I've had great contacts while being maritime mobile, not the least of which was making contact with a co-pilot on an Airbus 320 heading to St. Louis one evening. Apparently all Airbuses come with a built-in Rockwell Colling HF transceiver and I got a good report from him using the 897. Sticking with her now and thanks for your support. Ted (W6TYZ)
Great video, I was gifted this station when I got my license, nice to hear the feedback on the noisy receiver, thought it was my location, Its helping me get some impressive contacts, and I like it.
Hi Orlando, have fun with your FT-897D! The attachment that looks like a speaker is actually the matching Yaesu FC-30 automatic antenna tuner. You'll read some negative reviews about this tuner but it works well for what I ask it to do. 73 from VE3TWM.
Question I just bought one myself it's not the D model it's just the 897 when they delivered it they didn't have a mic when you plug it in all it has a static I thought maybe I could hear something without a mic hook to it I hear nothing but static is that normal
You don't need to have the mic plugged in to hear the receiver's audio. The audio should be the same whether the mic is plugged in or not. Good luck with your new rig.
Question. I have a yaesu FT-897 and just got the bolt on antenna tuner just like the one in this video. How do I get the radio to tune with the tuner. The radio manual says to go to menu option number 85. On my radio 85 isn't an option. It's not there. How do I use the tuner in this situation?
I apologize for the delay in response. Go into the menu and turn on Menu item 1 (EXT MENU). This will activate all menu numbers, in particular the high numbered one. You'll now have access to 85. Why they didn't just ship the rig with all menu items available is a mystery to me.
I couldn’t agree more! I’ve had my FT-897 since they came out in the late 1990’s, with the Yaesu antenna tuner and the bolt on AC power supply, and CW filter. I’ve used all bands except 160 and 6 meters, on SSB, CW and RTTY. You can’t find a more versatile radio for home, remote and portable service, I have a custom battery unit in a water tight carry case to accompany this unit for remote/portable use, a push-up fiberglass pole with a modified chalk line cased wire antenna with matching balun. You don’t find many current radios with this full coverage. One feature I used frequently was the adjustable output power. I later purchased an accompanying FT-817 for truly portable/mobile use. Recently I struggled with the decision to locate a FT-857 to round out the collection! Instead, I located a used FT-991A, still adjusting to the additional bells and whistles, but it is a power hog! I customized a emergency transport case and the battery unit will power the 991A, but with significantly less air time available. But, the one reason I stayed with this additional radio was the 160 to 440 coverage, one of the few current radios with full coverage. I’m still a die-hard old tube radio guy too, loyal to my 50+ year old Collins KWM-2A and the 30-L1 amp. I use a Heathkit SB-230 amp to boost the Yaesu line when power is needed. In my opinion, the FT-897 has lasted nearly as long now as my Collins, passing 25+ years residing in my shack, you don’t find many solid state rigs around on the market now with that longevity of production. They had a true icon of a fully versatile transceiver during its life. Both my sons are also amateur operators, one now also an extra class, his rig is the FT-897D model. Thank you for your review of the 897!
Thank you for the info, have purchased an ft897 today from eBay after watching your video and following you're channel. Keep up the good work 👍 Carl m3kum
Hey there, just stumbled across your channel and it's right up my street ! I have the 897 and would never part with it, its rugged reliable and I've talked all over the world on it whilst portable. I have taken it to remote Scotland on several occasions and worked the world by just stringing a G5RV up into the trees on the shores of Loch Voil. I do have the 991 also but if I only had one radio on a desert island it would be the 897 every time. 73 Mike M0VOZ
Hi m8 , I know this is a old vid , hope you are well , I have the same radio and a ldg at 897plus autotuner , what autotuner are you using as it looks like it was made for the radio unlike my ldg at897 plus tuner its just a metal box on the side and annoyingly slightly larger than the radio.. . Thanks.
Hi! The tuner attached to the side of my 897 is the matching Yaesu FC-30. Unlike the LDG AT-897, the FC-30 will only match up to a 3:1 SWR, but that's good enough for my needs.
Thanks for the great review/overview Tracy. I use an FT-818 daily and I wonder if the receiver is the same or better on the FT-897D compared with the FT-817/818 rigs? Will the DSP make a noticeable difference in receive compared to my non DSP FT-818? I've wanted an FT-897D for awhile but the cost of used rigs has been right up there with the cost of new radios lately so I'm still tempted to pick up something new like a 891.
Thank you for your comment and question! I find the receiver on the 817/818 to be very similar to the one in the 897. I seldom use the DSP in my 897 as I only use it in the field where DSP noise reduction is not an issue due to higher ambient noise levels (birds, wind, traffic, etc.). If using the rig in a typical modern home with QRM generating devices, you might want to go with the 891 as it will provide a more pleasant listening experience.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Thanks for your reply Tracy, I appreciate your input. There's a lot to like about the 897 and it might be just fine for what I do. The 891 does seem like a bargain for what it does though so maybe I'll pick one of those up first.
Thanks to videos like yours and @TheTechPrepper, I am now actively looking for the FT-897D. I already have the FT-857D, and it will *not* be leaving my arsenal of gear anytime soon. The FT-991A and FT-DX10 are future base station purchases that I want to make for my ham shack, but when it comes to emergency communications, POTA activations, and general mobile operations, my priority right now is to permanently secure a good FT-897D and train with it as if someone's life depended on it. Because one day, it may well be the case.
Just worked Rwanda and Australia (long path), today, with my Buddipole using the FT897D. It consistently performs. I use the Bioenno LIthium 30ah battery. Five hours on the air, with the FT897D, and battery recharges full in one hour!
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I’ve discovered the issue! Although the tapped holes all line up, there is a small, specialty 3 piece bracket set that was not included in the “as new in the box” delivery. I will stay at it. Thanks for the quick reply and the great productions.
Thank you. I’m seriously thinking of getting an 897 for portable use and a 991A for base. The 897 is a fantastic looking rig. I would be interested in being shown how to operate it though. Subbed.
Have a look at the Collins designed PRC-515 (RU-20). Sure its an old rig now but It covers all HF bands, has built in tuner way better than FC30 & draws 60mA on receive! 20W TX same as 897 on battery (and yes I know you can do 100W with 897). With is super low RX current, you get over 10x the RX battery life compared with the 897/857. It even blows away the 817 which I measured at 450mA RX.
Consumes much less power than its replacement. This is relevant if you operate on batteries or solar. Its rugged has excellent performance and you can get a good one for 600 dollars.
I only ever operate portable and will never part with my 897 for all the reasons you mentioned. Excellent professional grade review, carefully scripted, concise, perfectly executed and with great audio even in the wind! N1OB
Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them. I feel the same way about my 897. Had one, sold it and now have another. This one's here to stay. 73 from VE3TWM.
