Yaesu 857d and Collins Mechanical Filters?

[KD6WAG]

I have an 857d. The radio has DSP technology in it and it does help to keep the radio quiet.

The Collins Mechanical filter for phone is about $150.00. Anyone with experience using this filter in the radio?

Should I buy it or save my money?

Thanks.

[KD6SRG]

I'm wondering the same thing..Anyone have the Collins filter installed?

[W1GUH]

I've got the cw filter in my '817, and the SSB filter in my '857. #Here's some explanation about "why?" for the SSB filter...


Document has graphs of the two filter responses (http://www.w4wb.com/Reviews/QQ-Oct-01-Filter-Review.pdf)

[edit] The article is primarily focused on the benefits of W4WB's mod to put both filters in the '817, which is irrelevant to the '857, but there's a good discussion of the technical merits of the SSB filter.

As you can see from the figures in the link, the Collins filter is flatter and has steeper skirts than the stock filter, but it's a little bit wider. #To answer the question, "Is the price of the filter in line with performance inhancement?" I'd say the answer is...it depends. #The Collins will give you a signal that, under adverse conditions, will be heard better than the stock filter, but the conditions have to be pretty bad for that to be a noticable difference. #Same goes for receiving.

But, the Collins does improve the "sound" of the received and transmitted signals. #And, under good signal conditions it's a matter of your personal taste. #I hear the difference when I switch back and forth between the two filters, and I'm a died-in-the-wool fan of Collins Mechanical filters so it's worth it to me.

The good news is that it's easy to install later, and you need not hurry your decision.

As for the CW filter, it's a required option for the '817, because it's the only way to get usable selectivity in that mode. #With the '857, you've got the DSP filter, and that does a good job narrowing the audio response. #That helps a great deal in a lot of cases, but won't handle the case where you're trying to pull out a weak signal with a strong signal in the SSB filter range.

I think it's reasonable to say that if you're planning serious CW work, you'll be glad to have the Collins filter. #BTW...I believe it comes in two flavors, 300 Hz, and 500 Hz. #The advice I've gotten is 500 is for CW, 300 is for RTTY. #300's a little too narrow for CW, except under the worst possible condx.

Hope this helps. #I haven't had a lot of chance to use my '857, but when I have, I LOVE it. #Have fun!

Also, if you don't have the FT-Meter, get it ASAP. #I wouldn't have an '857 without one.!

73, and enjoy!

[N4BFD]

Inrad has other options besides the 2.3khz filter that Yaesu offers. If your chasing DX in crowded conditions, the 2.0 may help, but of course will cut some fidelity out.
http://www.inrad.net/home.php?cat=19

W4RT has the 500hz CW filter on sale currently for 99 dollars.

[NN4RH]

I'll second & add to what Paul said. A narrow IF filter in the 250-500 Hz range is an extremely useful thing for CW or the data modes. It makes all the difference if you're into contesting or DX or even ragchewing on a crowded band, for CW and data modes, and it can make a huge difference in readability when there's static, RFI, lightning crashes, etc.. I have a 250 Hz CW filter in my Kenwood TS480 which personally I think is about the perfect width for contesting but may be too narrow for most people for general operating. A 500 Hz filter is fine for general usage.

I also have an 1800 Hz "SSB" filter. I use it mostly for data mode and CW. I don't operate SSB very often so cannot really address its efficacy in that mode. I have used it on 40 meters phone at night occassionally and it definitely helps cut out some of the foreign broadcast interference, but maybe is too narrow and makes the received voice sound more distorted than usual.

The "DSP" in that 857 is audio DSP. It can narrow down what you hear but does not prevent interfering signals, static, etc. from affecting the AGC response. The difference between audio DSP and an IF filter is night and day - definitely for CW and data - and I would assume for voice too, IF you tend to operate in very crowded conditions. For general operating I can't say if it'd be worth the extra $150 for a SSB filter.

[VE1IDX]

When the 857 first came out the Collin's filters were $200 up here. I should have saved my money. Totally not worth the money IMHO. Maybe I was looking too hard for that wonderfull Collins magic but it just was not there.

[N4KZ]

I have an Icom Pro3, Yaesu FT-857D and FT-817ND. I have the Icom phone filters set for 2.8, 2.3 and 1.6 KHz bandwidth. When plagued with SSB splatter, I get more benefit from the bandpass tuning than I do from going from 2.8 down to 2.3 KHz. Going down to 1.6 is often effective but, of course, it really affects the intelligibility of the SSB signal.

As for CW, a narrow filter is a necessity on the FT-817ND. It's less so on the FT-857D because the bandwidth can be narrowed with the DSP but strong nearby signals will still "leak" in which makes it desirable to add a narrow CW filter on this rig too for serious CW work.

The Yaesu filters are very good but you can buy the same filter from W4RT.com for much less. They're both Collins mechanical filters and work the same.

73, Dave, N4KZ