FT-817/hamstick revisited

[W1GUH]

I finally got a chance to really check out my FT-817 this weekend. I took a drive down to Annapolis, and had it on in the car most of the way. (I'm still looking for a way to get power for the '857 to the radio, I can power the '817 from the cigarette lighter).

I was very pleased with the way it performed. I managed to work Europe on 20m SSB sometime around 3 PM Friday afternoon and the report was 55, or someting like that. But the guy heard every word with readability "5", so I guess that radio and a hamstick has some great capability!

Coming back on Saturday, I had 3 contacts in the MI QSO Party, and one in the Ontario QP.

But transmitting was not the main reason I had the radio on. I mostly wanted to just listen. And the radio didn't disappoint. I plugged it into the AUX input of my car radio, and that worked very well and gave me a chance to hear the '817's audio the way it should be heard, and I liked the sound very much. It was nice and smooth and pleasurable to listen to. I started hearing subtle differences in the voices I was listening too, and the whole experience was a pleasure. I was using the stock ceramic filter and next time I'll have the Collins filter in it so I can compare the two. I had only two (basically trivial) complaints. First, I had to use the "lock" button a lot because the way I had the radio situated, the mic cord easily moved the tuning knob. Second, I sure wish I could've plugged my FT-meter into it. I really missed watching the S-meter!

I also had one QSO on CW Sat. afternoon to try that out. Everything worked flawlessly. This whets my appetite for more QRP work. Maybe for FD I'll get a solar panel take that baby up a mountain.

Oh...one thing to look out for if you use a quick disconnect like the one I use...

The one I use looks like this one. (http://www.walcottcb.com/qd100-external-locking-quick-disconnect-p-572.html?cPath=28_354)

I don't recalll the brand name of mine.

What happened to me was that little pin that holds the "bayonet-like" mount together fell out of inside piece, rendering the whole thing usless for mobile-in motion. Argh! Wasn't a big problem, I just took off the quick-disconnect & attached the antenna directly, but I wish I'd know this might be a problem. Oh, well, I've got spares at home.

[W1GUH]

One week and another road trip later...

I'm starting to love the receiver in the '817. As mentioned, I've got it plugged into the car sound system, so audio quality and quantity are not problems, and boy, does that receiver sound nice on all modes. SSB, AM, and both FM's (ham & FM broadcasting) sound very nice. They're full-bodied and have little or no audible distortion, at least, that I can hear. Tuning is nice and smooth, even with that tiny knob, and it's a pleasure to tune in a QSO and just listen. AGC action is smooth and pleasant enough to be almost inaudible. Usually, the only way I know it's really working is when there's a high noise level and I can hear the AGC action on that. Listening to the Broadcast or FM band is a great convenience, and the sound quality is surprising for such a tiny "ham" receiver. It'd be fun to do some BC band DX'ing on a long, overnight drive...if you can tear yourself away from DX'ing on the ham bands!

And all of that performance comes in a very tiny, self-contained box. I almost think that it's worth the price just for that much receiver.

Disclaimer:

I don't live next door to a strong RF source, nor does my operating (at least for now) require every last dB of SNR or noise floor or intermod point. My comments are about general listening in a benign environment, except for enough noise to make a lot of specs meaningless. My listening is pretty much subjective...e.g. do I like the way it sounds and responds to signals. With the '817, that answer is YES!!!!! Listening to it through the car system, it sounds like I'm at a fixed location listening to a much bigger box.

[KA7BTV]

Very pleased FT-817 user here too :). Liked it so well that I've got 2 of them, one dedicated to home use & the other one for mobile/portable use.