Yaesu FT-450AT for first HF rig?

[KE5ZXP]

Hi, this is my first post to the QRZ formums - been lurking for a while. I'm considering the Yaesu FT-450AT for my frist HF transciever. I would appreciate any advice you might have on the learning curve and ease of use of the menus on this model. I ask this because with a radio this small, I realize that Yaesu has has to utilize menus rather than many dedicated buttons and switches on the face of the unit.

If you don't like it, what do you recommend? Thank you for the help!

Jim Walsh
KE5ZXP

[NN4RH]

Yaesu rigs are fine radios and very popular. I have had FT-840 and FT-817, and currently have FT-950 and FT-897. As you might guess, I like Yaesus!

I have not had that particular model, the FT-450, but the specifications look reasonable to me for a rig in that price range.

In that price range (assuming cost is a deciding factor for you) alternatives for NIB rigs include the Icom IC-718, and the Yaesu FT-857. Both of those are fine radios, too. There are of course also used rigs of many different models you could look for.

The Yaesu menu system takes a little getting used to, but once you start to use it often enough, it will get to be second nature. Generally, with a few exceptions, they did not bury the most-often used functions too deep in the menu system.

I've had good experiences with all of the Yaesu's I have owned or own now, and have no hesitation recommending an FT-450 to a newcomer.

If you have a ham radio store, like a Ham Radio Outlet, nearby, they would have the various radios on display that you can play with.

Also, if you can join a club nearby to you (do a lookup here: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml ) it's possible that someone might let you have a look at their station.

Basically, any Yaesu or Icom or Kenwood rig, or TenTec, is going to be fine for you starting out.

[W0EA]

As much as I love Ten Tec (qsk is like candy) - I would not recommend one of their rigs to a new ham, way too many bells and whistles and expensive too. I'd always suggest a used solid state radio a-la Kenwood TS-440, Yaesu FT-890/840, etc. They can be had for much less and will come with more features for the same price as newer rigs (minus DSP of course)

Good luck finding a radio and if possible, play before you pay!

[KB0NAZ]

I like my FT-450..nice little rig,excellent receiver .

It's getting more and more where manuf.'s use menu's for radio's. Most of them,once set,you never change anyway
The only thing I would advise is to skip the AT version and use the $$ saved towards an external auto tuner like one of the MFJ Intellituners or an LDG as they have a wider range

[NN4RH]

The only thing I would advise is to skip the AT version and use the $$ saved towards an external auto tuner like one of the MFJ Intellituners or an LDG as they have a wider range

Good point. An external tuner generally would give you more tuning range and more versatility in antenna selection.

So have you given thought to your antenna yet? If you're going to limit yourself to resonant dipoles, verticals, etc.. that can be physically trimmed or tuned for SWR or 2:1 or less, you may not even need a tuner at all.

My rigs have internal tuners, but I actually dont' use them because my antennas are all trimmed for their primary bands, 80, 40, 30, 20, and 15m. And I have a Palstar tuner that I use on 80 meters to increase the range over which I can operate (my antenna is an HF2V which is a bit narrow), and I occassionally use it to operate my 30 meter dipole on 10 meters and 6 meters (not very efficient but I don't currently have dedicated antennas for those bands).

[KC4IUL]

I have the yaesu ft 450AT it is a nice rig. I've had mine for over a month and I run barefoot and I get good signal reports. The hand mic has good audio as I'm told from my contacts. The speaker in the rig has great sound no need for an external one. It is a small compact rig doesn't take up much space but it is a good size. Perfect for the desk or to use mobile.

I wish it had a stand in the front like the kenwoods do and I wish it had a power level knob on the front with out having to go in the menu to change it. I think it would make a great perfect rig.

[KB0NAZ]

I have the yaesu ft 450AT it is a nice rig. I've had mine for over a month and I run barefoot and I get good signal reports. The hand mic has good audio as I'm told from my contacts. The speaker in the rig has great sound no need for an external one. It is a small compact rig doesn't take up much space but it is a good size. Perfect for the desk or to use mobile.

I wish it had a stand in the front like the kenwoods do and I wish it had a power level knob on the front with out having to go in the menu to change it. I think it would make a great perfect rig.


thats the one thing I do wish the ft-450 had is a bail or legs/feet of some sort to raise the front up.
The RF power is an easy fix,just assign it to the DSP/SEL knob,then all it takes it is a quick push of the knob,then adjust the power level to whatever you want/need.
it really is a great little rig for the money

[K6CRC]

I had one for a while. It is a great radio for a new ham. The Rx is excellent in my opinion, and it was relatively easy to set up . The filter settings take some getting use to, but the filtering does work. Minor complaint on main tuning dial size.

For the money, it is tough to beat. Also, consider the IC-718. It is a simple radio, works well, and they are available at very good prices. The 450 is a more sophisticated rig, but both are great for the new ham.

Good luck

[K8YZK]

I have the FT-450AT and it is a nice radio. Like all they have their good points and bad points. Good is the hefty handmic, also a built-in tuner, bad is the built-in tuner, as it could have better range. 6 meters is a plus, bad is the small main tuning knob. Good/Bad is the menu system. For a first rig it could be a little to much, but if you like to play around with radios/computers then it won't be bad, but a lot of the menus are set and forget.
Price wise, I think it is probably one of the best deals out there.

The above are my opinions and yours may differ.

73
Kurt
K8YZK

[OH7HL]

bad is the built-in tuner, as it could have better range.

Hi Kurt

It si possible to make wider range of tuner. It's done via service menu. I have chanced my settings from 85 to 150 and now it's working fine. There is four different SWR-settings in service menu. I chanced all four values to 150.

I'm using G5RV-dipole, so I needed wider range of tuner.

73
Harri OH7HL

[WB5PDD]

A lot of folks mention that this little radio is a good beginner radio, but I have been licensed for nearly 50 years and find it more than adequate at a price I was willing to pay.

I bought my 450-AT last year after narrowing down my choices to it and the 706-MKII.

One reason I chose the 450-AT because the front panel has a little more control with buttons and knobs so is less menu intensive. Since this was going to be my only HF radio, it had to serve both as a mobile and a fixed unit so a second reason was the large LED display instead of a backlit LCD. Day or night in the car, a quick glance tells my old tired eyeballs what I need to know, and I can operate most of the controls either by feel or by another quick glance.

I bought the AT version because I couldn't find a non-AT in stock for a decent price, and figured at some time the internal tuner would be handy, but at the time I bought it, I also bought an LDG100Pro tuner, which I'm really really fond of. As it turns out, I was glad I got the AT version as I found out that the internal tuner will match my Hamsticks and Bandspanner mobile antennas on both my minivan and my motorhome, so the LDG stays at home for my G5RV and there is less clutter in the mobile.

I now have a homebrew 75 - 10 meter DK3 screwdriver antenna that I just finished building for use in the minivan and it will match without any tuner, so I disable the internal tuner, and set the menu tuner option for external tuner. This allows me to use a "BetterRF Yeasu Tune" module that plugs into the tuner port on the back of the radio, and a press of the FT-450 tune button gives me a 15 watt signal to tune the screwdriver for minimun swr without having to mess with the menu, which I wouldn't recommend while driving. This also keeps me from having to reprogram the DSP knob, as was mentioned earlier, since I use it frequently to notch out garbage.

Your mileage may vary, but I like the little fella as much today as I did when I took it outta the box. My biggest complaint was the aggravation of having to change modes and mess with the menu to get a low power tune signal to tune the screwdriver with, but the BetterRF tune gizmo just removed that gripe.

I'd buy one again.

Rick WB5PDD

[N7MYW]

I'm seriously looking at this rig for a second QRP radio. The addition of 6 mtrs make it a plus over the 718. Both are a good price but I'm used to the menu of Yaesu. So the 450 might get the nod.

Jim

[N4XGI]

I have had a FT 450 AT for about two weeks now. I have been mobile only with my FT100 for about 10 years now, so having a rig in the shack is going to be fun. Come on Cycle 24!

The 450 is a good size, seems to have an excellent receiver and the AT is happy with my B&W folded diplole on 80 to 6M. The menu is as easy to use as the FT100, and like others have said, most get set and left. I have not explored all of the features, but there is time for that.

One thing I have tried is Ham Radio Deluxe. It's free. I plugged the 450 into a serial to USB converter and into my MS Vista machine and I have good control of the 450 from the PC. Things sure have changed (for the better).

N4XGI

[N5IZ]

thats the one thing I do wish the ft-450 had is a bail or legs/feet of some sort to raise the front up.
The RF power is an easy fix,just assign it to the DSP/SEL knob,then all it takes it is a quick push of the knob,then adjust the power level to whatever you want/need.
it really is a great little rig for the money

get the ft 2800 feet and put them on the ft 450 look nice..73 ray n5iz

[PH5E]

I've had the FT-450 for 3 months now. It's my first rig and I'm very pleased with it. I've written a short review on my site: http://rigreference.com/rigs/view/4298/Yaesu-FT_450_AT

I actually have the non-AT version, I figured an external tuner will give me more flexibility and up to now I haven't been wrong. I wrote the review above not long after I bought the rig, so here are some updates...

The menu is okay to work with, but I would have liked some more direct buttons on the front. Using the 500 memory channels is a pain. It just requires too much going deep into menus to store and alpha-tag the channels. After 3 months I only have 5 channels programmed. And what I really don't like is the fact that plugging in an external speaker at the back cuts the internal speaker. I would love to be able to connect the external speaker output to my computer and still be able to listen to the FT-450 via the internal speaker. Maybe I'll open up the rig and fix this some day.

But all-in-all it's a great transceiver and I haven't regretted buying it!

[KB9HGI]

thats the one thing I do wish the ft-450 had is a bail or legs/feet of some sort to raise the front up.
The RF power is an easy fix,just assign it to the DSP/SEL knob,then all it takes it is a quick push of the knob,then adjust the power level to whatever you want/need.
it really is a great little rig for the money

mine has a bail. I bought mine used off of QRZ swapboard and someone has added a bail and it looks like it belongs there matches perfect.

[N0LYI]

the 450 is the rig of choice for the Radio Enrichment class at Preston Middle School in Ft. Collins,CO

The kids love it and operate it hassle free :-) It has a fantastic receive capability and DSP too.

[KJ4DKT]

i purchased a ft-450 on line for $500.00 in mint cond.. it has the internal tuner. mount bracket is an option. mine is in my truck on the top of dash in front of me. it is a little tall but safe. i have had it for 2 mos. it is by far the best bang for the buck. all filters are built in. you cannot buy more. txco, roofing are factory installed. compare it against ANY other and you will buy the ft450. this radio works flawlessly and very easily. take 2 hours to familiarise with it. yesterday i used it mobile for the first time and qsod Calif. from new orleans, la. om my round trip from pensacola, fla. to new orleans to baton rouge and back to fla. i talke all over usa on 40 and 20 meters w/o any problems. i also have a ts-930sat, and 2 ic-756 pros. all are good radios but only the 450 is small enuf for mobile. the ONLY gripe is the narrow tuner, but i am going to re-adjust the at tuner from 85 to150. this is a GREAT radio. you will not be sorry you bought it. good hamming kj4dkt fred

[K8TJM]

The 450 is a great little rig & I had mine for about 6 months. I do not do mobile and was using the 450 for my land shack operation. I was using it for something it really wasn't designed for - contesting- so it would heat up quickly and the fans were a bit noisy.

If you have the extra dollars the 950 is a better for home use IMO.

[DK3QN]

For the price to be paid totally acceptable performance.

Menue system - for the most part - easy to learn. "Down-graded" from an
IC-7000 to the FT-450AT as the Icom for me was much too complex re. the
menue system. Run the 450 as a back-up and /p rig.