FT-847

[kd5mlw]

I got this rig about 2 months ago, no problems so far. I like the satelitte functions alot. The radio has the hottest vhf and uhf receiver I have come across.

Works well on hf for general use, could be better with add on filters. It does have clean audio and the built in speaker is loud and clear. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

The only down falls I can see is that is has no tuner and no vox, but i dont use hf that much and i use good ant for 40,20,15,and 10 meters that do not require a tuner.

73's all Jerry KD5MLW http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KD5KUF]

Hi Jerry,
I am glad to hear you like the 847. It definitely sounds good. Catch you on the air.

[ke4cij]

Jerry:
I have an 847 with matching tuner and I love my rig. Its about 9 months old now and I added the extra collins filter for H.F. like you had mention and that cleared things up for me as well. My only draw back is that is can't monitor the sub bands as well as the primary. The TS-2000 can do that. But hey I suppose that is what the make other radios for...Well good luck and try out the 847 websites ..You can find out lots of info! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[W8OB]

I owned one of these rigs a couple of years ago. It was great and at the time i purchased it
yaesu was offering a free tuner. I could kick myself for selling it, the hf performance was excellant
and the vhf/uhf rx was superior, very weak sigs jumped right out of the noise on 430mhz. I sold mine
off and got a high end rig. If anyone wants to know, save yourself over a grand and get one of these
rigs you can't go wrong. Some of the guys complained about fan noise, but I was raised in ham radio
in the days of 3-1000 amps with big blowers,this thing just seemed to purr.

[K7RNV]

owner over i year and not one problem. all bands work great. which it had vox, but inrad co. now makes one. iam using the md100 mike. works great with radio, always get great audio reports. 73 bob

[kc9js]

I've had my FT-847 for three years now and it worked good when I got it. Added the extra bandpass filters and now it works great. I use it as a backup rig now since I got an FT1000MP MKV. At the present time it's in the van where you can't beat it's moble performance with a Hamstick antenna. Worked AR-12/13 satellite several times mobile on our way up to Hayward, WI when we were vacationing. Sure is neat having one moble rig to work every band from DC to almost light . http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

There are a couple of negs. No VOX or tuner and some AGC pulling from close in strong signals. The added narrower bandpass filters helped with the AGC pulling.

I would recommend the FT-847 to anyone that wants a good handy second rig or for new Hams in the hobby.

[K2JX]

I have owned my FT-847 for about 2 years and it works perfectly. For the money you have one radio that will get you on all bands all modes. It is NOT a serious HF CW contesters radio as the rcvr needs more filtering on HF.
I use mine on VHF-UHF and for RS 13. I have never used it mobile ( use a Kenwood TS-50 ) but it should work great as a mobile rig. All in all I rate this Yeasu a 10.
73, Jack K2JX

The 847 is a very nice radio. I've had mine for almost two years now and have enjoyed every operating minute.

The biggest issue I have is that the audio control seems not to have much resolution. I now use an external amplifier to give better resolution. Coupled with that, the headphone amplifier in the radio does not like high-impedance headsets. I've heard of this problem with some types of consumer audio equipment, but the 847 seems to just hate them. My Koss, Senheiser headsets are a no-go, but cheapie sets seem to work ok (albiet, they're uncomfortable).

The radio does well for general HF operation to the point that I've boxed-up and stored my trusty Kenwood TS-530. I had the 530 tricked-out with all the filters, and at times I do miss them and am considering purchasing the extra filters for the 847.

I receive a lot of comments on how good the audio sounds from this radio. Even when running into a linear amplifer, I get comments.

Works flawlessly in satellite mode. Have made numerous contacts on most of the LEO birds.

[K0LEN]

I've had my FT-847 for over a year, and have been very pleased with it. Using the FC-20 antenna tuner and a Cushcraft R8 vertical, I have received glowing signal reports from 10 to 40 meters. The missing VOX is a small price to pay, when compared to a solid radio at an affordable price.
73 de KØLEN http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[G4REK]

Bought my 847 some time ago , still had the ts2000 rig on loan from a friend, compared them on a side by side basis for a long time and liked the 847 overall, the audio on the 847 is excellent. the 2000 went back in its box, has anyone ever seen such a ugly rig??

jim g4rek

[K2MMM]

Have had my 847 less than a week but love every bit of it!! #I traded some Icom gear for this rig. I has the Inrad 2 RX and 1 TX filters installed and let me tell you it makes the HF very,very pleasing to use. Don't waste your money on the FC20 tuner. You could save a $100 and buy the LDG Z100 tuner that works flawlessly and will match just about anything. The only drawback (to somebody-not me) is 50w rating on 6m. My antenna has a good match so no problem. I also added the MD100A8X desk mic that also enhances the audio. I need to get some antennas up for Sat operation. Can't wait for that fun. 73 Mike K2MMM

[M3KCK]

Hi,
I have Recently Recieved my M3 Licence and I`m now Studying for my Intermediate, I have bought A Yaesu FT-847 as my 1st Amateur Radio and have to say I`m Very Pleased with it!! I use an Mfj 993 Atu with the Radio and I`m currently using an 18ft Centre fed Aluminum Antenna (temporary) and have had a Qso on 40mtrs with a Station in Brazil over 4000 miles away!! The other Great thing about this Radio is that it is Multi Band and gives me Coverage of All the Frequencies that my Licence allows and will also be Nice for Satellite work when I have My Intermediate Licence!!
I look forward to having a Qso with you All and Good DX!
73s
Regards,
Andrew. #M3KCK

[G7VGG]

Have had my 847 less than a week but love every bit of it!! #I traded some Icom gear for this rig. I has the Inrad 2 RX and 1 TX filters installed and let me tell you it makes the HF very,very pleasing to use. Don't waste your money on the FC20 tuner. You could save a $100 and buy the LDG Z100 tuner that works flawlessly and will match just about anything. The only drawback (to somebody-not me) is 50w rating on 6m.



Er...My FT847 has a 100w rating on 6m...In fact it has 100w rating from 160m right through to 6m and it only has 50w rating on both 2m and 70cm.
Being a UK spec FT-847 it also covers 4m as standard...The ONLY ham transceiver that does! Which is why I got one.
This is my first HF radio and not having had another base Ham radio before to compare it with I dont have any problem at all with it on HF...IMHO, proper attention to antenna design and location is the most important criteria for HF performance and the radio used is secondary.

73 from Alf (G7VGG)

[VE3PTC]

i bought mine new in 2000, and it gave me sterling service, until i sold it late last year. always worked well on vhf/uhf. ceramic filter not always great on crowded hf bands. i added an inrad 2.1khz filter, and the difference was very dramatic, but i could not live with the loss the filter had(possible bad filter). it was way more than suggested.
great audio reports, and all the necessary controls on the front panel.
i regret selling it, but would have another anytime. a great, all band/mode radio.
for the original poster, inrad sells a "vox-box"specifically for the 847.
best 73 de bob. ve3ptc/gm0ley

[K7AV]

Er...My FT847 has a 100w rating on 6m...In fact it has 100w rating from 160m right through to 6m and it only has 50w rating on both 2m and 70cm.
Being a UK spec FT-847 it also covers 4m as standard...The ONLY ham transceiver that does! Which is why I got one.
This is my first HF radio and not having had another base Ham radio before to compare it with I dont have any problem at all with it on HF...IMHO, proper attention to antenna design and location is the most important criteria for HF performance and the radio used is secondary.

73 from Alf (G7VGG)


I think he means the LDG Z100 tuner has a 50W rating on 6M... though not sure.

[EI2IP]

Best shack in the box..

Pity they don't make these all band radios any more... :(

[PA5COR]

That's why i bought another one, was in the shop unsold,unused out of the box as spare.
The old one has the modifications done over the years, 90 watts on 70 MHz, Collins filters, temperature controled fans xtal oven etc, etc.

That will be done to the new one, and back in the box for future use.

[G7VGG]

Some mods can be a bit scarey to do but this is one mod that I can definitely recommend as its very easy to do and because it makes a huge improvement to the 4m TX PA on the UK spec FT-847.
Like most Japanese Ham radios the FT-847 was never originally designed to cover 4m and so when Yaesu UK decided to tweak it to include 4m they made a few #### ups.
The first was the 6m bandpass filter being used when switched to the 4m band resulting in a very deaf 4m RX response.
Yaesu made improvements on later models but even those models are a bit hard of hearing on 4m imo.
The only real solution is to tweak the 4m RF gain in the alignment settings and use either an internal or external preamp.
The second thing they cocked up was the 4m PA stage...In standard spec the FT-847 gives out 100 watts on 6m at a power consumption of about 21 amps but it only gives out about 10 watts on 4m at a power consumption of about 20amps!...This means its very inefficient on 4m and most of the RF being generated is just being turned into heat.
Dutch radio Ham Marc Vlemmings (PA10) discovered a very neat and extremely simple solution. You remove one tiny SMD capacitor and snip one little wire and you get about 85 watts out of 4m at a much more efficient power consumption of around 16 amps and it also reduces the power consumption on 6m too from 21 amps down to about 17amps!
You can find full details of the mod and a few others worth looking at can be found here:
http://www.vlemmings.com/PA1O/
;)
73
G7VGG

[K7GAV]

hi guys i own a ft-847 rig works great 100w out on 6m 50w out on 440 and 2 meters its a great rig for hf i tune in all parts of the world with it i even have the AC20 antenna tuner for my R8 cushcraft hf antenna i'm looking forward to upgrading next month to general so i can use my r8 antenna