ICQPodcast Episode 239 - Yaesu FT-450D Review Released

W9CHM · Jun 20, 2017

KD2NOM said: ↑

Having just purchased a used FT-450D I looked forward to (and enjoyed) the review. Cheers
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I also have recently purchased this radio and enjoy the review as well.

W1YW · Jun 21, 2017

K1HMS said: ↑

The 450D was my first rig, I still have it for portable ops. I've moved on to a TS-590SG and a IC-7300.

For the $500 I paid for the 450 used it is still a lot of fun. I put 30 countries and 36 states in the log in my first few months. The CAT interface is supported by all of the major logging programs. The DSP functions are easy to change with one button and the knob right next to it. Over time and with practice you can reduce the noise and reject adjacent signals to work weak signals. It is small, and rugged. On transmit it is 100w the same as the rest of them, I always received good signal reports. It can hear about everything the 590 or 7300 can as most of the time you are signal to noise limited by your antenna, not the radio. Under some conditions the 450 is a bit of a "mumble box" due to the up-convering architecture, and the wide 10kHz roofing filter which lets strong adjacent signals in causing distortion due to intermods and a reduction in sensistivity.

I don't get the bashing, it is what it is. It's a well made low end entry level "rice box" with most of the features available today like noise reduction, IF shift, VFO A and B, ability to work split, keyer, ant tuner etc. At a half to a third of the price of other radios you can get on the air 160m - 6m. No, you don't get a color touch screen panadapter, or selectable roofing filters because you didn't pay for them.

Comparing a Ford Focus' short comings to a S-600 Mercedes is the sport of 14 year olds that don't drive.

The videos are always postive raving about all the features and how great they are. If you want a loaner IC-7851 or FTDX-9000 to review once in a while you can't bash the brand.
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I still have a 450D. Its one of my 'go box' radios. Again, no bashing: the fact is there is a FATAL FLAW on the 450D for outside operation--you simply CANNOT read the display in indirect OR direct sunlight.

KO6KL · Jun 22, 2017

I was surprised by how big the ft-450 is when i saw it at hro , it looks like a tiny mobile radio in the printed adds.

K7LZR · Jun 24, 2017

KA1BSZ said: ↑

eham reviews are shorter and to the point. the pod casts reviews are way too long,longer than our church services.
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Eham reviews are also not really reliable because they are written by users and therefore vary widely depending upon that person's experience with that product. So most of them are really just user opinions rather than actual reviews.

eHam can be a good tool for quick research in the initial buying decision.....

K1HMS · Jun 28, 2017

W1YW,
Calling a flaw a flaw isn't bashing. The screen can be impossible to see in sun light, even in the shade of a tent. For a portable size radio this seems like a dumb design choice.
K1HMS

KF5FEI · Jun 28, 2017

K1HMS said: ↑

W1YW,
Calling a flaw a flaw isn't bashing. The screen can be impossible to see in sun light, even in the shade of a tent. For a portable size radio this seems like a dumb design choice.
K1HMS
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And likely the laptop you are using has the same flaw, as it is intended for indoor use as well. Save a cardboard box, cut it to fit over the radio, and paint the inside black. Wipe hands on pants.

My 450D has been all over for just about every outdoor event we do, and I don't recall not being able to read the display -- I might strain a bit, but I can still see it.

ICQPodcast Episode 239 - Yaesu FT-450D Review Released

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