[Elecraft] FT-817 Follow On?

[Mike]

Jerry Kincade wrote:

> The 897 was extremely impressive, a very slick radio in an attractive
> package with a 10AH internal battery capability. No internal tuner
> (bolts to one side of the radio ... If it's priced right, it will sell
> like hotcakes, I think.

I think the new FT-897 will **flop** big time.  When a 817 follow-on was
rumored, I envisioned the following improvements:

1)  About the same size as the FT-817,
2)  Maximum RF power output around 20 watts,
3)  Internal antenna tuner (similar to Elecraft's KAT1) in place 
    of the almost useless internal battery pack of the 817,
4)  Full VHF-FM public service band coverage on receive,
5)  Mode A iambic keyer option, vice the Mode B-only keyer that Yaesu
    stiffs the purchaser with in the FT-817,
6)  An option for reduced receiver current consumption (similar
    to Elecraft's K2).

The new FT-897 is **huge** in comparison to the FT-817, or even to the
FT-100.  Part of the size, apparently, is devoted to the internal
battery.  I'd far far prefer a radio box to be "all" radio, which would
let me decide how to pack externally whatever size battery I wished to
use.  As near as I can tell, the FT-897 meets none of the criteria for
which I'd hoped.  It does seem to bear one improvement over recent Yaesu
rigs:  The display is crisp and legible in stark comparison to the pale
blue blurred LCD abominations that Yaesu has been putting on many of
their rigs for the past few years.

IMO, the FT-897 is a definite non-starter.

I guess the Elecraft K1 will continue to be the only real choice for a
multi-band backpack radio.

Mike / KK5F