[Elecraft] FT-817 Follow On?

[Jerry Kincade]

Well, heck, I sort of expected to be chastised for daring to say anything
good about a non-Elecraft radio (chuckle), but wanted to be forthright in my
Dayton opinion.

It appears I was misinterpreted here. I didn't say I wanted one for a
backpack radio, Mike, or even that I though the 897 was a "follow-on" to the
817. I just want a better bolt-in-the-car all-band *mobile* rig than the
current offerings. My trusty K1-4 will still travel as my backpack and
hilltop radio.

Yaesu might build a "follow-on" for the 817 one of these days, but this
ain't it. It appears to be a deluxe ruggedized 100W mobile rig than can also
do picnic tables and field days on occasion, and possibly remote/DXpedition
stuff. Actually, the 897 doesn't appear to me to be intended to compete in
the Elecraft market niche at all. The K2, for instance, is an outstanding
rig for lots of reasons, but I suspect even Wayne himself would tell you it
was not designed for long term mobile use, since as far as I know it is not
vibration, shock and environmentally tested or similiarly "mil-spec'd". Long
term daily mobile use is extremely hard on radios from a mechanical shock
and vibration standpoint, and DXpedition operation would likely do in a
non-water and sand resistant radio!

Best wishes,
Jerry W5KP

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