[Elecraft] FT-817 Follow On?

[Mike]

Jerry Kincade wrote:

> Well, heck, I sort of expected to be chastised for daring to
> say anything good about a non-Elecraft radio (chuckle)...
> 
> 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.

Hi Jerry,

I didn't intend to sound critical of your opinion, and I apologize if I
did.

I think many of us were expecting a real live improvement to the FT-817
(whose features were designed primarily for the 2.8 million Japanese
Fourth Class licensees) that would more suit the portable low power HF
ops in the rest of the world.  Yet the new FT-897 is some entirely new
rig for some completely different market altogether.  I'd be tempted to
buy a FT-817-type radio with the improvements I mentioned, as much as I
like the K1.  The two rigs really aren't competing for the same market,
for no one could seriously consider using a rig with the FT-817's hunger
for batteries in any kind of backpack situation other than a day hike.

I should have added one other improvement needed for a real "Mark II"
FT-817:

7)  CW filter as standard factory-installed feature, as on the FT-100D.

73,
Mike / KK5F