[SPAM] Re: [FARC] FT-897D QRP

Jon and Suse Greenstone jsgreenstone at verizon.net
Sat May 3 14:14:41 EDT 2008 

Yea Kirk, know what you mean!  Keep checking ebay on the whim, someone wants 
to sell their dtmf mic or LDG 897, which has come up on occasion, but folks 
on ebay are crazy enough to pay close to brand new prices for used equip . . 
. so, so much for bargains!  73
Jon kb3llx
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kirktal7237 at msn.com>
To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:53 AM
Subject: [SPAM] Re: [FARC] FT-897D QRP


> Nope, no DTMF mic.  My Kenwood TS-2000 didn't come with one either.  As a 
> matter of fact  I was a little disappointed at how much didn't come with 
> the Yaesu FT-897D  for the price.   Everything that you need to make it a 
> true portable, like the advertising says, is at extra cost.  Even the 
> battery charger comes in two pieces each of which you have to buy at very 
> high prices.   From the $799.00 list price to making the radio portable 
> the price practically doubles.    If they would just advertise it as a 
> $1,500.00 radio and include all the extras one wouldn't feel so cheated.
>
> 73
> KB3ONM
> Kirk
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Jon and Suse Greenstone" <jsgreenstone at verizon.net>
> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:35 PM
> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [FARC] FT-897D QRP
>
>> Roger on all that Kirk,
>> Do you have the DTMF Mic? Just curious.  My rig is the older version, 
>> without 60 Meter Channels. Nevertheless, I enjoy the versatility, only 
>> had it in the truck once.
>> 73
>> Jon  kb3llx
>>
>>
>>      MH-36E8J  DTMF Mobile Microphone
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <kirktal7237 at msn.com>
>> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 8:18 AM
>> Subject: Re: [FARC] FT-897D QRP
>>
>>
>>> Jon,  I'm using the LDG AT-897 tuner which was designed for use with the 
>>> FT-897.   It bolts right on to the side of the radio although I haven't 
>>> done this yet.  I have the tuner sitting beside the radio on the desk 
>>> and the tuner uses the CAT port on the radio to receive power.  The 
>>> tuner runs about 1 second to tune a particular frequency.   I've been 
>>> using the FT-897 on one battery pack for 3 days now, however  I haven't 
>>> done a lot of transmitting. I'm still reading the owners manual, trying 
>>> different buttons and settings, and trying to figure out the menu 
>>> system.
>>>
>>> The NiMh batteries for the FT-897 are expensive, $129 each, so an 
>>> alternative power system like you have is a good idea especially for 
>>> field day use.  Under constant transmitting conditions like at a field 
>>> day or special event I'm not sure the FT-897 could make it on those two 
>>> internal batteries alone.
>>>
>>> I like the concept though, especially since I can take it in a vehicle, 
>>> hook it to a mag mount antenna, and run VHF/UHF without having it 
>>> permanently mounted or using vehicle power.   I just have to convince 
>>> the XYL now that I need an antenna hook-up in every room of the house HI 
>>> HI.
>>>
>>> 73
>>> KB3ONM
>>> Kirk
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Jon and Suse Greenstone" <jsgreenstone at verizon.net>
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 10:46 PM
>>> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Subject: Re: [FARC] FT-897D QRP
>>>
>>>> Hi Kirk,
>>>> Just fyi, the FT897 is my main rig here at the house.  I don't have the 
>>>> portable batteries, got rig used--no batteries, but I do have it hooked 
>>>> up to gel cell external batteries--that are solar charged.  Since the 
>>>> gel cells are charged at 24 volts, I have an Astron 24x12vdc converter. 
>>>> While this is not an ideal way to operate--it works ok.  The more 
>>>> important thing is that I can run up to full power, batteries not 
>>>> withstanding, since the radio thinks its on a power supply.  While this 
>>>> would not be practicle for portable operation, at least it would work 
>>>> for field day or campsite situation assuming  you had a large gel cell 
>>>> or otherwise battery power available.  Enjoy the rig--what Tuner are 
>>>> you using?
>>>> Jon  kb3llx
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: <kirktal7237 at msn.com>
>>>> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 3:37 PM
>>>> Subject: [FARC] FT-897D QRP
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Just got an Yaesu FT-897D for portable use with the Buddipole antenna. 
>>>> I'm running it on two NiMh battery packs which contrary to Ham radio 
>>>> dealer literature only provide 4 hours of continuous operation at 20 
>>>> watts on HF not 8 hours.  The FT-897D automatically switches to 20 
>>>> watts maximum RF power when using battery packs, I have no control over 
>>>> this.
>>>>
>>>> Now I haven't set up the Buddipole antenna yet, but I am using the 
>>>> FT-897D with my 40 meter inverted V dipole.  This dipole has given fair 
>>>> to marginal performance at 100 watts with other radios depending on 
>>>> band conditions. Today using the FT-897D on 40 meters I made my first 
>>>> contact using 20 watts. I reached Joliet, Illinois and got a confusing 
>>>> signal report.  Very weak signal but good audio, with 0 to 1 S-units on 
>>>> the meter.   The guy could barely copy me over the background noise.
>>>>
>>>> So this radio is evidently a QRP rig, not that there's anything wrong 
>>>> with that, and I was just wondering will I need some type of gain 
>>>> antenna like a beam to make this rig work?  I've been told that the 
>>>> right antenna with gain can be a good substitute for brute RF power and 
>>>> put out a fine signal.  Any thoughts on this?
>>>>
>>>> See you all at the luncheon tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> KB3ONM
>>>> Kirk
>>>>
>>>>
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