[SixClub] High end 6 meter rigs (was: New to Six Meters)

[RICHARD BOYD]

Well, maybe you're right, maybe it's current production.  In any case, a 
friend of mine, W3UR, borrowed one of mine to get active on 6 and chase DXCC 
(which he already has on all the HF bands I guess, CW, SSB, and RTTY too) 
and then found one used on E-Bay or something at a good price.

I have two of them, to take with me on DXpeditions (basically to Puerto 
Rico, where I operate as WP3R and sometimes as WP3Q or KE3Q/KP4).  Here's 
how it happened.  A friend of mine, K3RA, had one in his car, plus the Yaesu 
ATAS-100 antenna.  Very slick, quick band changes, the antenna reresonates. 
Very effecting in calling DX stations on various bands and getting through 
quick.

At that time I had a couple spare Drake TR-7 HF radios, plus an old Icom 2M 
and an old Icom 6M, plus brick amplifiers for both the VHF rigs.  I did the 
math and realized I could sell all that gear at a hamfest and have enough to 
buy two FT-847s that would do what all the old gear did and do it better.

At 14.4 pounds each, the two rigs were a lot smaller and lighter than even 
one FT-1000D that I had previously been taking on airplanes (more like 70 
pounds, isn't it?  Maybe not quite that much.)

I have found the 847 to be like a fullsize rig (e.g. FT-1000MP) but smaller, 
though not as small as the "true mobile" type ones like the FT-100D.

73 - Rich, KE3Q


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "N1OFZ" <n1ofz at arrl.net>
To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 10:16 PM
Subject: Re: [SixClub] High end 6 meter rigs (was: New to Six Meters)


> Has it been discontinued?  It is still on Yaesu's website.  I've heard
> rumors
> for over a year but never any official word.
>
> I was thinking about picking up another one.  I hope they come out with
> another base unit as the displays on the 857 and 897's are too small.
> Another nice thing about the 847 is that it has individual ports for
> HF/6/2/.70
> so you can have antennas for each band connected without having to use
> a switch.
>
> I also have a FT-726 with the 6m module that works quite well.  I have
> also had one of the TenTec 6m transverters.  If you already have an
> HF rig (without 6) it is a quick and inexpensive way to get on 6.
>
> Dana
> N1OFZ
>
>
>
> On Jan 18, 2005, at 9:42 PM, RICHARD BOYD wrote:
>
> > I've enjoyed my Yaesu FT-847s.  I guess this model has been
> > discontinued
> > now.  I would think it could be a real bargain used.  I expect the 857
> > and
> > 897, if those are the next similar models out, are very good.
> >
> > The trend of rig that have HF plus 6M (and 2M and 70 CM) is a real
> > boon to
> > 6M activity.
> >
> > 73 - Rich, KE3Q
>
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