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FT-817 The Ultimate Backpacker! Multi-mode Portable Transceiver The world’s first self-contained, battery-powered, Multi-mode Portable Transceiver covering the HF, VHF, and UHF bands! For more than four decades, Yaesu has been a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance multi-mode base station and mobile transceivers, as well as FM handhelds.Yaesu broke new ground with the introduction of the FT-817: the world’s first HF/VHF/UHF self-contained battery-powered Multi-mode Portable Transceiver. Providing up to five watts of power output, the FT-817 is designed for operation on the 160-10 meter HF bands, plus the 6 meter, 2 meter, and 70 cm bands. Whether your preferred operating mode is SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet, or SSB-based Digital modes like PSK31, the FT-817 is ready to join you on your next hiking, camping, or search-and-rescue adventure! Now the 817 legacy is even better with the introduction of the FT-817ND, which includes coverage of the U.S. 60-meter (5 MHz) band, and it also includes  a 1400 mAh NiMH Battery pack (FNB-85) and NC-72B Charger! Ultra Compact HF/VHF/UHF Multimode Rig Despite its incredibly small size (5.3" x 1.5" x 6.5"), the FT-817 delivers big performance! Its next-generagion PA puts out five watts on all HF bands, plus the 50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 430 MHz bands, on all popular operating modes: USB/LSB/CW/AM/FM/Packet/PSK-31/RTTY. Wide Receiver Frequency Coverage Enjoy shortwave and FM broadcasts, public safety communications, and airband calls thanks to the extended frequency coverage of the FT-817ND, which includes reception on 100 kHz - 56 MHz, 76 - 108 MHz (W-FM only), 108 - 154 MHz, and 420 - 470 MHz. Two Antenna Connectors for Ease of Installation The front panel includes a convenient BNC connector for attachment of a whip or VHF/UHF rubber flex antenna (supplied). The rear panel includes a type “M” (“SO-239”) connector. As shipped from the factory, the BNC jack is active on 50/144/430 MHz, while the “M” connector is active on HF. But using the Menu, you can assign, for example, 50 and 144 MHz to the rear panel, if your coaxial cables have matching plugs. Receiver Enahncement Features • IF Shift – For reduction of adjacent-frequency interference. • IF Noise Blanker – For reduction of ignition and other impulse-type noise. • IPO (Intercept Point Optimization) – Bypasses RX Preamp on HF/50 MHz for improved performance during strong-signal conditions. • ATT (Front End Attenuator) – For more pleasant reception of very strong signals. Outstanding CW Features • CW “Semi Break-in,” with T/R recovery delay programmable from 10 ms ~ 2500 ms. At 10 ms setting, performance emulates QSK operation. • CW Reverse: provides BFO injection from LSB-side, instead of default USB-side. • CW Pitch Control: adjusts TX offset and (identical) sidetone between 300 Hz and 1000 Hz in 50 Hz steps; this allows precise spotting on DX stations. Sidetone level is adjustable. • Built-in Electronic Keyer, with speed adjustable between 4 WPM and 60 WPM, and Weight (Dot:Dash Ratio) adjustable between 1:2.5 and 1:4.5. • For emergency use, the Menu allows you to set up the Microphone’s [UP] and [DWN] keys for generation of “Dots” and “Dashes” on CW! Versatile, Easy-To-See Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) A wealth of information is available on the front panel LCD: • When you have to be away from the radio for a few minutes, but would like a visual indication of activity while you’re away, activate the Spectrum Scope Monitor. The Spectrum Scope Monitor allows you to watch activity ±5 channels from the current operating frequency. • The LCD illumination color may be set to either Blue or Amber color, using the Menu. • Watch for low battery trouble using the Battery Voltage Meter display selection. • For ease of viewing while outdoors, you can double the size of the frequency display High Performance Collins® Mechanical Filter Options An optional filter slot is provided in the FT-817ND, allowing the owner to install one of two available Collins® Mechanical Filters. For CW operation, choose the 7-pole YF-122C (500 Hz bandwidth), or for very natural-sounding SSB select the 10-pole YF-122S (2.3 kHz bandwidth). Internal Battery Power The FT-817 is the only rig in its class with internal battery operation capability. Shipped from the factory with a battery tray for 8 "AA" batteries, the FT-817D may also be operated from the optional FNB-85 battery pack. full power output is available under battery power. Other manufacturers radios make you carry around a heavy external power source. . .but the FT-817ND is entirely self-contained, making it ideal for backpacking or search-and-rescue work.

Model
Antennas
ATAS-25	The ATAS-25 is a manually-tuned portable antenna system ideal for the FT-817, FT-897, and FT-857 transceivers. Capable of operating on the Amateur bands between 7 MHz and 450 MHz, the ATAS-25 is designed for mounting on a standard 1/4" camera tripod stud (tripod not supplied), and includes an innovative fine-tuning system allowing precise SWR adjustment in the field.
Cables
CT-39	Packet Interface Cable
Cases
CSC-83	CSC-83
Chargers
NC-72B	120 VAC 12-Hour Wall Charger
Filters
YF-122C	Collins CW Filter 500 Hz, 7-pole
YF-122CN	Collins CW Filter, 300 Hz, 7-pole
YF-122S	Collins SSB Filter 2.3 kHz, 10-pole
Microphones
M-70	Desktop Microphone
M-90D	Desktop Microphone
M-90MS	Microphone Stand Kit (microphone stand is not included).
MH-36E8J	DTMF Mobile Microphone
Miscellaneous
CT-62	CAT Interface Cable
TCXO-9	Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator 0.5 ppm
Speakers
MLS-100	External Speaker (12 Watt Peak)

Amateur Radio \ Brochures \ Rotators       FT-817.pdf  ( 443.62 KB )

Amateur Radio \ Manuals \ HF/Satellite Transceivers and Amps       ATAS-25 Operating Manual  ( 602.91 KB )

Amateur Radio \ Manuals \ HF/Satellite Transceivers and Amps       FT-817 Spanish Manual  ( 3.75 MB )

Amateur Radio \ Manuals \ HF/Satellite Transceivers and Amps       FT-817ND_French manual.pdf  ( 4.08 MB )

Amateur Radio \ Manuals \ HF/Satellite Transceivers and Amps       FT-817ND Operating Manual (E13771011)  ( 2.43 MB )

Amateur Radio \ Manuals \ HF/Satellite Transceivers and Amps       FT-817ND Spanish Operating Manual  ( 2.45 MB )

Can I turn up the transmit power on my FT-817 to 10 Watts?

Don't even think about it. While the transistors may be capable of putting out more power, everything else about the transceiver--the bias, the voltage ratings of the low-pass filter and other components, and the current-carrying capability of the conductors inside the transceiver are all designed around a maximum power of five watts. To turn up the power is to invite a costly repair that is not covered by the Limited Warranty on this product.

Why doesn't Vertex Standard manufacture a linear amplifier for use with the FT-817?

In the United States, current FCC regulations prohibit the manufacture and/or marketing of linear amplifiers that do not achieve their rated output with less than 50 Watts of drive. Since the FT-817 only puts out five Watts, its drive would not be compatible with this Type Acceptance requirement for linear amplifiers. It is highly likely that this prohibition will be removed some time in 2004 or 2005, and the situation will then be re-evaluated.

What can I work with five Watts?

With five Watts and even simple, portable vertical antennas, it should be possible to work over 100 countries within a few weeks in the Spring and Fall contest seasons. Every effort must be made, of course, to devise and use effective antennas, but five watts is only 13 dB down from 100 Watts. How many stations running 100 Watts have you worked that were S9? A five-Watt signal would be only very slightly less than S7, for comparison purposes!

Does Vertex Standard make any portable antennas?

Yes! The ATAS-25 is a portable vertical antenna that mounts on any standard camera tripod (1/4"-20 thread). It is efficient and easy to adjust, and is highly recommended for portable work. If you can operate near the seashore, the performance will be significantly enhanced, due to reduction of the pseudo-Brewster Angle to about 1º or less; this can eliminate one or more propagation "hops" and thus increase your signal strength by about two S-units or more. The ATAS-25 is available from any Authorized Yaesu Dealer.

Can I view the Operating Manual online?

Yes. Click on the "Files" tab on the main FT-817 product page, and you will see links to the brochure, as well as both English and Spanish versions of the Operating Manual.

Are the 60-meter channels in my FT-817ND off frequency?

No. Your attention is directed to ARRL's FAQ regarding 60-meter operation: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/faq-60.html NTIA specifies channels in terms of "channel center" frequencies, where as amateur transceivers, in tuning a commercial channel, typically must be tuned 1.5 kHz lower than the specified "channel center" frequency. For example, for a "channel center" frequency of 5332 kHz, you tune a "traditional" transceiver to 5330.5 kHz. So go ahead and try it. Set up an FT-817ND/857D/897D to the "5332" channel, and tune your FT-1000MP to 5330.5 kHz. Now transmit from the 817ND/857D/897D; you will find that you are precisely on frequency as you monitor on the other transceiver. Note: If you program 5330.5 kHz into a "regular" memory from the VFO, it will be on the same frequency as the "5332 kHz" channel in the special 5 MHz memory bank, as the 60-meter bank (only) displays according to the "channel center" format.

Was that an FT-817 I saw on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on May 13th?

Yes (two, actually)! Vertex Standard's Chip Margelli, K7JA and Ken Miller, K6CTW used FT-817s (with the antennas disconnected) to transmit/receive the message "I JUST SAVED A BUNCH OF MONEY ON MY CAR INSURANCE" in a speed test against the reigning U.S. cell-phone text messaging champion. Needless to say, Morse Code on the FT-817s won!