IC7300, FT991 or wait for the FT817 replacement?
At the moment I am looking for a new rig, but I am prepared to wait some time. I have never been keen on running high power and 5-10W would serve me well. I like that the new IC7300 is SDR based, but I like that the FT991 includes 2m and 70cm.
At the moment I think I'll just wait for the FT817 replacement. I hope this includes 4m, but it sounds like it uses the same IF as the FT991, so I guess 4m is unlikely. Ideally I think the IC7300s (10W version) would be a good bet, especially if this comes out with 4m too.
I dislike fans, so I assume the IC7300S and FT817 replacement will not have these? Lets hope ICOM market the IC7300S as a QRP radio in Europe. 10W pep is a decent power. Certainly enough power for most occasions.
SIt would not surprise me if the FT817 replacement stayed at 5W but they also had a companion booster amplifier, maybe 20-50W. As we will be on the way down in the solar cycle next year (2016) this may be a reasonable compromise. What would they do about the auto ATU? I guess any bolt-on amp would have to have its own. I still think Yaesu seriously misjudged the market for this rig and the timing. There are so many FT817s out there and people have been gagging for a replacement/enhanced version for years. Now Yaesu is playing catch-up rather than leading. As I said yesterday, this new radio will need some seriously good features if it is to sell as well as the FT817 has done. Oh, expect some very good deals on the FT817ND early next year. The dealers will want to clear shelves in readiness of the new one.
The 7300 looks interesting.. The 50 watt one especially. But Yaesu does not have market on being slow. I have a IC-7100 and it is a outstanding radio in many ways, but has a low TX issue which deals with the DSP.. I expect it will take another 2 years before they fix it… As far as the 991 maybe the same. Wait and see how the 7300 plays for 6 months then decide. I have had a total of nice FT-817 since they came out. Fun radio with limits an great for tradeing… That said if it did not have so many nice things going for it I would probably not have had so many. My last one I gave to my 13 yr old grandson a a gift after he passed his tech license. I am not a KX3 man. With the new beta tested firmware I can now do 10 watts all the way down to 10 volts… Elecraft is fast with firmware fixes and new goodies, but a bit expensive and with you VAT even more so… Stick with the FT-817 and give the 7300 a serious look. It maybe be in the KX3 class and a lot less for less..
ReplyDeleteHi, The FT991 for what I’ve read on the yahoo group has a lot of software flaws and Yaesu is veeeeeeryyyyyyy slow to come out with firmware fixes. The Icom 7300 looks promising. What do you really know about a Yaesu ft817 replacement?
ReplyDeleteThe QRP-only FT-817ND is on sale at $690 (in the U.S. anyway). The 100W FT-857D is down to $850, If you’re QRP obsessed (or just plain scared) simply turn the 857D’s power down. But where you DIE with these older (but good) radios is in the Accessories, which are really Necessities (e.g., Filter$$$ & Tuner$$$). Then there is the FT-450D, which is reasonably priced yet doesn’t need a slew of expensive accessories (but the built-in ATU is a joke). The IC7300 looks interesting, but I agree with other commenters: Many of us may expire before we see FPGA bug-fix bitstreams from ICOM for the 7300. And by then, Icom will figure out a way to make you pay for it. Then there is the Alinco DX-SR9T at $720. But no ATU, a 70MHz 1st IF (I think) and no strong CW filtering (but it does have 100W, and an IQ output). Don’t get me started on Kenwood. For me Kenwood is a “Trigger Word”. Sigh – life is short – just buy them all
ReplyDeleteIf” Yaesu brings out a radio that’s supposed to directly replace the FT-817ND, what in the world makes you think it will automatically be at or below pricing levels on the existing new FT-817ND units?
ReplyDeleteYaesu could easily add a few neat features and slap a much higher price tag on it and there will still be folks lining up to purchase it. Don’t kid yourself, Yaesu is in the business to make money, not to encourage flea market sales level pricing on their HF rigs – QRP or otherwise.
Quit whining about the cost. If it’s too high for your budget, buy a used one. If that’s still too high, stop drinking at the pub or bike to work. In no time at all, you’ll have the money saved.
The "replacement 817" would seem an ideal candidate for a hybrid SDR receiver with digital+analog transmitter. But doing direct sampling SDR receive at 2m or 70cms will be a real challenge. That's certainly why the 7300 doesn't have those bands. Any hybrid sdr direct sampling + mixing scheme for VHF/UHF probably gets quite messy. There will be difficulty achieving the normally expected specs, and it will expensive, both DC power-wise, and dollar-wise.
ReplyDelete