Yaesu FT767GX

[Mike Watterson]

Hi
All FT818s are the ND version with the TCXO fitted. My 18 month old FT818 came from NI for just £350 including special delivery post. No complaints from me.

The FT818 is fine. I wasn't meaning to cast any aspersions on it and good choice vs FT817ND as those are all older and might need a new battery pack. There is nothing else comparable. Don't forget to switch on the attenuator on HF if any decent aerial is connected!

The design was cost reduced in the sense of replacing older parts, either expensive or nearly unobtainable, with newer parts, not in the sense of reducing quality. A replacement rather than upgrade or downgrade. It's a shame the FT818 was discontinued. It was sold out almost overnight in many countries when the announcement was made.

FT817: 2000-2003 (Discontinued)
FT817ND: 2004-2017 (Discontinued) An updated FT-817 with 60 m coverage USA, improved RF power amp and higher capacity battery pack.
FT818ND: 2018-2022 (Discontinued) This is basically an updated FT-817ND with 60 m coverage for all, not just some models, redesigned RF power amp, higher capacity battery pack and TCXO-9 fitted as standard.

Totally extraordinary for a more or less consumer electronics to be sold for 22 years with two design changes. ND might be "new design" or "new deluxe". The first change was because the PA was a bit too fragile. The second change was mainly because of part supply issues. The TCXO have become much cheaper and battery capacity is higher anyway. The PA redesign does allow 6W rather than 5W safely but was likely about parts availability.

It's a niche in the Amateur market but now there is nothing at a similar price, form factor with all modes. It seems strange that the FT818ND was discontinued with no replacement. The "ND" is a bit superfluous on an 818.

The FT897 was really much like an FT857, both very similar architecture to the FT817, but 100W. However the FT897 was a true portable having the internal battery and maybe slightly improved heatsink. It's amazing how short lived those models where. I'd have bought an FT897 but couldn't afford it, but when I did have the cash it was enough for an FT817ND in May 2006.