I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

The place to talk about specific amateur radio equipment and all types of accessories, fixes, repairs and modification.
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

I dont know if I feel a bit silly now.

As you may know by now I just passed my Foundation today 6/4/2017 and my heart is in HF and I just purchased a FT-857D.

I watched this video before I decided what rig to get and thought that because he was starting from 10W and then cranking it up that this rig is variable power over all frequencies the radio covers.

I dont think that I have researched it properly and now I am unsure if in HF it is variable power.

Could anyone please confirm if it is variable power through the whole range of frequencies that the radio covers, because I do not want to be going outside of my Licensing conditions.

Thanks and 73's
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
paulears
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1089
Joined: 10 Jun 2007, 22:41
Call Sign: G4RMT
Location: North East Suffolk
Contact:

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by paulears »

The radio has more power available at HF, then VHF or UHF - and the power setting won't let you adjust it to higher than is available. I assume it hasn't arrived yet?
User avatar
Kaos
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 964
Joined: 14 Nov 2007, 06:53

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by Kaos »

Yes all bands have varible power to their top spec. HF has from 5w to 100w etc....
User avatar
MrWeetabix
Admin
Admin
Posts: 16343
Joined: 26 Aug 2008, 13:34
Call Sign: 26TM175
Location: Gateshead

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by MrWeetabix »

Kaos wrote:Yes all bands have varible power to their top spec. HF has from 5w to 100w etc....
what are the increimental steps?

On the higher bands, where the power is limited to 20w for example, does the variable power still show 1-100, so you must assume that this is a % of the actual out put?

so on UHF, setting the variable to 50, would be 10w (half being 50%, so half of 20 being 10)?
26TM175. OP: Craig. QTH: Gateshead IO94EW. Also 163TM175 when mobile in Wales 8)

Transmission1 on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/TM1onFB | Tango Mike on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/TangoMikeFB |
User avatar
Kaos
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 964
Joined: 14 Nov 2007, 06:53

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by Kaos »

HF is 5 to 100w
VHF is 5 to 50w
UHF is 2 to 20w

All watts, not a percentage.

Depending on what band you are on Menu no 75 is the one you need to alter output power.

Just looked at my 857d while typing this.

Edited to add the step is 1w on all bands.

According to what I have 10w set output measures 10w on meter. The set is pretty accurate or my meter is.
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

Thanks Kaos that has now put my mind at rest and stopped me panicking.
Thanks for the info.
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
User avatar
MrWeetabix
Admin
Admin
Posts: 16343
Joined: 26 Aug 2008, 13:34
Call Sign: 26TM175
Location: Gateshead

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by MrWeetabix »

Its been a while since I had one, so I was just trying to draw-out the detail for the op who asked. Much appreciated Kaos :-)
26TM175. OP: Craig. QTH: Gateshead IO94EW. Also 163TM175 when mobile in Wales 8)

Transmission1 on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/TM1onFB | Tango Mike on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/TangoMikeFB |
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

Yep thanks MrWeetabix for your help also
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
User avatar
Buick Mackane
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9582
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 17:30
Location: A citizen of legoland

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by Buick Mackane »

I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up,
Thats a normal day for me :lol:
I Am the great cornholio are you threatening me ?
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

Buick Mackane wrote:
I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up,
Thats a normal day for me :lol:
:lol: me too mate
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
User avatar
stanogs68
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 2569
Joined: 05 Mar 2013, 19:38
Location: warrington,north west

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by stanogs68 »

there dear them radios arnt they mate id have save up for ages and beg the missus lol ,well done on your foundation mate !
love your familly
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

Thanks Stan.
I got a bargain mate it is fully boxed only used twice, even still got the screen protector on it, comes with everything including a data cable thrown in and all for £475 as a posed to almost £800 for a branny.

I used me credit card pall so will be paying for it monthly, it is the only way I could have ever afforded a radio like that or even a radio like an FT-817ND would have had to go on the card.
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
User avatar
Kaos
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 964
Joined: 14 Nov 2007, 06:53

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by Kaos »

nay27uk wrote:Thanks Stan.
I got a bargain mate it is fully boxed only used twice, even still got the screen protector on it, comes with everything including a data cable thrown in and all for £475 as a posed to almost £800 for a branny.

I used me credit card pall so will be paying for it monthly, it is the only way I could have ever afforded a radio like that or even a radio like an FT-817ND would have had to go on the card.
This is my 2nd 857d, I regretted selling my 1st one.

I have a Yaesu FT950 aswell and on RX there is not alot of difference between them when you have all the menus (DSP etc) set up as per your taste. The 950 is better on TX as that has a Mic Eq built in. I have done the electret MOD on the 857's mic and its wayyyyyyy better than standard.
User avatar
nay27uk
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 640
Joined: 20 Nov 2009, 15:02
Location: Leicester UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by nay27uk »

Cheers Kaos that Electret mod sounds interesting but that will have to wait till I get my Intermediate as Foundation wont allow moded stuff
M6LIG / 2E0LIG / 26TM1995

Baofeng UV5R+
Boafeng RD-5R
YAESU FT-857D - Watson W50 - HF-SE-360
Malahit SDR - Ground Loop
Panasonic DR28-LBE
User avatar
Mitch
Radio Addict
Radio Addict
Posts: 597
Joined: 02 Nov 2012, 21:26
Call Sign: M1TCH
Location: Leicestershire UK

Re: I am a bit confused, and a bit fed up, FT-857D

Post by Mitch »

nay27uk wrote:Cheers Kaos that Electret mod sounds interesting but that will have to wait till I get my Intermediate as Foundation wont allow moded stuff
You'll need a construction project for your 2e0, could be an ideal one. I found a couple of web pages on how to - https://m0ukd.com/mods/yaesu-mh-31-elec ... ification/ and https://www.george-smart.co.uk/scrapboo ... r_mic_mod/

I've got an 857 with the MH-31 mic myself and tbh I'm surprised it uses a dynamic element, everything else these days uses a condenser mic so I may well do this to mine. I don't think mic mods will make that much difference on a foundation license, you're not modding the power or frequency out of band, as long as it works properly you'll be fine. It's all in the amateur spirit of experimenting and learning, how else do we progress, we have to play :D

You wouldn't believe the heath robinson setup I first used when I got my M6, but it was a lot of fun and interesting to do, K40 mic into a voice vandel into a DJ-G5 hand held into a discone, kept getting told to 'turn that echo off' lol, and had to make up connectors to fit it all together. Nobody minded really because I was learning and only received encouragement from most fellow hams. Go for it I say.
The perfect face for radio.
Post Reply