> do that at the better the accuracy.  Just using another receiver to
> check your radio is not advisable.  If you want to work 60 meters you
> need to really be on frequency, and that takes skill and equipment.
> I have heard several folks that are not with-in tolerance and will
> not talk to them.  Most folks are on frequency.

I do not know the 60m situation, but is this because there are only some
channels assigned, not a whole frequency range?

> Good Luck
> Steve W4CNG

>
> I would consider myself very picky when it comes to freq stability as
> I get to play with military radios that have ovenized oscillators
> that cost more than my 817 and 897 combined. The TCXO that I put in
> my FT-817 and later swapped to an FT-897 has been more than adequate
> for my purposes and I can recommend it for VHF/UHF SSB work. I

This sounds good. I guess it has no oven, no heat-up time, so it should work
with good accuracy even immediately after the power-up?!

> adjusted it when first installed and touched it up once after the
> first year. I don't remember it needing adjustment, the radio was
> opened up for another reason
> Mike

Hello All,

I have been lurking for a while and now feel that it is time for me
to ask some questions :)

I am a technician, who is planning to upgrade to General in the next
few months. I am about to upgrade from a HT to a base station that I
can also lug into the field when camping. The FT-897 seems to fit the
bill.

First question: FP-30 and FC-30 vs non-Yaesu ?

I think I prefer a stand-alone power supply, rather than the FP-30,
as it will provide some flexibility for future equipment.

For HF, an LDG antenna tuner would seem to give greater frequency
coverage, better performance with no fan noise.

Any thoughts on the wisdom or folly of going non-Yaesu on these two
items ?

Second question: New or used FT-897 ?

There are a fair number of reports of people sending their FT-897
back to Yaesu for service. This is a little scary given a used FT-897
will, I believe, come with no warranty (as it is non-transferable).

Are the known problems going to affect the average user and any idea
how much Yaesu would charge for a full upgrade/service if the unit is
not under warranty ?

Given that the price difference of used units is still quite high,
I'm leaning towards buying new.

Third question : Anyone know of any good deals in the pipeline ?

I have obviously missed the Dayton battery offer, but are there
likely to be any other such offers in the foreseeable future ?

Thanks

IAP

I'm in the same position you're in. I've been looking at the
FT-897 for a couple of weeks and I think today I'm going to
order one.

I went to http://www.ac6v.com to the section that lists
amateur radio dealers. I visted the web sites of several
dealers to do price comparisons. Prices vary from $989 or $999
to about $929. Some still offer the free battery, some don't.

In my case, having had good luck with two or three products
from W4RT.COM, I'll probaby order just the radio with free
battery and the TCXO from a dealer, then look to w4rt.com
for the SSB and CW filters, the other battery, and battery
charger. Like you, I'll probably run the radio from an
external 13.8v power supply rather than the bolt-on ac
supply from Yaesu.

I believe either the FILES or PHOTOs section of this group
has instructions for installing the internal accessories,
so when the filters and battery arrive I'll be able to install
them myself.

So...I'm looking forward to receiving a new toy and getting
it on the air.

73,

Mike - WB4HUC
Austin, TX
http://home.austin.rr.com/mjnewell/station2.html

In a message dated 8/1/2003 10:03:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
wb4huc@... writes:

> In my case, having had good luck with two or three products
> from W4RT.COM, I'll probaby order just the radio with free
> battery and the TCXO from a dealer, then look to w4rt.com
> for the SSB and CW filters, the other battery, and battery
> charger.

I believe the free battery offer was for both batteries. At least that is
what I received. Good luck and enjoy a great radio.

Paul


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The 897 was purchased in Jan from KJI in NJ. After reading the
comments here I decided to return it to Yaesu for all the fixes and
mods. It's there now. Has the FP-30 and TCXO installed. I used it
little- mainly to check out, install the TCXO and calibrate it. Buying
a house so here's your chance to save some bucks. Open to reasonable
offers. Will ship  FedX CONUS.  Jim KD2KU Corning NY

I had read in a couple previous posts that using a 12V battery
plugged into the back panel connector had resulted in a significant
loss of output power, due to the voltage being lower than the 13.8V
specified for nominal operation.  Since I do some operating from a
lead acid battery, I wanted to know how much I was giving up.  In
fact, I considered building a step up switching supply to provide
13.8V to my rig when using a 12V battery.

Before going to all the trouble, I decided to actually measure the
output power using an external digital power meter, while under both
external battery and power supply operation.  Here is what I found:

Band:  10M
Output setting:  100
Mode:  CW

EXTERNAL BATTERY OPERATION
FT-897 voltage during transmit:  11.4V (12.1V during receive)
Power reading:  109W

POWER SUPPLY OPERATION
FT-897 voltage during transmit:  13.8V
Power reading:  113W

There are two surprises here.  First, my rig appears to output more
than the 100W specified (it is possible that the meter has some
inaccuracy, but probably not much, since the spec is <5%).  Second,
the 2.4V difference between a power supply and a fully charged but
loaded battery only resulted in a 3-4% drop in output power.

I'll have to try discharging a battery until the transmit voltage
reaches somewhere around 10.5V, and check the power then.  My guess
is that the power will be considerably lower at that input voltage.
However, so far the data is very encouraging.

--Mike (N6QG)

I stayed with Yaesu equipment all along and have had no problems - once you
understand that the manual was probably written by a non-english speaking
person who assumes you have ten years experience. I use it as a base and
portable
and if you stay within its parameters it performs nicely. Currently using a
Buddipole for portable. W9WHX


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

You need to put some in between the lines information here. Yes no
oven, short start up, but it does have a long term aging issue.  The
TCXO-9 needs to be checked every 90 days for the first couple of
years to insure it stays put (+/-20hz at 5Mhz).  Some will, some will
not.  If you look at frequency tolerances of Commercially available
radio's that operate in the NTIA frequency spectrum (2-20mhz), their
yearly aging is 1PPM.  That is tight, but can be achieved with most
modern (last 5 years comercial radio designs).  Most that are older
than 7-10 years use an Oven Controlled Oscillator to achieve the
same.  An oven is the cheapest most reliable way to control a Crystal
unit used in an oscillator.  That is the primary reason the
commercially licensed GROL folks get the $$$ to certify radio's
as "On Frequency and Zero Beat".  I have a GROL, formerly 1st Class
Radio Telephone License from 1969 when you had to draw diagrams and
write answers, not like the multiple chance exams given now.  I can
still pass the old exam.
Good Luck
Steve W4CNG

> This sounds good. I guess it has no oven, no heat-up time, so it
should work
> with good accuracy even immediately after the power-up?!

Looked in the files section for the new PDF manual for the 897.  Couldnt
locate it.  How exactially how is it listed in the files section???


Thanks

Dan
KD5SOM

> You need to put some in between the lines information here. Yes no
> oven, short start up, but it does have a long term aging issue.  The

This is absolutely right. Of yourse it is aging, and I guess at this price
it cannot be pre-aged in a way that you can put it in and forget it. I
maintain some repeater systems with different sites operating on one
frequency, and I know what frequency accuracy can mean; it can be a oain in
the a** :)

> as "On Frequency and Zero Beat".  I have a GROL, formerly 1st Class
> Radio Telephone License from 1969 when you had to draw diagrams and
> write answers, not like the multiple chance exams given now.  I can
> still pass the old exam.

Here in Germany everyone until 2002 had to write down the answers and draw
schematics and such, just the new beginners class a few years ago had MC.
Unfortunately they switched everything to MC this year :( The technical part
I still would pass, but all the abbreviations and band plans...I do not know
if I wuld remember them all :)

> Good Luck
> Steve W4CNG

When I "bench" tested the radio I meant literally, not in the
technical sense with use of calibration standards.  Unfortunately, I
do not have a high frequency standard to use.  I am able to determine
in a less technical manner its "off-centeredness" because the second
radio that I use sounds centered when listening to general QSO's, e.g.
a QSO may be going on at frequencies on whole numbers or half, i.e.
14178.0, 14340.0, etc., and my "bench" test results at 14150.05
indicate an off-centeredness, otherwise by my example the second radio
receive would need to be corrected to listen to the same listed
frequencies to 14178.05 and 14,340.05.

A 50 Hz offset is enough to detect a "twang" in a person's voice even
without hearing them in person.  Because I can hear the "twang" in the
transmission, it sounds un-natural, from my FT-897 on the second
receiver, and because I can adjust for it to "normalize" it, this
indicates to me there is an off-centeredness somewhere.  Being
equipped with only my ears and general senses, tells me enough without
the calibration standard available to me.

My question remains, will buying and installing the TCXO-9 oscillator
improve the situation or do you think the radio must be realigned
first before receiving any benefit from the TCXO-9?

And.... Is this a normal deviation for this type of amateur equipment
with out a TCXO, as some else suggesed?

Jon - Thanks

So the TCXO will give the radio stability, but not necessarily
accuracy.

Would you know whether the TCXO replaces the oscillator in the base
unit in operation?

Otherwise, if it does not, an error in the base FT-897 frequency
oscilitor will only gain frequency stability not accuracy?

Jon

Hi Dan,

I went to the new yaesu page, selected products, selected HF
Trancievers/Amplifiers, scrolled to FT-987, clicked on it, selected files
and there were two listed:
  FT-897 Brochure  ( 814.34 KB ) FT-897 Operating Manual  ( 2.85 MB )

I clicked on the each one and grabbed the brochure and manual.


http://www.yaesu.com/downloadFile.cfm?FileID=671&FileCatID=158&FileName=FT%2D897\
%5FOpMan.pdf&FileContentType=application%2Fpdf

You will probably have to put the above URL back together again but the
link worked for me.

73, Tom n4zpt


On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 23:36:17 -0500, Dan Dowell <dandowell@...>
wrote:

> Looked in the files section for the new PDF manual for the 897.  Couldnt
> locate it.  How exactially how is it listed in the files section???
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Dan
> KD5SOM
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> FT897-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>



--
Tom Azlin, N4ZPT

The TCXO replaces the original osc on the radio, pull old one out and
stick new one in. You may have to make an adjustment to the new TCXO
to get it right on, which can be done with test equipment, or WWV in a
pinch. If you tune in WWV at 20 or 15mHz, switch between LSB and USB
while listening to the tone of the clock pulses. One sideband will
probably sound like "bing, bing, bing" and the other like "bong, bong
bong". Tweek the osc for the exact same pitch on both sidebands and
you should be fine for most hams. You could try this with your stock
osc to get it on freq also.
Mike

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "ae6gt" <ae6gt@e...> wrote:
> So the TCXO will give the radio stability, but not necessarily
> accuracy.
>
> Would you know whether the TCXO replaces the oscillator in the base
> unit in operation?
>
> Otherwise, if it does not, an error in the base FT-897 frequency
> oscilitor will only gain frequency stability not accuracy?
>
> Jon

Hi all,

I just noticed the pressing the M/VFO does not activate the 1 MHz
jumps on the 440 band. It works on all the other bands. What am I
doing wrong?

Thanks,

Pieter

I cannot find the Yaesu address for the east coast. I would like to
send my radio in for the updates. Please post the address.

Thanks,

Pieter

Stability rating (from the manual) is:
±4 ppm from 1 min. to 60 min after power on. @25 °C: 1 ppm/hour
afterwards. The TCXO-9 is ±0.5 ppm/1 hour @25 °C, after warmup.

4 ppm at 14.178 MHz is almost 57 Hz. However, as has been noted, you
may simply be _off frequency_ -- which adjusting the master
oscillator trimmer cap can fix.

How's it sound on WWV? A 100 Hz difference between USB and LSB should
be VERY noticeable.

Cortland

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "ae6gt" <ae6gt@e...> wrote:
> 14178.0, 14340.0, etc., and my "bench" test results at 14150.05
> indicate an off-centeredness, otherwise by my example the second
radio
> receive would need to be corrected to listen to the same listed
> frequencies to 14178.05 and 14,340.05.

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "iaparkin" <iaparkin@y...> wrote:
I am about to upgrade from a HT to a base station that I
> can also lug into the field when camping. The FT-897 seems to fit
the
> bill.

Although I've been licensed for 29 years I recently went through the
similar decisions as I wanted to upgrade my "go-kit" for emergency
uses, teaching Radio merit badge, demonstrations and generally having
fun operating portable.  From Yaesu, I went with the FT-987, the two
internal batteries, the CD-24 DC to DC charger. From third parties I
went with an Astron SS-30M 12 VDC power supply, the LDG AT-897 tuner,
the W4RT OTT, FT Basic programming software and the Buddipole antenna
system.

I do mostly phone in these operations and thus passed on the filters
and TXCO as there not really necessary for casual use.

> First question: FP-30 and FC-30 vs non-Yaesu ?
>
> I think I prefer a stand-alone power supply, rather than the FP-
30,
> as it will provide some flexibility for future equipment.

Correct and for a lot less money.  It also leave the tray open for
the internal batteries.  Some folks have had problems with noise from
the internal power supply; a few feet seperation with an external one
can't hurt in this regard. Add Anderson Powerpoles to the supply and
the FT-897 and you're ready to power your FT-897 from a variety of
external sources.  You can also pass on Yaseu's expenseive 24 VDC
wallwart if you buy an external power supply as you can power the CD-
24 with 12VDC.

> For HF, an LDG antenna tuner would seem to give greater frequency
> coverage, better performance with no fan noise.

Agree.  It works pretty well for me and LDG has a pretty good rep in
the tuner business.

>
> There are a fair number of reports of people sending their FT-897
> back to Yaesu for service.

> Are the known problems going to affect the average user

Aside from noise issues with the internal power supply (which one can
avoid obviously by not buying it), most aren't show stoppers.  One
involves high speed break-in CW and one is direct frequency using the
optional Yaesu key pad mike. I could care less about both.

The only one I do intend to ask for at the nine month point in my
warranty is the toggle back on the DSP button.  As it is the DSP
button just brings up the DSP menu and you have to use the regular
menu to get back to where you were before.  It's not a show stopper
though, just more convenient if the button worked like it should.

> how much Yaesu would charge for a full upgrade/service if the unit
is
> not under warranty ?


Don't Know

> I have obviously missed the Dayton battery offer, but are there
> likely to be any other such offers in the foreseeable future ?
>
There are often offers as you get close to Christmas.  Right now
Yaesu's deal is free DSP for the 857.

In all I think it's a great unit for portable work.  The receiver is
particularly good.  Best of luck

73

Gary, K2GW

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "rfspace" <rfspace@y...> wrote:
> I cannot find the Yaesu address for the east coast. I would like to
> send my radio in for the updates. Please post the address.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Pieter

Try the other coast Pieter.  Only one place is USA.
73,
Barry - W4WB

Yaesu lists these two options: 1)the 4 hour charge adapter and 2)the
charger for the CD-24. I understand that these two products must be
used together. Can the FNB-78 batteries be charged without these
options or the W4RT charger? Do the batteries ship with a charging
cable?

Thanks,
Barry in Missouri
K0QV

You only need the charger. You do not need a 24 volt power supply.
But surely you could find one for less than VS wants; I found a
suitable switcher that used to run a laptop computer.

Cortland

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "k0qv" <k0qv@c...> wrote:
> Yaesu lists these two options: 1)the 4 hour charge adapter and 2)
the
> charger for the CD-24. I understand that these two products must be
> used together. Can the FNB-78 batteries be charged without these

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the FT897
group.

   File        : /softjump.zip
   Uploaded by : vk2jcg <vk2jcg@...>
   Description : Update FT817/897 jumper configuration via CAT interface

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FT897/files/softjump.zip

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

vk2jcg <vk2jcg@...>

In the File section it is the 8th item from the top. It is described
as "FT-897 Operating Manual 2003 version".

Good luck in your search.

Greg/VE3YTZ

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, Dan Dowell <dandowell@s...> wrote:
> Looked in the files section for the new PDF manual for the 897.
Couldnt locate it.  How exactially how is it listed in the files
section???
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Dan
> KD5SOM

There is no way to charge the batteries without an additional charger.  Right I
would recommend the Yaesu charger using 13.8 volts.  You do need an addtional DC
cable if you want to use the 897 while charging.

The W4RT is junk so stay away from that item until they redesign it and resolve
the thermal and workmanship issues.  Probably will not be any time soon.......

Good Luck,

Rob - W3RG

k0qv <k0qv@...> wrote:
Yaesu lists these two options: 1)the 4 hour charge adapter and 2)the
charger for the CD-24. I understand that these two products must be
used together. Can the FNB-78 batteries be charged without these
options or the W4RT charger? Do the batteries ship with a charging
cable?

Thanks,
Barry in Missouri
K0QV



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For those of you that have the 897 with the Yaesu internal power supply:

Is there an easy way to power an external TNC from the same power supply without
cutting wires and voiding warranties?

73, John, W6JTB

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com

It sounds to me like ae6gt's question here has to do with alignment
between receive and transmit frequency on SSB.  I.E.  if I tune to
another station so that his audio pitch is correct (i.e. his carrier
would be zero-beated if I could hear it) and then transmit back to
him, would a third party hear my signal properly on the same
frequency?  If its not, what does one adjust on the 897 to correct
that alignment error?

While were at it, is switching between LSB and USB actually moving the
receiver reference osc to one side or the other of the IF pass-band?
If so that offset is another calibration point that could be off.

Anyone have ideas on how to tease apart these different possible
calibration errors using whats arount the typical shack?

regards

-- Keith KH6FQR

>
> --- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, "ae6gt" <ae6gt@e...> wrote:
> > 14178.0, 14340.0, etc., and my "bench" test results at 14150.05
> > indicate an off-centeredness, otherwise by my example the second
> radio
> > receive would need to be corrected to listen to the same listed
> > frequencies to 14178.05 and 14,340.05.

yes there is!! you can get the molex 6 pin male on a cable from
powerwerx.com or qsradio.com, and molex 6 pin female from powerwerx -
you then install a set of powerpoles on both sides

get a set of male and female molex 6 pin connectors on cables, these
are the ones that yaesu 897 uses for the dc power. they come on cables,
either with anderson powerpoles, or put those on yourself. you then can
also use this as a way to keep your power supply away from the radio if
you have the rf noise problem!

OR now get a powerpole Y-adapter that allows two sets of powerpole'd
radios or tnc's to be powered from one power source,

OR use the power supply to run a rigrunner power distribution panel,
then plug the tnc and radio and anything else (within reasonable power
drain of course) into the rigrunner. thats what i'm doing. this way i
never had to cut any of the original power wires but still could move
the power supply across the room or power other things with it -
including an 857 when i take that on the road....

get the molex and powerpoles at www.qsradio.com or www.powerwerx.com!

73 walter





On Sunday, August 3, 2003, at 12:19 PM, John T. Barr wrote:

> For those of you that have the 897 with the Yaesu internal power
> supply:
>
> Is there an easy way to power an external TNC from the same power
> supply without
> cutting wires and voiding warranties?
>
> 73, John, W6JTB
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
> http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
>
<image.tiff>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> FT897-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello All,

I saw the video in the files section. It seems to me that my AT897 is
almost as 'choppy' as the tuner that is used in the video.

Anybody any ideas?

Rene PD1ALD

Many thanks for VK2JCG for making this program available.

I can report that my unmodified American FT-897, serial #2L040482, in
which Yaesu installed a new CPU during warranty service on 4-18-03,
reports a value of 17 06.

Can anyone provide detail on what values would permit the rig to
transmit on 50 meters? I'd also like to be sure that I understand all
of the side effects of modification. Do I recall hearing that changing
the jumpers breaks automatic repeater offset? Is it that jumper
modification  allows the rig to transmit on any frequency it can receive?

David
K9WQ

--- In FT897@yahoogroups.com, FT897@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> This email message is a notification to let you know that
> a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the FT897
> group.
>
>   File        : /softjump.zip
>   Uploaded by : vk2jcg <vk2jcg@t...>
>   Description : Update FT817/897 jumper configuration via CAT interface