If you’re into amateur radio (aka ham radio) then you’ve probably heard of this brand. Yaesu Transceivers are division of Vertex Standard dedicated completely to our hobby. This article focuses on Yaesu Transceivers from multiple angles including hand held rigs, HF rigs, marketing and sales, what customers have to say about the company and its products, and all sorts of good stuff.
Yaesu is an international brand of commercial and amateur radio equipment.It was founded as in 1959 by a Japanese radio amateur Sako Hasegawa with callsign JA1MP in the Tokyo neighborhood of Yaesu. The initial intent seemed to have been to develop and manufacture commercial and amateur radio transceivers for the Japanese market but by 1964 there were sales agreements placed in Australia and Germany.
In Europe the equipment was sold under the Yaesu brand and the Sommerkamp brand. In 1963 the Swiss firm Sommerkamp imported Yaesu equipment and sold it using their own brand.
Yaesu’s ‘F’ line of equipment was introduced in 1965. Yaesu became an important presence in the U.S. amateur radio market with the introduction and improvement of its very popular FT-101 line of equipment in the 1970s.
Sako Hasegawa (JA1MP) died in 1990 and Jun Hasegawa took over his job as managing director.
Yaesu Transceivers FT-817 and FT-817(N)D
The Yaesu FT-817 is one of the smallest MF/HF/VHF/UHF multimode general coverage amateur transceivers in the world. The set is built by the Japanese Vertex Standard Corporation and is being sold since 2001 under the Yaesu brand. With internal battery pack, on board keyer, its all mode/all band capabillity and flexible antenna the set is extremely well suitable for portable use, field days, hollydays, backpacking, camping and other outdoor operations. Of course mobile – car battery -- and fixed – external powersupply -- use is also possible. The FT-817 is more or less based on the same main circuitboard as the FT-857 and 897 so it is a compromise transceiver – just like its bigger brothers – and incorporates its features to its low price ($ 670.- at its 2001 release). Therefore FT-817 is successfully being sold worldwide.
Its upgrade was launched in 2004 as the FT-817(N)D. The difference between both models is the addition of the 60 meter band coverage, other display lighting options, modifications in the RF stage and the included FNB-85 batterypack and NC-72B charger.
Before buying this Yaesu Transceivers realize that in spite of its capabilities the FT-817 is a lo-power (QRP) set which can be frustrating for someone when trying to make contact transmitting 5 W or less. Keep this in mind if you are used to 100Watts and more…