IMPORTANT UPDATE:

After this article was originally posted, I discovered a very easy way to assemble your own narrow CW filter. Click on this link to read a post that describes, in detail, how you too can build a replacement Collins narrow CW filter for the FT-817/818 series radios (plus other similar Yaesu models).

What follows is the original article:

So I’m a big fan of the Yaesu FT-817/818 series radios. This general coverage QRP radio has had a longer market run than any other transceiver I can think of and for good reason.

While the 817/818 lacks some of the advanced features of more modern field rigs and have no internal tuner, it makes up for it by:

sporting multi-mode HF, VHF, and UHF coverage,
having two selectable antenna options (a front panel BNC and back panel SO-239),
being incredible durable/rugged,
featuring excellent QSK (albeit with a bit of relay clicking…which I actually like),
and generally being very affordable (prices typically from $400 used to $650 new).

In addition, they tend to hold up well with time.

For the price? I feel like you get a lot of radio with the FT-817/818.

This is the reason why I often recommend the FT-817ND and FT-818ND if it sounds like a good match for the operator.

One gotcha though…

I’m starting to realize that there is one downside to this rig especially if you’re primarily a CW operator: optional narrow filter availability. Continue reading The Yaesu FT-817/FT-818 and narrow filter availability →