for more details and pricing info e-mail:
Tom
or phone 908-223-5067, FAX 908-223-0901 (24 hrs) or voice 908-223-8124.

     WHAT YAESU DID RIGHT                   WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
     with the FT-847?                       on the FT-847?

  SSB Receive audio sounds great          Collins filters are optional 
  with the Collins mechanical             and incredibly over priced
  filter.

  Covers MF-HF, 50, 144 & 430 MHz         No provision for adding bands
                                          such as 222 and 1296 MHz.

  CW filter has excellent gain            CW filter is over priced,
  compensation                            is different than the filters
                                          in other Yaesu HF transceivers,
                                          a 250 Hz filter not available

  Blue display looks great                No Clarifier readout

  Power output level is the same          Power varies across VHF bands.
  on SSB, CW and FM.                      Cant disable CW break in.

  AGC Fast / Slow remembers               AGC Fast-Slow has no memory
  association with mode                   association with bands and 
                                          (CW- SSB etc.) can't be
                                          turned off.

  Separate preamplifier and atten-        Only one attenuator selection that 
  Uator switching with memory of          is 20 dB on 432, Pre-amp and
  Selections.                             Selection have no memory. 
  Attenuator on VHF bands and HF.

                                  
                                          association on different HF bands.
                                          Attenuator is 20/20dB on 432
                                          5/10 dB on 2m (PA in/out).

  DSP filter bandwidth is very good.      DSP filter has VERY poor shape
                                          factor.

  CW keyer built in.                      Keyer is not a memory keyer.

  Fast / Slow Tuning selection button.    Sense is backwards, I would prefer
                                          it to default to fast and slow is selected.
                                          Also, fast button effects to many 
                                          items such as band switching are effected
                                          simultaneously by the FAST button.   
                                          Should be able to program what functions
                                          the FAST button changes.

  Pleasing front panel styling.           The FT-847 is just too plain small
                                          for a home station, Give me a
                                          FT-920 size radio with coverage 
                                          through 450 MHz (1300 MHz?) with 
                                          good DSP and a memory keyer. Requiring
                                          external antenna tuners and memory
                                          keyers defeats any advantages the 
                                          FT-847's small size has.  The knobs are
                                          too small and close together.

  Separate amp switching circuits         Uses hard to find 5 pin mini DIN
  for HF and each VHF band with 24VDC     connector, not supplied with FT-847
  open collector rating.                  Switching transistor should have 
                                          40 VDC rating for safety factor.

  Separate tuning knob for sub chan       Knob is small, also used for 
  and split operation.                    clarifier, Cant operate split 
                                          from memories like Kenwood radios, 
                                          no clarifier clear button

  Excellent synthesizer, 1 Hz steps,      Performance is more akin to a lower
  No clicks pops etc. Has reasonably      end to mid range HF radio, (i.e 
  Good dynamic range, sounds much         FT-840) no ability to add bands 
  More like a good HF radio than          like 222 MHz or 1296 MHz like a 
  VHF multimodes, has a modern feel       FT-920 or FT-1000MP class xceiver
  To it.                                  that also covers 50-144 & 430 MHz 
                                          with provision for adding 222 and 
                                          1296.

  VHF bands have reasonable receive       S-meter has very poor calibration.
  sensitivity and dynamic range.          (at least on 432 MHz).
			
  Pretty red, green and orange            No provision for using 144 MHz as an
  Lights on the front panel when          IF for microwave band transverters
  In satellite mode.                      nor is there any provision to use 
                                          28 MHz as an IF for transverters.
                                          No provision for using higher frequency
                                          satellite modes. Power output spike make
                                          using it with RF out at minimum a
                                          dangerous proposition.

Thanks again to G4RGK for his help with the NETNEWS section of this NL. I gave Dave very little warning due to business travel during the past week. I should also express my thanks to Joe, K1RQG, who besides running the 20 m net also records the Netnotes from which the NETNEWS in condensed. (I can take advantage of Joe as he is an old friend.)

Does anyone have any information on Cor, VE7BBG? Cor was the original Skeds Coordinator for the NL. He has been receiving the NL from the start, but his envelopes have come back undelivered the past 2 months.

This was not a great day for producing the NL as I lost a sizable portion of the NL text - something I have not done (mercifully) for some years. The NL would have been longer and included the full text of Steve's review, if not for this loss. At least the NL should arrive on time.

I expect to get the Aug NL out just before I leave for Eur and the Paris EME Conference. I am not sure how I will handle the Sept NL as I plan to spend almost 3 weeks in Eur. I will work something out. Please keep the info coming. I hope to see all of you in Paris and off the the Moon during the July SW.
73, Al - K2UYH