Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to grab a Yaesu FT-897D.


This is an all-mode box (AM, FM, SSB, CW, Digital Modes) that runs 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters and 20 watts on 70 cm (432 to 450 Mhz).

For all practical purposes this transceiver will be used on 2 meters and 432 Mhz, mostly SSB and CW, and will be the 2m and 432mhz "anchor" for the contest station here on the Mountain.

While there is no such thing as "too much receiver sensitivity" on the VHF/UHF bands for SSB or CW, there's still a plan to put a pre-amp on the rig. It is receiving fine for everyday use, and most likely (borderline) good enough for casual weak signal work. But 'casual' is not in my lexicon where weak-sig and contesting is concerned!

Over the coming few weeks, as I learn my way around the menus (extensive) and programming options (equally extensive) for this rig, I'll probably have a bit more to say.

For now - if you are looking for a "small but not miniature" rig that will quite literally give you a "hamshack in a box" then I very strongly recommend you give this transceiver a close look. For less than a thousand bucks, you simply cannot find something better. And you'd better snatch one up - now. Yaesu has halted production (but not support!) since they are bringing out their next rig in this operating class, and it will (from what I've been told) run about $400 more.

And on this, more later...

--K2NE

Visit our website for the latest on Happenings at the Mountain!
http;//k2ne.net
[gotta love that shiney new domain!]

The contest station is a multi-operator facility, and SDR is just to "flakey" for that sort of operation.

There's lots to be said for simplicity. If they still made them, I'd opt for rigs like the Drake TR6. Single purpose; solid as a rock; and best in class in every way.

eh - I don't do the 'data thing' these days. For me, at least, it loses that feeling of personal involvement. Enough typing on the internet - don't need more of it in my ham shack...

--K2NE

Wheeee!
Exciting six meter SSB contacts tonight over a 135 mile path between the Mountain and the Oakland area.

What makes this exciting is that the only antenna currently in the air that resonates on the six meter band is the off-center fed inverted vee normally used for HF operations.

Yes, it was a 'sked' (scheduled contact for you non hams).
He was about an S-3 here, and my report from him was S-5.
Considering the "antenna" we were using, that is astounding.
Everyone in the Northern California area is anticipating the installation of the "real stuff" antennas for six meters early in the Spring (2015). That will make the signal truly dominating throughout most of California.

This *will* be fun!

--K2NE

I don't like voice.

Dec 1 2014 3:44am from Sig @uncnsrd (Uncensored)
I don't like voice.

CW is fine by me! On a good day I can do 30 to 35 wpm.
Not like like the old days (40+) but getting it back!

--K2NE

I would be happy to do packet.
Actually the plan is, ultimately, to open a packet interface for the Cascade Lodge Citadel. The BBS machine is in the same room with all the ham gear so it won't be that big of a "deal" to get it running.

I guess the first thing to do is contact the .ampr.org folk to get a node name and IP address... ;) I ran k2ne.ampr.org in New Jersey from roughly 1989 to 1992 - but exactly how to tie it all together means a lot of removal of mental cobwebs. Then again, that was using a DOS-based utility and it seems, under linux, to be a ***lot*** easier (and a helluva lot more stable!).

We shall see. There's lots of contest station work in progress and that stuff just has to come first. But with patience we'll get to the packet stuff.

--K2NE

I just remembered the name of that DOS/Packet TCP/IP utility.

KA9Q NOS.

Quite a neat thingee. It supplied a TCP/IP stack to DOS 3.x, an AX.25 envelope for TCP/IP packets for the "ham side" and, if I recall, a direct interface to the TNC running in 'KISS' mode.

Heh. I might even end up building a Truly Junk Computer and installing DOS 3.5 on it along with an ethernet card and just have that "machine" handle the ham-side and communicate with the internet side over ethernet to the server that runs the BBS. That way I won't even have to put the AX.25 stuff on the linux box since it will never "see" the encapsulated stuff.

Interesting.... ;)

--K2NE

I should definitely get around to learning Morse.

Dec 2 2014 5:00pm from Sig @uncnsrd (Uncensored)
I should definitely get around to learning Morse.

Yes, you should.
It really is easy once you learn all the letters, numbers and a few special symbols (. / ? and the 'prosigns' that are sent as one continuous "letter"... AR, SK, and believe it or not SOS)

I had one occasion in my entire 48 years as a ham to actually have the need to send SOS "for real." Remember, it is sent as one character, as in "...---,,," and not as "s" "o" "s". Verv very eerie. And absolutely unmistakable.

Quiz time: what was the distress call *before* SOS?
[A free cookie from IG is the prize!]

--K2NE

Dec 2 2014 7:28pm from ax25 @uncnsrd (Uncensored)
CQD?

WINNER!
Now go contact IG for your prize!

--K2NE

Sure, drop by and I'll put a fresh batch of cookies in the oven. I love having company. :)