Yaesu FT-897D
Portable/Base Transceiver
The FT-897D sits very nicely into an almost unoccupied niche in the amateur radio market - the Portable/Field Day/ Base Station. Up to now this has been filled by either using base station rigs that operate on 13.8V or by using either mobile or low power portable rigs - not always a good compromise for this type of operation.
The FT-897D has been purpose built into a rugged die-cast aluminimium box especially for heavy-duty operation. It is powered from a variety of sources from 230V AC. to Ni-MH (optional) or from an external 13.8V DC supply.
Despite its ultra compact size the FT-897 is neverthe-less a high performance 100W HF+ 6m. 50W 2m and 20W 70cm transceiver It covers most of the major modes and is very easily controlled from the front paneLThe tuning knob is in the centre of the front panel of the rig with the rest of the controls ergonomically placed either side. Apart from the microphone and headphones the rest of the sockets are out of the way on the rear panel.
A feature picked up from the FT-817ND is the multicoloured dot-matrix display This has proved an invaluable aid not only in displaying the frequency but other details as well such as a spectrum scope.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is built-in but there is provision for optional Collins 500Hz CW mechanical filter or the Collins 2 3kHz Mechanical filter to be fitted The rig also has IF Noise blanker. AGC selector (Auto/Fast/Slow/Off) and VOX Other features include intercept Point Optimization (IPO) IF Shift Control and Smart Search (Automatic Memory Loading System)
Special features have also been built-in for the CW operator such as a 3-message memory keyer and a CW training feature For general use the rig has 200 memory channels with Alpha Numeric tags. very handy to keep track of the frequencies.
Special Features for VHF/UHF operators include Automatic Repeater Shift (ARS), Built-in CTCSS/DCS encoders/decoders built-in. ARTS (Auto-Range Transponder System) Smart Search (Automatic Memory Loading System). Automatic Beacon Mode and transverter jack.
The FT-897D does not have an internal ATU but it is ATAS-120/100 compatible. The ATAS-120 Active Tuning Antenna System is smaller and faster than the ATAS-100 The new external FC-30 Automatic Antenna Tuner is also available.
There are also a number of portable manual and automatic ATUs that will work with the FT-897D.
- HF + 6m. 2m. 70cm (Amateur Bands) Tx
- Gen Coverage Rx
- CW, SSB, AM, FMN, FMW PACKET DIGITAL
- HFl6m 100W 2m 50W 70cm 20W
- Internal AC Power Supply or Ni-MH (optional)
- 200 memories with Alpha Numeric Tags
- Spectrum Scope
- ATAS-120/100 compatible
- External FC-30 Automatic ATU available
- DSP built-in
- Large Multi-colour Dot-Matrix LCD
- IF Noise Blanker IF shift control
- Built-in 3-message memory keyer
- Collins 500Hz 12-pole Mechanical Filter (Option)
- CW Training feature
- 1.5W audio (4 - 8 Ohms)
- w/AC or 13 8V DC or Ni-MH battery
- 200 x 80 x 260mm
Specifications are subject to change