Home -> Yaesu FT-817ND/I
my experience 
The FT-817 is a small 5W MF/HF/VHF/UHF transceiver with internal batteries.
Here is an assortment of technical information I put together about this radio that might interest you.
DISCLAIMER: TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PAGE ARE JUST A SHORT STORY
OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY RADIO. - IT'S UP TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU BUILD/IMITATE/COPY
OR USE THIS INFORMATIONS OR DEVICES. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES
TO YOUR RADIO, YOUR PC OR INTERFERENCES!
Features and tips:
Note that in FT-817ND/I , the '/I' stands for the 'Italian version', which is also equipped with vinyl case CSC-83.The basic specifications are as follows.
Frequency Coverage:
RX: 100 kHz - 30 MHz, 50 - 54 MHz
76 - 108 MHz (W-FM only)
108 - 154 MHz (USA)
144 - 148 (146) MHz (other markets)
430 (420) - 450 (440) MHz
TX: 160 - 6 Meters, 2 Meters
70 Centimeters (Amateur Bands only)
Ultra Compact: 5.3" x 1.5" x 6.5" WHD (135 x 38 x 165 mm)
Multimode Design: SSB, CW, AM, FM, FM-Wide (RX),1200/9600 bps Packet, Digital (including PSK-31U/PSK-31L)
Power Output: 5 Watts (selection of 0.5/1.0/2.5/5 W)
Wide choice of power sources: AA Battery Holder included; FNB-72 Ni-Cd Battery Pack (9.6 V, 1600 mAh); external DC cable included for 13.8 V operation
Two Antenna Ports: BNC on front panel, UHF (Type "M") on rear panel; may be assigned via Menu on HF, 50, 144, 430 MHz
Built-in CW Electronic Keyer, Normal/Reverse Paddle connections, adjustable CW Pitch, Normal/Reverse sideband
Built-in CTCSS and DCS Encoder/Decoder circuits
208 Memory Channels, including 200"regular" memories, assignable in up to ten memory groups; Alpha-Numeric label may be attached to each memory
Dual-Color Liquid Crystal Display: choice of Blue or Amber display
Spectrum Scope records five channels above and below current frequency while you're away
Optional Collins Mechanical Filters: 10-pole YF-122S (2.3 kHz) for SSB, 7-pole YF-122C (500 Hz) for CW
Disvantage
- No power protection
FT-817ND Specifications
| General | |
| Frequency Range Receive:
(Amateur bands only) |
100 kHz-30 MHz 50 MHz-54 MHz 76 MHz-108 MHz (WFM only) 87.5 MHz-108 MHz (EU) 108 MHz-154 MHz (USA) 144 MHz-148 (146) MHz (Other markets) 430 (420) MHz-450 (440) MHz 160-6 Meters including 60 meters |
| Emission Modes: | A1 (CW), A3 (AM), A3J (LSB/USB), F3 (FM), F1 (9600 bps packet), F2 (1200 bps packet) |
| Synthesizer Steps (Min.): | 10 Hz (CW/SSB), 100 Hz (AM/FM) |
| Antenna Impedance: | 50 Ohms, Unbalanced (Front: Type BNC, Rear: Type M) |
| Operating Temperature Range: | -10° C to +60° C (+14° F to +140° F) |
| Frequency Stability: | ± 4 ppm from 1 min. to 60 min. after power on. 25° C: 1 ppm/hour |
| Supply Voltage: | Normal: 13.8 VDC ±15 %, Negative Ground Operating: 8.0-16.0 V, Negative Ground ...................FBA-28 (w/8 "AA" Alkaline Cells): 12.0 V .................. FNB-72 (Ni-Cd Battery Pack): 9.6 V (Option) |
| Current Consumption: | Squelched: 250 mA (Approx.) Receive: 450 mA Transmit: 2.0 A |
| Case Size: | 5.31 x 1.5 x 6.50 inches (135x38x165 mm) |
| Weight (Approx.): | 1.17 kg (with Alkaline battery, antenna, without Microphone) |
| Transmitter | |
| RF Power Output: | 5/2.5/1/0.5 W |
| Modulation Types: | SSB: Balanced Modulator AM: Early Stage (Low Level) FM: Variable Reactance |
| FM Maximum Deviation: | ±5 kHz (FM-N: ±2.5 kHz) |
| Spurious Radiation: | -50 dB (1.8-29.7 MHz) -60 dB (50/144/430 MHz) |
| Carrier Suppression: | >40 dB |
| Opposite Sideband Suppression: | >50 dB |
| SSB Frequency Response: | 400 Hz-2600 Hz (-6 dB) |
| Microphone Impedance: | 200-10k Ohms (Nominal: 600 Ohms) |
| Receiver | |
| Circuit Type: | Double-Conversion Superheterodyne |
| Intermediate Frequencies: | 1st : 68.33 MHz (SSB/CW/AM/FM);10.7 MHz (WFM) 2nd: 455 kHz |
| Sensitivity | |||
SSB/CW |
AM |
FM |
|
| 100 kHz-500 kHz | - |
- |
- |
| 500 kHz-1.8 MHz | - |
32 µV |
- |
| 1.8 MHz-28 MHz | 0.25 µV |
2 µV |
- |
| 28 MHz-30 MHz | 0.25 µV |
2 µV |
0.5 µV |
| 50 MHz-54 MHz | 0.2 µV |
2 µV |
0.32 µV |
| 144/430 MHz | 0.25 µV |
- |
0.2 µV |
| (IPO, ATT off, SSB/CW/AM = 10 dB S/N, FM = 12 dB SINAD) | |||
Squelch Sensitivity |
|||
SSB/CW/AM |
FM |
||
| 1.8 MHz-28 MHz | 2.5 µV |
- |
|
| 28 MHz-30 MHz | 2.5 µV |
0.32 µV |
|
| 50 MHz-54 MHz | 1 µV |
0.2 µV |
|
| 144/430 MHz | 0.5 µV |
0.16 µV |
|
| (IPO, ATT off) | |||
| Image Rejection: |
HF/50 MHz: 70 dB 144/430 MHz: 60 dB |
| IF Rejection: | 60 dB |
| Selectivity (-6/-60 dB): | SSB/CW: 2.2 kHz/4.5 kHz AM: 6 kHz/20 kHz FM: 15 kHz/30 kHz FM-N: 9 kHz/25 kHz SSB (option):2.3 kHz/4.7 kHz (-66 dB) CW (option):500 Hz/2.0 kHz |
| AF Output: | 1.0 W (8 Ohms, 10% THD or less) |
| AF Output Impedance: | 4-16 Ohms |
| All specifications are subject to change and are guaranteed within the amateur bands only. | |
FT-817ND MODS
- * * * Extended TX Frequency Bands * * *
This mod permit full TX in: TX 1,8-33/33-56/140-154/420-470.
Avaiable Options (images from FT-817)
I took the instructions for extend bands from this blogspot post :
- Programming Interface schematics for Yaesu (from hampedia.net)
Programming Interface, Yaesu 4 pin plug - The AFSK schematic diagram (useful for PSK31, MFSK, and all other PC sound card modes).
- The operating/service manual in pdf here
Useful kits
- Powerport HAM products
Solar cells, bags, emergency, etc.. - Power Pals HAM products
- Batteryspace
- FT-817 Power Conditioner Kit
A kit for reverse voltage, over voltage, and over current protection. PDF paper here.
- DC Protection circuitlink
- Yaesu CT62 CAT Interface
Digital Mode
Useful Links
- FTBasicMMO - memory management for the FT-8x7 series transceivers
FTBasicMMO provides memory management for the FT-817, FT-847, FT-857 and FT-897 transceivers including the D and ND versions and radios that have been modified to change the frequency coverage. - Bluetooth serial for Yaesu FT817ND
Serial / bluetooth interface
FAQ (for Italian Users)
- Q: In Extendend mode bands this radio can RX/TX on CB and PMR bands. Can I use this radio on this frequences?
A: NO ! Citizen Band/PMR is a canalized band in Italy between 26.965-27.405 MHz (40ch-10 KHz step) / 446.00625-446.09375 (8ch-6.25 KHz step), and italian laws explicitly require that you use only this band and only 1999/5/CE compliant CB radio. Moreover, your CB radio must be accompanied with a declaration of conformity issued by a manufacturer/importer in Europe, you must have a regular licence for CB/PMR and you must pay the annual tax for them (12eu).