The FT-857D that replaced it makes it more bearable, but I never regretted selling a radio as much as I did this one, if you are contemplating getting one of these, I can assure you that you will love it, it's everything they say it is, and more!!
This is blurry and dusty looking but it's just the picture, I'll have to take some nicer ones, the rig is far away in the back of my Nissan Quest. I was delighted to see when I opened the box that they used plain old 6 conductor telephone wire to separate the head from the body, a separation cable with crimpers was only a couple of bucks
This is a rig that will make driving more fun. I hope I live to see another cycle peak, from the sporadic openings I have seen at the bottom, I know this is gonna be a hot number in a few more years. I have cross banded on 10 meters all over Honduras, KP4, all over the states, it's a load of fun, not to mention the satellites, I have a personal record of 6 QSO's on one pass. Now that's mobile. I would love to buy another one for the shack, with an antenna similar to my 4 bander on the car on top of the tower I could do some serious cross band repeating!
You won't regret buying this radio, some can be had for really low prices used. No known bugs in this one, it's been a very reliable piece of gear for me.
mow on to the present, the Quest with the ATAS 100 with FT-857D
YAESU ATAS 100 with YAESU FT-857D connected to it.
40 meters thru 6 and the one antenna is hardly noticeable.
This antenna really works!
Dual band mag mount for 2 meters and 70cm,