Post by M0ZIF on Apr 11, 2008 7:20:37 GMT
I had a Yaesu FT-7800R
Specs:
2m (140mhz) 50w max (4 power levels 5w 10w, 25w and 50w)
70cm (430mhz) 40w Max (4 power Levels 5w 10w 20w and 40w)
RX: 108 to 520 MHz, and 700 to 999.99 MHz (cellular blocked)
WIRESII compatible
*not the E model not that I know what the differences are*
It came with a seperation kit, but I wouldn't recommend buying the full Yaesu kit, its a) Pricey and b) easy to make, if you have a friend in IT with correct US Style telephone socket crimps then your well away, failing that the cable ends can be crimped with a jewelers screwdriver. Network cable (Cat5e) you can often find in Skips after offices have been refurbished, so the only cost here is going to be erm an extra power cable. Now if your like me you might want to chop and change vehicle then stick a Cigar lighter socket on the unit, it also adds for security as you can just pull the whole lot when you get out the vehicle. So its that easy, Velcro mounts or suction cups work just as well and PoundLand is doing 24 suction cups for a Pound !
One thing I would note is that its either worth buying an external speaker kit, plumbing the unit into your stereo or getting the speaker Mod done, it seems however some UK units are already a lot better than the early ones. I have had the 7800 plugged into the car stereo which was fantastic as it meant I could position the Output to where ever the audio best suited me.
I bought a separate data-cable which connects to my Win2k3 Servers Parallel port: Using this I initially had some problems with the FTB7800 software but within an hour of emailing Bob the software writer he'd telephoned me and walked me through the procedure, it was a simple thing the device code is 54 not 51. The software now reads the unit like a dream, although the mechanism reminds me of doing General Midi Dumps from synths decades out of date with soft and hard resets. maybe all transceivers are the same but I thought it odd, couldn't some of this be done "On The Fly" but maybe ram cards would be the answer to that.
On the upside Programming from the FTB7800 software allows you to preset Output wattage per memory which is a rather cool advantage meaning you only need to double check your original input.
I had more fun with the ADMS software which without the configuration pre-done on the FTB7800 software I don't think I'd have ever got running! its putting it mildly hard work, oh yes it has diagnostic tools, that are seperate from the main program BUT! they are non intuitive and when the ADMS is booted without the FTB7800 first it just plain olde refuses to work
Further than that I've been working on 5w and 10w output, I don't see the need for higher as a) it would breach my bandplan and b) it would be an over use of power, this unit is fantastic at 10w) I must admit I do need a base antenna for home use in comfort, but the Antenna I have is low gain (on a magmount) and works super.
If I was going to recommend one Radio it would be the FT7800, its simple to use and very very intuitive. Even without a manual I managed to get the rig set up very easily.
Reception includes airband, and the quality has to be heard. Reports from QSO's have been spot on, I've not had any problems whatsoever.
I've added links to the software here mentioned in the Links | Yaesu section
www.yaesu.com
Specs:
2m (140mhz) 50w max (4 power levels 5w 10w, 25w and 50w)
70cm (430mhz) 40w Max (4 power Levels 5w 10w 20w and 40w)
RX: 108 to 520 MHz, and 700 to 999.99 MHz (cellular blocked)
WIRESII compatible
*not the E model not that I know what the differences are*
It came with a seperation kit, but I wouldn't recommend buying the full Yaesu kit, its a) Pricey and b) easy to make, if you have a friend in IT with correct US Style telephone socket crimps then your well away, failing that the cable ends can be crimped with a jewelers screwdriver. Network cable (Cat5e) you can often find in Skips after offices have been refurbished, so the only cost here is going to be erm an extra power cable. Now if your like me you might want to chop and change vehicle then stick a Cigar lighter socket on the unit, it also adds for security as you can just pull the whole lot when you get out the vehicle. So its that easy, Velcro mounts or suction cups work just as well and PoundLand is doing 24 suction cups for a Pound !
One thing I would note is that its either worth buying an external speaker kit, plumbing the unit into your stereo or getting the speaker Mod done, it seems however some UK units are already a lot better than the early ones. I have had the 7800 plugged into the car stereo which was fantastic as it meant I could position the Output to where ever the audio best suited me.
I bought a separate data-cable which connects to my Win2k3 Servers Parallel port: Using this I initially had some problems with the FTB7800 software but within an hour of emailing Bob the software writer he'd telephoned me and walked me through the procedure, it was a simple thing the device code is 54 not 51. The software now reads the unit like a dream, although the mechanism reminds me of doing General Midi Dumps from synths decades out of date with soft and hard resets. maybe all transceivers are the same but I thought it odd, couldn't some of this be done "On The Fly" but maybe ram cards would be the answer to that.
On the upside Programming from the FTB7800 software allows you to preset Output wattage per memory which is a rather cool advantage meaning you only need to double check your original input.
I had more fun with the ADMS software which without the configuration pre-done on the FTB7800 software I don't think I'd have ever got running! its putting it mildly hard work, oh yes it has diagnostic tools, that are seperate from the main program BUT! they are non intuitive and when the ADMS is booted without the FTB7800 first it just plain olde refuses to work
Further than that I've been working on 5w and 10w output, I don't see the need for higher as a) it would breach my bandplan and b) it would be an over use of power, this unit is fantastic at 10w) I must admit I do need a base antenna for home use in comfort, but the Antenna I have is low gain (on a magmount) and works super.
If I was going to recommend one Radio it would be the FT7800, its simple to use and very very intuitive. Even without a manual I managed to get the rig set up very easily.
Reception includes airband, and the quality has to be heard. Reports from QSO's have been spot on, I've not had any problems whatsoever.
I've added links to the software here mentioned in the Links | Yaesu section
www.yaesu.com