Hello,

I am glad for tax refunds because now I'll be able to get me a nice mobile rig.
I am considering the Yaesu FT-897D or IC-706MKIIG. Currently I have a Technician license, but will be upgrading to General within a few weeks. No sense in buying a dual 2m/70cm and then an HF radio. I'd rather get all modes now and use HF when I get license. My question/query is: Does anyone out there have either of those 2 radios either installed in their Jeep or at their shack?
If so, Which antenna system are you using? Where and how was it mounted?

Any help or feedback will be highly appreciated.


73 KE5YYZ

 

I don’t own either I have a Yeasu FT-857d I really like the feathers and the small size I have not installed it in the JK as of now but will soon. 2 of my close friends run the IC-706MKII G and love them no troubles noted, I think picking a radio is difficult with all the cool things they do , Good luck with the upgrade
KF4ZEL

 

I have an IC-706 mkIIg in the JK and have been loving it. Nothing better than DC to daylight in a small compact rig. My only complaints about it are to few memories and DSP performance is not really earth shattering (but at least its there). I do admit to having some curiosity about the FT-897D, but if I had a bottomless wallet I'd go for the IC-7000. That's one heck of a lot of radio, but the price ain't small either at $1200.

BTW, you have some limited phone priviledges on 10m with your current tech license.

 

I have an Ft-897D in the shack and Icom IC-7000 in the Jeep. The Ft-897D is designed to work well when running on batteries or auxiliary power, and to be inexpensive. The Icom is the better radio in all other respects.

 

One thing to think about, especially seeing that you are planing to get your HF priviliges pretty quick, is that as soon as you realize the possibilities with HF, you will no doubt want to start working on your shack at your qth. So with that in mind, you may want to have a radio that you can operate as a base station rig as well. Both the radios that you mention can be operated as a base, but they are indeed quite small. If you really start to get into HF, you may spend hours in your shack. If you do, then you will want something to be comfortable to operate while stitting at your operating position at home.
It's just something to think about when you are about to plop down a pretty good chunk of change on a radio.

Good Luck with your choice as it's a great decision to have to make

PS......Have you actually looked at, or listened to, the radios you mention? If not, you may want to go to a local HAM shop and see if they will let you operate some different radios before you make your decision. They usually have demos up and running that you can tinker with.

 

as far as i am conserned IC-706 or IC7000 with a Icom - 130 ATU and a 108 wipp mounted on the back of any truck or jeep works grate and when off road you dont have to worry about anttenna bracking

73 ZS1DA South Africa
David

 

hay Dave had a look at your troffy you need to come to south africa on a hunt
i am hopping you can help me i am receving a S9+10db engine noise i have a 2008 rubicon 4dr i have checked and found that the coil pack is sending out the noise are you experiensing the same

73's ZS1DA
David - South Africa

 

Hi Petrus

i have a IC 7000 with a AT-130 ATU in my rubicon 2008 and i a engin noise on hf have you got some advice for me i have earthed every thing i can
i have have determand that the it is the coil pack

73's ZS1DA
David

 

Hi kirschie,

Yes, experiencing the same thing. Starting a new thread...

73,
pete AA8L

 

Hi Kirshie........Yes, Africa has always been a dream of mine. Hopefully as the solar cycle picks up we can figure out a good time to make a sked and talk about it. As you can imagine, it's not real easy to talk to Africa from Alaska. I have only twice, and very briefly. But, like I say if we can figure out grey line times and such, as the cycle pics up, there should be no reason why we couldn't have a nice qso. Would love it my friend!!! Oh....providing I guess you have a shack at your qth. May need power too as getting over the big guns on the east coast can be a chore. Even if you don't have a high power base station there is always the chance on a good propagation day that we could hook-up on your mobile.
I posted a few things on Petrus's new thread about noise. Hope it helps.
73 & All the Best......
Dave / wl7cmg