nickcarr wrote:
Rich wrote:
5 watts is great if you are into self-torture.
+1
Agreed. I'd want it for more reasons than HF transmitting. It would be something I could carry along that had 'everything'. AM/Fm radio, SWL rig, 2 and 70 FM (allbeit at HT power) and SSB on HF-70. And, I guess, it could be used for scanning on a couple of fairly active bands, especially when you get out of the city where they still have old-school radio systems. Plus internal batteries. It would be a 'sling it over your shoulder' rig that was capable of doing a lot of things. Getting amps for HF, 6, 2, and 70cm would raise the cost almost to 897 levels. 5 watts is enough for almost all work with PSK-31 on the HF bands. 817 + netbook = portable PSK rig. Is the 817 good for this purpose for the price? That's your call.
The 857 is a nice radio for in the car/truck where there is a stable power source and at home with a PS. If you want to take it camping, etc., you will have the battery problem. Either carry a big honkin' battery or turn down the power for a lighter battery. And lose the extra punch of the more powerful radio.
I really like the 897: 20 watts with internal batteries, 100 with 20A DC. All in a nice package with a handle on the side. However, the price can get up there with all the accessories you might want to go with it.
The three are very similar radios. The 897 is the 857 packaged in a field case and the 817 has the same main board as the other two. How fun it is to spend other people's money.
Jeff
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