Would appreciate opinions from those who are familiar with either or both
radios. Still trying to decide what to buy. Don't like the detached head
of the Kenwood 480 SAT.

73.

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:48:37 CST, Newby wrote in :
Would appreciate opinions from those who are familiar with either or both
radios. Still trying to decide what to buy. Don't like the detached head
of the Kenwood 480 SAT.

I have an FT-897D as my primary shack rig, as well as an FT-857D (mobile)
and an FT-857 (secondary shack rig). I don't have any experience with the
KW 480SAT at all. I *do* like the FT-897D quite a lot: it has a decent
receiver with quite good noise reduction through DSP, as well as DSP-based
bandpass filters. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. The FT-857 and FT-857D
are the same radio (modulo 60- meter phone, TCXO, and possibly DSP) as the
FT-897 and FT-897D. All of them use the same programming software, have the
same set of CAT commands, return the same data, and can be run remotely
using the same programs. This has made life very much easier for me.

I don't like having to dive into a menu for some settings that I would
like to have on the front panel, but there's damn little real-estate
on the 897's front panel, and about half that on the 857, so I live
with it and enjoy the wonderful things the radio does. It does a great
many things very well stock from the factory; add some filters for CW
and SSB, and it's even better.

--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO

Tired old sysadmin

On Mar 18, 10:48�am, "Newby" wrote:
Would appreciate opinions from those who are familiar with either or both
radios. *Still trying to decide what to buy. *Don't like the detached head
of the Kenwood 480 SAT.

One place to get more opinions is www.eham.net. Click on the
"Product Reviews" on the lest to the left. Lots and lots of
reviews there on many different kinds of amateur radio
equipment.

73, Len AF6AY

I have a 7000 and love it to death. I have a couple of 706's, they are
nice, but the 7000 is a step up. The 700 does have an awful lot of stuff on
the menus, but they have moved most of the things you want to get to out
onto the panel. There is a button every place there could possibly be a
button!

Personally, I happen to like Icom's ergonomics better than Yaesu. Not as
good in that department as Elecraft, but generally well thought out. (I'm
kind of a CW guy so maybe Elecraft is a little more CW focused).

The DSP on the 7000 is a giant step up from the 706 (can't speak for the
Yaesu). Not only does it do filtering and adjustable edges, but there are a
pair of notches that actually work. The DSP noise reduction and ANF seem to
work a little better than the 706.

Kinda cool that you can get a waterfall display on the front panel, but
unless you are a RTTY guy, probably not all that useful... but cool.
Bandscope is OK, better than the 706, but could be better. SWR graph is a
wonderful thing.

Although it kinda sorta looks like a 706, and there is some commonality with
the menu of the 706, it definitely ain't a 706. Way better in a ton of
ways.
...

"Newby" wrote in message
...
Would appreciate opinions from those who are familiar with either or both
radios. Still trying to decide what to buy. Don't like the detached head
of the Kenwood 480 SAT.

73.