Re: [amsat-bb] FT-847

[Al Lawler <alawler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

  I think my point was more that the ft847 doesn't really 
offer the satellite operator much more than the ft736r 
does (and ft736r's are roughly half the price on the used 
market.).  It's an evolutionary step at best.

  MINIMALLY, I would have expected any new "satellite radio"
to have a "mode-s converter" input.  This issue isn't
new to ao-40 - folks were asking about it in the ao-13 
days.  Even better would be to turn the radio into a 
giant IF bay, and move  ALL the rf stuff up to  mast-mounted
preamp-tx-amp pods.  Yes, it might have made the radio more
expensive, but  just think of the money to be saved by
not buying $1/foot coax and brick amps and preamps,
since coax loss would be essentially a non-issue.  

  Also, the "improved" cat for the ft847 may allow you
to read back vfo frequencies,  but it still uses the same
crippled scheme that the 736r does - 5 byte blocks sent
in the blind with no buffering or flow control.
You cannot read back mode or memory information under software control,  
can't change the power levels (although you can dim the display :^), 
and in fact, you can't even tell if the radio executes your
software commands (And in fact, it will ignore many of them
if you happen to be transmitting (which the computer has no
way of knowing), since the radio doesn't explicitly 
"acknowledge" CAT commands (and you can't read back the
status.)  (And has anybody tried to do a mode-b to J 
band-swap under computer control yet?)

  THe 847 is nice as an all around radio, but a used ft736r
(or any of the previous radios) offers roughly the same 
feature package for a lot less money...  I was really
disapointed when it came out, and still am...



Estes Wayne-W10191 wrote:
> 
> Hasan Schiers wrote, about the FT-847:
> 
>         > Finest radio for the money for satellite work
> 
> Al Lawler wrote:
> 
> Which says a lot about the poor state of the art
> in satellite radio's.
> 
> No "recieve only" inputs, and a dismal CAT interface.
> 
> Wayne replies:
> 
> Note that Hasan said "for the money".  The FT-847 is a "value" radio that was never intended to be "state of the art".  I think your comments might be reasonable for a radio like the TS-2000 which is MUCH more expensive than the FT-847.
> 
> The FT-847 already has 4 RF connections in the back.  You think they should add several more RF connections to a low-cost satellite radio?
> 
> Yes, it shouldn't cost anything for the CAT interface to duplicate every control on the front panel.  And it would be nice if the CAT generated an interrupt when the frequency or mode changes.  But the CAT interface is serviceable in my opinion.  Excellent Doppler tuning software is available for the FT-847.
> 
> I think the FT-847 offers many significant improvements over the FT-736R:
> 1. Lower price, even though it adds HF/6m and audio DSP.
> 2. Smaller package.
> 3. Better CAT interface (VFO frequencies can be polled).
> 4. More transmit power, possibly even a better receiver.
> 5. Better user interface.
> 6. Ability to use the same IF filters, microphone, power supply, etc. for HF and VHF/UHF.
> 7. Self-contained ability to work mode A.
> 8. Convenient connections for data modes up to 9600 bps.
> 
> My only advice to Keith McDonnell (who asked for "yay" or "nay") is that you should NOT buy any Collins mechanical filters.  Instead, buy International Radio crystal filters which have a much better shape factor for about the same price as Collins filters.  Like Maggie said, the "stock" HF RX performance is mediocre.  An International Radio 2.1 kHz crystal filter improves the HF RX performance to "average".  To be "great" the receiver would need slope tuning, IF notch filter, and better filtering on the higher IF's.  But then it would no longer be a "value" radio.
> 
> The FT-847 offers tremendous capabilities for $1500.   "State of the art" costs much more.
> 
> Wayne Estes W9AE
> Mundelein, IL, USA
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