#ft-817 — Public Fediverse posts
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The ultimate rebuild of an ancient Yaesu FT-817.
I think it was a couple of years ago now I ordered a QRP Labs QMX transceiver. It quickly, but temporarily, became my favorite radio for portable field operations. I have written before about why I believe the QMX is a mighty fine piece of miniaturized technology but is less suitable for the rigors of being operated in the kind of field operating environment to which I expose my radios. My QMX is the low-band version and I also miss the opportunity to explore the higher bands when propagation conditions permit.
What’s a poor Ham to do?
I could buy another QMX, but order the high band version this time. It would be a very modest investment, but would still require ruggedizing. Another downside is the long, long wait time betwixt ordering and receiving the tiny parcel from Turkey. I could also order a QMX+ which is a fine all HF band radio, but then what to do with the QMX low band? There is another solution.
The Paranoid Android
I recall a quote from the book “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams in which the perenially depressed robot “Marvin the Paranoid Android” moans: “The first ten million years were the worst.” When I look at the front panel of my ancient Yaesu FT-817 non-ND version it kinda has a Marvin look about it. It has spent almost a quarter of a century waiting patiently in a drawer for the day when it might be called into action again. Many radios have come and gone during that time but – even though I had planned to sell it on many occasions – I still own it and it’s day to see the sunshine again has finally come.
Where are the features?
The non-ND version of the FT-817 is a barebones rig. I needed a CW memory keyer – it doesn’t have one. Activating a POTA park sometimes requires great patience and many, many CQs. My QMX at least has that covered. I also needed an audio filter. It used to be possible to buy a Collins mechanical filter but they are no longer made. My QMX also has that feature covered, but the FT-817 requires an external audio filter.
Failure is not an option
The FT-817 does have a higher level of ruggedness than the QMX. With a few extra precautionary measures it can be protected from the ingress of sand particles during a beach activation, or unexpected spray from waves on the shores of the Great Lakes. The QMX will not tolerate wide variations in DC supply voltage; the FT-817 has that covered. The QMX uses inexpensive but fragile PA transistors (mine have not succumbed to failure – yet). Well, the FT-817 also had fragile PA transistors in its early days and mine did indeed fail during a field deployment. The FT-817’s PA board is a small module that is easily replaced with the new upgraded module – as was mine.
Assembled rebuilt FT-817 portable operations rig. The battered, field protective canvas pouch on the right contains a Talentcell LiFePO4 battery. Right hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the input jack for connecting a cable from the headphone output of the FT-817. The switch allows the K4ICY AF filter to be bypassed for a barn door wide audio bandwidth. Left hand side view of the “helper modules” showing the switch allowing selection of 2-stage or 4-stage audio frequency filtering. To the right of the switch is the AF output jack for connecting headphones. The jack on the K3NG keyer connects to the “Key” jack on the FT-817. On the back of the AF filter module is the power switch controlling the internal
9-volt battery (now replaced by a buck converter) which supplies both modules. Internal view of the keyer module and the filter module. The 9 volt battery has now been replaced with a buck converter that converts the radio’s DC supply from 12.6 volts down to 9 volts to power the helper modules.I get by with a little help from my friends
The feature shortcomings of the FT-817 have been overcome with two “helper modules” assembled inside aluminum Hammond project enclosures. The front enclosure contains a K3NG Arduino nano based CW keyer and a very simple no-thrills set of 3D printed paddles. Well who really needs to spend $300 on a fancy set of paddles for a brief POTA exchange? These paddles get the job done FB. The same cannot be said about the fist that operates them!
The front panel controls are very simple. The paddles protrude through a cutout in the Hammond enclosure.
Beside the paddles is a knob. This knob is used to operate a rotary encoder inside. Clicking the knob operates the switch built into the rotary encoder and triggers the sending of a “CQ CQ POTA de VA3KOT VA3KOT k” stored message in the Arduino keyer.
Rotating the knob adjusts the speed of the CW over a wide range. I have found this to be a very useful feature. I usually send at 20wpm and receive responses that are slower and faster than my sending speed. With this prominent control front-and-center I can quickly adjust my sending speed to suit.
I built the K4ICY audio frequency filter module around a quad op-amp DIL chip. This is a very simple circuit that provides 2 or 4 stages of filtering to narrow the bandwidth of a received signal. Each stage contains identical components whose values are selected according the operator’s desired sidetone frequency. The whole module can be bypassed if required allowing an audio bandwidth wide enough to pass a crosstown bus sideways.
Both modules are rigidly secured to each other using two aluminum rails made from scrap material. I hoard scraps of metal, plastic and other materials – you just never know when you’re gonna need ’em.
The dimensions of the two modules provide an ample flat surface on which to mount the ancient, but revered, transceiver. I purchased some “peel & stick” Gorilla brand “Slipstick” gripper pads and applied four of them to the base of the FT-817. This is a genuinely useful product I recommend to any hambrewer. The radio has been secured to the top of the helper modules with two woodland zip ties made from thin cordage. These simple cord fasteners work just as well as plastic zip ties and can be easily undone for servicing the modules.
I purchased a box load of these Hammond enclosures at an auction many years ago. They have proved very useful. In another build, using the same enclosures configured in an identical manner, I was able to construct two battery modules each containing four 18650 Lithium Ion batteries in 4S1P configuration for powering another one of my ancient QRP transceivers.
This is not the first time I have revived my FT-817, but previous rebuilds were clumsy. It is one thing to put together multiple modules on the shack bench. Clumsy, cluttered, loose modules might work in a picnic-tables-on-the-air type activation. But would it work in a situation where there are no convenient surfaces to mount the equipment; where – at any moment – we might be politely asked to vacate the area by a hungry bear looking for a space to eat his lunch? This new build is a grab-and-go package that works in small, tight spaces – even on top of a rock in the backcountry – and that’s the kind of environment where I like to operate.
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A 2025 review of "How I Roll" Ham on a Bike. Come along for the ride. #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #POTA #parksontheair @ParksOnTheAir CW #FT8 #SSB @qrplabs #FT817 #FT891 #PanasonicToughPad #MFJ @sotabeams @buddipole
https://hamonabike.blogspot.com/2025/12/this-is-how-i-roll.html
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11m @SOTAbeams #travelmast with #randomlengthwireantenna into #qrpradio #ft817 #z817 @cwmorse_us #sp4 for this morning's #amateurradio #hamradio cw #morsecode and #ssb #parksontheair #pota activation
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Pre-dawn #hamradio #amateurradio #pota #parksontheair activation setup with #ft817 #qrpradio into #qrp #EFHW
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I've been spending time with my #qrp #EFHW #endfedantenna & #qrp #ft817 #qrpradio lately. Made the perfect throw up over 40' for today's #amateurradio #hamradio #pota #parksontheair activation operating CW #morsecode
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Absolutely Insane. Got #pota #parksontheair site activated with CW #morsecode on 40 meters in 10 minutes with 0.5 watts from #ft817 #qrpradio into sloper #EFHW up 35'. #amateurradio #hamradio is AMAZING
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I didn't forget battery today BUT will try activating #hamradio #amateurradio #pota #parksontheair #QRPp at 0.5 watts with #ft817 #qrpradio into #EFHW antenna CW #morsecode
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When you forget your 12v 3Ah #Bienooo battery, this is what 2.5 watts will give you during an Early Bird #POTA #parksontheair #MorseCode CW #amateurRadio #HamRadio activation using the internal #FT817 battery into an #EFHW
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Left my #Bieonno battery at home. Glad #ft817 internal battery was charged. Used at 2.5 watts to make 38 contacts CW #morsecode contacts across the U.S. for a sunrise #hamradio #amateurradio #pota #parksontheair activation in spite of early a.m. #SolarFlares and changing #hfbandconditions
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A hint of fog on my Early Bird crisp #hamradio #amateurradio #pota #parksontheair activation with the #ft817 #qrpradio into a #qrp 40 - 10 meter #EFHW #endfedantenna and @sotabeams #travelmast
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Logged my First @wwff #WorldWideFloraFauna #WWFF activation today at KFF-2255 Falls of the Ohio in addition to a #POTA #parksontheair 2-fer US-2255 & US-4572 #LewisandClarkNationalHistoricalTrial #AmateurRadio #HamRadio CW #MorseCode #CWMOUSE Paddle #FT817 #BuddipoleVertical
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The Latest "Ham on a Bike" Blogpost is out. "The MOST IMPORTANT part of your Ham Station is NOT your RIG!"
#AmateurRadio #HamRado #Buddipole #BuddipoleAntenna #FT817 #FT891 #SolarCycle25https://hamonabike.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-most-important-part-of-your-ham.html
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Having a Blast on #MorseCodeDay doing a #MorseCode #parksontheair #pota activation with my #ft817 #qrp #qrpradio #amateurradio #hamradio
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#Geomagnetic_Activity_Forecast #geomagnetic_storm_warning #g5geomagneticstorm expected
Because of this, today I'll be using this setup for a #POTA #parksontheair #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #MorseCode CW activation. I'll get more at bats with the #FT817 #z817 80 -10 meters #QRP #QRPRadio -
The #hfbands were all over the place. But a #mclass #SolarFlare didn't stop #ft817 #qrpradio from making CW #morsecode #QSOs into Chile, western Canada Vince #VE6Lk @VE6LK, New England, eastern seaboard and Florida during this morning's #parksontheair #pota activation.
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For the last few weeks I've been stuck in a quagmire with #randomwire antenna with my #FT817 and #FT891. Now I made another one. A 34.5 feet radiator with (2) 17 feet counterpoise for this pair #HB1b CW #MorseCode & #ATU10 tuner. #AmateurRadio #HamRadio
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I may be dressed for it but not ready for this morning's frosty temperatures 37° at start of my #pota #parksontheair activation. So cold #GoPro wouldn't keep running. At least shivering helped my paddle sending. 🤣 #amateurradio #hamradio CW #morsecode #qrpradio #ft817 #qrp
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It's a long time that I've heard the #hfbands sound worst than scrambled eggs. #pota #parksontheair CW #morsecode #qrpradio #ft817 #amateurradio #hamradio
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The power of 5 Watts never ceases to AMAZE me. While adjusting my #putikeegministraighttkey, I came upon Stu #m0ttq @M0TTQ on 12 m. Slightly faint but still worked him across the pond 6500 km with #ft817 & #alphamagloop @AlphaAntenna #AmateurRadio #HamRadio CW #MorseCode ROCKS!
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Its another Sunday edition of "A Cup of Joe Patio" #Amateurradio #hamradio Today, working a little #QRP #PSK31 #digitalhamradio #Hamradiodeluxe #HRD #FT817 #Signalink
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A brisk Sunday morning edition of "A Cup of Joe and Patio" #amateurradio #hamradio operating #QRP #qrpradio #sstv with #ft817 and #hamradiodeluxe #dm780
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While rummaging through some of my #AmateurRadio #hamradio equipment this morning, I came across the microphone for my #qrp #FT817 #QRPradio and said "What the heck!" #SSB #POTA #parksontheair #POTAon
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Despite early morning #geomagneticstorm #qrp prevailed using #FT817 with #Z817 into Random Wire during morning #AmateurRadio #Hamradio Digital #winlink #FT8 & incomplete #SSTV demonstration at #POTA #parksontheair site.
