Yaesu FT-891 Unboxing and Testing
Yaesu’s newest HF radio, constructed for mobile use, based on its size and removable faceplate, has some cool filters, a large display, and is fairly easy to use. However, with the price-point around $850 (LINK), and the fact that the radio is missing VHF/UHF, the facts just don’t add up.
Sure, this is a good radio, and it works well on HF. But does it need to be priced higher than the FT-857D? What if you want to do some USB on 144MHz? Not happening with this FT-891.
Yaesu wants to separate the HF from the VHF/UHF radios. Good, that is a great idea. But why price the radio like it still has all these features?
On a positive note, I did find the radio very easy to use, the menus easy to navigate, and I got good audio reports. Being and HF-only rig seems to be a legit job for this radio, I just didn’t agree with the price-point. But some of you die-hard Yaesu fans are going to love it, I suspect.
To purchase this radio, see THIS LINK
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Even though it has no vhf/uhf, there are indeed expensive items added.
1. TXCO at .5ppm to buy that for the FT-857 is $120
2. Digital IF DSP is expensive and is included
3. FT-891 has filter ranges from 100 – 3000 hz built in, to buy the optional filters for 857
would cost hundreds.
4. The receiver is way better
There are too many other improvements to include here … bottom line its a fantastic deal at around $840
Let alone the black friday deal at $760 i bought for.