I love my FT-891 and have had great success both hunting and activating in the Parks on the Air program. The antenna I use, which I have found to be resonant on 15, 17, 20, and 40 meters, is a Chameleon LEFS end fed half wave antenna. Although I own the Yaesu FC-50 companion tuner, SWRs are low enough with this antenna to not require it.
Got my 891 on Friday, it replaced my FT-450D. I have to say that I’m definitely seeing a massive improvement on receive. I’ve also changed the audio, compression and equaliser settings and like you, I’m now receiving great audio reports. Looking forward to seeing more videos John. 73.
The FT-891 appears to be a real good rig. I have already ordered a brand new FT-891 which will be delivered at my QTH between 05 to 18 Jan. Thank you for this awesome video. Cheers! New Delhi
Jon, enjoyed the short review of the FT-891. I must admit it was really sounding good to the station in CO. Seems like you do have it dialed in pretty good.
I'm using my FT-891 from DU and must admit it's an excellent radio. I made over 1400 QSOs within 2 weeks of May this year. All CW, 100W and...yes, the antenna makes it all possible: Hexbeam ! There is almost no difference on the RX side compared to my TS-480. I was switching between both radios and they are equally good with very weak signals in noise, pileup, QRN, etc. I'm using headphones there so I can't say anything about the external speaker. The only downsides in Yaesu are: awkward RIT compared to Kenwood, switching between VFO A/B, pre-recorded CW texts. And the plastic VFO and RIT are too small for real pileups and contests. But for the size and weight 2kg and 100W out you can't complain. 73 de DV8/KH7EA
A lot of people have said that the receive is better on the 891 than the 991, and that's one of the reasons why I chose the 891 over the 991. I've been using mine as is straight out of the box except for running 75 watts on voice and 30 on data, and everyone has said my signal and audio sound fine. I'll have to take mine out to a park to see experience the weaker signals, because at my QTH there is usually a S7-S9 of noise on 20 meters to 80 meters. 17 and 15 are pretty quiet though.
Never had bad TX audio reports with my FT-891 right out of the box (rig is 2 yrs old now). And they got better when I added a Shure SM48 stage/sudio mic on a boom/shock mount set up. Now I get asked what Heil mic I am using, lol! Also agree on the receive quality. A friend has a 991A and he says that my 891 sounds better. I live in a high RF noise area and I tried a 991A and could not hear stations others near me were hearing. Now I can hear just about everything with the right filters (yes, I tried the filters in the 991A but no luck) I don't do portable due to disabilities so I use an MJF-949E tuner with a non-resonant folded dipole at 30 feet and am able to tune every thing from 40 through 12 meters. I have a separate 10 meter dipole at 40 feet. I see no need for an auto-tuner although I do have one (mAT-30, 160 -6 meters, 200 watts and it was purchased from a CB'er who thought he could use it on his CB station) which is made for the FT-891 (and a few other Yaesu rigs) and it works as it should and is half the cost of the Yaesu auto-tuner. 73, de N1WOM
What a great video! After many years away from the hobby, and never having done HF, I'm finding it incredibly satisfying to watch videos like this....especially with calls like that last one! Very cool! I've been debating over the last few days if I should go with an FT-818 or the 891 and I think I'm leaning more toward the 891..... and if I ever do any 2M I'll just use my old Radio Shack HTX-202. Haven't done any 2M stuff in many years so I'll think I'll be okay, and this 891 just seems like the better radio even if I do like the idea of only operating QRP with 5 watts. At least it would be nice to have the option for more power with the 891.
I think they are both great radios that serve different purposes. If you need to be power concise the 818 runs laps around the 891. The 891 consumes almost 4x the power on receive as the 818. That being said if you have a higher power budget, the 891 is hard to beat out of the 2 for HF. QRP is great and I understand the reasoning, but sometimes you just need more than 5w. I like having the option. But if I was hiking long distances and every ounce matters, the 818 would win.
@@jonlawrence Thanks for the great feedback, and I hope I'm not too much of a bother by asking for more!! Initially, I'll be doing most of my DXing by taking a go-kit type setup on one of my motorcycles and setting up to do some POTA or SOTA. That appeals to me more than a shack type thing, at the moment anyway, and since this is my first stab at HF after having my General since 2015, I'm running with it. The GoldWing has a good bit of storage and the GS can carry a Pelican style case, so I THINK I'm okay with bringing either radio setup and a good sized battery. Do you think the 891 is rugged enough to handle some offroad type bumps?
I think it could handle it as well as any radio I have used, it is built like a tank. My only suggestion would be to add some rails to it to ensure that the controls don't get knocked around too much during transport.
Unless you have a large area you will need to purchase the separation kit which is an option but you can buy them on eBay that are non-Yaesu products for around $30.
I once owned and an ATAS 120A and I have been a ham operator since 1994 and that is the worst antenna I have ever owned or used on amateur radio.👎🏻💩 I replaced it with a Tarheel II and the difference was daylight and dark & the Tarheel was the WINNER.👍
I do not know exactly what setting did what to change it so much, all I know is the video I referred to in the description helped me get better reports after I used those settings than what I had with stock settings.
What an awful video! You focus on the mundane tasks, such as shrinking the wrap and completely skipping to the wiring and the attachment of the capacitor
I love my FT-891 and have had great success both hunting and activating in the Parks on the Air program. The antenna I use, which I have found to be resonant on 15, 17, 20, and 40 meters, is a Chameleon LEFS end fed half wave antenna. Although I own the Yaesu FC-50 companion tuner, SWRs are low enough with this antenna to not require it.
You will love the FT891 more and more the longer you have it and you definitely found the best CZcams video for the FT 891 Audio settings.
Got my 891 on Friday, it replaced my FT-450D. I have to say that I’m definitely seeing a massive improvement on receive. I’ve also changed the audio, compression and equaliser settings and like you, I’m now receiving great audio reports. Looking forward to seeing more videos John. 73.
The FT-891 appears to be a real good rig. I have already ordered a brand new FT-891 which will be delivered at my QTH between 05 to 18 Jan.
Thank you for this awesome video.
Cheers!
New Delhi
Jon, enjoyed the short review of the FT-891. I must admit it was really sounding good to the station in CO. Seems like you do have it dialed in pretty good.
I'm using my FT-891 from DU and must admit it's an excellent radio. I made over 1400 QSOs within 2 weeks of May this year. All CW, 100W and...yes, the antenna makes it all possible: Hexbeam ! There is almost no difference on the RX side compared to my TS-480. I was switching between both radios and they are equally good with very weak signals in noise, pileup, QRN, etc. I'm using headphones there so I can't say anything about the external speaker. The only downsides in Yaesu are: awkward RIT compared to Kenwood, switching between VFO A/B, pre-recorded CW texts. And the plastic VFO and RIT are too small for real pileups and contests. But for the size and weight 2kg and 100W out you can't complain. 73 de DV8/KH7EA
I also listened to N4HNH's video, used his options. Am now getting great signal reports!
A lot of people have said that the receive is better on the 891 than the 991, and that's one of the reasons why I chose the 891 over the 991. I've been using mine as is straight out of the box except for running 75 watts on voice and 30 on data, and everyone has said my signal and audio sound fine. I'll have to take mine out to a park to see experience the weaker signals, because at my QTH there is usually a S7-S9 of noise on 20 meters to 80 meters. 17 and 15 are pretty quiet though.
Thinking of buying this radio so thanks!
Never had bad TX audio reports with my FT-891 right out of the box (rig is 2 yrs old now). And they got better when I added a Shure SM48 stage/sudio mic on a boom/shock mount set up. Now I get asked what Heil mic I am using, lol!
Also agree on the receive quality. A friend has a 991A and he says that my 891 sounds better. I live in a high RF noise area and I tried a 991A and could not hear stations others near me were hearing. Now I can hear just about everything with the right filters (yes, I tried the filters in the 991A but no luck)
I don't do portable due to disabilities so I use an MJF-949E tuner with a non-resonant folded dipole at 30 feet and am able to tune every thing from 40 through 12 meters. I have a separate 10 meter dipole at 40 feet. I see no need for an auto-tuner although I do have one (mAT-30, 160 -6 meters, 200 watts and it was purchased from a CB'er who thought he could use it on his CB station) which is made for the FT-891 (and a few other Yaesu rigs) and it works as it should and is half the cost of the Yaesu auto-tuner.
73, de N1WOM
What a great video! After many years away from the hobby, and never having done HF, I'm finding it incredibly satisfying to watch videos like this....especially with calls like that last one! Very cool! I've been debating over the last few days if I should go with an FT-818 or the 891 and I think I'm leaning more toward the 891..... and if I ever do any 2M I'll just use my old Radio Shack HTX-202. Haven't done any 2M stuff in many years so I'll think I'll be okay, and this 891 just seems like the better radio even if I do like the idea of only operating QRP with 5 watts. At least it would be nice to have the option for more power with the 891.
I think they are both great radios that serve different purposes. If you need to be power concise the 818 runs laps around the 891. The 891 consumes almost 4x the power on receive as the 818.
That being said if you have a higher power budget, the 891 is hard to beat out of the 2 for HF. QRP is great and I understand the reasoning, but sometimes you just need more than 5w. I like having the option. But if I was hiking long distances and every ounce matters, the 818 would win.
@@jonlawrence Thanks for the great feedback, and I hope I'm not too much of a bother by asking for more!! Initially, I'll be doing most of my DXing by taking a go-kit type setup on one of my motorcycles and setting up to do some POTA or SOTA. That appeals to me more than a shack type thing, at the moment anyway, and since this is my first stab at HF after having my General since 2015, I'm running with it. The GoldWing has a good bit of storage and the GS can carry a Pelican style case, so I THINK I'm okay with bringing either radio setup and a good sized battery. Do you think the 891 is rugged enough to handle some offroad type bumps?
I think it could handle it as well as any radio I have used, it is built like a tank. My only suggestion would be to add some rails to it to ensure that the controls don't get knocked around too much during transport.
@@jonlawrence Thanks!!
Hey Jon,
did you ever compare the sensibility of the FT-891 with another radio?
i heard its really bad.
73
Jens
DK2JR
gonna get one to run mobile - looks great - thanks!
Unless you have a large area you will need to purchase the separation kit which is an option but you can buy them on eBay that are non-Yaesu products for around $30.
@@1OFGODSOWN Yeah, that's the plan
Hi FYI, It does have an internal tuner, i use it with the ATAS 120A
That is not quite right, the ATAS 120a antenna is a self tuning antenna, it is not tuning via the radio. ATAS stands for Active Tuning Antenna System.
Regarding the tuner. Why? Simply set up an ATAS-120 antenna. These radios have the tuning software for them!!
I once owned and an ATAS 120A and I have been a ham operator since 1994 and that is the worst antenna I have ever owned or used on amateur radio.👎🏻💩 I replaced it with a Tarheel II and the difference was daylight and dark & the Tarheel was the WINNER.👍
explaination of your solution to mic issue would have been nice
I do not know exactly what setting did what to change it so much, all I know is the video I referred to in the description helped me get better reports after I used those settings than what I had with stock settings.
My main rig is a 991 as well, I also have this radio and a KX2, both have better receivers than my 991.
That is good to hear that I am not the only one that feels this way.
SCU 17 works great with my FT891.
Good to know, thank you! That is a much cheaper solution.
Same here, love my SCU-17! Best purchase that I have made as an accy for my FT-891. 73, de N1WOM
That handle looks really goofy to me.😳😵💫
Noted
Hi Jon, where did you buy the protection bars? 73 from Chile CE4UGI Juan David
My brother in law 3D printed them for me, I will leave the link to the files below:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:4757295
thanks jon, i'll find someone who can print them, 73
Where you get the orange brackets? Thanks. Great video.
I got them 3d printed off thingaverse if I remember right.
What’s the voltmeter,amp meter on top? That looks interesting
HTRC 150A High Precision RC Watt Meter Power Analyzer Battery Voltage Amp Meter
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XPVKY13
hi, my friend! forgive me for my English! Tell me the model of this antenna tuner!
Hi, sorry about the late reply. LDG AT-100 Pro II
Question, where did you get the side rails?
They are 3d printed
Where can I find those side bumpers to protect the radio
It was 3d printed from thingiverse
@@jonlawrence Portable Zero sells them
Jon, can you share your audio settings? Would appreciate it, 73 N4JOM James
Yep, the video I used for the settings I put in the description.
What an awful video! You focus on the mundane tasks, such as shrinking the wrap and completely skipping to the wiring and the attachment of the capacitor
I am not sure what you are talking about, sorry to waste you time.