Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
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Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I got mine used from kc8yhk over 6 months ago, and I love it.
In recent history I used Kenwood 731/732/733 and icom 2720
The 8800 is by far the best radio of all of them. It rejection in a high intermod area compored to that of my commercial gear.
Excellent receive quality and transmit audio as well. I'd put it up against a Motorola anyday-that's saying quite a bit for an addict like me.
My only complaint is the mic jack on the head only. Why have a detachable head if I can't re-route the mic from the body?
In recent history I used Kenwood 731/732/733 and icom 2720
The 8800 is by far the best radio of all of them. It rejection in a high intermod area compored to that of my commercial gear.
Excellent receive quality and transmit audio as well. I'd put it up against a Motorola anyday-that's saying quite a bit for an addict like me.
My only complaint is the mic jack on the head only. Why have a detachable head if I can't re-route the mic from the body?
N3JFW 4:29 pm
(4:29:48 PM): so he's gay huh
(nameless ham) 4:30 pm
(4:30:02 PM): haha no, but he is a music major
N3JFW 4:30 pm
(4:30:15 PM): so he's still in the closet
(4:29:48 PM): so he's gay huh
(nameless ham) 4:30 pm
(4:30:02 PM): haha no, but he is a music major
N3JFW 4:30 pm
(4:30:15 PM): so he's still in the closet
- Ihatewhackers
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Guess I'll revive an old thread. Had to mount the head of the radio (yeah, I know...I said head) to the top of my console in truck that houses switchboxes and siren. I do NOT like the damned mic having to connect to the side, as it causes some problems. I've only had it in operation for a few weeks and already thinking of replacing it.grem467 wrote:my buddy has one of those, he needs a new mic because of that stupid "mount to the head" thing.. then again, im not a big fan of the telephone connectors for mics.
other than that, seems to be a solid rig
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I hate to raise a twice-dead thread again, but I am really thinking about an FT-8800 and I really found this info helpful.
Is there anything more that could be seen as a con for this unit?
Is there anything more that could be seen as a con for this unit?
Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
RayRay wrote:I just bought a FT-1802 last week at AES, and for $120 bucks it's a really decent radio. It's on par with a TK-xxx mobile.
So that means it's better than the current sub-$1000 mobiles from /\/\
![THE BABY! :baby:](./images/smilies/smileybaby.gif)
I have a 8800, need to program it for listen since it puts out miliwatts. I did get it for $20 though, so I"m happy it RXs well. It'll likely be a dual-band scanner for my truck, remote mounted yo
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- goondaddy
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I've always been a fan of Yaesu products, even through thier "Hard" times, I'm presently using a 7800 as a mobile, another close friend of mine chose the 8800, and we've both had quite a bit of experience with it, it's rejection of intermod is very high, higher than that of the 7800 (figures...), but in our locale, we are some of the loudest (within deviation limits), and 3 out of 4 of our group have purchased Yaesu's, the fella that bought Icom did so more as a mounting convienience in his new truck, it has a small head unit, and the microphone is actually attached to the main unit.
As for the Yaesu cons, the microphone jack and connector style is the only complaint I have, why is it on the right hand side? Why is it connected with a cheesy-ass jack? Why is there no strain relief on the mic cord? The only other shortcoming (not p.e.) is that the 7800 and the 8800 have 50 watts on 2-meter, but on the 70cm band, the 7800 has 40 watts, and the 8800 has 35, I know it's not a grand problem, but it seems to matter enough that I've heard it mentioned a time or two....
I believe that the 8800 is a good radio for the money...
As for the Yaesu cons, the microphone jack and connector style is the only complaint I have, why is it on the right hand side? Why is it connected with a cheesy-ass jack? Why is there no strain relief on the mic cord? The only other shortcoming (not p.e.) is that the 7800 and the 8800 have 50 watts on 2-meter, but on the 70cm band, the 7800 has 40 watts, and the 8800 has 35, I know it's not a grand problem, but it seems to matter enough that I've heard it mentioned a time or two....
I believe that the 8800 is a good radio for the money...
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. -George Carlin
Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
The 8800 does a excellent job at crossbanding - only reason I got one a few years ago
I think they got it right with the 8800!
![Michael Bannana :mjban:](./images/smilies/dancenana.gif)
I think they got it right with the 8800!
Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
XTS3000 wrote:The 8800 does a excellent job at crossbanding - only reason I got one a few years ago![]()
I'm 99% that's why I got one for $20, it was used to crossband a little to much and burnt up
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
Only thing missing for crossbanding is remote control.
If Kenwood can do it, why hot Yaesu?![Just for the bunnyman :bnypancake:](./images/smilies/bunne.gif)
If Kenwood can do it, why hot Yaesu?
![Just for the bunnyman :bnypancake:](./images/smilies/bunne.gif)
Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
It would be cool to have the APRS ID act as an ID in crossband mode.
Sounds like a good candidate for a size 12 analpharyngeal airway...aka my foot up his dumb ass. -KC9ECI
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
Send it back to Yaesu and pretend you still have it under warranty.Mong wrote:XTS3000 wrote:The 8800 does a excellent job at crossbanding - only reason I got one a few years ago![]()
I'm 99% that's why I got one for $20, it was used to crossband a little to much and burnt up
you may get lucky.
burnt finals are a common problem with this rig - someone comes up on the FT8800 yahoo list almost every week saying: zomg my 8800 doesnt xmit any more.
KC9UZB - ex M3ECM - expat dirty socialist Brit
Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
If you're going to crossband with more than a 20% duty cycle, strap another fan on the heatsink. I've done this for quite a while with no issues, though I don't crossband as much anymore. When I do, I do it "one way" using it to help get the HT into the machine only. I can usually hear the machine itself so I don't use it to crossband back to my HT. That eliminates the need to wait for the repeater to drop and the radio to stop transmitting to the HT so I can start talking again also.Mong wrote:XTS3000 wrote:The 8800 does a excellent job at crossbanding - only reason I got one a few years ago![]()
I'm 99% that's why I got one for $20, it was used to crossband a little to much and burnt up
I've got 3 of them-one in each vehicle and one right here on the desk.
73
Joshua, KD6NIG
Stockton, CA
http://www.kd6nig.net
WARNING: My wife says I'm the worlds largest source of natual gas. Shes right!
435 Repeater Audio: http://www.kd6nig.net/435rep.html
Joshua, KD6NIG
Stockton, CA
http://www.kd6nig.net
WARNING: My wife says I'm the worlds largest source of natual gas. Shes right!
435 Repeater Audio: http://www.kd6nig.net/435rep.html
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Re:
Need to agree with the phone-jack thing. Mine's broken (clip broke) and wedged into the radio with a wad of paper at the moment.grem467 wrote:my buddy has one of those, he needs a new mic because of that stupid "mount to the head" thing.. then again, im not a big fan of the telephone connectors for mics.
other than that, seems to be a solid rig
Most frustrating. I have an 8900, though, and find it very reliable.
de ZL1VMF, Auckland, New Zealand.
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http://www.blakjak.net
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
RJ-11 crimp tool ftw!
KC9UZB - ex M3ECM - expat dirty socialist Brit
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
Do you use those over there???M3ECM wrote:RJ-11 crimp tool ftw!
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I'm actually more worried about trying to get those damn fine wires back into a replacement jack should I try to replace it myself...
de ZL1VMF, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I have the 7800R and am considering a modification to eliminate that stupid RJ jack. Thanks for reminding me... I just went ahead and exploited Neutrik's sample program to get an 8 pin Neutricon and jack to get around that crap. I've always liked the way the nice little three jawed chuck inside Neutrik's connectors works - it's like a drill chuck. That cable is NOT going to tear out.
Tom, KG4CYX - RF and RF Accessories.
Opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of anyone else.
@FakeAPStyleBook Also, which is correct: "Amateur radio", "Ham radio", or otherwise?
@VXO: "Amateur radio" and "ham radio" may be referred to as "nobody's listening."
Opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of anyone else.
@FakeAPStyleBook Also, which is correct: "Amateur radio", "Ham radio", or otherwise?
@VXO: "Amateur radio" and "ham radio" may be referred to as "nobody's listening."
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
We have two of these radios in our group now, would like more info about what you're doing with these connectors, mine isn't giving any grief yet, but it's only been in service since June, my friend has his mounted over his sun visor in a yj, his install is cool, but his mic is a pain in the ass to hassle with sometimes....
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. -George Carlin
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
Parts and labor to fix the low output on my 8900 was $49.00 at Yaesu. Turn around was 5 days.
Jerry
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
That's kinda surprising, I've heard some pretty horrific stories regarding Yaesu's customer service.
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done. -George Carlin
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
The mic jack wasn't that big of a problem. Back in my Explorer I used some CAT5 to extend the mic jack to down by the seat and I used a regular 6P6C connector and jack to extend it to a better location. I had used the same technique to mount the head in a better location. The $50 Yaesu kit is a rip off, you can buy the bracket they include from Burghardt for $4, a YSK-7800. The control head and speaker cables they include can be had easily for under $10 and for most people, a custom cable works better anyways.
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
I've had an 8800 in my truck for the past ~9 months. The only problem I've had with it is the 440 side takes intermod in like a mexican whore when I drive through downtown Houston. The 144 side is nice and quiet though, and that's what I use the most, so I can't bitch too much.
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
kd5gke wrote:I've had an 8800 in my truck for the past ~9 months. The only problem I've had with it is the 440 side takes intermod in like a mexican whore when I drive through downtown Houston. The 144 side is nice and quiet though, and that's what I use the most, so I can't bitch too much.
When I was researching my 8900 purchase one of the first reviews I hit commented on its resistance to intermod. One hopes that Houston is exceptional or you've struck an annoyingly placed IF or something...
You should hear my FT50 in anything resembling an urban area...
de ZL1VMF, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
There is a ton of uhf activity in downtown Houston. It's mainly pagers I here when I drive through there, which is rare as I work and live south of the city.BlakJak wrote:kd5gke wrote:I've had an 8800 in my truck for the past ~9 months. The only problem I've had with it is the 440 side takes intermod in like a mexican whore when I drive through downtown Houston. The 144 side is nice and quiet though, and that's what I use the most, so I can't bitch too much.
When I was researching my 8900 purchase one of the first reviews I hit commented on its resistance to intermod. One hopes that Houston is exceptional or you've struck an annoyingly placed IF or something...
You should hear my FT50 in anything resembling an urban area...
As far as Yausu HTs, I used to have a VX-5, and that sucker was useless within a 10-20 mile radius inside the city with an external antenna.
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Re: Yaesu ft-8800 dual band mobile
Not to be too much of a gloating prick, but my /\/\ Astro Spectras hear nary a peep of intermod in downtown Houston, even on no-tone frequencies.
And yes, it is dense down there. The big offenders are the 490 LTR systems, HPD/HFD (the majority of their transmitters are on One Shell Plaza) and Reliant/HL&P's mobile data system on 451/452 MHz.
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And yes, it is dense down there. The big offenders are the 490 LTR systems, HPD/HFD (the majority of their transmitters are on One Shell Plaza) and Reliant/HL&P's mobile data system on 451/452 MHz.
And the sign says you got to have a membership card to get inside.