Yeah there were times that the signal was stronger on the KX3, but the noise level was pretty bad. Usually you would compensate with NR. I think the volume on the 817 was lower in a few comparisons. Over all they sounded pretty close. I have been considering the 817, the Ten-Tec R4040 and new Argonaut. KE4KE
LOL! at 2:40 seconds that weak signal you couldn't barely copy on SSB but still detectable on the FT-817 wasn't even heard on the KX3. There after the FT-817 seems quiet'er, LOL! Still for the two too be even even at times as you said is crazy too think. All this hoopla about the KX3 blowing away the FT-817ND doesn't sound like it too me according to this test. Thanks for the comparison! I love my FT-817ND, but not to say I wouldn't buy a KX-3. It's making me think though. 73!
Jim, Nice setup but you just proved that the 817 is still a great radio for backpacking . Aha.. you never seem to get the audio levels equalized, but that is ok. Your hands are clumsy when working the 817. The bigger KX3 seems better suited for your level of dexterity and hearing. I do like your conclusion though. The 817 does have very tiny buttons , which can confound some folks. Keep up the good work!
Someone in France reviewing a newly bought a Elecraft KX2 had to pay $300 Customs on top of the $800 he already paid for the Elecraft. He says if he bought the FT-817, customs would be a lot less. So if you live in Europe, you might want to see what customs will charge well ahead of time.
Very nice. One thing I noticed was for recovery for noise spikes, AGC hits on the KX3 caused a momentary audio muting that the 817 did not seem to suffer from. Did you have the NB on or off? 73 de Al, W2GZN
The overall KX3 package is technically better but it doe have a cost of ~2x the FT817, which I have. The small buttons and screen make the 817 hard to operate. Working stations with the KX3 would be certainly more enjoyable. One thing I learned was that the 817 really does need the CW filter, about a $130 option, even in non-conyest situations. I assume that the KX3 would get better battery life (at the 5W level) than the 817. Nice video set. Thanks
In the room you would hear the difference and the KX3 is better. The 817 has much better audio power and a larger speaker and can pump out much stronger audio. Of course that eats up power too - there's always trade offs. That being said, and owning both, IMHO the KX3 is the better rig but the 817 is still decent. For me the deciding factors are the antenna tuner, double the output power and a display my old eyes can actually read.
Be interesting to see a comparison between the KX2 and the Xiegu X5105. I have a FT817ND and have compared it to the X5105. The FT817 has a much quieter receiver, 'though both radios have similar sensitivity. (I'm using the most recent V3.007 firmware on the X5105.)
QRP is pretty much limited to Elecraft, the FT-817 and the Argonaut. Icom has no plans for a new QRP radio. The stated reason was "poor support from" the QRP community. I kind of doubt Kenwood has any plans as well. For FD on battery I will just use my Argo 515 or IC-703+. For everything else I guess I can just reduce the power settings.
Forgot to mention that the KX3 doesn't do 2m/440. It's also more expensive up front. So to get the same coverage as the 817, you'd have to buy a handheld to go with the KX3 and spend a couple hundred dollars more. For the same money you could add DSP, a tuner and a couple of filters to the 817 with some scratch left over to spend on an antenna. Not to mention that the 817 is considerably more rugged, which is important in a rig of this type.
I have a 817 but the small knobs and buttons drive me crazy. I see that the preliminary Ten-Tec manual is dated late January 2013 so perhaps they are getting close with their new entry into this low power field.
Please see my updated comment on part 1. I am convinced that your hands would be happier holding the KX3. You did the right thing here. Enjoy your new radio.. Yaseu repair and customer service is not as great as Elecraft's. All of my friends own Elecraft radios. They expect me, devoted Flexer, to break down soon. Its the cult like following that grabs hold and wont let go. My ham friends are all happy btw. I cannot hold out much longer. gasp !!!
Would have been interesting to try a transmitting test... Set them both to 5 watts and find a nice strong signal. Or get a friend to record the received signal... de M1GEO.
Yes - I have to agree. Your love for the Elecraft shone through - especially when desperately trying to make it sound better. I'm impressed - what is the model again of that super radio? FT817 was it? ;-) We're told the KX3 is better figures show it has the most awesome receive, yet on just a (very) basic old-fashioned audio test, the little 817 more than holds its own. Mine has just gone right up in my estimation. I too am unsure re KX3 purchase:-( i'd expect it to have won that easily!
HEY no hard brainer it hear better all mode and cheap the kx3 is to much money ,for buy the KX3 is better buy the ft 857D and used on 5, 10 watts and you're right in this video the ft 817 hear better than the KX3
Active shortwave listener. Use $120 Sony 7600 or $225 Sangean 909x. looking at $600 Comm radio CR1A. For that much money, thinking about going to either yasu or kx3 Feel both radios will be excellent Have to use electric scooter to move about Will mount ham radilo to scooter
Yeah there were times that the signal was stronger on the KX3, but the noise level was pretty bad. Usually you would compensate with NR. I think the volume on the 817 was lower in a few comparisons. Over all they sounded pretty close. I have been considering the 817, the Ten-Tec R4040 and new Argonaut. KE4KE
Thanks Eric, glad it was of interest.
I like my Ft-817. Worked the QRP-DXCC with it.
have been contemplating purchasing those radios. Thank you for sharing!
like previous comment on button size as my right hand no longer works
You've conducted a reasonably objective experiment, Jim! Nicely done! 72's!
LOL! at 2:40 seconds that weak signal you couldn't barely copy on SSB but still detectable on the FT-817 wasn't even heard on the KX3. There after the FT-817 seems quiet'er, LOL! Still for the two too be even even at times as you said is crazy too think. All this hoopla about the KX3 blowing away the FT-817ND doesn't sound like it too me according to this test. Thanks for the comparison! I love my FT-817ND, but not to say I wouldn't buy a KX-3. It's making me think though. 73!
Jim,
Nice setup but you just proved that the 817 is still a great radio for backpacking .
Aha.. you never seem to get the audio levels equalized, but that is ok. Your hands are clumsy when working the 817. The bigger KX3 seems better suited for your level of dexterity
and hearing. I do like your conclusion though. The 817 does have very tiny buttons , which can confound some folks. Keep up the good work!
Someone in France reviewing a newly bought a Elecraft KX2 had to pay $300 Customs on top of the $800 he already paid for the Elecraft. He says if he bought the FT-817, customs would be a lot less. So if you live in Europe, you might want to see what customs will charge well ahead of time.
Very nice. One thing I noticed was for recovery for noise spikes, AGC hits on the KX3 caused a momentary audio muting that the 817 did not seem to suffer from. Did you have the NB on or off?
73 de Al, W2GZN
The overall KX3 package is technically better but it doe have a cost of ~2x the FT817, which I have.
The small buttons and screen make the 817 hard to operate. Working stations with the KX3 would be certainly more enjoyable.
One thing I learned was that the 817 really does need the CW filter, about a $130 option, even in non-conyest situations.
I assume that the KX3 would get better battery life (at the 5W level) than the 817.
Nice video set. Thanks
In the room you would hear the difference and the KX3 is better. The 817 has much better audio power and a larger speaker and can pump out much stronger audio. Of course that eats up power too - there's always trade offs.
That being said, and owning both, IMHO the KX3 is the better rig but the 817 is still decent. For me the deciding factors are the antenna tuner, double the output power and a display my old eyes can actually read.
Be interesting to see a comparison between the KX2 and the Xiegu X5105. I have a FT817ND and have compared it to the X5105. The FT817 has a much quieter receiver, 'though both radios have similar sensitivity. (I'm using the most recent V3.007 firmware on the X5105.)
QRP is pretty much limited to Elecraft, the FT-817 and the Argonaut. Icom has no plans for a new QRP radio. The stated reason was "poor support from" the QRP community. I kind of doubt Kenwood has any plans as well. For FD on battery I will just use my Argo 515 or IC-703+. For everything else I guess I can just reduce the power settings.
Audio on the 817 is much improved if you use an x-mini external speaker, louder too.
Forgot to mention that the KX3 doesn't do 2m/440. It's also more expensive up front. So to get the same coverage as the 817, you'd have to buy a handheld to go with the KX3 and spend a couple hundred dollars more.
For the same money you could add DSP, a tuner and a couple of filters to the 817 with some scratch left over to spend on an antenna. Not to mention that the 817 is considerably more rugged, which is important in a rig of this type.
most of handhelds even don't have ssb on vhf/uhf...
I have a 817 but the small knobs and buttons drive me crazy. I see that the preliminary Ten-Tec manual is dated late January 2013 so perhaps they are getting close with their new entry into this low power field.
He does not know how to use the noise reduction on the KX3.
I have both and I like the KX3 way better.
+ve4mm They aren't in the same universe. But the 817 is a good portable DC to light rig. But night and day RX wise
I saved a hole bunch of Paso's on core inshore ence by switching to Jiveco. And Witt dat money , I bought me a new Yaesu FT-817.😚
Please see my updated comment on part 1. I am convinced that your hands would be happier holding the KX3. You did the right thing here. Enjoy your new radio..
Yaseu repair and customer service is not as great as Elecraft's. All of my friends own Elecraft radios. They expect me, devoted Flexer, to break down soon. Its the cult like following that grabs hold and wont let go. My ham friends are all happy btw. I cannot hold out much longer. gasp !!!
Would have been interesting to try a transmitting test... Set them both to 5 watts and find a nice strong signal. Or get a friend to record the received signal... de M1GEO.
Thanks for the comparison, it saved me a lot of money lol...
In my opinion the ft-817 is not as stylish but is much quieter.. 73 4Z4NX
Yes - I have to agree. Your love for the Elecraft shone through - especially when desperately trying to make it sound better. I'm impressed - what is the model again of that super radio? FT817 was it? ;-) We're told the KX3 is better figures show it has the most awesome receive, yet on just a (very) basic old-fashioned audio test, the little 817 more than holds its own.
Mine has just gone right up in my estimation. I too am unsure re KX3 purchase:-( i'd expect it to have won that easily!
In my opinion the FT817 was the better receiver all round. Noise was much lower in all your examples. KV4WM
HEY no hard brainer it hear better all mode and cheap the kx3 is to much money ,for buy the KX3 is better buy the ft 857D and used on 5, 10 watts and you're right in this video the ft 817 hear better than the KX3
Active shortwave listener. Use $120 Sony 7600 or $225 Sangean 909x. looking at $600 Comm radio CR1A. For that much money, thinking about going to either yasu or kx3 Feel both radios will be excellent Have to use electric scooter to move about Will mount ham radilo to scooter
Kx3 have more treble sound. Otherwise the sound are the same.
FT-817 is better on SSB
Get real man! The 817 is not even in the same ballpark.
They sound much the same to me. 73
one video was enough
Yaesu is much better on SSB .