YAESU FT 891 is nice but not perfect

YAESU FT 891 is nice but not perfect

Overall I like the radio, since it is compact, has a very good cooling system and the transmitted audio sounds good. The sound on CW reception is clean as well-without much DSP garbage.

The receiver is better than the FT857 in some respects. Due to its strong front end it does´not overload easily, when other transmitters are in close vicinity to it (as it is on fielddays etc.-try this with an IC 7300 !).

The AGC the noise reduction and bandwidth possibilities offered are very good as well. On the other hand there are a few things that could be better, despite the low price:

1) The synthesizer noise is very high. I failed measuring the dynamic range at 10 and even 20kHz offset (NL at about 87dB). Phase noise is worse than on most of the other radios in a similar price range. There are a few spurii as well.



2)IM products on transmit are not acceptable in my opinion(3rd order:less than 18dB down at 80..100W). Competitors reach 30dB using the same RD100 FETs in the PA.

3) It is very strange that you can´t reduce the power or switch to the other sideband without searching in the depths of the main menu. There are a few other issues with the menu as stated earlier here.

4) USB connector but no audio CODEC ?? What about digimodes, Yaesu ??. The mechanical quality is OK.

I`d give 3,4 = OK to good.