Update: The Yaesu FT-891 is the smallest at lightest 100W HF transceiver ever built, at 155x52x218mm and 1.9Kg. Unfortunately the 2A current draw on standby makes it unsuited for truly portable operations.
Among other features worth mentioning would be the 3kHz wide roofing filter (yes, at the 69MHz IF) and the USB port that supports CAT, PTT keying and RTTY data.
Yaesu FT-891 is on public display at Dayton 2016.
It covers 30kHz to 56MHz on receive and transmits in the amateur bands from 160m to 6m with 100W output, has a 69.450MHz 1st IF and a 32-bit DSP, which points to a very similar architecture with the Yaesu FT-991. Yaesu has learned from past mistakes and the FT-891 has a large visible display. A bit more info in the original FT-891 post.
Seems to be the FT-857 replacement and by the looks of things, we might expect a FT-817 replacement named FT-791.
There is also a companion tuner being launched at the same time, called the Yaesu FC-50.
Images by KE9V.
Well it certainly seems to replace the FT-857. The 100 watts confirms that. The loss of VHF/UHF is ne big deal as HT's are so cheap.
The big LCD display and detachable display certainly will be big selling points as will be the large tuning knob.
I haven't seen the manual but I imagine better filters are also inside. It includes a 3kHz roofing filter as standard.
Hopefully they gave up on 2m/70cm to make it more affordable; it still offers 100W in a very compact package. Don't raise your hopes about the filters, Rockwell-Collins has ceased production last year, from now on most new radios will probably have some kind of software filters (be it DSP or SDR).
Razvan.
I do not understand them leaving VHF off the radio……what is a matter with the makers of radios,do they have something against VHF multi mode rigs?…….other than that it looks great.
I agree, also they dropped the battery.
No way for narrow roofing with so high IF so front-end will not be protected so much. Loosing VHF/UHF on CW/SS… It will be interresting to compare with older models!
Any price-point?
KK4YMI
Looks like they missed the boat on an FT817 replacement then. Personally I think they must be STUPID.
Hi Dave,
HT's don't do SSB though and they're invariably 5w or less output power – there are a lot of users that would want VHF/UHF SSB functionality in a rig – I suppose the 991 covers this already, just not quite as portable.
If there is an 817 'replacement' in the works, it would be wise for them to include VHF/UHF SSB.
Hmmm, at first blush it looks like they've FINALLY got a radio that MIGHT pull me away from my beloved FT-100… right up to the "no VHF" part. Really? You think nobody does 2m sideband? That aside, it *DOES* look pretty slick. One of the reasons I never considered an 857 was the tiny, cluttered panel and display. This looks better organized, easier to read, and easier to "braille" while driving.
well they are gonna faze out 2m and 440mhz ssb thats why they are dropping it!
Stupid or trying to run themselves out of business. The 891 is not an 857 with no vhf/uhf. No 817 replacement that is beyond stupid.
The 100 watts makes this a great mobile HF rig but can't replace the 857. This unit seems to fill in a growing market niche for strictly HF coverage that the KW TS-480SAT/HX has been filling for years. The 857 covers another faction requiring HF/VHF/UHF.
I don't get it. The closest rig it could replace is the 857, but the 891 lacks VHF/UHF and the 857 is still in production. The 897 isn't in production and the 817 should have been replaced five years ago. Someone is asleep at the wheel at Yaesu product line management.
Without VHF-UHF and no tuner, no 4m band.. or more power perhaps, nothing new to offer to replace my good FT-857D.
WHY does the 891 screen no have content in the left section? It's blank in every screen shot i've seen of the new rig.
Seems like wasted space.
FT-891's price is confirmed at A$1099 in Australia
If it doesn't have 2M and 70cm, it's not an 857 "replacement." Maybe what they're selling "instead of," but not a replacement, and that's unfortunate.
I do not understand to which market is focused on this 891… There is no VHF/UHF CW/SSB so no 857 replacement, also the 2A on RX drawback so no 817 replacement, there is no ATU and PSU/or int. battery so no 897 replacement and it has different layout and set of features from 991A 🙂 so who and why would want to buy it for $900? The only interresting thing is 3kHz roofing as it will give chance to Inrad to develop and selling 1kHz roofing which will fit to that slot as replacement. Then maybe as permanent small rig on cottage with ext. PSU and ATU…? Maybe…
Petr, OK1RP
BTW: IF in 4m ham radio band??? …oooops it is crazy.
2A draw on receive kills it for me as really enjoy portable ops. And people gripe about the 817's draw on receive..
Missing 4m is also a bit mistake. Shedding the VHF/UHF bands really makes me wonder what weird stuff they have been smoking.
even the IC7000 does less on RX..
had that discussion too. Yeasu lost their mind with the 991 and now the customer-f* too with the 991A. Really messy ideas.
if you look at the 991 debalcle (10%+ returns) and teh 991A that replaces it… just like Kenwood with the 590S vs SG… Simply lost a few bits in the heads