 |
Yaesu FT7 HF transceiver
18 May 2015 | by  |
| Yaesu FT7 – a true classic |
Way back in about 1979 I owned a Yaesu FT7. This was a 10W HF rig using a modular construction. It was a beautiful radio with a lovely, quiet receiver. It is probably the best radio I have ever owned and used. It predates WARC bands and only covered one 500kHz part of the 10m band and the non-WARC bands from 80m-10m. Today, it looks large. It was an analogue radio – no memories, no synthesisers – just a very good HF radio transceiver. I worked all over the world with mine using QRP SSB and simple, low, wire antennas and no beams, mainly on 10m. In those days, most (all?) USA SSB was above 28.5MHz. Canadians were mainly below 28.5MHz.
My little FT817 has more bands and modes and is about 1/10th of the size.
I can thoroughly recommend the FT7, but they are very hard to find. A later version was 50W pep and had full 10m coverage in 4 x 500kHz sections. The FT7 was a “real” radio – no gimmicks, just a truly amazing rig. Many who owned them and sold them (like me) later regretted selling them. As they say, these rigs are “keepers”. If you find one you are unlikely to be disappointed. Also, the handbook was complete so you could service it and not an SMA component in sight!
5 Responses to “Yaesu FT7 HF transceiver”
 Ham Radio Deluxe |
 Ham Radio Prep |
 Ham Radio School |
 KB3IFH QSL Cards  Hip Ham Shirts  HamRadioAuctions Reliance Antennas Enigma Shop |  morseDX  Ni4L Antennas  R&L Electronics antennas.us Ears to Our World |
- Matt W1MST, Managing Editor
I had the same with an FT101E, fortunately I obtained again one 2 years ago.
If you have an old transceiver, think not twice, think 10 times before selling it, I’m sure many regret selling their boatanchors the day after doing so. I did.
Great ten watt radio. I had an FT-7 eight years ago and sold it, So two years ago I bought another one. This time I think I will keep this one. This radio is built like a battleship. 73, and happy hunting for an FT-7
The FT-7 was the second radio I owned having purchased it new in 1979. I used it for a few years and loved it but family and career got in the way and it sat in a box until yesterday. I hooked it up to a dipole in my attic thru and MFJ tuner and worked Minn and FL from my home in Delaware. Simple rig I plan on using in on my sailboat this summer. I am glad I never sold mine.
Found your post searching for the history of a new-to-me FT7.
Very nice review of the FT7
I got mine 2 days before ARRL Field Day. I put it on the bench for a test. Then a short on-air test and on to Field Day. This is a fun radio to use. I made several contacts with a ground mounted antenna (all I had handy for use in a restricted housing neighborhood). Great RX and all my TX reports were good on only 10W. Now to build a stealth wire antenna.
Compared to all my other rigs this one may be my main one due to its great RX as compared to my TS-830S, IC-735, IC-706-MKIIg, other FT series,,,get the picture. This radio is a performer.
73
HELLO I AM JOHN FROM AUSTRALIA.
I AM RITING TO ASK WERE WOULD BUY A FT7 OR A FT7B RADIO?
IF YOU HAVE ANY PLACES AND COSTS INVOLVED.
REGARDS JOHN VK3NRJ.