First Installation Experience of the Classic Vintage Yaesu FT-817 Control Display Board Easy Programming, the Key Chip Shines!

Ham radio enthusiasts who have used a Swiss Army knife know its versatility—having multiple functions integrated into one tool is truly impressive. Yet while admiring this, I find it not very user-friendly, as these functions are tightly packed in a small space.

Ham Uncle BG5WKP bought this Swiss Army knife at the duty-free shop in Interlaken during a class reunion in Switzerland a few years ago. I took it out today to film, and even opening the blades feels cumbersome.

Yaesu's FT-817 transceiver is hailed as the "Swiss Army knife of radios"—enthusiasts who've used it have a love-hate relationship with it. When it comes to contests, it's simply frustrating: the front panel can't be detached, and the radio is extremely slim and lightweight. So, when placing it flat on a desk, reading the screen to adjust parameters is quite tiring—you constantly have to lean over and squint. Using a stand is also a hassle: stands aren't expensive, but they're not portable. That's another unhumanized flaw.

Today, Thomas from SWL Post shared his experience upgrading the Yaesu FT-817 transceiver with the G7UHN rev2 buddy board. Let's check it out!

Last August, Andy (G7UHN) shared his DIY project with us: a buddy control display board for the brilliant Yaesu FT-817 general-coverage QRP transceiver.

Andy's article brought back more nostalgia for the once-popular FT-817 transceiver. As you'll find out, back in 2001 when I was living in the UK, I owned one of the first production models of the FT-817.

At that time, there was nothing like it on the market: an incredibly portable and efficient HF, VHF, UHF multi-mode general-coverage QRP transceiver... all for $670.

In 2001? Yes, Yaesu kicked it out of the amateur radio competition!

In fact, they tried so hard to phase it out that twenty years later, it’s still in production for amateur radio, and the upgraded FT-818 remains in high demand.

If I recall correctly, I sold my FT-817 in 2008 to raise funds for an Elecraft KX1. My reason? One thing I disliked about the FT-817 was its small front-facing display. When combined with embedded menus and a lack of controls, it could cause frustration both at home and in the field.

As I mentioned in my previous article, I bought a used FT-817ND from my friend Don back in October 2020. I really blame Andy for this purchase. In fact, I hereby declare it the FT-817 engine!

When I told Andy about buying the 817ND, he asked if I wanted to help him test the FT-817 buddy board mainboard version. How could I refuse?

Andy sent me a prototype of his Version 2 buddy board, which arrived in late November. I had to provide a few items (Arduino board, Nokia display, and multi-conductor CAT cable). Andy kindly pre-installed all the SMD components, so I only needed to solder the Arduino board and configure/solder the cables. I was really careful when preparing and soldering the cables to ensure there were no accidental short circuits between the voltage conductors and ground conductors.

Overall, I found the construction and programming very straightforward. This was helped by Andy providing remote guidance during the programming phase. Andy did an excellent job with the documentation.

I really like how the development board makes it easier to read frequencies and directly access important functions without diving into embedded menus. While nothing stops you from modifying the program to suit your needs, Andy—being an avid FT-817 user—has done an excellent job with this design.

The Nokia display's backlight is excellent, with high contrast and easy readability.

Resistance is futile.

I mentioned on my social media accounts that with the backlight on, the FT-817 buddy board makes my 817ND look like it was recently assimilated by the Borg.

Don’t tell any Star Trek captains, but I’m absolutely thrilled with it.

Andy has a rev3 circuit board, and it’s going to be a game-changer for me in the contesting field: K1EL’s keying chip!

For more information about the FT-817 Buddy, please visit Andy's website:

http://alloutput.com/ft-817-buddy/

At the time of publishing this message, it was not yet available, but as Andy said, "It's coming soon!"

Thank you so much to Andy for taking this project to new heights. Without a doubt, many FT-817 users will benefit from this excellent project!