Related Topics

Related Topics and Emerging Ideas

Here are some "Hints and Kinks" for the FT-817:

Sometimes, when using the rig in a vertical orientation, the power plug can be pulled out of the jack by the weight of the cord. Here is a simple fix that requires no modification to the radio. Pick up a small nylon cable clamp at the hardware store (I checked Radio Shack, but I couldn't find the right type). Remove the ground screw from the back of the rig, insert in through one of the clamp's tabs (NOT both of them), and reinstall the screw. Insert the power plug and loop the cord through the cable clamp.

Bottom view showing cable clamp and power cord with ferrite choke.

Here is a simple dummy load that you can carry in your accessory bag. I built this one many years ago for another QRP rig. Obtain two 100 ohm non-inductive resistors. I'm not sure what size I used, but I think one watt (maybe one-half watt). The resistors should be as large as possible (wattage rating), but small enough (physical dimension) that they will fit inside a PL-259 side-by-side. Wire the resistors in parallel (50 ohms), insert one lead into the PL-259's center pin and solder. Bend the other lead over and solder it to the PL-259's body. You now have a compact dummy load. Be sure to observe the maximum power rating of the resistors.

Compact dummy load, end and side views.

(This page originally included some "emerging ideas" that no longer seem relevant twenty years later, so I've left them off.)