The Yaesu FT-450D is a very capable HF/50m radio, ideal for those looking to get started in HF. It’s also currently available at a discounted price.
Thanks to Charlie M0PZT for spotting this, and for supplying the following thoughts on this radio:
The FT-450D, £489 after cashback, and £549 retail – a steal – Currently more expensive and out-of-stock at other UK distributors. Available online at Martin Lynch: Yaesu FT-450D at ML&S
I owned one for about a year before upgrading to its bigger-brother, the FT-950. Previously, I was using and FT-817ND. The FT-450D is a great 1st HF+6m radio and is small enough to fit into the most restricted of shacks, but also a big enough radio to offer a good operating experience. Of particular interest is the IF Filtering as standard which operates down to 300Hz on CW and Digital modes making operations on a crowded band quite tolerable.
Although the radio has a comprehensive menu system, there are enough buttons on the front panel to ensure that you don’t need to re-read the manual each time you want to change something. Adjusting the filtering, IF Shift or engaging a frequency split (for pile-ups) are all have a dedicated button.
Obviously you don’t get 2m+70cm but those with an FT-817, 857 or 897 don’t get sharp filtering as standard – a must for any serious CW, Digital or /P operator! The 500Hz filter for the above radios is an additional £100. The FT-857 is also £100 MORE than the FT-450D before cashback.
So, if you have around £500 for a radio and are looking to equip the Shack, this radio deserves serious consideration.
Thanks to Charlie M0PZT for sending this through. Charlie will be at this coming Saturday’s Raspberry Jam in Southend, and you can keep up to date with Charlie’s ham radio antics at www.m0pzt.com
Thanks for the info on the yeasu set. I’ve just purchased the tecsun pl660 portable receiver,it’s a great little radio with variable ssb and tuner controls.so many sets are all digital today and I prefer the manual controls.
Didn’t take long for this one to sell out — they’re now taking pre-orders for mid-March!
LOL @ Cashback scam… why don’t you just eliminate the scam and discount the £60+ from the price?
So, I purchase using paypal, with me so far?
how do you give me CASH back? does this ‘cashback’ come via my CD ROM Drawer????
So…. lets think about this… you take the ‘cashback money from MY paypal account [costing ME money] you then transfer said money back into MY paypal account, charging ME twice! For NOTHING!…
oh sweet joy… really?… seriously?….
The cashback comes directly from yaesu about 6 weeks after buying the radio via bacs or cheque (you choose when completing the cash back form). It’s no scam, I have had lots of cheques from yaesu for rigs I have purchased.
I invested in this radio as I wanted to try the 6 mtr bands and I am very impressed with it I also have a ft1000 mkv and they look the bees knees together it is simple to use and I get good reports on my audio through the fist mike so anybody thinking of buying one you wont be disappointed
Hi does anyone know when the low £500 offer finishes.
Alan
Ive owned this radio since February 2016 and find it to be really good, the audio out from it I have had some very good reports. I find the DSP filtering very useful when operating CW and the digital modes too – would thoroughly recommend this if you are starting out in the hobby and need a good quality 1st rig from a name you can really trust in the Ham Radio world – what makes you buy with even more confidence is the 3yr warranty that the radio comes with