Yeah, probably a 980, those were out in the early to mid 80's and were known 
for spending more time in the shop than in the shack. I know a few people 
who had them, one still does because he can't in good faith put someone else 
through that though it's been in a box in his cellar since 1992 and he'll 
never use it again. He may have tossed it when he moved recently I don't 
know but last I knew it was still sitting there. The one I actually used, at 
a friend's house when I was first starting out, the cooling fan could be 
heard in the receiver a little, that one too was in the shop constantly. The 
847 had speech as an option but that also was plagued with problems with the 
power on/off button and a couple other things.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Butch Bussen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: ft-897d


>I don't think we're saying they're not good radios, although even Yaesu
> fans admit they have quality control problems, but the point I'm making is
> accessibility.  I don't care if it is the best radio ever made and it only
> costs two hundred dollars, if it isn't accessible to me, what good is it
> to me?  I haven't seen the radio I won, but so far from what folks have
> written, it won't do me much good which makes me sad as it covers 160
> through 440 and has a lot of bang for the buck.  My main problem with
> Yaesu is their attitude ow unwillingness to put in speech.  I guess the
> 450 has it, but none before have and the technology is cheap and been
> around for years.  My 440 I bought back in 85 had a speech option.  The
> last Yaesu I owned, I think was a 980, not sure of the number, owned it
> back in early 80s.  I owned it for a year and 6 months out of that year it
> spent in the shop.  I just wish I'd won a radio that talked.
> 73
> Butch Bussen
> wa0vjr
> open Node 3148
> Las Vegas