---
title: Yaesu FT-891
aliases:
  - /equipment/transceiver/yaesu-fd891/
  - /equipment/transceiver/yaesu-ft891/
  - /equipment/transceivers/yaesu-ft891/
date: 2020-06-21T14:20:47+01:00
coverCaption: Field setup for Winlink
lastmod: 2024-10-04T01:46:17+0000
#categories:
#- amateur-radio
#tags:
#- yaesu
showBreadcrumbs: true
showReadingTime: false
showWordCount: false
---

I got this because the IC-7300 was too chunky to be effectively
transported within a rucksack. Also I feared scratches in its big
display or even a broken display: so here is the Yaesu FT-891.

## Excellent receiver

I think this radio is quite similar to the IC-7300 in its receiving
quality. Lots of options in the function menues help you to concentrate
on the actual voice you receive.

## Good filter capabilities

The filters are good enough to filter for a specific signal, mainly
using _WIDTH_ and _SHIFT_ and sometimes _CONTOUR_ filters is mostly
effective enough. The _<abbr title="Digital Noise Reduction">DNR</abbr>_
is also quite nice and works well, although I don't like the resulting
voice that much. Way better works the autonotch filter
(_<abbr title="Digital Noise Filter">DNF</abbr>_), which is an awesome
feature to have.

## Record and transmit CQ calls

The FT-891 lets you record up to 5(??) or 3? different clips that you
can later transmit by a button press. That might come in handy when
you are contesting -- can't refer to this much because I'm not
contesting nor do I use this function so far.

## Good size

I like it's size when it's beeing still a 100 W transceiver.
Nonetheless it drains the battery with 1 A when listening.

## Digital modes

I use the radio with a SignalinkUSB interface and I have to extend
the bandwith manually with the _WIDTH_ setting from the function
menue to have this set correctly. The setting from the main settings
is **not applied** on digital modes.
_Apparently Yaesu doesn't care about that bug._

## Tactical carrying system: 891escort ™

Made from aluminium the
[891escort](https://portablezero.com/yaesu857D.html)
adds a little weight but also protection to the radio, especially
for the knobs on the front panel. The addidional strap mounts can be
used to attach a sling to the radio, it could be easily carried now --
not that I used that once, but it is there as a feature. My focus was
the additional protection when I bought them. Now, a year later, I
carry the radio inside a cloth bag without the escort just to save
some more grams when hiking through the mountains and I can remove
the detachable head of the unit to change different microphones/headsets.
When using the carrying system I would need to remove the right frame
before I could detach the units head.

Some people recommend using a short LAN cable to get the socket
outside, but I haven't found a good one yet (and a short one).

## Portable operation

This radio is an excellent choice if you have enough power with you --
the current draw is very high compared to a QRP radio and an amplifier
(Tx-500 with PA-500 for example).