Since the FT817 was introduced about a quarter of a century ago a lot has changed. At that time Yaesu had a totally unique product that sold really well across the world.
These days there are several competitors and the Chinese are coming up fast.
In my view Yaesu are now playing "catch up" and the longer they delay getting the FTX-1F to market, the harder it will be.
Basically, as far as I can tell there is none, at least available to Jo Public.
No doubt dealers have been told the selling price and any features. There is a video bemoaning the fact that "early 2025" looks more like the end of June.....or never.
Last night I looked on the Japanese website of Yaesu, hoping to find some clues about the FTX-1F such as price, recent specs, availability etc.. My Japanese is poor (well non-existent!) so I searched all categories. On the Japanese site I could see no mention of it at all!
These are the rumours (that I have seen so far):
I may be very very wrong, but I am surprised we have heard nothing factual since last summer. even though it was due to be released in "early 2025".
Hmm.
On present form I give Yaesu less than 5 years to quit the amateur radio market.
If you don't want to buy a Chinese radio, it is probably one of the lowest cost new HF/6m 100W radios on the market.
The last I heard was a rumour that the worldwide release of the Yaesu FTX-1F was waiting on the FCC approval.
Despite this, I am puzzled by the lack of more detailed specs.. Has anyone seen any more detailed specs than those released last summer and any idea of the price?
There is far more competition than when the FT817 was first released.
This was recently on the FTX-1F IO group...
"Talked to the folks at the Yaesu Booth, at the Orlando Hamfest, today. They said the FTX-1F was ready to be released, worldwide. The current holdup is type acceptance, by the FCC, here in the United States. They want to release the radio simultaneously, around the world. They said they could not even bring a radio to look at, because it was not type accepted, yet.Buddy WB4OMG”
What surprises me is that better specs have not been released giving more detail.
This radio was announced, and deposits taken, by many dealers months ago, yet (as far as I am aware) we have never seen any preliminary specs.
The only data I am aware of was the demo at the Tokyo Ham Fair last summer. I am still getting the feeling that Yaesu is "tweeking" the design or was just testing the market to judge whether or not it would make any money.
From what we have seen already it has fewer features than the 5 year old ICOM IC-705, meaning it would be unlikely to make Yaesu much, if any, profit.
As I have said many times, it has to be feature-rich and keenly priced to be a real winner. There are many loyal Yaesu fans, but the market place has become far more fierce since the FT817 was launched.
Come on Yaesu! Where are those specs?
It was announced last summer and due to be released "early 2025" yet no specs have been forthcoming leading some to speculate if it will ever appear.
Certainly since the early 2000s market conditions are very different. Back then Yaesu had most of the market with almost no competition. ICOM and others are already in the market and the Chinese are coming up strongly with very keen prices. Yaesu more than ever know this could be their saviour or that it will soon be time to get out of this market.
In my mind it has to be a market leader in features and price, much better than the IC-705 at a much better price.
At one time Yaesu were way out front. Not any more!
In the past I have had many Yaesu transceivers. They have made some excellent products, but I remain skeptical about this product, knowing that in the end all they are asking is one question, "will it make us money?".
See https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1hs9jwj/yaesu_ftx1f_is_it_real_or_is_it_vapor/
As mentioned before, the Yaesu FTX-1F (due "early 2025") is meant to be the competitor to the ICOM IC-705 and the successor to the FT817/818 QRP radios. I have not yet heard any more details of specs or price. With the stiff competition, it has to be keenly priced.
I came across this video earlier. Many are trying to show what it can do, but without full specs there are lots of guesses!
A quick check at Ham Radio Japan (all in Japanese!) had no more details. I wonder if Yaesu was "testing the waters" to judge interest? It would not surprise me if Yaesu decided the competition is just too fierce to make any money and drop it even before it is launched. Do you have any more details?
I cannot imagine the IC-905 sells many and makes ICOM any profits.
Lots of people are talking about the new Yaesu FTX-1F transceiver due "in early 2025". Very little is known about it yet (as far as I am aware) and some are describing it as an FT817/818 successor or a replacement to the ICOM IC705.
At the right price ( I expect they are thinking hard about this) and with the right features it could be all of these, but it could "bomb". Expect prices to drop later. Also, early products sometimes have software and hardware bugs that get corrected later.
The video below is similar to many. I expect this will be the same until we know more about it ..... and the all important price.
One well known UK dealer is selling the Yaesu FT710 Field for £814.99 after the Yaesu cashback.
Some months ago Yaesu announced the FTX-1F which was hailed as the successor to the FT817/818 range and a competitor to the ICOM IC-705. Since then I have heard ..... nothing! Even on the rumour mill, it has been deadly quiet.
Is there any information out there?
At the right price (below £1000) and with the right features, it could be a serious player.
In my time I have owned very many Yaesu products. They have all been very good and very reliable, although I have the feeling Yaesu lost its way and market leadership in recent years.
The Yen is extremely competitive against the US dollar and UK pound at the moment.
Maybe, just maybe, they will get it right this time. I do hope so.
It was expected "early 2025", but since then I have heard nothing further. Several dealers are accepting deposits, but I have heard no news about price or specs..
Does anyone know anything?
It looks like Yaesu's answer to the FT817/818 series and the ICOM IC-705. Without the detailed specs and prices, it is hard to know how this will do.
I imagine much of the software and hardware is based heavily on other Yaesu SDR transceivers to reduce development costs.
I hope the price is well below £1000 so it is competitive against many other products now around, especially as the Japanese Yen is far weaker than it was against the US dollar and UK pound.
It is Yaesu's answer to the IC-705 and it also is the long awaited answer to the FT817/818 series.
It is not a hand portable, although I suspect Yaesu have done their homework in that most people will not use it pedestrian portable but in hotel rooms and on park benches. In this regard it may be an ideal choice with a large battery capacity.
So far, there is no indication of price, but I hope it is well under £1000. Also, we have only, so far, seen very preliminary specs. The IC-705 has things like Bluetooth and GPS. It will be interesting to see what appears in the full specs.
Often there are hardware and software bugs in very early models. This will be the first time that Yaesu will have made units in significant volumes, so they will be looking for feedback so they can "tweek" the design on the next production run. In some ways early adopters are guinea pigs.
They want to compete with the ICOM IC-705, have it as an FT817/818 replacement, but also compete with the Chinese. In my view, they have to capture the mass market or Yaesu could quit the amateur radio market.
In my view it has to be less than £1k.
UPDATE 1442z: Steve has pointed out that Bangood sell the MCHF radio for £264.52. I think this is made in China. Pretty sure this is a clone.....but the price! I am always nervous about Chinese quality control, but they will get there and really frighten the Japanese. We already buy most of our consumer goods from China.
Before the FT817 became ubiquitous there were the 2m FT290 and 70cm FT790. Even today there are FT290s driving transverters.
I never understood why stupid Yaesu never offered a replacement, but it is now far too late as they have "missed the boat". These days there are plenty of rigs. In 2010 the world was their oyster.
This is a reminder that the Dayton Hamvention is this coming weekend. Dayton is in Ohio, USA 🇺🇸.
As far as I know, it is the biggest amateur radio gathering on the planet. It particularly attracts visitors in the USA, but is also a meeting place for overseas visitors too.
It is often the place where new products are announced. I am still waiting for the FT817 true successor, although I fear it is now too late!
