FT891 100W transceiver

This is probably the best value "old" technology transceiver made by Yaesu. It has a detachable head that adds flexibility when fitting it into a car. 

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.

ICOM and Yaesu UK Prices

The IC7300 from ICOM retails at just under £1200 in the UK. The Yaesu FT891 retails for about half this at just under £600. OK, I know they are different radios, but both are 100W HF and 6m radios and the RX of the IC7300 has a much simpler SDR architecture.

Although I accept I may be wrong, these are my conclusions:

• The IC7300 sells at a price people are prepared to pay and dealers are keeping the price as high they dare for as long as they can. It almost looks like the price is fixed between dealers. I am not saying it is, but it looks like this. Normally by now one has started to drop price, but this has not happened. The true price should be far less.
• Yaesu sells the FT891 at just under £600 to tempt buyers. They may be trying to buy market share. I note a new model Yaesu 2m/70cm handi sells for £129.

Looking at this, I'd guess that ICOM will be around for a while. Yaesu may decide this is not a market to remain in for too much longer? As I said, I could be totally wrong. Personally I hope both stay in the amateur market for a long time.

Another low cost rig from Yaesu?

See http://www.qrpblog.com/2016/04/yaesu-ft-891-new-hf50mhz-transceiver.html .

The date of this was April 1st, so this may be a wind-up. If it is, like me, you have been fooled!

YO9IRF/M0HRH reports on his blog about on the Yaesu FT891. As reported, if true, it is a mobile-sized rig covering HF-50MHz.

As I said, this could be a wind-up. Caveat Emptor. It was also picked up by Amateur Radio Weekly, so if a joke, they were fooled too!

They claim this is not an April Fool wind-up. I hope this is correct.The FCC data does look genuine enough.  If a hoax it is a very complex one. The question is, if genuine, will it be available in Europe and at what price?