Hey Randy,
I use an FT-857 here, which is - for the most part - the same radio without the provision of an internal battery pack. It is not full-duplex-capable, so you'll need a separate receive radio. here, I use an FT-817ND. In terms of computer control, the programs I've tried (Ham Radio Deluxe and its satellite tracker module, SatPC 32 and Orbitron with the WISP DDE plugin) treat the 817 and the 857 the same. I suspect that the CAT design is identical for the 817/857/897, or close enough that software "sees" the same thing with each radio.
I like the 857 a lot, and there were 4-5 897s at the combined Field Day effort I provided the satellite station for this year. Those radios' owners had nothing but good things to say about them, but none of them had tried satellite work. As I said, it's not full-fuplex-capable, so a separate receive radio will be necessary for full-duplex operation. I hope that helps.
73,
Tim - N3TL
________________________________ From: Randy [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 7:02:46 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] FT897
What do you all think of using a Yaesu FT-897 for satellite work?
Randy - N2CUA
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