To be fair, my experience is only with the RSP1A, which is two years (two generations!) newer than the RSP1 that Scott uses. If you're looking to inexpensively add a receiver to a transmitting radio for a full duplex satellite system, the $120 RSP1A is a very serviceable option and much cheaper than a transceiver. I don't think the RSP1 is available new any longer.
You're right in that in certain portions of amateur radio, the equipment is evolving very quickly; in other areas, very glacially. I bought a new FT-818ND last year, which is not really a substantive improvement over the FT-817ND, which has been around for fifteen years. I use it exclusively as a transmitter for linear satellite work, and it works well in that role, as would your FT-817.
73, Ryan AI6DO
On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 6:29:05 AM PDT, Phil via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
On 11/6/19 12:44 pm, Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB wrote:
In my uncalibrated-ear testing with an A/B switch on satellite downlinks, I found my RSP1A is noticeably more sensitive (with HDSDR driving it) than the FT-857D, FT-818ND,
Thank you Ryan and Scott for your replies. I'm surprised that the RSP1 is more sensitive than the FT-817, which I bought when they first became available.
I've been away from Amateur Radio for quite some time and I feel that advances in the field are passing me by.