Also known as: FT-857D, FT-857
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The Yaesu FT-857D is the smallest 100-watt HF-to-UHF mobile ever made: HF + 6m at 100 W, 2m at 50 W, 70cm at 20 W, all modes, with a detachable front panel and built-in DSP.1 Yaesu ended production around 2019–2020 and shipped no true successor, so the 857D holds its value unusually well — figure $500–750 used, and treat it as a used/eBay purchase even though a stale Amazon bundle listing lingers.
Key takeaways Our best used/classic mobile buy in the mobile top 10. The “shack-in-a-box” benchmark for mobile, portable, and SOTA HF; the “D” adds 60 m and bundled DSP; 200 memories; CHIRP-supported. Discontinued 2019–2020, used market only in practice — ~$500–750, clean late units with DSP options push higher. Buy smart: check the PA finals and look for display striping. No GPS/APRS, no digital voice. Transmitting needs a ham license; listening doesn’t.
Overview
For seventeen-odd years the FT-857D was the answer to “one radio, every band, under the seat”: SSB, CW, AM, FM, and digital via CAT, from 160 m to 70cm, in a chassis you can palm. The YSK-857 separation kit puts the front panel on the dash; optional narrow Collins CW/SSB filters sharpen the receiver; TX draw is about 22 A at 100 W, so wire it properly. There is no GPS or APRS, no digital voice, and no cross-band repeat.
The operating experience is the acknowledged tax: 100-plus menus behind a tiny screen and multi-function knobs, stock TX audio that stays mediocre until you set the mic EQ, and an audible fan. Nobody buys an 857D for ergonomics; they buy it because nothing else does this much in this little space — which is still true in 2026, since the FT-891 dropped VHF/UHF and the FT-991A grew into a base rig.
Used-market viability, honestly: the two agers every used-buyer guide flags are PA finals failures — especially on units run hard at 100 W mobile or into poor SWR — and the cosmetic display “striping”/fading fault that develops with age. Ask for photos of the display powered on, verify rated output on every band into a dummy load if you can, and price accordingly: parts availability for the finals is tightening as stock ages. Clean late-production units with the DSP options fitted command the top of the range (asks up to ~$900 have been observed; ~$500–750 is the typical band).
Modes & coverage
- HF (incl. 60 m on the “D”) + 6m at 100 W, 2m at 50 W, 70cm at 20 W.
- All modes: SSB, CW, AM, FM, and digital modes via CAT control.
- Built-in DSP, 200 memories, detachable panel (YSK-857), optional Collins filters.
Programming
Fully PC-programmable — a real edge over the rival IC-706MkIIG:
- CHIRP (free) — FT-857/857D driver, live and clone modes.
- Yaesu ADMS-4B or RT Systems as alternatives.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it cannot transmit — it will not work a SOTA summit for you. Where it earns its keep is before and beside the purchase: a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk shows you what is actually active on your local VHF/UHF — repeaters, digital modes, traffic worth chasing — before you spend $600 on a classic, and it records and logs every call, which no transceiver does. Listening requires no license; transmitting on ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician class minimum). See best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy a used FT-857D if you want the do-everything HF-to-UHF mobile that still has no modern equal, and you’ll verify finals and display before paying. It is our best used/classic buy among mobiles. View on Amazon →
- Buy a used IC-706MkIIG to save $100–150 on the same mission, accepting front-panel-only programming.
- Buy a new Yaesu FT-891 if HF/6m mobile is the real goal and you can give up 2m/70cm — it’s the closest living relative.
- Full rankings: the 10 best mobile ham radios.
Amazon note. The FT-857D is out of production. The Amazon listing is a legacy third-party installation bundle whose availability is sporadic — the real market is used: eBay, hamfests, and the QRZ swapmeet. Compare any Amazon price against recent eBay sold listings before buying.
Sources
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DX Engineering FT-857D archive listing and Universal Radio FT-857D archive page — dealer references documenting the FT-857D’s all-mode HF/VHF/UHF coverage, power by band, DSP, and discontinued status. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Yaesu FT-857D discontinued?
Yes — Yaesu ended production in the 2019–2020 window (dealer announcements clustered in 2019, one source says April 2020; the exact month is uncertain). No successor shares its form factor: the FT-891 covers HF/6m only, and the FT-991A is a bigger base/portable. In practice it is a used/eBay purchase today.
Is a used FT-857D still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, if you actually want HF-to-UHF in one tiny box — nothing new replaces it. It holds value unusually well at roughly $500–750 used. Check the PA output on all bands and the display for striping before you pay, and know finals parts are tightening as stock ages.
What are the known problems with a used FT-857D?
Two headline agers: PA finals failures — especially units run hard at 100 W mobile or into poor SWR — and the cosmetic display striping/fading fault that develops with age. Beyond that: menu-heavy operation on a tiny screen, mediocre stock TX audio until you set the mic EQ, and an audible fan.
Does CHIRP support the FT-857D?
Yes — CHIRP has an FT-857/857D driver with live and clone modes, and Yaesu’s ADMS-4B and RT Systems also work. Unlike the rival IC-706MkIIG, this radio is fully PC-programmable.
Do I need a license to use the FT-857D?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license (Part 97; Technician minimum, General for most HF privileges). Listening requires no license at all.