Now that your gone…

I was reading an article posted by OH8STN Titled “It’s Finally Dead.” It’s a well-written topic about how Yaesu’s 817/818 will be discontinued in 2023.

But I wasn’t in my mind debating whether the 818 was a lousy radio. Instead, it got me thinking about Yaesu’s plans for replacement.

Will we finally see a radio from Yaesu that will dethrone the “Icom 705?”

If we thought about it, would we expect it to have dx10 internals - great DSP, Filtering, and hybrid receiver but in a small form factor?

Or more along the lines of a smaller 710-ESS? With only an SDR, color display, and outstanding audio?

I hope they build it with today’s features - USB, wireless, 4.0, and Bluetooth that can run 100 watts like the 891, all in a small form factor.

Yaesu has a great receiver - 3rd on the Sherwood list, so even if they combined that tech into the form factor of the Icom 705 - and if it were a few more inches deeper, then take my money!

But all Amateur Radio electronics manufacturers are on five-year development cycles. Making the idea of an 891 replacement more on the horizon for the future.

Another driver that can push this idea closer is portable and packable transceivers are becoming more in demand as the push for more outdoor activity becomes important.

So what do you think? Will it be the 891 for another five years before we see a new portable replacement from Yaesu?

Please let me know what you think.