Yaesu FT-747GX HF Transceiver - a Review

The Yaesu FT-747GX is a 100 Watt HF Transceiver that is compact, lightweight, and full of features that one would expect in a solid state HF Amateur transceiver. I have used a Yaesu FT-747GX off and on for many years as my main solid state rig, both at my main operating position and mobile from my vehicle. In this article I will discuss the many advantages of the Yaesu FT-747GX transceiver and I will also discuss negatives, of which there are few.

The most striking feature of the Yaesu FT-747GX is its compact size for a 100 Watt HF transceiver. While the small size is nothing compared to what is available on newer rigs such as the Icom IC-706 or the Yaesu FT-817, I find that the size of the Yaesu FT-747GX is suited for both home use and portable use without being clumsy to operate due to overly small buttons.

The Yaesu FT-747GX is capable of the majority of common modes of HF amateur communication, including CW (Morse Code), Single Sideband, AM, FM, and digital modes such as PSK31 or RTTY with the proper computer interface. I have used my Yaesu FT-747GX several times on PSK31, although the majority of my HF work is on CW. I always receive excellent signal reports from stations when using the Yaesu FT-747GX, and my CW note is often described as pure and crisp. On SSB the hand-mic for the Yaesu FT-747GX is more than adequate, and I also have received excellent signal reports and reports of the audio quality when using the stock microphone with the Yaesu FT-747GX.

The Yaesu FT-747GX also includes a general coverage shortwave receiver, and often I will use my Yaesu FT-747GX to listen to shortwave broadcasts on a variety of topics from around the world. It is worth noting that the Yaesu FT-747GX is only capable of transmitting on the ham bands unless additional modifications are performed. While there are supposedly simple modifications that can be made to allow the Yaesu FT-747GX to transmit on all shortwave frequencies, the risk of committing a violation of FCC regulations is too great for most people to consider performing this modification.

One negative aspect of the Yaesu FT-747GX is its sensitivity to high SWR when transmitting. While it is generally acknowledged that solid state transceivers are less forgiving than their older vacuum tube counterparts when it comes to antenna impedance mismatches, the Yaesu FT-747GX seems to be particularly sensitive to high SWR. In fact, my first Yaesu FT-747GX fell victim to blown finals and stream of smoke due to a mismatched antenna I was attempting to use at one point. As such, if you use a Yaesu FT-747GX on HF, be sure to use an SWR meter and/or antenna tuner to ensure that your SWR is under 1.5:1, otherwise you run the risk of placing too great a strain on the FT-747GX's final stage.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a high-performance HF Amateur transceiver that is till packed with lots of features, consider a Yaesu FT-747GX. While it can seem a little antiquated when placed side-by-side with the very latest in HF technology, this rig is balanced and easy to operate for both the newcomer to Amateur Radio or the experienced HF operator.