Part of our The Yaesu FT-857D: The Complete Guide.
There Are No New Ones Left
Yaesu discontinued the FT-857D in 2020. Every unit on the market today, whether it’s a dealer’s used listing or a private sale, is coming from someone’s shack or go-bag, not a warehouse. That changes how you should shop for one. If something’s wrong with a used radio and parts or a qualified repair aren’t available, you could be looking at an expensive fix, or no fix at all. Go in with that risk in mind and check the radio thoroughly before you commit, not after.
Check the Screen Closely
The most common issue reported on used units is dead or discolored pixels on the LCD. It won’t affect how the radio transmits or receives, but it will make an already small, dense display harder to read. The good news is the screen is a separate, replaceable part, and a replacement runs around $60, a fair cost if the rest of the radio checks out. Ask for photos of the display actually powered on and displaying a range of screens, not just a dark or off shot, and look closely under good light before you buy in person.
Verify Power Output on Every Band
Ask the seller to confirm actual output on a power meter, or check it yourself if you can: 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, 50 watts on 2 meters, 20 watts on 70 centimeters. A radio that’s noticeably short on any one band, especially 40 meters where the FT-857D has a well-known ALC clipping and power foldback issue, is worth asking more questions about before you buy. That particular issue has a documented fix through the service menu, but it’s still worth knowing about upfront rather than discovering it after the sale.
Confirm the Firmware and DSP
Every FT-857D, as opposed to the earlier non-D FT-857, includes the DSP unit and 60 meter coverage standard, so you shouldn’t need to pay extra or hunt for an upgrade. Ask what firmware version is installed if the seller knows, since later revisions cleaned up some early bugs. There’s no ongoing firmware support from Yaesu at this point, so whatever version is on the radio is what you’ll be running indefinitely.
Check Which Connectors You’re Getting
US-market FT-857D units use two SO-239 connectors on the rear panel, one for HF/50MHz and one for 144/430MHz. Non-US export units I’ve come across instead pair a Type N connector on the VHF/UHF side with an SO-239 on the HF side. If you’re buying from an overseas seller or an estate sale where the radio’s origin isn’t clear, confirm which configuration you’re actually getting before you assume your existing coax and adapters will bolt straight on.
Ask About MARS/CAP Mod Status
Plenty of used FT-857D units on the market have had a MARS/CAP modification done at some point. That’s not a problem by itself, but it’s worth knowing before you buy, both because mod variants differ and because a modded radio’s transmit range and calibration may not match a stock unit’s. If GMRS capability is part of why you’re eyeing a modded radio, read my MARS/CAP mod writeup first. A modified amateur radio was never FCC type-accepted for GMRS regardless of what its transmit range reaches.
Test the Memory Battery
If it’s practical, power the radio off, wait a few minutes, and power it back on to see if programmed memories and settings held. A radio that loses its configuration between sessions likely has a weak internal backup battery, an easy and cheap fix, but good to know about and factor into your offer rather than discover later.
For a rundown of what these issues actually look like once you own one, see my Common FT-857D Problems post.