FT-450D HF/50MHz Tranceiver, Product Review, QST, 11/2011 by Mike, W5MPC

Yaesu FT-450D HF/50MHz Transceiver, Product review, QST, November 2011. Reviewed by Mike Corey, W5MPC. – Following in the line of the FT-100D, FT-817ND, FT-857D…. arrived it the FT-450D!

The FT-450D adds a standard internal ATU that cover the 6 to 160 meter bands (operation is very easy), and several ergonomic upgrades to the original FT-450. – New knob design, new standard hand mic., Button illumination and 500 and 300 Hz CW filters. (…please click the thumbnail to enlarge!) – See …..the link below !

QST Key summary 20m only: 500 Hz bw, Pre-off… 20 kHz spacing blocking gain compression 134 dB / IMD3 20 kHz 97 dB / IP3 +17 dBm. – FT-450D performance is about the same as the previous ’450! - See the November 2011 issue of QST magazine for the complete review and ARRL Lab test results (members only….login)

A big improvement to the front pannel is backlighting for the buttons, strong enough that buttons can be seen from several feet away ub a dark room, and a significant improvement over the CW filter in the previous FT-450 Transceiver.

Link to: ARRL – American Radio Relay League for Amateur Radio Home
Link to: Vertex Standard >Company Profile >Historical Highlights !!!

FT-450 disponibile Update Software Ver. 0165

ENG: The software version is available on the LCD display: Hold the Mode Down button; press the Power switch to turn the transceiver On (this is possible from the update ver. 0109).

28.05.2008: There is a new firmware available at Vertex Stand/Yaesu website HD024_v0165.
You will need a serial cable RS-232C, DB9F to DB9F straight cable to connect the FT-450 transceiver to your computer. If you use the USB to serial adaptor you might need to change the COM Port. It depends on your computer. Locate the program switch thru the access hole on the bottom at the front left corner of the radio. Carefully move the switch to the right (program position). See the V/S procedure information; Ver. 0165 implements improvements: Improve KEY CLICK. Also includes all previous updates.

Link to: V/S Yaesu official Update information (Download 137KB .pdf)
Link to: I0GEJ’s Ham Radio News FT-450 page

The FT-450 is a sturdy and competente purpose radio in the under $1000 class

ENG: FT-450, includes a Morse code trainer. As the Op. Manual suggests: you can improve yourCW proficiency whether or not the bands are open.
The frontpanel’s DSP button stepsthrough CONTOUR, NOTCH, DNR and WIDTH settings, and these are reflected viaa graphic display.
The FT-450 does not have an automatic notch filter, but the manual notch is very effective. With the FT-450’s contour and notch capabilities, it’s possible to do some rather creative filter shaping! DNR works very well, there are n. 11 algorithm settings. IF SHIFT control lets you shift the center of the receive passband and the NOTCH, WIDTH and SHIFT functions clearly operate within the AGC loop (see the S-meeter) The WIDTH function sets the IF bandwidth, and it’s mode dependent. The DSP filters seem to work well and the bandwidth offers just three fixed settings per mode. In SSB these are 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0 kHz. On CW, the choices are 500 Hz, 1.8 kHz and 2.4 kHz. For AM, you can select 3.0, 6.0 or 9.0 kHz, and on FM, 2.5 and 5.0 kHz.

Video: Yaesu FT-450 Review by VE3RFP – > Thanks for the nice video review

FT-450 Yaesu – Nuovo HF 50MHz 100W