Joe:

Why would you use the main tuning knob (the big one on the right) while mobile
anyway? It's far too much trouble and takes your eyes off of the road (at least
where I have the control head for mine mounted, at seat level just behind the
gearshift in my Tacoma pickup).

I just set the rig for 1-khz and use the lower left hand knob on the rig. If
you press the power button momentarily, it goes into "fast" mode (a little
running guy sort of icon appears in the lower right hand corner of the display)
and it moves 2-khz per indent. Only if someone is on a ham band and "between
the slots" do I actually use the big tuning knob on the right.

Another thing to know. If you press the lower left knob in, the tuning moves to
1 Mhz per indent. This is useful for quick moves from one area to another if
you are looking for swl that isn't near a standard ham band.

If you are using the ATAS-120, you'll find that swl receive is affected by the
tuning of the antenna, just like transmitting. So long as you are close to the
band you last tuned it's ok, but the farther away you get, the less sensitive
the receiver will seem to be.

Also, check around the 'net and find the information on the "hidden menus" and
write down all of the settings that you get for the factory settings. I've had
several people indicate they've lost some of the settings from starting their
car while the radio is operating (the input voltage drops below 12 volts and it
does something to cause the settings to be lost). The most common complaint if
this happens is a "mute receiver" or "dead receiver" because the sensitivity
goes to pot.

Even knowing that, I routinely start my truck while the radio is on, and have
never had a problem (but I live in Hawaii, and the temperature here doesn't drop
all that low unless you drive up to the top of the mountain, so battery capacity
isn't all that much of an issue compared to living in the great white north...)

I really like my 857, it's going on 16 months old now, and still haven't
exhaustively explored most of the menus because I use it mobile all of the
time. I did give up the ATAS-120 though, because I kept breaking off the whips
on overhanging branches, and got tired of re-soldering various connections due
to high vibration where it was mounted.

Thanks
-_Rick

"Joe S." wrote:

A month ago I treated myself to a Yaesu FT-857D and ATAS-120 antenna.
Installed the rig on my old truck -- I work the 0400 to 1300 shift at a
building materials supplier 35 miles from home. I use the rig to chat on HF
and VHF to and from work -- when the bands are dead, I SWL on the FT-857.

I am very pleased with the rig and can hardly wait to get my new house built
and move out of this damn apartment into a place with real antennas.

Question for you FT-857 people: The main tuning dial has a really soft
touch -- the slightest movement knocks it off freq. When I'm cruising along
in an old truck at 0330 with my right hand resting on the gearshift, trying
to tune the main tuning dial, it's tough to get a station tuned in. I guess
I could change the tuning rate to the lowest possible, but, that's another
problem. Is there any way to adjust the drag on the main tuning knob so
it's a bit stiffer and so the knob doesn't move so readily? I think not but
thought I'd ask.

Thanks.

--

-----
Joe