Yaesu FT-818ND

About this radio

Introduced in 2018 as a modest refresh of the long-running FT-817ND, the FT-818ND keeps the same compact all-band, all-mode QRP portable design (HF through 70cm) but adds a slightly larger internal battery, an upgraded 32-bit DSP, and a stronger front end for better dynamic range. Output power is still around 6W. It was Yaesu's answer to over a decade of demand for an FT-817 successor, but the changes are incremental rather than a redesign, so 817ND and 818ND units are broadly interchangeable in the field and both remain popular for SOTA/POTA activations.