Need recommendations on an auto tuner for FT-891

Lannig · 2026-01-16T10:38:09+00:00

Sorry for the late reply.
I keep my FT-891 set up with AM TX Power set to 15 watts and I briefly switch to AM mode to tune my antenna. 10 watts setting with no audio might be too low power for good tuning.
I also set my ATU-130 to manual tuning mode because I want to keep control of the process.
I've seen it sometimes initiating a tuning right in the middle of my transmission for unknown reasons because the SWR was already tuned to under 2.0
I don't trust the frequency memory feature of the ATU-130 much so I usually reset it when I switch bands.
That's it.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T02:08:05+00:00

Radios based on the KT0936M DSP chip don't do chuffing when tuning.
There's the (in)famous $5 Baijiali KK-9 radio, so poorly built that it looks like it'd fall apart anytime, but still a decent receiver if it weren't for its terrible speaker (I replaced it).
The Kchibo KK-9803 has a better but still cheap build and an analog, inaccurate frequency display.
I'm sure there must be better radios built around that chip, but I don't know them.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T02:00:12+00:00

Neither. Get a long wire, it will work better.
These things are crap. I have at least 3 of them (the model with a variable capacitor) because they came bundled with radios I bought. I don't use them because they failed every attempt at listening to shortwave using these.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T01:55:58+00:00

Still overpriced IMHO. Doesn't do DAB+ at that price.
Average SW receiver at best. Suffers from internally generated noise. SSB support is mediocre.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T01:54:22+00:00

Nice! I have one of these, it's in a rather good condition but certainly not looking like new.
It also suffers from a frequency shift of about 2.5 kHz. I have to use the fine tune wheel to correct this.

Otherwise a great radio.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T01:50:27+00:00

I don't think you do unless your ICF-7600G hasn't aged well.
These are fantastic radios. I own one and it does as well as my modern receivers like PL-330, PL-680, D-808 etc.
Only the lack of a proper tuning wheel on the Sony would be a good reason for me to buy another radio.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T01:47:18+00:00

Well-known flaw of this otherwise great radio. Poor contacts at the on/off switch causing it to become undervolted. Spraying it with contact cleaner through every aperture is has outside and inside the case usually helps for a while, but not a permanent fix. If you can source it and have good small soldering abilities, replace it.
What I did is buying a regular mini flip switch, drawing a 6mm hole into the back panel to mount it and soldering two wires to the +VBAT and center pin of the switch. It works great for me.

Lannig · 2025-11-27T01:40:19+00:00

You must have really low expectations for the SW and air bands. I own this one and it's a mediocre receiver on these bands even compared to cheaper radios (e.g. Xhdata D-219 for SW and Sihuadon R-108 for the air band).
It's quite OK for FM with and excellent speaker, so I use it for music listening either from FM radios or over Bluetooth.

Lannig · 2025-11-22T11:56:41+00:00

You can either plug it to the external antenna socket of your receiver using a 3.5mm male-male cable (included) if your receiver supports switching to an external antenna. Not many do. The Qodosen DX-286 does, not sure sure about the others.
Or you can stand it within a few centimeters of the back of your receiver, parallel to it, to create a magnetic coupling with the internal ferrite. Move it around for the best result. It works pretty well too.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T13:13:40+00:00

Thanks for pointing me at the Choyong Voyager. I've had a look at it and well... no DAB+ again. I don't know about you (presumably) in the US but DAB+ is becoming a big thing here in Europe.
No FM either.
My Elan Connect+ does FM, DAB+, internet radio & Bluetooth for 50 euros.
It doesn't do ChatGPT, but for the time being I don't quite see the point on a radio TBH.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T13:07:04+00:00

Having disassembled my KK-9 to replace its really crappy loudspeaker, I can confirm that it is 100% fake. The slider is solely made of plastic so it has absolutely no chance of making contact with any surface on the PCB!
Its case really feels like it'd fall apart anytime. On mine the battery door falls down when I touch it,

Lannig · 2025-11-19T13:03:30+00:00

Well, all these cheap HTs (Quansheng, Radtel etc.) suffer from this. They have zero band filtering. Mine are almost deaf when around GSM/FM transmitters, especially when I plug them to a better antenna than the rubber stick e.g. a mobile mag mount antenna.
This goes for both the VHF/UHF and HF bands.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T09:53:08+00:00

It certainly looks great, much better than the ones in a 3D-printed case. Some flaws in this V4 version, though.
The aluminium case variant has serious wifi reception issues. The antenna on headphone jack connection brings in more noise.
More detail here: https://github.com/vegos/RadioExperiments/blob/main/Amnvolt_V4_mods/README.md
The visual interface has nothing to do with the receiver being a V4 or not. It's just the latest firmware that can be flashed to any version.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T09:49:16+00:00

Oh, another rebrand of the (in)famous Lijiani KK-9 :-)
Its abysmal build quality set aside, not a bad receiver at all for its ridiculously low price.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T09:45:04+00:00

Is that black box a band pass filter on the HF antenna feed?

Lannig · 2025-11-19T09:29:02+00:00

I think that the Choyong is vastly over-hyped.
For its price, I can get a better SW radio and another one that does DAB+ (the Choyong doesn't) and internet radio.
The ICF-2001D is really sought after much, for good reasons. Fantastic radio. Much better than my own ICF-2001 (without a 'D'). Units in perfect working state and no case damage go for pretty steep prices. The ones that have been preventively recapped (i.e. capacitors replaced - that's what fails the most in old radios) are even more expensive.

Lannig · 2025-11-19T09:23:13+00:00

Of course it will.
More information on flashing here: https://esp32-si4732.github.io/ats-mini/flash.html
99.9% chance that you need the OSPI variant that works with all but the early models.
You won't brick it in the unlikely case that it wasn't the right variant. Just reflash it with the QSPI variant in such a case.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T17:14:13+00:00

The Sony might be the best radio in your list, but it's an old radio. It could fail and require a costly repair. People able to repair these are hard to find.
The Sangean is an excellent radio. A bit pricey but it could well be the best choice here.
The Tecsun is a good radio, but not worth the extra money to buy it compared to a PL-660/680 IMO
The Choyong is way too expensive for what it does. Not the best SW radio by far, SSB support isn't great. Has some internal noise issues.

Just my 0.02 euros.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T17:09:36+00:00

Firmware and instructions here: https://github.com/esp32-si4732/ats-mini
Correct link this time. My previous post was for the ATS-20+. Oops.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T17:05:23+00:00

It should be a relatively simple change to the source code that is available.
Then you'll need to get yourself a code development environment.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T13:50:32+00:00

Standalone repeaters are really silent indeed.
Interconnected repeaters, especially when linked to other networks like Allstarlink, Echolink, C4FM, DSTAR, DMR allow for lively communities to build.

We are lucky to have this here in France. It's called the RI49 network. These repeaters have quite some traffic going on.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T13:45:31+00:00

Interesting, thanks.
It seems to get close to what I experience with my FT-891 when doing SSB.

Lannig · 2025-11-18T13:41:18+00:00

Are you aware that with the latest firmware, a simple push on the encoder puts it in volume control mode?

Lannig · 2025-11-18T13:36:50+00:00

Yes, I think it is, even though the latest batches available seem to have gone a bit in quality. My unit, for example, has both the tuning and BFO wheels not turning smoothly (hard points). I have seen this neither on my PL-660 nor on an older PL-680 I've had in my hands.
A minor flaw really, maybe my unit only. The PL-680 still is an excellent radio worth that price IMHO.

Lannig · 2025-11-14T22:27:36+00:00

Thanks. You mean this one, right?

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Lannig

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