A chance to (re)work on a classic Yaesu FT-817 5W all mode HF/VHF/UHF amateur radio transceiver. I had replaced the finals board - an almost disposable board, and the Achilles Heel of this model - way back in 2021 when it stopped transmitting for the first time in twenty years, according to the owner.

It's back now for a similar symptom, but I think the issue is different this time.

In this Part 1 video, I poke about and develop an hypothesis of the fault that explains the symptoms.

In Part 2: I buy a hot air solder station to do the repair, source parts and have a go! Then we'll see if Part 1 has the right idea of the cause of the fault! In Part 2 also, I share how I measure RF power with a home brew very low power RF meter from Wes Hayward W7ZOI and how I use it in practical situations. Stay tuned and don't forget to like and subscribe...!