The numbering system on most Yaesu equipment has been constant for many years.

Basically the serial number of a radio manufactured in 1985 will start with a 5-- but so will radios made in  1995 and 2005 as is the case with my FT-817nd.

The letter following the first number corresponds to the month of manufacture starting with   C= January , D= February , E= March , etc etc

The next 2 numbers are the production run, and the remaining 4 are the unit number.

So using my FT-817nd as an example.

The serial number is 5J020176 so it was made in August 2005 and it is the 176th radio made in production run 2.

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