Yaesu FT-2800M

[N4NDX]

Any comments on the Yaesu FT-2800M. I just got my lisence and would like to purchase a 2 meter radio and was wondering if you guys had any inputs on this particular rig that could be of any help.

73
KJ4CAO
David

[KD0BRD]

Originally Posted by KJ4CAO

Any comments on the Yaesu FT-2800M. I just got my lisence and would like to purchase a 2 meter radio and was wondering if you guys had any inputs on this particular rig that could be of any help.

73
KJ4CAO
David

Very nice rig. Very solid. Make sure you have space, because the heatsink does take up some room. Not many frills in the feature set. No memory banks, nothing like that. But for what it does, it's great. Can't beat the price. You might want to spend more on a dual band rig, however. Around here, there is just as much activity on 440 mhz (70 cm) as there is on 2 meters.

You best bet would be to try and find some hams in your area, and ask them about activity on the various bands.

Good luck
Isaac, KD0BRD

[NN4RH]

I've had one about 5 years. It is pretty rugged. Display is nice and big and easy to read, which was important when I was using it mobile. I think it's easy to operate but I know that some others have complaints about the Yaesu menu systems.

As far as I know, you cannot detach the faceplate and mount it separate from the radio, as you can with some other radios. So, if you are going to use it mobile, and you're tight for space, you might be happier with a radio that can have the control head detached.

Now I use the FT-2800 desktop in my shack and have put an FT-7800 with remote detached head in my vehicle.

[K6BTM]

Originally Posted by KJ4CAO

Any comments on the Yaesu FT-2800M. I just got my lisence and would like to purchase a 2 meter radio and was wondering if you guys had any inputs on this particular rig that could be of any help.

73
KJ4CAO
David

Solid radio. I have two and will probibly get another. I have the software and interface cable available and find that having both programed same very convenient. The anticipated third radio will be programed the same too.
There's very little 440 mhz (70 cm) activity here, so I save the cost of dual banders. For less than $120 it's hard to beat. YMMV, 73

[N4NDX]

Originally Posted by NN4RH

I've had one about 5 years. It is pretty rugged. Display is nice and big and easy to read, which was important when I was using it mobile. I think it's easy to operate but I know that some others have complaints about the Yaesu menu systems.

As far as I know, you cannot detach the faceplate and mount it separate from the radio, as you can with some other radios. So, if you are going to use it mobile, and you're tight for space, you might be happier with a radio that can have the control head detached.

Now I use the FT-2800 desktop in my shack and have put an FT-7800 with remote detached head in my vehicle.

Well being a newby I never thought twice the reason for the detachable face on a radio, now since you mentioned it makes lots of sence to me because I was thinking of installeing one on my wife`s car since is the family car but couldn`t find the space for it. Now I get the picture.

[N4NDX]

Originally Posted by KD0BRD

Very nice rig. Very solid. Make sure you have space, because the heatsink does take up some room. Not many frills in the feature set. No memory banks, nothing like that. But for what it does, it's great. Can't beat the price. You might want to spend more on a dual band rig, however. Around here, there is just as much activity on 440 mhz (70 cm) as there is on 2 meters.

You best bet would be to try and find some hams in your area, and ask them about activity on the various bands.

Good luck
Isaac, KD0BRD

Thanks for your input. I do have plenty of room on my Dodge pickup so that would not cause any problems there. I`m glad like you say is pretty reasonable rig and for the money you can`t bid it Around here in the Western North Carolina we have plenty of repeaters that seems to work great even with the excessive amount of mountain we owned here but the guys seem to like the 2 meter rig. I think but not positive the activity is plenty on 2 meter here.

Keep Hamming Issac

[N4NDX]

I`m not familiar with the software for the radio , but it would be nice if you can school me a little on the software part.

[KC9NTO]

Thought I'd throw my two cents into the ring.

Just got my 2800M last week and I couldn't be happier. For the time being I'll be using it as a base radio and once I got a 20 amp power supply (was using a 5 amp PS for the first few days) I was able to xmit on 65 watts with no problems, not that I need that much power here in the Chicago area. Will probably keep it at 25 watts.

So far I've had no issues with audio modulation; all reports say I am sounding good, so maybe the previous owner did a mike mod or something.

Programming is a breeze, even without the software, and I love that fact that it scans not only the memory, but the entire receive spectrum of the radio. The weather channels are an added bonus.

This is my first true 2 meter rig (I have a 4W 2mtr HT that kind of blows) and all I can say is that I'm please as punch as to how well this gem performs.

Adam...KC9NTO

[KE5UOM]

Great radios. I bought two after I got my license, one in the car and one in the house. I live in central OK, and talked to Wichita, KS tonight on simplex.
Get one or two, you won't be disappointed.