Yaesu FT-7900R

soncorn · #1 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 11:11 AM

Yaesu FT-7900R, Yaesu FT7900 Amateur Transceiver

Anybody have more information on this?

The only difference I can tell to the FT-7800R is more power on 70cm.

blinddog50 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 12:54 PM

Guess it just depends if the extra cost is worth 5 watts on 70cm.
If I was making the choice I'd go with th tried and true 7800r.

kb0nly · #3 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 02:12 PM

I saw the ad in my new QST today...

It looks to me like they just slightly re-designed the front panel and went with a different RF module to get another 5w of rated power on UHF.

Is it worth it?? Not really. I'm waiting to see what the price will be on the 7900R, i have a feeling it will stay pretty level price-wise with the 7800R to stay competitive.

I have two 7800's, one in each mobile, i would buy another one without question, rock solid and reliable radio, don't bother waiting for the 7900R to release if your in a hurry to buy a radio now.

I see they also updated the following..

150R is now the 250R
170R is now the 270R
1800 is now the 1900
2800 is now the 2900, with an increase in power output to 75w on the new model.

Looks like they took their entire VHF/UHF line and just gave them a facelift and new model number, way to go Yaesu!! I approve of it, keep the overall costs low, make some minor improvements, and release another rock solid and affordable generation of radios. Some may argue that they are just selling the same radios over and over, but the way i look at it if there is no reason to fix something then just modernize the looks and sell them again!

The 7900R is the same except for the power button and knobs comparing it to my 7800's.

soncorn · #4 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 05:51 PM

I don't understand what the FT-270R offers that the VX-170 doesn't for the same price.

soncorn · #5 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0nly

I have two 7800's, one in each mobile, i would buy another one without question, rock solid and reliable radio, don't bother waiting for the 7900R to release if your in a hurry to buy a radio now.

I have an 8800 in one car and was looking for a radio to mount in the other car. I went looking at the 7800 and noticed the 7900. I hardly found any info on it, so that is why I asked. I will probably pick up the 7900 when it comes out just to have the latest, but I really don't see any earth-shattering differences between the two.

N1BHH · #6 (**permalink**) 05-14-2009, 06:34 PM

From the link to the 7900, which looks like it's only 5 more watts on 440, which don't mean much:
AVAILABILITY UPDATE:
Information shown is preliminary and subject to change. The availability of this radio will be announced shortly. [05/11/09].

W2SJW · #7 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 05:10 PM

They seem to have made the units look more 'commercial' & 'rugged'. The new VX-270 looks like they gave the knobs some more texture (as the 170 had very little 'fingertip' grip capability).

I like new new looks myself as well...

kb0nly · #8 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soncorn

I don't understand what the FT-270R offers that the VX-170 doesn't for the same price.

Not much really... They just released a newer revision of the same radio and will discontinue the 170 shortly after its available i'm sure.

It's just the same old story when it comes to electronics, make some revisions and sell under a new model number.

kb0nly · #9 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2SJW

They seem to have made the units look more 'commercial' & 'rugged'. The new VX-270 looks like they gave the knobs some more texture (as the 170 had very little 'fingertip' grip capability).

I like new new looks myself as well...

I agree!

Looks to me like they removed the rest of the differences between the Yaesu and Vertex lines. That could also be a bigger part of the story we don't hear. Keeping parts lines similar so they can reduce productions costs.

W2SJW · #10 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 11:24 PM

Speaker grilles on the HT's have changed as well. Let's see if it gives an improvement in audio like the new 396XT's grille does...

Sonar · #11 (**permalink**) 05-19-2009, 12:30 AM

From what I heard, the 7900 also comes with a louder speaker. Not like it'll make a difference to me since I already use an external speaker on my 7800.

scomeau1 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soncorn

Yaesu FT-7900R, Yaesu FT7900 Amateur Transceiver

Anybody have more information on this?

The only difference I can tell to the FT-7800R is more power on 70cm.

I have a FT-8800 what do you need to know ?

Scott

soncorn · #13 (**permalink**) 05-25-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scomeau1

I have a FT-8800 what do you need to know ?

Scott

I have an FT-8800R also. I was looking for more information on the 7900R.;

W9RXR · #14 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 06:21 AM

Yaesu showed these new radios at Dayton. Frankly, other than the updated look, I couldn't see much difference between the new models and the models being replaced. I didn't see anything else new in Yaesu's Dayton booth. Kinda underwhelming.

MTS2000des · #15 (**permalink**) 05-26-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0nly

I agree!

Looks to me like they removed the rest of the differences between the Yaesu and Vertex lines. That could also be a bigger part of the story we don't hear. Keeping parts lines similar so they can reduce productions costs.

Looks like all the "new" models (FT-250, FT-270, etc) are just regurgitating the current line-up with a few touch ups. The FT-250 is an improvement over the VX-150 (the 700mW audio and inclusion of the 1400mah NiMH battery, bigger knobs and modern look). Other than that, the radios look the same as what they replace.

Wonder if they are going to "update" the FT-60? Would be nice to see a dual band HT built on the VX-900 chassis!

tekshogun · #16 (**permalink**) 05-27-2009, 01:57 PM

According to one of my local radio engineer friends, the true change in the 7900 from the 7800 is a more efficient implementation of the circuitry. I am told that it is born out of the Vertex/Yaesu commercial line of radios which makes a far better design (and more reliable, less likely for those finals to burn out), this also gave them the ability to up the power a little bit more. So, effectively, the idea is that you get a far better radio. I thought I was going to get another 7800 but I think I'll drop the 30 extra bucks for a 7900 considering my experience with the 7800 was bitter sweet (more sweet than bitter).

wayne_h · #17 (**permalink**) 05-28-2009, 02:06 PM

Moved to the Amateur Equipment forum.

IdaScan · #18 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 07:35 PM

Since I was in the market for a dual band remote head mobile radio anyways...

I ORDERED ONE TODAY!

$259.95 from HRO with the free YSK-7800 separation kit and free UPS Ground shipping out of Oakland, CA... Should probably have it in my hot little hands sometime towards the end of the week

***Just to make it clear, no, this isn't an ad promoting one radio shop over another, they just happened to be closest to me***

I'm pretty excited about it... Got to play with one that the Yaesu rep had - the main control knob for functions seemed to be a bit more responsive than the 7800 and quite a bit more accurate than my 1802M ever was.

I guess I'll post some ever so lovely pics when it arrives

tekshogun · #19 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 07:47 PM

$259? I've seen it as low as $264 on Universal Radio's sight and HRO has had it for $269 for as long as I can remember. I do know about HRO's free shipping on all Yaesu orders over $100.

IdaScan · #20 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekshogun

$259? I've seen it as low as $264 on Universal Radio's sight and HRO has had it for $269 for as long as I can remember. I do know about HRO's free shipping on all Yaesu orders over $100.

That apparently was an OOPS as there was a $10 coupon that wasn't suppose to be listed online.... Either way, they honored it

I did see, however, that Ham City (?) has it listed for $259 currently as well with the free sep kit through August...

Both AES and HRO show it right now (1 Jun 09 2004 MDT) at $269. Universal and R&L are at $264 and Ham City at $259.