Anyone have opinions on Yeasu airband handhelds? FTA250 and 550 specifically

[madrabbitt]

I need to pickup an airband transciever. COMM only, no need for NAV.
95% listening, but I do need a transciever for occasional transmit.

I'm leaning towards the FTA250, but the AA version of the 550 is kind of tempting me.
Daytime sunlight readable screen is useful, although i'll be on one fixed frequency unless something goes badly.

Speaker clarity and output is probably the biggest thing I need.

 

[serial14]

I have a Yeasu/Vertex Air band handheld radio, I can't remember which model, Certainly NOT the FTA250. I'll look tonight at the specific model number.

I've used it for RX only thus far primarily voice, but sometimes digital( feeding into a computer ). Clarity has always been fine, nothing to note. Speaker is plenty powerful and clear at louder volumes. Plenty of times I've left the radio sitting on something while I'm in the general area and I can hear/understand it just fine.

 

[xms3200]

Icom A25C is "The Bomb", you will never look back. Nice big display, 6W of transmit power.
A25C - Comm only
A25N - Nav/com with bluetooth.

 

[madrabbitt]

^ even used, thats out of the budget.

We have A16's at work, i'm looking at an A6 and an A3 on ebay, but i like the headset interface on the yeasu units better, and the 250 is along the same line of rugged case as the heavier duty ham and commercial HT's.

 

[serial14]

Just reviewed my radio. its the FTA-550

 

[madrabbitt]

theres a 550 on ebay im watching AA version

 

[Cavscout]

It isn't fancy or do trunking or encryption but my Icom IC-A2 has continually served me well on the air band for 30 or so years.

 

[footage]

I had an FTA-250 but it suffered from AC-line interference and I had to open the squelch so that it would scan. Been happier with an ICOM A25C.

 

[hdralleiii]

I need to pickup an airband transciever. COMM only, no need for NAV.
95% listening, but I do need a transciever for occasional transmit.

I'm leaning towards the FTA250, but the AA version of the 550 is kind of tempting me.
Daytime sunlight readable screen is useful, although i'll be on one fixed frequency unless something goes badly.

Speaker clarity and output is probably the biggest thing I need.

I have an FTA-250L and it performs pretty well. Like any AM radio however, it is a bit susceptable to electrical and other RF noise, especially in a vehicle. An external antenna fixes that problem but for handheld use away from interference, it works great. I briefly used an Icom side by side and the Icom may have been a touch more sensitive and perhaps a little less interference overall but otherwise performed very similarly. I specifically opted for the 250 over the other Yaesu models due to the smaller display and compact size. I am currently using it with an Icom airband antenna which through unscientific testing performed just a tad batter than the stock Yaesu duck. The speaker output is loud and clear and using an RT Systems USB-57B programming cable, adjusting/adding freqs and alpha tags is easy. A buddy of mine has used a 250 for awhile as a backup while in flight but has connected it to the external aircraft antenna for regular use/testing and had excellent results.

 

[Tapet]

I was gifted a Vertex (Yeasu) VXA210. My LAME friend said it was about to thrown out before he saved it. Battery was stuffed and internal speaker a little flogged out. Set it up as a base station. With external antenna, speaker and power supply. Pickup Aircraft up to 100k'a out. Living very close to the Airport, Tower and ground aboutley boom in. I have nothing to compare it with. For a freebie I'm more than happy with it.