Best mobile rig for Dual-Band or Tri-Band + DIGITAL?

[KE9BXE]

I’m trying to decide on a mobile setup and I’d like to know your opinion based on these two alternatives.

Option 1 - Anytone 587UVII. Benefit of this one is I have an 878UVII+ HT already, I know how to use it, I already have code plugs, my learning curve will be the shortest. I’ll have to fashion a custom mount to get it installed in an open console in the middle of my SUV, so that’s a slight downside. No remote head unit, so I have to have the whole radio up-front.

Option 2 - Yaesu FTM500-DR. I don’t know anything about Yaesu but I know this model is fairly new. The super-majority of my digital repeaters in the region are YSF / Fusion so I thought there may be good reason to consider this one. Another pro would be that I can put the display up front in my vehicle and hide the actual radio in the rear which would make for a nicer install.

Option 3? - I don’t really have an option 3. I know Motorola and Kenwood have good reputations, although DSTAR isn’t a well represented technology in my region. I’ve also heard a bit of good things about an ICOM, although I know nothing about them.

Another limitation, I don’t own a power supply so setting up the radio has to be all in the car with a laptop, rather than having it on my office desk for a week while I work out the code plugs.

 

[mmckenna]

Option 3? - I don’t really have an option 3. I know Motorola and Kenwood have good reputations

If you are considering commercial gear, understand that the costs can be high for new, as well as for most of the modern used radios. You'll be limited to the LMR friendly digital modes, P25, DMR or NXDN. You also need to fully comprehend the narrow band mandates of 2013 and how that will impact the different radios, especially on the UHF band. Not all commercial radio dealers are "ham friendly" so getting quotes can be a challenge, and there's little hand holding on the support side for one off/hobby users. You can often get good support on this site, however.

The commercial gear is really nice, but the cost can be a challenge for many. VFO isn't a thing, so that's a limitation for most hams. Front panel programming is an option on -some- LMR radios, but not all, plus there are limitations on what you can change on the fly. Usually software is the preferred tool.

Many of us that work in the two way radio field use commercial gear since it lets us legally use our LMR systems, plus we have access to the software in most cases.

Often the lack of VFO and differences between the LMR interface versus the amateur interface to the radios turns hams off quickly. On the flip side, some of the feature sets in the commercial gear is handy depending on what you need.

If you are talking about amateur gear, Motorola doesn't make any amateur radios.
Kenwood does have amateur product lines as well as their LMR lines. Same with Icom. Both Icom and Kenwood amateur radio gear is top notch.

As a new ham, you'll probably want to stick with the amateur oriented products since they'll give you the feature sets that you will find most favorable at this point in your journey. Commercial gear is something you may grow into, but it's a different beast than ham oriented radios.

 

[GlobalNorth]

If you want amateur/digital gear and the majority of digital in your region is Fusion, go Yaesu. If you have a lot of D-Star in your area, go with Kenwood or Icom.

You can't go wrong with any one of the three if you want stay brand specific. They are all great quality.

 

[popnokick]

Since it appears you haven't yet decided on a digital voice protocol, consider adding the Connect Systems CS800D or CS800D Plus to your consideration. It does include a detachable remote head.

CS800D

www.connectsystems.com

CS800D PLUS

1132623

www.csi-radios.com

 

[ecps92]

I’m trying to decide on a mobile setup and I’d like to know your opinion based on these two alternatives.

Option 1 - Anytone 587UVII. Benefit of this one is I have an 878UVII+ HT already, I know how to use it, I already have code plugs, my learning curve will be the shortest. I’ll have to fashion a custom mount to get it installed in an open console in the middle of my SUV, so that’s a slight downside. No remote head unit, so I have to have the whole radio up-front.

Option 2 - Yaesu FTM500-DR. I don’t know anything about Yaesu but I know this model is fairly new. The super-majority of my digital repeaters in the region are YSF / Fusion so I thought there may be good reason to consider this one. Another pro would be that I can put the display up front in my vehicle and hide the actual radio in the rear which would make for a nicer install.

Option 3? - I don’t really have an option 3. I know Motorola and Kenwood have good reputations, although DSTAR isn’t a well represented technology in my region. I’ve also heard a bit of good things about an ICOM, although I know nothing about them.

Another limitation, I don’t own a power supply so setting up the radio has to be all in the car with a laptop, rather than having it on my office desk for a week while I work out the code plugs.

Since you are so new to the Hobby, join a local Club

talk to the folks there, maybe even one of the members or an Elmer might let you borrow a radio to
see how you like it, before making such investments.

 

[AK9R]

Yes, get involved with your local club. Local club members can help you with information about local repeaters and local VHF/UHF activity.

If you are considering buying a VHF/UHF digital voice radio, it's very important that you find out which mode is most prominent in your area. The various digital voice modes are not compatible with each other, so you don't want to buy the wrong one.

Even though there might be many Yaesu System Fusion repeaters in your area, you'll need to find out if they are connected to the Internet or WIRES-X. Many clubs have purchased YSF repeaters and put them on the air, but haven't connected them to WIRES-X or even turned on the YSF mode.

The Yaesu FTM-500D has been on the market for about 18 months. If I was considering one, I'd look at the FTM-300D which will do just about everything the FTM-500D does for $140 less.

 

[KE9BXE]

Answers to the questions above to assist in triangulating the best solution:

1.) Almost all repeaters on the 70cm and 2m band are YSF. About half of those are WIRES-X

2.) Local hams are into HF. I’m not interested in a ham shack or HF.

3.) I live in a fairly humble earning area. The gear I buy will not necessarily be what the prevailing gear is in the area. I’m blessed to have a reasonably decent job.

4.) I can’t say for sure if I’ll ever own a commercial radio, but I can say with certainty I will never own a commercial radio running commercial firmware. My question was focused on ham use cases.

5.) When I go to drilling holes and installing brackets in a vehicle to install this thing, I’m going to do it once. I will not pick a unit that is $140 less unless it’s truly so good it is worth paying MORE for to get, all things being equal.

So in light of the above, which is better for me, AT578 or FTM-500DR? Or is there a better, more feature rich alternative I omitted?

 

[ecps92]

Answers to the questions above to assist in triangulating the best solution:

1.) Almost all repeaters on the 70cm and 2m band are YSF. About half of those are WIRES-X

2.) Local hams are into HF. I’m not interested in a ham shack or HF.

3.) I live in a fairly humble earning area. The gear I buy will not necessarily be what the prevailing gear is in the area. I’m blessed to have a reasonably decent job.

4.) I can’t say for sure if I’ll ever own a commercial radio, but I can say with certainty I will never own a commercial radio running commercial firmware. My question was focused on ham use cases.

5.) When I go to drilling holes and installing brackets in a vehicle to install this thing, I’m going to do it once. I will not pick a unit that is $140 less unless it’s truly so good it is worth paying MORE for to get, all things being equal.

So in light of the above, which is better for me, AT578 or FTM-500DR? Or is there a better, more feature rich alternative I omitted?

#2 then who is supporting the 2m/70cm Repeaters if everyone is into HF, there must be a few clubs supporting "almost" all those repeater - aka $$$$

Join them and Support the infrastructure

We attempted to help/steer you in a better informed LOCAL direction, your on your own now.

 

[kayn1n32008]

There isn't a 'best radio'

ALL radios have their own plus and minus list.

Ultimately, YOU need to decide on what YOU want to do.

First, and foremost, decide on what digital mode YOU want to use. That will significantly trim your list of choices.

You have already kind of started by saying you don't want to use commercial radios or their related programming software.

DMR: there are a plethora of ham grade DMR radios, from companies like Anytone, BeTech, Alinco, Tytera, Retvis. Be warned, it is a fairly steep learning curve, and only some are keyboard programmable. Keep in mind that the amateur radio community has adopted DMR, which is a LMR digital voice mode, and adapted it to ham radio needs.

Some Anytone radios are supported by RT Systems, but not all.

Fusion: 100% only(currently) supported by Yaesu. Probably the 'easiest' digital mode to operate for a new ham.

DStar: mainly Icom radios, BUT Lenwood does offer a portable radio that also supports DStar. The latest generstin of DStar radios are easiest to program, and as a whole, is the second easiest digital mode to use.

Once you choose a mode, then you need to figure out what radio, that operates that mode, best suits your needs, wants and desires. We can't make the choice for you and what I think is the 'best radio' is going to be different than the next person.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Any of the 3(Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu) ham manufacturers are decent radios, and so is Anytone.

Myself, I prefer LMR radios because they are of significantly better quality, and I have a lot of experience using their respective programming software. I prefer DMR and P25 digital voice and as such use radios capable of those modes.

I do own an Anytone radio, but I bought it for really cheap off a friend. It does DMR, but is not nearly the same quality as my Motorola XPR series radios. For P25 I use XTS2500 portables.

P25 definitely is not nearly as popular as DMR, Fusion or DStar. Ham radio has so many different facets, and possibilities, you just have to figure out what YOU what out of the hobby.

 

[AE4NG]

Based on the fact that most all repeaters in your area are on YSF and half are connected to WIRES-X, I’d recommend the FTM-500DR. The Anytone is a DMR radio and you’re saying DMR is not prevalent in your area so it’d be silly to wast your money on that one. As for the learning curve, YSF is simple compared to DMR.

You still might want to invest in joining a local club in your area. Besides HF, most of those hams have operated VHF and UHF at one time or another and might be of some help.

I hope that helps. Have fun. 73!

 

[kayn1n32008]

You still might want to invest in joining a local club in your area. Besides HF, most of those hams have operated VHF and UHF at one time or another and might be of some help.

I hope that helps. Have fun. 73!

I'll second(or get in behind however many others have already said) this. Join a local club. You will find others who, locally, can help you in your decision making process. They will know your locality much better than anyone, including me, can guess on a internet forum.

Plus, supporting a local club, supports the infrastructure you will eventually be using.

 

[jazzboypro]

Since it appears you haven't yet decided on a digital voice protocol, consider adding the Connect Systems CS800D or CS800D Plus to your consideration. It does include a detachable remote head.

CS800D

www.connectsystems.com

CS800D PLUS

1132623

www.csi-radios.com

According to their website the radio can only do DMR and analog at the moment. The other modes are supposed to be implemented via firmware. I remember looking at it many months ago and nothing seems to have happened with the firmware and i could not find any timeline for when the other modes will be available. Personally i would not pay that much for a radio that may or may not do what they say il will be able to do. This appears to be an unfinished product sold at the price of a finished product. I personally see no compelling reasons to buy this radio at this point.

I tried to send them a message to ask about their timeline for the other modes from their website but nothing happens when i click the submit button.

 

[k6cpo]

The Yaesu FTM-500DR is capable of being programmed with a MicroSD card so that would alleviate having to carry a computer out to your vehicle. Conversely, for the purpose of programming the radio, a decent power supply can be had for a reasonable price. I've used the Alinco DM-330-MV for almost fifteen years with no issues.

 

[WSEM262]

Given everything ive read here sofar... The Yaesu gets my vote, hands down.
I own three FTM200D's and a FTM500D.
They are also easy to mars-mod if you need to Tx outside the ham bands on Murs/GMRS.

 

[K9KLC]

I have the AT 578 (tri-band version) and I like it pretty well. I've never ran a 500 to compare it to but I've had 2) FTM-100s a FTM-400 and they're long gone and I'm happy about it. I got stuck with a FTM-300 a while back on a trading deal, first time I plugged an external speaker in it (one I have used for years on another radio) the speaker jack broke. At least it still works with a speaker plugged in. I stuck it back in my spare room and it's been there ever since with the exception of taking it to a friends to check it on a service monitor. The specs were pretty good on it, I'll say that, almost up to my Icom 5100.
I'm told, the face plate on the 500 provides acceptable audio and has the mic jack in the head of the radio (where yaesu should have left it but oh no, let's not do that). Anyway, only you can decide what's right for you as far as digital. I run my Icom 5100 day in and day out. Even if you take D-Star out of the equation, it's a GREAT dual band radio. Has scan banks (which for me is important) none of this stuff yaesu has. I run the AT-578 when we have local events that include DMR and I honestly talk a fair amount on it on the 1.25 meter band, you'd be surprised with a good antenna how far 5 watts gets out.

 

[K9KLC]

There isn't a 'best radio'

ALL radios have their own plus and minus list.

Ultimately, YOU need to decide on what YOU want to do.

This is the best advice here, I know what I like, I have no idea what you like or will want to do when it's all said and done.

 

[kh6idf]

I like my FTM-500DR for mobile use since it has a speaker in the remote head and also the microphone plugs into the remote head. I have the radio in back behind the back seat and only have to run the extension cable that connects the remote head to the main body of the radio. I did have to run a 12V line back there because the manufacturer (VW) decided to eliminate the rear 12V accessory socket for my model year.

The antenna coax comes in through the back hatch so it is handy to have the radio back there.

 

[AI7PM]

Answers to the questions above to assist in triangulating the best solution:

1.) Almost all repeaters on the 70cm and 2m band are YSF. About half of those are WIRES-X

Say what? Where in this country are almost all 2/70 YSF?

 

[Hit_Factor]

Another limitation, I don’t own a power supply...

Perhaps an RS-20A Linear Power Supplies | Astron Corporation

Icom ID-5100 is what I have for a mobile. Lot's of DStar around here, some DMR, very little Fusion (YSF).