Yaesu: FT-70DE MARS mod drawbacks?

[MCH170]

Hello, I am new to amateur radio and after doing my research I decided to buy a Yaesu FT-70DE. As far as I understand the MARS mod is basically removing a component on the back side of the radio that allows you to transmit even on frequencies you are not allowed to (with all the legal implications that come with that, this thread is purely theoretical). My question is, given that the website I plan on buying my radio from offers this mod as a service, are there any drawbacks to it? Will a modded radio (the FT-70DE in this case) be worse than a stock radio in any way?

Thanks.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Hello, I am new to amateur radio and after doing my research I decided to buy a Yaesu FT-70DE. As far as I understand the MARS mod is basically removing a component on the back side of the radio that allows you to transmit even on frequencies you are not allowed to (with all the legal implications that come with that, this thread is purely theoretical). My question is, given that the website I plan on buying my radio from offers this mod as a service, are there any drawbacks to it? Will a modded radio (the FT-70DE in this case) be worse than a stock radio in any way?

Thanks.

Not that I've noticed. Spectral Purity still passes, and rf power is still relatively uniform. My purpose was primarily for Murs, and Gmrs which I'm licensed for so the mod was worth it.

 

[K4EET]

<snip> Will a modded radio (the FT-70DE in this case) be worse than a stock radio in any way? <snip>

It might void the warranty if you needed Yaesu factory repair. If I were you, I would check with Yaesu on that.

 

[MCH170]

Thanks for all the help.

 

[k6cpo]

Why? It can not be legally used outside of the ham bands, so why bother?

You may have a license for GMRS but the radio is not Part 95 certified so it not legal to use on GMRS. It is legal for Part 97 (Amateur Radio) only.

The OP is in Cyprus. US laws are irrelevant.

 

[prcguy]

I had two FT-70s and did the mod on both. No change in anything operational other than opening up new transmit frequencies. You can do the mod yourself using a small soldering iron and high power loupes to see the small part to remove. I have taken MARS modded radios to Yaesu for warranty repair and they fixed them no questions asked. If performing the mod damaged the radio then I would expect a problem with warranty.

 

[AK9R]

Several off topic and non-contributory comments have been deleted.

The OP asked about the FT-70DE, the European-spec radio, not the FT-70DR, the North American-spec radio.

The OP is in Cyprus where he is subject to Cypriot or EU radio communications rules, not US rules.

Comments about the technical effects of the mod on FT-70DRs are appropriate for the thread with the understanding that the FT-70DE might respond differently.

Comments about how Yaesu's authorized North American repair centers might respond to a warranty claim on a modified FT-70DR are somewhat appropriate for the thread with the understanding that Yaesu's authorized European repair center may respond differently.

Comments about the legality of the modification or the legality of using a modified radio in the US are off topic assuming that the OP will be operating the radio in Europe and outside the US.