Help me pick a new mobile radio

[pcunite]

Hello,

Can someone really knowledgeable about the current radio lineup help me pick a mobile for the truck? I'm still new to Ham. Here are my requirements:

• Two independent receivers (true dual simultaneous receive)
• Cross band repeat
• AIR band receive
• Memory Groups (I enjoy modest scanning)
• Prevent transmit on certain stored memory channels
• Analog only is fine

I don't care about other features, but extra doesn't hurt either. Is the Yaesu FTM-300DR a good radio or is there another option I should look at? That is what I'm comparing things to.

 

[a417]

How much money do you plan on spending?
If it's "as little as possible", plan on getting a CCR...

This is the internet, everyone knows as much as everyone else...so prepare for opinions.

 

[AK9R]

Are you sure that the FTM-300DR has memory groups? That is, are memory groups described in the manual and have you seen YouTube videos that show them being used.

I ask because Yaesu has not included that feature on some of their recent mobiles...including high-end ones.

As for preventing transmit on certain stored channels, Japanese radios marketed for amateur radio typically only transmit on amateur radio frequencies even though you might have an "out of band" channel programmed in a memory. It usually takes a modification to the radio to allow it to transmit out of band.

 

[N6HHR]

If you can find one on the used market, the Yaesu FT-8800 may be a good choice for you. It has all the features you have listed. Regarding 'prevent transmit on certain memory channels', an 8800 that has not been MARS/CAP modified will not transmit on any frequency outside the ham bands.

73, David, N6HHR

 

[pcunite]

How much money do you plan on spending? If it's "as little as possible", plan on getting a CCR...

I mentioned the FTM-300DR for reference. $500. Is the Yaesu a CCR?

Are you sure that the FTM-300DR has memory groups?

In Mark Wilson (K1RO) review here, he states "You can also segregate memory groups according to
function", and refers to scanning them. But, I haven't see a video yet that clarifies this. Kinda research fatigued.

 

[a417]

I mentioned the FTM-300DR for reference. $500. Is the Yaesu a CCR?

Radios made in Japan are not cheap Chinese Radios.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I have no experience with that Yaesu radio except to say some of the Fusion radios seem to get poor reviews on the RX.
You can go cheap by buying an older premium Japanese radio like a ICOM or Kenwood and get not only a decent radio but those features:

• Two independent receivers (true dual simultaneous receive)
• Cross band repeat
• AIR band receive
• Memory Groups (I enjoy modest scanning)
• Prevent transmit on certain stored memory channels
• Analog only is fine

 

[KK4JUG]

If you can find one on the used market, the Yaesu FT-8800 may be a good choice for you. It has all the features you have listed. Regarding 'prevent transmit on certain memory channels', an 8800 that has not been MARS/CAP modified will not transmit on any frequency outside the ham bands.

73, David, N6HHR

I agree. This is a good choice. I have the FT=8900. It's pretty much the same except that is has a couple of bands that you probably don't really need in a mobile. (Looking back, I wish I'd purchased the 8800 instead.) Mine has been trouble-free. It has a detachable face plate. My radio is under the front passenger seat with the faceplate only on the dash. I can't comment on manual programming because I use RT Systems software. It has been a dependable radio and has served me well.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

^^^^ good point, look at models with RT Systems Software support. It will save a lot of headaches when programming a mobile.

 

[prcguy]

An FTM-300DR is not a CCR, its an EJR. Expensive Japanese Radio.

Radios made in Japan are not cheap Chinese Radios.

 

[popnokick]

If you're looking at the Yaesu FT-8900 (an "EJR") be aware of the TYT-TH9800 which is a nearly exact functional copy of the Yaesu but is a "CCR". In fact, maybe the only CCR that is a functional copy of a Yaesu radio that looks, has same features, and operates nearly identically. I enjoyed my TH-9800 for years but traded it for a DMR radio after finding 6M mobile and repeaters were not that widely used. It had 10M but no SSB so you were limited to FM. But it meets the feature set you listed.

 

[ladn]

Another +1 for the Yaesu FT-8800. I've had mine for 20+ years (I also have the TYT-9800 as a portable/field day radio). It's still my favorite mobile radio.

 

[signal500]

Hello,

Can someone really knowledgeable about the current radio lineup help me pick a mobile for the truck? I'm still new to Ham. Here are my requirements:

• Two independent receivers (true dual simultaneous receive)
• Cross band repeat
• AIR band receive
• Memory Groups (I enjoy modest scanning)
• Prevent transmit on certain stored memory channels
• Analog only is fine

I don't care about other features, but extra doesn't hurt either. Is the Yaesu FTM-300DR a good radio or is there another option I should look at? That is what I'm comparing things to.

I will also add a +1 for the Yaesu FT-8800. it has served me well for years. I would also recommend the Icom 2820H.

 

[Thunderknight]

Kenwood TM-V71A. No longer made, but if you can find one used I think it meets all your requirements.
I think I read that Kenwood disabled the crossband repeater in later versions so you might want to verify if you find one.

 

[krokus]

The Kenwood TM-V71 is a solid option, which is a current model. It has true dual receive, which most other brands do not have. (You can put the different bands on different speakers, giving spatial diversity to the audio.)

I'm not sure which aspect of locking out transmitting you are looking for. Do you want to not transmit on certain stored memory locations? Not transmit outside the ham bands? (This radio does not transmit out of band, and allows non-standard transmit offset on memory. You could program the transmit freq as out of band, and the radio will not transmit.)

TM-V71A | Amateur Radio | Communications | KENWOOD USA

Welcome to KENWOOD USA Site. In pursuit of further value creation by integrality our three core business segments and establish [ mobile & home multimedia system ] business

www.kenwood.com

 

[pcunite]

Do you want to not transmit on certain stored memory locations?

Yes, that is correct.

 

[krokus]

Yes, that is correct.

The per channel transmit inhibit is more a Part 90 radio thing, based on my experience. I am mostly a Kenwood user, so my exposure to other brands is limited.

 

[KK4JUG]

I think RT Systems programs may allow you to do that. Their programs are intuitive but I think you can override that. For instance. when you put in a repeater receive frequency, the will automatically put in the transmit frequency based on the standard offset and + or - for that band or that part of the band. After all the channel information is entered, I believe you can go back and change much of the info including removing the transmit freq without any of the other information being changed.

 

[AE4NG]

Kenwood TM-V71A. No longer made, but if you can find one used I think it meets all your requirements

+1 for the TM-V71A. I have one and love it. It will do pretty much everything you want. And with RT Systems software, you can set memory channels as receive only (as KK4JUG stated).

As others have stated, the Yaesu FT-8800 and Icom IC-2820H would also work (if you can find one or the other of course).

 

[pcunite]

I appreciate all the feedback. With the exception of the TYT TH-9800, all the suggestions have been for discontinued (and therefore used) radios. I don't feel comfortable buying used. Is the Yaesu FTM-300DR really that bad?