New to Radios, help with budget setup?

[TailGator911]

Well he did say HAM and he did say DUAL BAND and he did say he wanted to monitor itinerents, frs, etc. The Yaesu FT60R is everything you would need for HAM dual band transmit and extended receive in a small radio built like a tank. I just went back to basics from the R2D2 fusion radio to the FT60R and loving every minute of it.

JD
kf4anc

 

[suzukigs750ez]

Well he did say HAM and he did say DUAL BAND and he did say he wanted to monitor itinerents, frs, etc. The Yaesu FT60R is everything you would need for HAM dual band transmit and extended receive in a small radio built like a tank. I just went back to basics from the R2D2 fusion radio to the FT60R and loving every minute of it.

JD
kf4anc

I see the yaesu 70dr is a newer version of the 60. That radio looks like it fits my criteria. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to look deeper into it

 

[AK9R]

Actually, the FT-65 is the replacement for the FT-60.

The FT-70 is a low-priced Yaesu System Fusion radio.

 

[suzukigs750ez]

Actually, the FT-65 is the replacement for the FT-60.

The FT-70 is a low-priced Yaesu System Fusion radio.

Is the 65 worth getting over the 60? The 70 seems to have proprietary digital, which isn't compatible with other dmr?

 

[suzukigs750ez]

I also saw the UV-380 mentioned. Is dmr worth the extra money and if so, which brand/ model? Excuse my ignorance, I'm totally new to ham radios. Looking to get a radio to play with for now (on legal frequencies) and in the future get my license. I like the idea of having it for power outages to listen to first responders, weather & communicate on frs. But I want to buy one that I can my feet wet with, but decent enough where I don't feel I need to buy another after licensing.

 

[danesgs]

It sounds like the op want the option to transmit legally without a licensce and still monitor public safety as a scanner. To be honest no radio fill that bill other than the Uniden 885 with CB band and P2 scanner built into the radio. Now yes its not a budget buy but it fills his needs all round in one radio. The other way to go would be if not looking to get a HAM ticket is a (1) cheap Motorola FRS/GMRS radio with weather and (2) a used 245XLT or similar on ebay for around 35.00 or so. You can find a few scanners , analog on Craigslist once in awhile for next to nothing that fit the 200-300 channel model, do simulcast of digital (maybe) for fire and pick up aircraft, marine, et. all.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Would this radio be "better" than the baofeng uv5r or the newer version?

Yes, but programming them can be a huge pain in the butt (but, as bharvey2 said, not impossible). Just takes a ton of patience and a half dozen YouTube videos showing how to create a codeplug.

 

[pinballwiz86]

If you get a Yaesu FT-2DR you can monitor ham, GMRS/FRS, police band, shortwave, FM/AM radio and transmit on GMRS/FRS with a MARS mod (clipping a transistor).

 

[AK9R]

Is the 65 worth getting over the 60? The 70 seems to have proprietary digital, which isn't compatible with other dmr?

The FT-60 is approximately 15 years old. It's a reliable, well-proven radio. About the only things going against it are size (compared to newer radios) and its nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) battery which is a bit heavier than lithium ion batteries used on newer radios.

The FT-65 has been on the market approximately 2 years. It's a much newer design, but seems to be garnering a decent reputation. It's smaller and lighter than the FT-60.

Yaesu System Fusion, the digital voice mode that the FT-70 offers, is not compatible with other digital voice modes used these days, but it is not proprietary. However, Yaesu is the only radio transceiver manufacturer to offer System Fusion.

Any amateur radio transceiver that can transmit outside of the amateur radio bands, with or without "MARS" modifications, would have to be FCC type accepted for the applicable parts of the FCC rules (Part 80 for marine radio, Part 90 for business and public safety frequencies or various sections of Part 95 for GMRS, FRS, or MURS). Most radios intended for the amateur radio market cannot be legally used to transmit in Part 80, 90, or 95.

 

[jaspence]

One of the best choices in your price range for a good dual band radio is the Yaesu FT-60R, but as mentioned, it is not gong to do all you want.

 

[bharvey2]

I also saw the UV-380 mentioned. Is dmr worth the extra money and if so, which brand/ model? Excuse my ignorance, I'm totally new to ham radios. Looking to get a radio to play with for now (on legal frequencies) and in the future get my license. I like the idea of having it for power outages to listen to first responders, weather & communicate on frs. But I want to buy one that I can my feet wet with, but decent enough where I don't feel I need to buy another after licensing.

The base model UV380 seems to hover around $100 on Amazon. It's value to you will depend upon the radio traffic you have in your area. Since it isn't capable of following trunked systems, its use will geared toward operation on ham repeaters. In my neck of the woods (San Francisco Bay Area) there are quite a few ham DMR repeaters so in my case, a DMR radio is worth the money. Give the ham repeater database on this site a look and take a ride over to www.repeaterbook.com to see if their are and DMR repeaters in your area. The presence of an open DMR repeater or your willingness to also obtain a DMR hotspot may help you decide its value.

With regard to the Yaesu radios that were mentioned, I've had first hand experience the the FT-60. It's an older but very capable radio and is trouble free by most accounts. I'm not sure of the other models but Yaesu usually makes a good product so they're worth your consideration.

 

[suzukigs750ez]

I think it's down to the UV-380 series, yaesu 60, 65 or 70? I still need a ton of research but the options you guys are throwing is educating me as well. They're all priced in my range.

 

[suzukigs750ez]

So if I go with the yaesu 65, does it do all the 60 does but just newer? I think I'd like to invest in newer hardware but I understand what you all mention with it being trouble free. I'm into user hobbies as well and give others the same advice. I don't think the 70 is up my alley since it's proprietary and not compatible with everything else. Above the 65 are there any other radios with as much of a following that also do digital within $50 of the yaesu pricing?

 

[suzukigs750ez]

There are dmr repeaters listed close to my area, but the town's that border me on all sides. Funny enough just not my town

 

[krokus]

I like the idea of having it for power outages to listen to first responders, weather & communicate on frs.

A ham dual-band will not hear much public safety stuff, if the local responders are using a trunked system, or digital signalling. Nor will a non-FRS radio work well for trying to talk to FRS radios, due to the differences in deviations. (FRS -> ham will sound very weak/quiet; ham -> FRS will be distorted.)

 

[bharvey2]

There are dmr repeaters listed close to my area, but the town's that border me on all sides. Funny enough just not my town

Depending upon the terrain, you might do just fine. Given that many repeaters in my areas are on top of hills/mountains I can communicate with many several miles/cities away. Your mileage may vary with both analog and DMR traffic.

 

[suzukigs750ez]

A ham dual-band will not hear much public safety stuff, if the local responders are using a trunked system, or digital signalling. Nor will a non-FRS radio work well for trying to talk to FRS radios, due to the differences in deviations. (FRS -> ham will sound very weak/quiet; ham -> FRS will be distorted.)

So I can't talk to "walkie talkies" with a radio like this?

 

[suzukigs750ez]

What do you guys think of the Yaesu FT-270R compared to the FT-65R?

 

[alcahuete]

So I can't talk to "walkie talkies" with a radio like this?

Well you "can" if you're referring to FRS or GMRS walkie talkies or such, but you missed the part where doing so with a non type accepted radio would technically be illegal. I won't say it doesn't happen, but it is not legal to use a ham radio on the FRS/GMRS band or any other band outside of the amateur radio bands.

 

[MOGA]

You might consider a TYT MD-UV380. It is dual band and is also capable of non-trunking DMR. I have an older UHF only version. This should allow you to monitor a good deal of analog traffic but I'm not sure of it's FCC type acceptance. It's no doubt a "no no" to use it to transmit on MURS, FRS and GMRS.

I own this unit. Unless its in use as a DMR transceiver? It is passed over. The general receiver leaves a lot to be desired.

Not that I really have a need for another HH transceiver, but the Yaesu FT70DR is on the short list. The $$$ is slightly over the desired budget. Yet I would say its worth the couple extra ducats.

Will not xmit onMURS/FRS/GMRS, of course. Japanese radios do not outside of 2/1.25/70 amateur bands.