The Yaesu FTM-500. Is it Worth It?
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Yaesu's FTM-500 is their latest top-of-the-line mobile VHF and UHF transceiver. It's packed with features but is it worth the current $650 price? In this video we'll to an overview of some of the main features and benefits to help you decide whether this new radio is worth it - to you.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:24 Opening
01:06 Two Questions
02:34 Complicated Radio
05:05 What's in the Box
10:47 Initial Set-up
11:08 Power-on Tour
18:17 Menu and CFL
20:43 Repeater Programming
28:05 Memory Management
31:07 So, is it worth it? - Věda a technologie
Love your way to get us to the conclusion and it looks like a great radio. Thanks!
Just divide the price by the number of years a good, durable radio, full of features, will last before you have to spend on maintenance. On the other hand, a "regular" quality radio may soon prove more prone to problems. Furthermore, a mobile radio needs to be really well assembled to withstand the bumps on trails and roads. In the end, a radio full of features, modern, resistant, reliable and that will last more than a decade while maintaining good characteristics cannot be on the market for a bargain price, imo.
All good points. Thanks for adding to the discussion.
I am utterly gob-smacked that banks are unavailable as a feature. I love it on the FT3D and other Yaesu HTs. PMG and memory search just don’t provide an adequate replacement. Sigh…
Banks are an easy way to conceptualize memory uses. They clearly had something else in mind. Not sure what it was though. Cheers.
This is a good video. I would love to have this radio.
Just took delivery of one today. Yaesu doesn’t even supply a separation cable for a $650.00 radio. My FTM 400 DID come with the separation cable! That’s a big zonk in my book. Yaesu really dropped the ball on that one.
That’s correct all other radios has a separation cable they do a great job with the head able to use the mic and speaker. I was very excited to install de head but for until the cable was not included what a ridiculous thing all of that claim big head bla bla and no cable for the big head
I Have this radio also, I was going to buy the 400 model but they discontinued them when ready to buy. Then Yaesu came out with the FTM-500 so I got on the list, I liked it better than the 400 it was different . This FTM-500 is a great radio , I don't like the mic to light weight and small easy to drop. I purchased this radio before I had a Ham license , so had to study and take the ham test. KJ5BNQ yes I did past. 73.
Thanks for commenting. Congrats!
Nice review.
Thanks!
Could you show how easy it is to input an APRS text message please? Also can i hook up a laptop to type APRS messages or maybe use a smartphone app via Bluetooth?
Forgot to ask about how i can access the GPS output to output location data to wsjt-x laptop for ft8 and POTA with my hf rig.
I have 4 dual band mobile radios. 2 cheap mini 2m/70cm, a Yaesu FTM-200, and now a Yaesu FTM-500. I really bought the 500 for the dual VFO's. Neither of my mini's have dual VFO's, just swappable frequencies se, much like the 200, and the 200 doesn't have an "active" sub VFO. It just has one active and one inactive that you can switch to. But you do have to switch. I participate in Skywarn nets, and sometimes from mobile. So, I need the second receiver... to be able to listen to NWS, while still monitoring the net. The 500 lets me do that.
But anyway, great video sir.
Thanks for the review. Def helps w decision making. The FTM200 is made in China. Are these 500’s made in Japan (or China also)? Thanks in advance.
Japan, for sure.
thanks James great job 73 from kb2uew
For Pete's sake... Comparing the FTM-500 to a 25 watt mini-mobile is like comparing a Cadillac to a Yugo. They aren't even in the same class.
The caddy and the Yugo are definitely not in the same class. They are, however, both transportation.
Is there an easy function to be able to flip to receiving a repeaters input frequency and quickly back to the output?
I believe the Reverse setting will do that.
It's worth it to me, especially now that the price has dropped by $100.00. I'm hoping to score one at an even bigger discount at Hamvention this year. I only have HT's so I desire a V/U radio with considerably more power than that. Thank you for your review of features. 73
my pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I bought my second FTM400 the day after they announced its discontinuation, even with its software limitations I love it. The 500 is a great radio, but lets face it, that big screen on the 400 is, aside from the microphone, the main way you interact with your radio. There is no excuse for Yaesu going to a screen the same size as what they put on their HT! And I found the form-factor of the 400 to be far easier to find space for in my Jeep than I do the big control head (with tiny screen) of the 500. I was VERY disappointed when they announced the 500. As far as I can tell, it's basically the FTM 300..... for all intents and purposes, the FTM 300 v1.2. C'mon Yaesu, you can do better.
Would you say this seems like a durable rig? I’m thinking about getting one for my Jeep.
It seems pretty stout and was built for mobile. I haven't used it that way, however.
I want a updated Kenwood TMD 700
absolutely, an updated 700-series would be the cat's meow .. Kenwood D710g sitting on my desk .. next to my useful and interesting ICOM and Yaseu HT's .. yet, Kenwood is what I like best .. since this is really about "mobile" rigs for field use .. the Kenwood D710g screen makes best use of real estate and is augmented with a classic-simple to navigate menu .. good button placement and tactile operatino .... in Yaseu mobiles I tend to like the 400 series screen size (just not thrilled with software design old or new from this company); I'll pass on the Yaseu 500's screen/menu design.. mobile operation is all about multi-tasking and not distracting you when driving ... screen size and simplicity of operation becomes a more important metric and Kenwood got it right years ago.
$650.00 try about $900 in Australia, at least you shouldn't need to buy another one in a hurry because of a fault/failure, and you probably look after a more expensive radio than an el cheapo knock off imo!
How long is the separation cable
The optional cable is 20 feet. The one in the box is shown in the video. Cheers.
If they'd only make a version with SSB I could retire my FT-991 from VHF/UHF use.
$425 now… sick
The answer is NO unless one is swimming in money.
Cost is an important factor, to be sure. Cheers.
For me, its just too expensive and I dont have YSF repeaters in my area, only DMR and D-Star. The screen is awesome but they really need to replicate Icom's menu type of system. 🤷♂️
Others have commented on ICOMs menu system being a bit easier to understand. Not having repeaters would be an issue for mobile use. There are a couple of fairly inexpensive mini mobiles with DMR you might find interesting. Thanks for watching and commenting.
the rig still has some bugs even with the new firmware update 1.10 , disappointing will have to wait for yet ANOTHER update
no cant run a hf rig near it 20 meters scrambles it brain
too much money for this radio yaesu ft 500 so spence 400 is much better radio.
Is it worth it ? No.
I wouldn't spend that money... Not Worth it...