Both are very capable radios. The FT-65 is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and of course you can buy it new.
My personal preference for use on a SOTA expedition would be the FT-60. I prefer the larger keypad (especially when using with gloves), and I much prefer being able to change channels with the knob on top of the radio, rather than the up/down button on the FT-65. I also prefer the audio that comes out of the speaker of the FT-60. Although heavier, I really like how it feels in my hands.
All small points of course, and as I said, the FT-65 is a perfectly usable radio for SOTA.
I may be biased as the FT-60 was the first proper handheld I bought when getting into amateur radio, and I also used to qualify my first SOTA activation. Sadly it is now residing somewhere on Mynydd Uchaf, GW/SW-031 I have since managed to source a replacement though.
IIRC the FT-65 is a “radio on a chip” design like the Chinese radios, where the FT-60 has a proper discrete component receiver. Does it matter? Maybe not, but it is a material difference.
I really should pick one up while they’re still available NIB. I don’t need one, but it would make a good spare to my Kenwood D74. The FT-60 has a better receiver than the D74 and I don’t really use the D74 to its fullest capacity.
The receive performance of the Icom ID-52 appears to be on par with the Yaesu FT-60 and VX-170.
• Third-order dynamic range (wide, 2m): 85 dB
• Third-order dynamic range (narrow, 2m): 73 dB
I’m surprised that you found the FT1500m a bad rig and bad RX as the one I have is certified Billinge Proof (G/SP-017) - one of the more notorious summits for breakthrough and desense.
In all seriousness, I have an FT-4X handie that has performed quite well (not perfect). Advantages are that they are available new for about £60, they are very simple to operate and have a little extra filtering over the Boafeng style handies which definately makes a difference.
Mine has been with me on hundreds and hundreds of activations. It’s good with pager breakthrough… but not totally immune. I do still carry a SOTABeams filter and it does make a difference in some cases.
The waterproofness has been tested very severely… so far it’s still working!
I’m not saying water resistance isn’t valuable, just that IP67’s requirement of total submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes isn’t necessary, even when operating in the rain. My D74 is IP55 rated (dust protected and can withstand water jets) and I’ve stood in the rain many times working contacts with that radio. Requiring that rules out a lot of good radios that are water-resistant enough for anything short of swimming.
I’ve tested two of the ‘cheap Chinese’ radios versus a Japanse design (but made in China), and the results speak for themselves. Video link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMJ2RXxYlcU
I’ve had very good success with mine, and it features in the video link above. Very pleased I bought it.
The two I have ( one inherited) are awful mobile as as every shop,petrol station and factory you drive past causes the RX to break the squelch ( no matter the setting) and cause a horrible racket and if you are near any RF transmitters the thing just get overloaded. In the end I swapped it out for a Maxon Commercial radio which never makes a noise unless there is a real signal on that frequency. The problem is it only has four channels which I have programmed for local repeater use. If I can find another I may go this way but program it with simplex channels. The Two FT1500m are that bad that I have been tempted to bin them many times !
I never use mine in memory mode anyways, always vfo mode, mainly because I rarely use repeaters. I also didn’t really use it mobile (just as a passenger - see below) so not a problem I’ve encountered.
The only issue I had with mine was a small fire in the car as I turned up the power and melted the cable to the cigarette lighter thingy.
It rarely sees the light of day now too as I obtained an FT-8900 quad band that I really do like and has duplex for satellite stuff.
I have a Yaesu FT-65R that I used last weekend for a SOTA activation. I paired it with a N9TAX roll up j-pole antenna for the first time. I was on 146.52 and getting all sorts of reception from what I believe were other frequencies (NOAA weather alerts and APRS packets for instance). Switching to a signal stick antenna eliminated the problem. I was kind of stumped. After reading this thread I’m thinking this could be poor rejection from the receiver with the increased gain of the j-pole. Does this sound feasible? I’ve been very happy with my Yaesu otherwise.
That sounds totally feasible to me Jared , I tried an external antenna with the Baofeng which completely killed the RX, the only way I could operate was to use the handhelds antenna and hide behind the hill a little ( it still wasn’t great) this also meant I was seriously limiting the directions I could get my signal out and also forcing me to use the radio on the windy side of the hill.I’m glad you posted your findings as this was one of the Radios I was considering as a replacement portable.
I’ve used my FT65E many times for SOTA now, sometimes with a RH770, other times with a Slim Jim on a pole & never had any problems with overloading in the presence of radio masts, even the notorious Billinge Hill.
I do use a Sotabeams filter sometimes eg recently on Cyrn y Brain, but all considered, it’s a great little rig. I too would have prefered a frequency change knob instead of up/down buttons, but you can only buy what’s in the shops. It’s no big deal at the end of the day.
73 John.
Currently on eBay.co.uk there are 5 second hand FT60s for sale, all from the same vendor. My gut feel is they are a little overpriced. There’s also a brand new FT60 boxed being sold by a Japanese seller. Nothing to do with me but I know people are aware of the fine reputation this set has for SOTA work. Caveat Emptor.
Yesterday I was out and used my IC-705 on 2m for the first time properly. This was on Cairnpapple Hill GM/SS-254 which has a very nasty QRM source coming from the huge comms tower just across the fields. In the past I’ve been there and found it completely destroyed my Alinco DJ-G7 tri-band handy on 2m. When I was there with Fraser just before Christmas, the QRM rendered his Yaesu VX7 unusable. I was there with Tom MM1EYP a few weeks back and used his Yeasu FT70. That worked much better than the VX7 but was still suffering to some degree. My own Yaesu VX170 isn’t affected.
So to the IC-705, with a 300Ohm ribbon J-pole at 5m sited at the trig point, the 705 on 2m was totally unaffected. Completely bomb-proof in use. I opened the squelch and in no signal conditions there was no QRM from the monster tower and zero issues when working any of the callers I had.
Another highly competent 2m radio for SOTA use in RF difficult conditions. Although it is a bit more expensive (and heavier) than a handheld
Of course, we’re comparing apples to pears here. My ft-857d does a great job near towers. No denying the VX170 and ft-60 are the King and Queen of handhelds, though.
ISTR the 857 and 817 are the same receiver, so like the 817 it will be bullet proof. It was reassuring to see a shiny, new SDR thing was also bullet proof. The more I use the 705 the more I like it. But remembering to prod the screen if I can’t find a button to do something is difficult still!
I thought your cheapo Quangsheng did remarkably well for you on Lochnagar.
I bought mine “nearly new” at a sensible price at the Newark rally last year - I didn’t intend to buy anything really, but you know how it goes … it has displaced my FT-817 entirely.
It’s worth using an external power source on FM as that can use the internal battery up fairly quickly, but it lasts very well on SSB. Maybe just need to get the bigger battery ?
One thing is I have noted is the number of “great audio” reports that I get, and that the mic is not much affected by wind.
I’ve heard about the great reputation of the FT60 as my son has one and no problems. I regret selling my VX170 but I’m still using it’s it’s older friend, a VX150 which has proved not to respond to unwanted RF over many SOTA years. Like the VX170, it’s very solidly built.
As for the FT1500M, I’ve just bought one and plan to try it out on Saturday for SOTA. After reading this thread and feeling somewhat crestfallen, I hope the RX holds up OK.
I assume that if you’re looking for good immunity a quality make and monoband are two of the basic ingredients.
John
I would like to go EX-PMR as the radios are cheap and are of superb quality ( much better the Ham kit in my experience) but my SOTA Career is most likely over till next winter as Allotment season has started. That said I may get on air when I go camping or off mountain biking.
I have since managed to source a replacement though. 
I know you pay for what you get etc. etc.
