I am looking for recommendations for a simple, rugged dual band (2 m and 70 cm) handheld FM transceiver. Similar topics have been discussed in the past, but perhaps it it better to start a new thread, as some years have gone by.
While my old Kenwood TH-75E (affectionately known as “the brick”) has provided yeoman service through all those years since 1993 (when I bought it third-hand - time really has flown since!), I cannot deny any more that it has reached radio retirement age, and am consequently looking for a replacement. However, what I could find in the lists of various traders did not quite cut muster. It seems they just don’t make them like that any more Having used the old rig for so long, I have become rather accustomed to its capabilities (which I find more than sufficient) and its limitations (which I hardly notice, if ever I have). Hence I submit my inquiry to the collective wisdom of this forum.
What I expect is probably very basic:
FM capacity all across the 2 m and 70 cm amateur bands in the various jurisdictions
at least 2 W RF output, but also a low power option
some memories for band edges and calling frequencies
robust antenna connector (I’d prefer BNC over SMA)
power saving mode
high accumulator battery capacity
connector for external power source
What would be useful might not be asking too much, either:
adjustable power (at least switching between, say, 0.5 W and 2 W)
onboard clock
common repeater shifts, 1750 Hz tone, CTCSS tones (I haven’t used repeaters for donkey’s years, but they might come in handy in a pinch)
a way to reverse input and output frequencies
an extra battery box for AA or AAA cells (not necessary if it can be hooked up to an external power source)
What would be nice:
crossband repeater capability (I used it only once or twice, but found it neat)
possibility of a connection to a computer soundcard for digital modes
What I don’t need:
dozens or hundreds of memories
airband receiver
broadcast receiver
GPS
APRS
Echolink
D-Star
DMR
What I don’t want:
a rig that needs to be programmed using proprietary software or relies on a PC for programming
a rig that requires me to go through multiple menu points to change something
Weight and size are secondary consideration as long as it can be comfortably carried in a coat pocket.
If there is no alternative to a programmable radio, the programming software must work on a Linux PC.
I’ve had the FT-65 in mind, the specifications look good to me even if it has got some features too many, but it does not look like it is very straightforward to operate, and the word “programmable” is a red flag to me. I’ve been left in the lurch by computers (or rather by software rot) before. How reliable/rugged/forgiving are the SMA connectors e.g. if I wanted to change the antenna in dust, snow or rain?
Most handheld radios are essentially computers with a bit of radio hardware and poor receivers… You need filters because they are very wideband and prone to overloading.
A while back, I wanted a radio for the occasional 2m FM summit-to-summit (S2S) contact—something rugged with a good receiver, and without a lot of bells and whistles.
I deliberately opted against 70cm; there’s just not enough activity there.
I bought the ICOM IC-V80E… it’s rugged, and I never experienced any interference on the summits. You can get a clone on eBay for under 60 euros… add a telescopic antenna, and you’re all set.
FT65 is excelent radio. I have 4 of them and my problems with them are:
1- there is no battery box for AA or AAA cells
2- there is no DC connector for outher power suppy
3- some of my radios develop very strange problem. They forgot shift in memories. If you go from simplex to repeater it stays without shift. If you go from repeater to simplex shift stays. Going one channel up or down with arrows fixes the problem. Real cure is to turn off ARS in every channel. I bought programming cable and with yaesu software (not chirp) program everything.
My personal choice would be ft60. Hard to find in Europe. Battery box is made for alcaline cells 50,5x40mm. NiMh cells are little bit bigger, 50,5x40,3mm and hard to fit.
The one thing I’ll say against the FT-65 (despite mostly really liking it otherwise) is that it has one of the daft backwards SMA connectors, so the male pin’s on the body rather than the antenna. I’m not a fan of SMA connectors in general though, so all of my radios just have SMA-BNC adapters living on them. A BNC is much easier to quickly change over with gloves on.
While it can be programmed by computer, it doesn’t have to be… although deciphering the system of button presses and menu options to add a repeater with CTCSS and then assigning that to a memory bank will make you wish you’d just got the computer connection cable!
Yup, all of these are very valid, although I’ve tended to find the Lithium batteries far outlast the NiMh batteries that the FT-60 (and others) use. One of the few things I really miss about my old Baofeng mini was the ability to just stick a USB-C PD cable straight into the battery to charge it up from a power bank, or my car, or any domestic phone charger etc. if I’d forgotten to charge it before leaving the house.
Thank you! I could live with 1, if it weren’t for 2. So the FT-65 is out.
As for the programming issues - it’s all fine and dandy if you’re not far from a PC, but if you’re in the great outdoors, miles from the next bus stop, it’s not funny if you have to set up the the radio again, in particular you cannot do that by pressing a few buttons like on the older rigs.
I’ve had mine 5 years and used it in all sorts of conditions and it’s never missed a beat. I don’t like the r-SMA in principle either but it seems very strong.
No it doesn’t have a DC jack but you can easily swap in a spare battery - a larger size one is also available that lasts forever. Also the charger cradle does have a DC jack and runs on 12V so it can be charged in the car or whatever.
I forgot to mention (because I am so used to not driving): I haven’t got a car, or any kind of a motor vehicle, but I may carry a battery for the HF rig in the bicycle pannier, or some spare dry cells in the rucksack, when I am out doing /p operations. Hence I wouldn’t want to pack the charger for the HT if I can get away without it.
SMA seems to have become common, I suppose I need to get or build an adapter. Ah well, what’s one more thing to forget at home when I once went out without any antenna
What about the IC-T10 or the DJ-500? Again, they may have more features than I am ever going to use, but otherwise?
There was a wossname someone posted here a while ago about making an FT-65 USB C charger I think? Or it might have been the FT-60, I forget.
The FT-4X is a cheeky, cheerful little chap to pop in your pocket for a bit of HT goodness if you don’t feel like taking your FT-65 out for a spin.
Very similar spec to the FT-65. Both the FT-4X and FT-65 can take a pounding and in the case of the FT-65 (in my experience) they work great with a linear if you fancy giving it the slipper. I keep an FT-65 in the motor at all times, it goes everywhere with me.
Forgot to add, you can softmarsmod the FT-65 too if you need that requirement. Very simple to do.
Top drawer radios and one of Yaesu’s more modern finest hours in my very humble and mediocre opinion.
Aside, there is always the Quansheng, plus with custom fw you can use it for SSB and CW. Bizarrely none of the ‘big 3’ seem to have worked out that an all mode HT is something customers actually want. Quansheng struck gold with that little HT, mainly because of how hackable it is i think. Regardless, I bet they sold millions of them.
I’ve been pleased with mine — I’ve even sold the FT-70D since getting it. Scanning was much faster on the FT-70, and airband reception was excellent, but I found the screen a bit more difficult to work with in comparison.
My Quangsh**** has a better menu system than the FT-65, but it’s easily overwhelmed when I’m out on the hills, so it’s just a backup radio that I leave lying around.
I actually think the SMA connector is the better type (male), but for ease of swapping antennas I’ve put a BNC adaptor on mine permanently. It’s then easy to swap between a 770/771 and a flowerpot. It’s also handy for quickly removing the antenna when putting the radio in my rucksack.
One criticism, at least on 2m, is that the charging base (not the wall brick) creates quite a lot of hash, so listening while it’s in the cradle can be difficult (I’ve only tried this with a whip installed). I’ll have a look at making something quieter when I get the time.
But I agree - the cradle’s 12V input (DC5521) is handy - I can use my VLDO to power the QMX or charge the FT-65 in a pinch. That said, spare batteries aren’t ridiculous in price - and they have a nice extended battery pack for sale should you need one.
Having used the old rig for so long, I have become rather accustomed to its capabilities (which I find more than sufficient) and its limitations (which I hardly notice, if ever I have). Hence I submit my inquiry to the collective wisdom of this forum.
