Alinco DJ-VX50 - like a ft-65 but has a knob to change frequency.
Boafeng uv-5r mini - USB-C charging, a PTT for each VFO and cheap but effective.
Used ft-60 - I just got one and quite like the feel of it. The battery that came with it was dead so I need to get a new one, I see people sell li-ion ones or I could print a case for 18650s and have usb-c charging with it..
I owned a ft-65 but didn’t like not having a dial to change frequency and the mic wasn’t that sensitive and so I’d have to shout (and still do), and sold it.
Each one has a SMA to BNC adapter, to use either a RH-770 or slim G on mast.
There is no simple, superhetorodyne handheld in production that does only fm on 2m/70cm. Strange that 20 years ago there were no menues and 16 buttons were enough for all settings without menus. Squelch was one potencionmeter and second was volume with on/off switch and click you can hear. There was also knob to change frequencies/channels.
I am testing larger battery for ft65. No tx, only rx on free channel. That is not real life test but enables me to compare batteries. After 20 hours there is one bar on battery icon. For one day trip two batteries are enough
Sensitive superhet front end.
Standard kenwood connector
Cheap (enough)
Cross band repeat
U/V duplex
All the basic stuff (repeater shift, CTCSS, 1750 tone, reverse, talkaround, etc)
For PC programming it uses a standard cable and is supported by CHIRP
The debate over BNC vs SMA is overblown. If you pay for a decent enough radio the SMA socket is usually screwed into the chassis. You are not going to rip that out unless you really try. If you REALLY want BNC, buy a flush mount BNC adaptor for £1 and never take it out.
The FT-65 is certainly a robust radio. One of the screws on the belt clip came off mine and the radio fell onto hard Scottish rock on the way up GM/SS-023. Cannot see a mark on the radio. The Retevis extra long whip bent slightly but it all seems to still work.
If you buy a NiMH one then buy a genuine Yaesu one. The Yaesu batteries last very well (in use and overall lifetime) whereas some “compatible” ones are total pish.
There are plenty of designs on eBay for FT-60 18650 or 21700 battery holders 3d printed. I’m sure you can do this your self. As the same battery fits the FT-60, VX-170 and FT-270 families there may be people on here who would be interested in such an item in exchange for malt-loaf or jelly babies or Haribo etc.
I bought an ICOM IC-T70 10 years ago and absolutely love it. Simple to use, rugged, good audio, very good RX. I always take it with me on SOTA activations. I don’t think it is manufactured anymore but it may be available 2nd hand. Receive coverage down to 400 MHz also allows for chasing WX balloons hi, and coverage up to 479 MHz allows to use it to receive VK/ZL UHF CB at 477 MHz, worked very well when we were down under hi.
Sage advice. When i got my FT-60 the battery was on its last legs. I tried one of those AA battery clip things and it just devours them quickly. Not FT-70 speed, but not far off.
I remember Andy saying to hunt a genuine Yaesu battery down so I got one from ML&S and it was worth paying a smidge more for a genuine battery for peace of mind.
Works like a champ. Now I need to see is there an 18650 mod for my Yaesu FT-202R…
