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write your own review of the Yaesu FT-51R.
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VR2XMC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2009 21:43
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an oldie but still excellent
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Through years, I have played around many H/Ts including the latest VX8R etc. etc. While many of them have gone, I am still keeping this one. It does not have all the functions in the new H/Ts such as WFM RX, AM broadcast RX.
However, it is a solid performer in any ARES or other similar operations. What you get is solid full duplex dual band function. The full cross band repeater function in the FT51R is now absent from any of the new H/T. In the new generation H/T, there is only one single RF FET responsible for TX in V and U. For F51R, it has separated RF power modules for V and U.
The cross band repeater function is very useful in case you need a small repeater suddenly.
Li-ion 3.7v 1500maH rechargeable cells are very cheap. I renovated the FNB31 and FNB38 with 2 x 3.7v cells for my H/T. The operating time for my W32a is now very loooong before the need of recharging.
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W4HH
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 29, 2009 18:12
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Best handheld ever
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've been using handhelds since 1980-something. My first one was an IC-2. My favorite was the Yaesu FT-470 and I still have a two of them but batteries are a problem and the old FT-470's don't get much use any more.
I use a simple method of determining if a rig is worth owning: Without looking at the manual, I play with it. If I can figure out how to use most of the features without referring to the manual, it's a good rig.
The FT-51R is "intuitive" -- which means you don't need a PhD in engineering physics and computer science to operate it.
It's rugged. Mine has been dropped from 25 feet a couple of times, run over by my truck, and puked on by my grandson. Still working.
If you don't like punching buttons to program it, buy the ADMS programming software -- it works.
Doesn't have GPS. So -- who really uses GPS on a handheld?
I own two FT-51R's -- think I'll slide on over to eBay and see if I can find another one.
Batteries are a slight nuisance. The original NiCads have pretty much reached the end of their lives. Don't worry -- Maha sells a charger and NiMH batteries for the FT-51R.
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KD6ANF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 21, 2009 14:40
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Oldie but a Goodie!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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When the display on my trusty old FT-470 began to "ink" a good friend decided to offer his FT-51R on "permanent loan" to me, Thanks Ray! This is Yaesu's finest dual-band hand-held portable radio. Please understand, the newer radios available literally have many improvements and are VERY feature rich in comparison, however, BNC antenna connectors have all but disappeared and as of this writing, the Alinco DJ-G7 appears to be the only radio offering "full-duplex" operation. The last production radio to include this type of functionally is the Icom IC-W32A. When operating through AO-51, having full-duplex capability is very handy. The 51R has the same type of speaker/mic connection as the 470, the Heil Traveler Headset plugs right in! To the previous poster/reviewer, Maha/Powerex, at: http://www.mahaenergy.com - still has batteries available for this radio. I'm getting about 6 hours of service from the FNB-31 but really need to get the higher capacity battery for extended operation. The only real improvement to this radio would have to be the belt-clip, which is made of plastic. It hasn't failed yet but it IS fragile. VHF aviation AM receive is an added bonus too! These radios are becoming hard to find used, however, this is an "oldie but a goodie"!
Best regards
george potter KD6ANF
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DJ0MBC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 15, 2009 12:53
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But Battery Availability
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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A great little handheld, with real buttons, but here in Germany, batteries are turning into unobtainium. Now I use a 4 AA NiMh FBA-14A holder.
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KQ4KK
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2009 05:15
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One of Yaesu's best HTs
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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One of their better products. Easy to program, easy to use. Replaced mine with a VX-7R, not as easy to program, but thats what they now make software for.
However, on many of the used -51R's I've seen, including mine, that might have been dropped once or twice, the case starts getting small cracks where it makes a 90deg turn on the bottom for the battery pack. Probably nothing Yaesu could have done about it. Big battery, heavy weight, just cracks. Still a great HT
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W5HLP
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2009 04:05
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Ditto - Best Handheld Ever
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Its been a while since anyone posted a review of this little jewel - so let me fix that.
This is a great, intuitive handheld. It WORKS - always. Turn it on and it does the job.
I am always on the lookout for a second or a third. The FT-60 replacement is decent, but if you have a chance get the -51R, more solid, more 'real world' useful features. Battery packs are still very available, as are accessories.
It is solid - dependable and intuitive. Example - at a hamfest not long ago a buddy's ICOM decided it was tired and shut down (not a knock on ICOM - just that he is an 'ICOM' guy and NOT used to Yaesu type controls). He was working parking and crowd control and asked to borrow my -51r. He returned it a couple of hours later praising how easy it was to program and use. Now that was a compliment in my mind.
Get one - right after I get my next one (hi hi).
73
Herman
W5HLP
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W4HH
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 30, 2008 19:07
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Best HT around
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased my first FT-51R about a year after Yaesu came out with it. A couple of years ago I purchased another one on eBay and probably will get a third one.
In my opinion, this is the best handheld available.
The keypad is intuitive -- you can look at it for a minute and figure out how to use it.
Lots of useful features. Other reviewers pretty much said it all.
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W9WY
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2008 08:20
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Greatest HT ever!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased my first FT-51R a year after it first came out. I was upgrading from the FT-530 and the display mike (greatest idea any manufacture has had) was still usable on the 51.
For some unbelievable reason I sold the thing about 5 yearas later. I have seen the error of my ways. I ended up with two(1) of they from eBay (I don't need 2 but may end up keeping both).
I have owned a lot of HTs from each manufacture and even when factoring in the current crop of radios, this one is the BEST.
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K9HDT
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 12, 2006 14:06
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Get The Best First!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I purchased the ft-51r 2 months after I got my tech ticket ata hamfest where I won first prize. So I purchased all the goodies to go with it.The radio was BNIB, never used from a silent key yaesu collector. It's fantastic, I used it in the car until I put my 7800 in it and got glowing reports on it. Couldn't believe it was a ht. Could hit reapeaters 30 miles away with my antenna with 5 watts. Its a good size which I like for my big hands. I will keep it til it passes into the sunset. May not have a 1000 memories, but I didn't need them til I put the 7800 in the van. If you can find one buy it. Paid 225 for mine and I don't regret it.
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KC4GMY
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 20, 2006 17:32
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Wonderful Radio!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Possibly the best dual-band HT ever made! Loaded with features and reliable too.
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