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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-7100M

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-7100M
Reviews: 123MSRP: 499
Description:
Dual Band Mobile, V/V, U/U, V/U, Wide Rx, 50W/35W, 262 Memories, 2 Row Alphanumeric Memory Labels,

Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
131232.8
AD5FO Rating: 2005-07-08
Nothing but problems. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my first dual-band radio and I don't believe I will purchase another Yaesu. It's been in for repairs 3 times and now it is having the same problems again. The squelch on the main band will not open most of the time. Now Yaesu tells me that they have one on the shelf (VR Unit Part# CB1376001) and that it may be a defective return, but that I will just have to take my chances. If it doesn't work, they told me that it could take over 30 days to get a refund. (Since the warranty is out, I was planning on changing the VR Unit myself). The technician also said that there are some VR Units on the 7100 that are hard-wired and others use connectors, but there is no way to tell which will arrive because the part numbers are the same. They told me that they will not do a trade-in on it on the radio either.

The programmable band scan memory scans from L1 to U5, not just within the one that you want to scan. The technician told me that this was an "engineering goof-up" and that there will be no fix for it. The Smart Scan feature also continues beyond the band limits.

The intermod is terrible, even after the warranty upgrades. I have had to replace the mic connector twice. The insulation is peeling off at the mic.

I also had the receiver go out on the subband.

Not a good experience with the radio or the support people for my first dual-band. I don't think the next will be a Yaesu.
KB9UKO Rating: 2005-07-01
Thanks KA1ACK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Thank god for the document you wrote on eham.net. I just got my 7,100 back from Yaesu today. The Mic was just it as bad as it was when I sent it off to them. The insulation is falling off it like a banana peels. Anyways I went to program my list of frequencies back into it and I couldn’t get the darn memory skip function to work. I remembered your posting about all the errors in the manual. I looked it up and sure enough pressing and holding v/m was the answer THAT’S NOT IN THE MANUAL! So THANKS for taking the time to point that out. I wouldn’t have been surprised if they messed up the transmitter again. Remember Quality only counts if you put it into All of your radios. The 7100m is a looser and so are the atrocious repairs they did to my radio.

Thanks,

KB9UKO
KD5VTZ Rating: 2005-03-11
A mod is a MUST! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ok if you are wondering why I gave the FT-7100 (1HXXXXX) a 5/5 I'll explain. I got the radio over Ebay. Big mistake! Apperantly the guy was in so much trouble with this "thing" he wanted to get rid of it by false adverts.. I fell for it. Got the radio the following week and let's just say the radio was, oh what's the word? Horrible piece of crap! Helicopter sound, low audio, shutting off, need I say more? The previous owner was kind enough to illegaly extend the transmit range above 450MHz so Good Bye Yaesu Warranty Card into the fire place. What saved me, and my 250 dollar cost, was some German guy who is very obsessed with the various ways of improving this specific radio. I followed his mods almost to the tooth and I now have a radio with the most clear, crisp, basses, loud sound. A few capacitors at Radio Shack, a steady hand, and the patience of my wife to help me out and I was done. Took me about 2.5 hours and trust you me, I'm no expert. The radio may inturn become a good short project with much desired results. So if you are in a position where you can not sell the radio because it is a lemon please do what I did and you'll be much more satisfied. At least this way the once ugly duckling may very well become the best VHF/UHF performer you have. Oh, the mods are on the web I no longer have the address but if you have trouble finding it I can email the pdf file. The file DOES NOT include the freq. extend mod.
flazarevic@yahoo.com
2W1AED Rating: 2004-06-26
good radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
i used my ft7100 every day mobile for 7months, i always recieved good reports and it always worked perfect with none of the reported problems.
N3RXS Rating: 2004-03-10
Good Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got mine today it was a display model at HRO and it seems to work great! It is a 1Gxxxxx serial number and has two dots on the box, but it seems to be straightened out. I will post again when I have had it longer.
W1JIM Rating: 2004-01-07
I've been happy!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I know that some people have had problems with this radio but I've been very happy with mine. The only problems I've had is that I've overstressed the mike plug so sometimes I need to give it a little tweek.
I've also build extension cables for these (and 7800, 8800, 8900) if anyone is interested. A lot cheaper then the Yaesu OEM kit!
Enjoy
W1JIM@yahoo.com
KA2DDX Rating: 2003-12-24
Let Yaesu fix it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine two years now. In the first year, the rig started doing weird things. e.g. a big "kerchunk" when I keyed the mike on a frequency where there was no repeater. The speaker jack quit. And a couple of other annoyances. So, before the warranty expired, I shipped it off to Yaesu, with a note detailing the problems. They fixed the radio and did a mod to it and now for the last year I have had a perfectly functioning FT7100. I am, in fact, hard pressed to find a reason to trade it in for one of the new FT8800r's. Until, of course, when I read what the 8800 does. So, maybe I'll trade it in sometime but for now I'm having a lot of fun with the 7100. Since Yaesu worked on it, it has been perfect.
W3RHB Rating: 2003-07-31
RF Output Failure Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine also lost RF output on both bands today at the same time. If I hold a HT close to the radio while transmitting I can receive a weak signal. Before I pack it up and send it somewere, not Yeesu, I'd like to get some idea if others have had this problem and what it was. The ratio was back yo Yaesu 1 1/2 years ago to correct the usual problems cited on this page. Most problems were corrected but sensitivity was reduced on 440.
KC9CQO Rating: 2003-07-24
I Love It Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this radio now for about 6 months. Not a lick of problem. I've done the mods, including a display mod (changed to blue), and love it.

It does have a bit of inter-mod, but nothing I can't live with.

I do have a question though. What is the A B C D buttons on the mic. for?
N5IA Rating: 2003-07-13
Good performance for 1.5 years. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a 7100, ser. # 1Fxxxxxxx which has performed as advertised for one and 1/2 years. However, this past week, while using the radio on 2 Meters, the TX power out went away. In fact the radio is also failed on UHF TX.

The TX power out indicator shows correct power output according to the TX power level setting. I can hear the TX by listening with another receiver in close proximity to the 7100.

It appears to me that the final amplifiers, both VHF and UHF, have been shut down rather than failed. Has anyone else experienced this type of operation?

Milt, N5IA