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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
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# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
131232.8
N8NB Rating: 2002-07-15
Not up to standard Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a long time Yaesu fan, but I cannot recommend this rig. I have experienced all the prior problems listed with my FT-7100. I was also disappointed that you cannot delete a memory channel once entered. Your only option is to change the frequency once the memory slot is assigned.
AB2OL Rating: 2002-07-10
Buy anything but this rig! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The price was right, and I wanted a dual band, so I gave it a shot. I was promptly greeted with numerous reports of "sounds like you're a few Kc off!" Tests conducted with numerous others listening showed that it was not off freq, but sounded distorted. Combine this with the poor intermod rejection, and scanning noise, off to Yaesu it went.
Afer a month with no news, I called Yaesu. I then spent a half hour on hold (NY to CA phone call, all on my dime) and was told, they had the rig, but it was waiting to be assigned to a tech. OK, no problem, they just moved the company's location, and have a big backlog.
I called two weeks later, asked for amateur customer service, and got exactly what I asked for...amatuer customer service! A lady, whom I could barely understand answered, and before I could tell her my name, or what radio it was, asked me for my cell phone number....odd. So I slowly and calmly explained the situation to her, and convinceed her to take down my info. I was called back an hour later, to be told, that my rig was still sitting there, untouched.
After two months from the onset, Yaesu finally called me about the radio. They said all was fixed except the intermod, which was only a 60% improvement, and fessed up that it was a design flaw. They then offered me a choice of... take the 7100 and see how I like it, take a FT 90R, or a refund. Mighty noble I thought, but I liked the features, and wanted the 7100 back, which was now to be a gift for the XYL, who just got her Tech.
The rig came back to me less than a week later, shipped 3rd day, with the same audio problem! OK... so I called the Yaesu techs. They told me to try adusting the deviation myself to see if that was the problem, and they even told me which pot to adjust. With a couple buddies listening, I tried the adjustment. no matter how I adjusted it, the distortion never went away. Oh boy! I wish I just took the money and ran!
So, the rig goes back, and I will wait for my refund check. If you have this rig, and have no problems, lucky you! I am envious HI!
In the meantime, while I waited two months for Yaesu to even look at the rig, I bought an ICOM 706MKIIG. I was considering a Yaesu FT100D, but had a bad taste in my mouth from the lack of quality in the 7100m, coupled with the slow, and poor quality costomer service. I know Yaesu has in the past, and will in the future, make some mighty fine radios, but I will never bring myself to ever buy something from them again.
K7KTO Rating: 2002-07-07
A satisfied customer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using this radio on 2 M and 70 cm every day. I have had no problems at all. The menu system took some time to memorize, and keeping the manual handy is useful, but the basic features are simple to figure out. I would purchase another one.
KA8VIR Rating: 2002-07-04
Programming Software Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the ADMS-2G software for programming my FT-7100 several months ago, so HOPEFULLY they've released a newer version of it, but...

The software is attrocious, it insults Yaesu, and Yaesu insults US by selling it to us. It'd still be horrible software if they gave it away for free.

It's extremely primitive, and you cannot edit any memory info. No inserting a new channel in-between two others, repetitive keystrokes, certain things (like mode) not defaulting to FM, no way to delete a channel & have the ones below it move up one channel #, and to top it off, it seems like the software and radio don't always handshake or talk too well.

I mentioned the software to a Yaesu USA Tech Support guy on the phone a few months ago, and he chuckled & expressed amazement at how poor it was too. For some stupid reason, Yaesu did this software on their own, instead of contracting with RT Systems to do the software, as is the case with most or all other ADMS software.
W4GCK Rating: 2002-07-01
Poor Audio & Service Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought this piece of dung from HRO in April 2002. Sent back to Yeasu for warranty repair, returned to me with worse audio problems. Sent Yeasu a letter to replace this unit with one that works, they do not bother to respond. Wait for the new ICOM 2720H if you need a dual band radio.
W8KIW Rating: 2002-06-21
pleased so far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A month after getting one at Dayton, I'm still pleased with the radio. It seems to have good ears and decent audio. Reception is better than on my 706II. Used it the other week on a trip to Savannah and had very good reports. One from a fellow who purchased two at Dayton and returned both because of a uhf intermod problem. Found that it was easier to program through the microphone tho. A $9 25 foot 6 conductor telephone type cable with one end connection rotated 180 degrees cut to whatever length you wish and a $2 audio cable from the flea market was sure less expensive than the $70 separation kit rip off. I'm sure that little mounting bracket isn't worth the difference.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by WA8KIW on 2002-05-25

Purchased one from AES at Dayton last week. Blue dot. 1Eo6.... serial number. Have had good reports with it. Programming seems a little hairy. The separation kit is a rip off tho. Is there a 7100 users group?
KG4RWM Rating: 2002-06-14
Get a newer version! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought two of these radios, both with 1xx serial numbers, both with the blue dot, despite buying them 2 months apart, and from different sources. I have experienced, to some degree, most of the complaints that have been posted here by others. The so called ”motor boat” or “helicopter” noise when scanning both banks is not a problem for me in a mobile environment, because I can’t hear it due to road noise, etc. However, it can be heard in the rig I use as a base, if the room is quiet. The worst problem for me is the display “locking up”. I used to believe this happened only after the rig was on for an extended time, but it happened once after the rig had only been on for a couple of minutes. The way to fix it is to turn it off, then on again. Still, the radio has great features; it does both CTCSS and DCS and it receives up into the 800 MHz public safety band right out of the box. Still, I wish Yaesu did a better job of quality control; I wish I had gotten one of the later S/N models.
N9AJA Rating: 2002-06-14
Don't get one with a SN less than 2xxxxxxx! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought an FT-7100M at the 2002 Dayton Hamvention with the serial number 1H..... It was dead in 2 days...dealer said it was defective after they got it back. Told the dealer I wanted a new one and it had to have a 2..... serial number (I did my homework right here). They found one and sent it out to me. Have a friend who got a 7100 as a gift...warranty already expired and is going to cost him to get it fixed. You guessed it....it has a 1..... serial number.

I'm very pleased with this newest 7100. It is packed with features for the price, and I've gotten excellent audio reports.

If you want to save yourself a WHOLE PILE of money, don't buy the Yaesu separation kit...e-mail me at n9aja@yahoo.com and I'll make you a cable at whatever length you want for a less than reasonable price.
N2OHZ Rating: 2002-06-01
Nice Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
got my 7100M yesterday after being reluctant to buy one because of the negative reviews here.
i must say so far, so good. i like this radio.
SN starts with a 2D, so hopefully all the bugs may have been fixed.

programming is not bad, since i have an FT100D which has similar programming styles, although software would definetely help.

so far no helicopter noise when scanning. haven't tested the intermod. so far using an external antenna seems to be ok, haven't brought it to NYC yet. that would be the real test.

what got me to buy this rig is that some other people have had good results, also this radio has tons of features, and the 170 rebate is the best part.

i'll update my rating as time goes by...
73's
KB9RXG Rating: 2002-05-28
Fair performance/Overpriced Accessories Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had a FT-7100 since January and by and large I've been happy with it. The display is large and readable, the programming wasn't bad once I read the manual and I've gotten good on air reports from it.

On the downside, when using the radio in VHF/VHF mode the intermod can be distracting in a metropolitan area. VHF/UHF didn't show any problems for me however. The separation kit at $70 dollars was SEVERELY overpriced for what you get and Yaesu should beware lest we decide to abandon their products for more sanely priced ones. $25 dollars would be more in line for what you receive. Audio is fair but I run a line to my car radio so it's never been an issue for me.