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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-2980r

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-2980r
Reviews: 31MSRP: 189.95
Description:
The improved FT-2980 now with 80 Watts of High power output! No Cooling Fan
Needed, a huge, easy-to-read display, and one-touch WIRES™ Internet Linking
Access capability are yours with the rugged new FT-2980R!
Product is in production
More Info: http://https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=106&encProdID=38C80CFCE166F351389D979FE1311373&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
35314.5
AJ6C Rating: 2020-08-13
Very high quality but complicated. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When it comes to 2meter mono band mobile fm, this is the best radio out there. Having been off the air for 16 years, it's obvious how much more complex radios have become. Been using it as a base for a few days & u can't operate this "right out the box." The entire manual must be read first, always a good idea in any case, but especially w/ the 2980R. I had to call Yaesu just to get it to scan 144-148, & when I pushed a button to measure someone's reverse repeater input, scanning ceased & I had to set it up again! I wonder if the K-wood 281 I bought is similar in this regard, but it does seem easier to operate. And I have nightmares anticipating the repeater tone operation logistics I'll be encountering. As a ham, my needs are simple. I just want to chew, scan, & check inputs. Basic things that are more difficult in today's "Wires X" "SDR" world. I have so much to do & not a lot of time to do it, but I'd need about 10 hrs a day over a wkend reading & operating this radio B4 I could HOPE to get used to it! But it's a beautiful radio, exceptional quality, w/ smooth-as-glass controls. I also have a 991A. These are my first Yaesu rigs (I had a Vertex HT 16 yrs ago) & altho they're complex rigs (to me), I can't help but be impressed w/ the quality. And 80 watts! So at least I can push to talk, if nothing else at this point!
EI5JS Rating: 2020-05-16
Peculiar little rig... but fun all the same Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a new user review. The stand out points so far is that this rig has a lovely audio thanks to its big speaker. It's 80W can reach the parts that other mobile rigs can't and it has an adjustable mic gain, lacking on rigs like the FT-7900. It has a very sensitive receiver and very powerful transmitter. So what is not to like?

The display is enormous for what it is. The freq/alpha numeric name is 3/4 inch high and 2 inches wide. That's big enough to read across the garden, let alone the shack. To have it 24 inches away from you in a vehicle would be too much imo.

This little rig has no fan, courtesy of a huge 2KG heatsink. The heatsink is enough for 80W RF output and as such, is so big the Yaesu had to fill it's oversized front area with that big display. Poor choice to use such big text imo.. waaay to big.

Performance wise, I can't fault it. A single band VHF rig with great receive and powerful transmit at this price range is a no-brainer. Grab one, learn to love that wierd display and you'll enjoy great performance...

Pros: 80W, no fan
Very sensitive receive and lovely audio.
Large tuning knob. Very shack-like.

Cons: The freq/name display is way too big. It looks as though fisher-price designed it.
lack of scan key on the rig front, as found on the 7900. Scan is innitiated with mic up/down keys only.

5 stars though as it does what it says on the box, big output, great receive.
W9SA Rating: 2020-01-18
Built like a tank Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this radio used but it is like new. I wanted a radio for the shack that wasn't as complex as the dual bander I had been using for awhile. This radio fits the bill nicely. Very easy to program, big display, and good receive audio. If I like it I may replace my mobile rig so I don't have to remember the controls on two different systems.
W8SFC Rating: 2019-12-11
My new 2m rig - because the FT2900 needs to go mobile! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am very pleased with the new FT2980r! Since I've been wanting to put the FT 2900r in the vehicle for about a year now, and with a total price of $130.00 after rebate I couldn't pass up the deal for the 2980r.

If you look for used FT2900r's online you will see how none can be had for less than $200.00, which is more than I paid for mine when new. This was a no brainer purchase as I already know and like the FT2900r.

Add to that an extra 5 watt bump and you have the best of all worlds, at least in a Yaesu 2 meter transceiver. I just got this rig set up and programmed using the FT2900r software and cable, which worked as expected. I have seen no appreciable difference between the two radios, so, whatever it is beyond the hike in output signal I find no real difference between them and that makes it very familiar and easy to operate. This is a good thing when it comes to mobile use as in the last 3 years I have gotten comfortable with it and rarely have to look up anything in the manual. Having to resort to the manual while mobile is not ideal.

Now I have my 2 meter mobile and base radio needs covered, and it cost me nearly the same as the asking price for a used radio of the same model, type and manufacturer.

I have to admit I haven't any experience with other 2 meter transceivers, but the fact I did not have to learn another rig made this an easy decision for me.
KC3OLR Rating: 2019-12-01
Great radio for the price. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was bought under rebate for about $129 from DXE. I'm still exploring its capabilities. Using a Tram 1154 5/8 mag mount antenna indoors in a window box with no counterpoise, SWR is about 1.2 to 1.4 across the band - keeping the coax uncoiled and away from the radio. Sensitivity is good (a bit better than my Baofeng UV-82HP with a Nagoya 17") and selectivity is excellent. Mid power settings have no trouble accessing several local repeaters, some at the edge of line-of-sight. The ergos are very good but not on the mic with its small buttons, and it's a step lower in ruggedness down to the dainty phone plug that connects it to the radio. BTW, don't chuck a pen, keys, toll change etc. toward the radio display as its screen is not very sturdy. In a service vehicle I'd probably tape over it with a couple of layers of heavy duty packaging tape. The mic apparently uses a proprietary PTT interface that makes this radio difficult to use with certain digital mode controllers, like Rigblaster. If digital/data modes are wanted, find out first what controllers fit and if they are VOX only. Do not try to use with Chirp. If necessary, spring for the RT ADMS kit which has a more relevant column list anyway.
W6AD Rating: 2019-05-23
Best bang for the buck. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Spent $119 for this radio to use in the shack. I've had it for a few months now and it does all that it's supposed to. An easy 80 watts plus when I need it. Heat sink gets warm at that power level but then it is made to do that. Audio sounds great both on transmit and receive. No inter-mod noted. Easy to program. No need for Chirp. (we should probably be able to manually program our rigs anyway). I like it so much that I bought another one to use in the car! $117 Hamvention sale. Solidly built and a bargain to boot!
KF5NOL Rating: 2019-04-03
Tank-like, but beware of no CHIRP support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got this radio on sale from HRO. Great radio for the price, but does not support CHIRP. There has been reports of CHIRP bricking the radio requiring it to be sent in for warranty repair.

The only programming software I have been able to find is commercial and costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $50. I'm not willing to pay almost half the cost of the radio for the software.
KB1WSN Rating: 2019-02-19
Fantastic Basic 2Meter Mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I used these reviews to make my decision on whether or not to buy the ft2980R so I wish to thank everyone before me that made their review.

That being said, I was just looking for a simple basic well performing rig for the 2 meter band to use in my vehicle, I made the purchase choosing the ft2980R and was I satisfied.
This radio is everything I was looking for, Rugged like a tank, well made, knobs are not those wimpy flimsy you think are gonna fall off and break knobs you see elsewhere. Four power choices, you can run 80W/30W/10W/5W great for mobile work. Simple to operate, before I even opened the manual I was programming in my Favorite machines. 200 Memories, alpha numeric display, Large easy to read.
I think someone may have said it gets hot, well that's most likely due to the fact the whole rig is a heat sink, that's what heat sink's do.
The radio has great rx and tx audio, the mic is very good.

I have nothing bad to say about this radio at this point, so if you were like me and just wanting a monoband, thinking about purchasing the 2980r by Yaesu, go for it.

Wait, my one CON about the rig, no built in SWR, would be nice but i have a nice vhf SWR meter so I can live with that.

Best 119.00 bucks I ever spent.
KG7OR Rating: 2018-02-01
Great radio, but installation problems Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I wrote 2 prior reviews here on the '2980, and this replaces those (I should learn to get more experience with a radio before commenting on it).

First, if you just need a solid 2-meter FM rig with high output power and lots of audio, this is probably it. Very heavy-duty, nice big display, easy to program and use. Performance-wise, it couldn't get much better on 2m FM.

That said, there is a big issue with the antenna and aux audio connectors on the back panel. They are buried deep in the frame, such that you pretty much have to connect your antenna (and optional speaker) BEFORE mounting the radio in a vehicle or possibly in a base installation. Once the radio is nestled in its bracket, trying to attach a PL259 is nearly impossible--you only can touch it at the top and bottom (maybe), and forget using a tool. Same problem with the aux audio jack--trying to insert a plug by reaching around from the front will cause you to exhaust your inventory of swear words.

As for the other reviews, KD2IYI is right, the volume and squelch knobs are stiff, but that's consistent with the radio's heavy-duty nature. It would be more out of character if those controls were loose or wimpy.

KF7NN's HF interference problem is something unique at his station because I get none of that. My 2 meter and HF inverted-V share the same mast, but the receiver in the '2980 is unaffected by going key-down with 100 watts. Not a problem.

Bottom line: super 2m FM rig, but do plan ahead re the antenna and speaker cables when you install.
KF7NN Rating: 2018-01-04
a beast Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
the radio works ok by itself and i like the large display, easy to program and its heavyweight feel.
the thing i cant live with is when i transmit on hf anywhere near the thing it wipes out the receive completely like i unplugged the antenna, not jut interference but complete gone. i had to switch back to my ftm-3200dr in my shack and may retire the 2980 to the car.