Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu FT-2980r

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
KD2IYI Rating: 2017-11-28
A mixed bag Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I see plenty of reviews for the FT-2900 but none for the newest edition, the FT-2980R. The 2900 appears to be well liked here, and for that reason, I decided to purchase the 2980r as a 2m base for my shack, assuming it to be simply a better version of the older radio.

I have mixed feelings about the 2980r. It has a enough annoying features that I've considered returning it to HRO, butI got mine for the unbelievably low price of $124.95 (Cyber Monday pricing) and feel that the discount over list perhaps compensates for the annoyances.

What I like:

- YUUUUGE display. It looks to be about 1" high and can easily be read across the room.
- The large tuning knob
- Ease of use. If you have another Yaesu radio, you'll be instantly comfortable with this one. If you don't, programming it isn't much of a chore.
- Built like a tank. Seriously - this thing is all heat sink
- 80w of power. 'nuff said


The annoyances:

- The LOUD beep from button presses. There is no volume control for this. It's either on or off. The loudness is probably okay in a vehicle but not in a home shack.
- Buttons on the mic are recessed and so small they can't be easily pressed.
- The volume and squelch controls are way, way, WAY too sensitive. Volume, in particular, is awful. It goes from low to LOUD with barely any movement of the knob. The knob, too, has a strange feel to it - almost as if it has spring tension behind it. Perhaps this will break in over time, but it's not a good out of box experience.
- Scan speed is ridiculously slow. I have an FT-60 that will run circles around it.
- It is IMPOSSIBLE to completely turn down the volume on this unit. When you do, you'll still hear the audio at a low level. This has to be a bug and I hope Yaesu fixes it. It may be okay in a vehicle, where background noise will cover it up, but in the shack it's definitely audible.

If I'd paid full list for the radio I would have returned it and spent the extra $80 for an FT-7900. As it stands, I'll probably deal with the deficiencies and be thankful for the heavy discount I received.