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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-2800M

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-2800M
Reviews: 196MSRP: 195.00
Description:
Yaesu 2m Transceiver Introuduced 2/2003. 65 Watt Output,- 4 power levels, 2M Transmit, 134-174 Receive, 219 Memories w/ 6 char AlphaNumeric display, NOAA Weather, CTCSS & DTS encode/decode, rugged case.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001963.7
DW6WNE Rating: 2019-05-09
Like a Tank Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine used from a friend, its duty is a kitchen radio and has been powered up since 2007 non-stop up to now so thats 12 years and counting, cool running radio on standby it doesen't gets hot. I turned the backlight to low to preserve the LED because i dont have any plan to turn the radio off. I have other kenwood and Icom radios but the FT2800 is an edurance radio it still runs perfect up to now thats why I gaved it a 5
KB0RDL Rating: 2018-07-17
Good radio, not for confined spaces Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Radio worked very well. I would occasionally have a glitch such as switching frequencies on its own while on high power but only when it got really hot. You should not run on high power in confined spaces or without adequate ventilation. Functioned well, great display. Would buy it again.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KB0RDL on 2005-11-22

It's always interested me that most people rate this radio as great and then a few rate it as awful. I think what's happening in the latter case is that occasionally an individual lemon shows up, and it's absolutely infuriating to the owner when it does. What I wish Yaesu would do is just offer exchanges rather than keep trying to fix the lemon.

I like this radio myself and I've had two of them. I originally bought it because of the 65 watts but after having it for two years I now wish it had a 50 watt setting. It goes from 25 to 65 watts with no intermediate steps. What problems I've had have been on 65 watts, include frying the final when I shorted an antenna cable. It didn't fry until I turned it to 65 watts and then zap!

I doubt if I'll buy a 2-meter mobile with more than 50 watts again. The extra wattage offers almost no apparent advantage and seems to produce problems like overheating and both of my FT-2800's have the annoying trait of switching to weather receive automatically when I try to transmit on 65 watts with less than perfect SWRs. Having said this, I still love the 2800's, especially the display and other features.
KM4WSX Rating: 2017-04-12
Used, modded rig works well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this used at a hamfest for $30. I've spent more on lunch. Passed it to an Amateur Extra/First Class Radiotelephone/Radio Station Chief Engineer friend who forensically examined the radio. Ops check good, noted that a suggested circuit mod had been accomplished, and that the previous owner had gone into the service menu to lower maximum output to 50 watts, thereby solving the heat failure problem. I touched up the paint with black car engine high heat paint. Fix or toss if it fails, no loss. Backup bench workhorse.
K3SSB Rating: 2017-02-06
Takes a lick'n and keeps on tick'n Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My 2800 is now celebrating its eighth birthday as my road warrior companion. In all of the miles and vehicles's not a missed beat... except for a replaced DC power cable. Runs off the cigarette lighter into a Larsen 1/4 wave mag mount.

If only all things were as reliable...
KA7BAD Rating: 2017-02-05
good gone bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
bought 2ed hand from a local SK estate. set up as a base radio. perfect SWR and clean power. then one day mid-tx it just shut off. No go. Will have to tear into it, but sad it only lasted a couple months.
W2WHT Rating: 2016-06-18
rugged and easy to use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of the FT2800's. Both work perfectly. I had a problem with the LCD in one radio (My fault for leaving it in a super-heated storage unit: 140 degrees) and I ordered a new LCD from Yaesu parts and besides the fact that they were great to deal with the part was cheap (less than $10 shipped), I installed the part and the radio is fine.
Not to cast any aspersions on other brands and their support but I have been gradually replacing all my various rigs (handheld or otherwise) with Yaesu products. I am that impressed with the products and the support from Yaesu.
AC8FW Rating: 2015-10-05
Good enough Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This radio has bounced around on the passenger seat of various company vehicles for almost 10 years now. I run it off a lighter plug with a mag mount antenna. As I travel I often add repeaters on the fly. I have found it to be extremely easy to program.

My main complaints center around the microphone. I have had difficulty with the modular microphone jack. I lost audio out of the speaker but discovered the problem was in the microphone jack. Cleaning it with contact cleaner resolved the problem. I have also replaced the microphone (at least half the price of replacing the rig) because the strain relief on the bottom of the microphone disintegrated and some of the buttons were flaky.

My only other gripe is that you must have the microphone plugged in to initiate scanning. There are times when I'd like to throw the microphone in the glove box to get it out of the way, but I can't control many radio functions without the microphone plugged in.

Overall my experience is that the 2800 is an extremely solid, reliable basic radio. I would give it a 5 if it had a better microphone and connector. I would definitely purchase another one.
WD0FIA Rating: 2014-12-11
Good, inexpensive radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought three of these in 2009. I have used them mobile, in a boat, as a APRS radio, and loaned them to new Ham operators. So far no failures, zero issues.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WD0FIA on 2009-06-09

I have 2 of these. One in my shop as a base,and one working 24/7 on APRS. No problems at all, with over a year of use. Great audio, easy to program. Great inexpensive, but basic 2 meter radio.
AA1OV Rating: 2013-11-29
Bad Quality control Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this as a new rig from another ham. It spent 7 days as my APRS digi rig and died. It replaced a rig that lost the finals and apparently this on did too. BTW SWR on the omni was perfect. I was so disgusted I sold it for a new parts tech special. BTW this rig runs HOT meven at lower power settings. Sad as I am a Yaesu freak.....
KJ4OLF Rating: 2013-05-09
Good radio until design flaw caused it to stop working Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was very happy with this radio for three years until it stopped working. The finals burned out due to the fact that the heat sink doesn't adequately dispensate the heat. This well documented problem with this model. If you have one of these radios, I recommend that you either install an fan inside it and avoid transmitting this radio on Full power.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KJ4OLF on 2010-03-14

I purchased mine from HRO in Woodbridge, VA in Aug. 09 shortly after receiving my Tech ticket. I have been happy with it so far. I continue to receiving positive signal reports other hams. The only problem that I have encountered is that the "lock" on the stock mic has stopped working and the mic can be "keyed" even if the lock is on.

The tunning knob is VERY sensitive and can easily be accidently moved so ALWAYS make sure you are on the correct frequency. I have read reports that this model can get hot while running high power. Mine doesn't get HOT but it can get a little warm.

Overall I am still happy with this radio. It was definitely worth the $135.00 that I paid for it.