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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
THETOOLMAN Rating: 2009-01-12
Control knobs Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
You would think that Yaesu could have at least put some sort of bushing in the front face of this radio to sturdy up the vol an sql knobs.
I guess this is how workmanship is these days, "Screw the customer, get the buck"..
RFSOAKED Rating: 2008-12-17
Great Radio, SO-SO Mic Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I needed to write a new review on this rig, i wrote one a couple years back i think it was when i bought my first one, now that i have had that one for a while and played with others of this model just some observations..

Still a great radio for the price, it can't be beat for a single band 2m rig when it comes to the well done receiver and plenty of transmit power, not to mention the great large display. Heck its even a nice touch they included the little feet to make it a tabletop radio!

The only bad thing, the mic sucks. I started getting the RF related problem that others were reporting after using it for a while. Actually this radio has been running as an APRS digi since almost the day i bought it, i took out the mic and plugged it in to check the antenna the other day and i noticed it would switch to WX receive sometimes when transmitting on a nearby radio. Odd.. But i solved that problem, don't program any of the programmable buttons to WX receive and that problem goes away. Seems the mic is a bit sensitive to RF.

Also played around with the mic after reading the few reviews about the DTMF problem, mine works fine but then it hasn't seen much use, perhaps the keypad just wears out with use as all the review i read about this say when the DTMF dies you get another mic and it works again. Well that just tells me its the mic not the radio in anyway.

I have an unshielded piece of phone cable from the mic jack to the TNC, as some have mentioned incorrectly its not an RJ45 its actually a six pin connector RJ12, and i don't have any RF problems with that connected, so it simply has to be the mic at fault for about 90% of the issues this radio has experienced since release.

Also on the transmit audio, some report low modulation and have to adjust it in the service menu, mine seems to be ok but there again this mic has seen more time in a drawer than in use, so perhaps with use it might get worse and need adjustment. The mic really seems to be a 50/50 shot of getting a good one. Perhaps take the mic from another Yaesu and rewire for the 2800M and solve this problem once and for all.

Looking at the reviews for the last year there is less reports of mic issues so maybe they have solved most of it now.
W1LDD Rating: 2008-12-11
Great price for a 2meter mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First ,this is a great radio for mobile operation with some small mods.You must mod the microphone which holds the radio back(Remove the small black disk in front of the element and enlarge the mic holes).The radio has a great rx and handles intermod well.$111.00 shipped from HRO its a steal!
KF4DFP Rating: 2008-12-08
LCD failed after 24 months Time Owned: more than 12 months.
ok radio except low modulation output and the LCD failed.

WB9RAA Rating: 2008-10-22
Great radio all heat sink. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Outside is built solid, has nice features, three squelch modes, RF, Tone & DCS. Knob and shaft wiggle is the weakest point. Its feels a bit loose on the Volume & Squelch knobs. if thats the worst so be it. Very solid packed with easy to use features, bought mine used from eHam! Love the size, features, heatsink, love the 4 user defined buttons on the Mic that are programable too. best 2m rig I had yet.
K6YE Rating: 2008-10-22
SO-SO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I originally rated this radio on 21/Feb/2007. I had sent it to Yaesu for repair as it had blown two transisters. Today I had just finished running a net and suddenly the output went to zero and smoke emitted from the brick area. I immediately removed the power and took the unit outside. I a really at a loss as I never had it in a mobile. I really was found of this radio but it goes to the junkpile as to repair it again will exceed the cost of a new radio. Fortunately I have a new Icom 144/440 radio that has never been in service. There seems to be a lot of other hams that have had good and reliable service from this rafio. I still like Yaesu products but unless someone gave me a VHF radio I would not purchase another.

Semper Fi,

Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
TECHROD Rating: 2008-09-03
sounds good! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
just passed my tech exam, awaiting my callsign.
the ft 2800 will be my first 2 meter radio, as
soon as it clears backorder? It must be popular..
Have read many reviews and cannot wait till I
get it..
KJ4AQV Rating: 2008-08-13
The best radio for 2 meters you will own! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The radio sells its self. Around $125 dollars and 65 watts out put, if you are a new ham it haves got to be a first radio for you.
W6CD Rating: 2008-07-18
Works well - recommended Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had one for about two years.

Used as a base station radio connected to a J-Pole mounted at about 15'. Readily allows me to talk on all the SoCal area repeaters I have wanted to.

It's built very solidly. I like the large display, find it relatively easy to program, the 65w power is great, and it just always works.

If you are looking for a quality, solid, 2M only, inexpensive radio - this is one to have on your short list.
KJ4EOZ Rating: 2008-07-17
Great if you are looking for just a 2 meter rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
had this radio for 6 weeks now and it works 100%
if you are looking for a 2 meter fm only rig this is the best of the best !!! It will get a little hot if you set it on high power and talk for a long time . but maybe i talk too much . lol
i have 21 repeters that i can hit with this rig from here in VA to all the way in PA , WV , MD
From 5 watts - 65watts ....