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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-2600M

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-2600M
Reviews: 102MSRP: 170
Description:
HEAVY-DUTY VHF FM TRANSCEIVER
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/ft2600m.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001024
W9MT Rating: 2021-12-22
A robust, but dated Energizer Bunny of a 2m radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I won this radio at the former Starved Rock RC Hamfest in Princeton IL in the summer of calendar 2000. This is the only door prize I've won in 51 years of hamming, but it was and still is a good one.

As others have commented, receive and transmit are bulletproof...but the radio does run "hotter than a pistol" at the 60 Watt transmit output level. Yet, it keeps "soldiering onward".

I've never had the memory problems others have mentioned. This radio and a Radio Shack HTX-212 that I got as a father's day present when my kids were young (a long, long time ago) are my "keeper radios". Both are simple and solid designs.

Yes, the Yaesu's mike cord developed the dry-rot problem and I bought an eBay replacement to keep it going. A number of ty-wraps kept the cord going until the replacement showed up.

The original RT systems programming software combined programming of this radio and also the Yaesu FT-90R in a single purchase (2 CD's and a single USB cable). I sold my FT-90R as the digital modes (e.g.: Fusion/C4FM and D-Star) became popular and I jumped on the bandwagon.

I may retire the FT-2600M for an FTM-7250DR I bought to have dual band capability and Fusion in one radio that looks a lot like the 2600. May it last just as long....
N0FMO Rating: 2018-01-27
Nice radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Punchy 60 Watt radio...Receive is good and its easy to Program and operate too. The only thing I noticed is the Mic cord insulation Has turned into Crumbs. But for $3.99 for a new one from China (free Shipping) its an easy inexpensive fix for this Radio. I noticed that many mic cords have been purchased for this set so my guess is that this is a common problem. The phone like plug on the mic that connects to the radio. Is like that of commercial sets of the day. Also, Could be problematic. Mic itself is very handy.
KB7QQ Rating: 2018-01-10
12 volt BLADE connection Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had two of these 2600's, bought brand new. Worked fine ALL transmit POWER LEVELS, for several years. One 2600 in shop on 13.8 volt Astron, the other in Toyota with good battery.
After several years, both 2600's started 'blanking' out when keyed on HIGH power...resetting all memories to none.
Lived with that for a long time, till I found that UNPLUGGING the 'blade' power connector feeding the radio and then reconnecting the 'blade' connector...did the trick.
Now have back my "60 watts" on all freqs.
WP4OSX Rating: 2016-08-31
I am the proud owner of a FT-2600m Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm the proud owner of a FT-2600m and I wouldn't sell it, trade it or in any form get rid of it. I'm in love with these magnificent radio, such is this, that I would buy every FT-2600m I see in the market. Mine is like new after all these years, I caress it, I put it aside as if it were a piece of gold. It is a masterpiece of equipment, never have any problems with it. I moved it from car to base and vice versa, and it is still working like new. Hve any for sale? I'll buy it. 73's to every one.
KF7VOP Rating: 2013-11-26
Weak receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked one of these old radios up used. Seems like its receiver is weak. Local repeaters that were crystal clear on my older Radio Shack HTX212 have static using the same antenna. Data port is a nice option but now I wonder how useful it will be with such a poor receiver.
KR4PC Rating: 2013-09-02
Memory Loss Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I acquired this used. Expected it to perform as a basic 2M mobile. I was surprised when it would randomly blank out the display and lose its mind when I was trying to transmit. I hadn't programmed any memoires at this point. Well, it seemed to stabilize after a while I put in 3 repeaters for a trip I was on. Worked ok, decent RST. Then after I programmed the local cheat sheet of repeaters (35+), I was trying to transmit on one and it blanked and lost its mind again and went to 145000. All memories wiped out.

Frankly, I don't care what's wrong with it or what it takes to fix it. I'm never working to put a single memory back in it after that experience. Will be donating to club auction as "parts/repair only."
KB7TBT Rating: 2010-01-20
Tough Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 2600 since 03, i use this in the truck as an APRS radio, it is mounted in a suitcase and i have beaten the living snot out of it. It has been mounted in the suitcase all this time and has gone 4 wheeling and tossed from one place to another This bugger is still doing an excellent job and is still in service. As for the reported memory issues i cant say because i dont think i ever used the memory. It was first installed in a car for some time then it was retired to APRS radio. I dont remember having any problems with memory. I purchased this radio from HRO used in 02 or 03, cant remember.

Link to my APRS page for the truck.
http://kb7tbt.com/aprs/kb7tbt-9.htm

Photo of the rig in the suitcase from 06 i think.
http://www.kb7tbt.com/pix/aprspix/

73!
James
KB7TBT
www.kb7tbt.com

KE5YIZ Rating: 2009-04-22
AWESOME!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I give this radio a five just for the simple fact that it is my first radio and I've had nothing but good running since I got it. I had a little problem just today with it. I got in the vehicle and started it and forgot the radio was on and it erased all my memory. I've had it hooked up to the battery since I installed it. Someone tell me if this is right, even though you have it hooked up to the battery, when you crank your truck should it still power off then come back on? This is the first time I've had it do this to me and it kinda freaked me out a little bit. Other then that it is a tank. I've had nothing but good reports from everyone I talk to on it. I live in a very rural area and hit a repeater about a hour and a half to 2 hours away from me with no problem.

Good job on the radio Yaesu and thanks alot Mike for talking me into buying it from you.
VE1BXK Rating: 2009-01-23
Bullet Proof RX ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Nice radio and bullet proof front end receiver. Only one buggy thing about it though. At times when keying the PTT, the radio will power off and then back on. Other times will reset the radio completely. A call to Yeasu Tech Dept sugessted a simple fix of which fixed this problem once and for all.

Just remove the top cover and re-tightened all the screws that hold the main board to the chassis and as well the two screws holding the RF brick. It appears that stray RF,DC voltage and poor grounding of main board does strange things to the CPU board on the front of the radio.

Other than that, an excellent radio! Wish I had got another one.

73 Lorne
KD8HRS Rating: 2008-03-27
excellent radio! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
just got my ticket recently and bought one of these off ebay for $100 plus shipping.receive is great!(no intermod so far,distant stations come in strong)no memory problems with mine like in some other reviews.it does get awfully warm quick after a short qso tho but the heat sink dissipates it after a short break very well. wish they still made em, id get another one for a spare! if you have a chance to get one of these used in great shape at a good price by all means give it a try! A++