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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
KF4TUZ Rating: 2001-08-13
Heavy duty, great mic Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First thing you notice about this radio is it's big. Heavy made like the Vertex mobiles (if not on the same chasis). The microphone is one of the best I have ever seen on a mobile, very well laid out and heavy duty/rugged. The units face you can see very well, even with high dosages of sunlight. The internal speaker could be better sealed, and the plastic rattles just a hair when cranked. I bet it could be taken apart and have some silicon in a few places to quiten the plastic rattle up. The speaker doesn't distort like in some of the other reviews, but the plastic rattling sounds simular to distortion. The sensitivity is a hair better than my Icom 2100, though it does pick up ignition noise. I haven't tried to remedy this, probably better sparkplugs, etc. ('92 Ford Van with 5.0, any suggestions?) When I first got it, I decided just to try it out on the cigarette lighter... this was a bad choice as this radio pulls some juice, especially on the high setting. I had prog'd all the repeater pairs in and named most... all lost in one transmit... I was cursing the radio like anyone would, but the same day I hooked it up to the battery and since have NEVER had a problem with it loosing memories (Used it constantly for 3 months)... I leave it on when I crank the van, etc... no memory lost ever. I noticed the cigarette lighter was only outputing 10 volts.. and seemed to be regulated.... so this might have been the cause, as may in other peoples cases. The unit does get exceptionally hot when transmiting at 60 watts , even at lower levels... but it has never skipped a beat, and I never get anything but EXCELLENT quality qso's ... and compliments all the time mobile. My model is 3 months old (5-2-2001) and I'm sure I have the version that has all the problems worked out that some of the first models had or I would have seen them by now. This radio is used daily, and what I would consider heavy use... mostly at 5 watts with a MFJ 5/8th's wave ($29 bucks). I would have gave this radio a 5, but the recieve igition noise, even though faint, bothers me. Any solutions will be welcome. E-mail me if you have any questions about this review/radio.
WU6Q Rating: 2001-07-31
It's been great so far !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my 2600 over a year and never had a problem. I turn it on and off during the week but many times I'll leave it on for weeks. I'm running is on the "shack" DC supply (Astron RS-35M) and it's on line while I transmit with the HF stuff (20A or greater), Again it's been good, some form of cooling fan would help, it gets pretty toastie while transmiting. After reading all these problems with memory and no resolution from Yaesu .....well, it's sad. I'm getting the feeling this type of VHF radios are pretty low profit and Yaesu is'nt work the problem ....It does make one think about buying a big time HF rig (FT-1000+) from these folks ....!
KF4DEW Rating: 2001-07-30
memory loss Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the FT2600 for over a year now and have had just one memory loss, that was on 7/28/01. The radio is great i would buy one again.
K3UG Rating: 2001-07-25
Memory Failure ACK! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a piece of crap this radio turned out to be! I've had nothing but problems with the one I bought. The memory fails, and sometimes with the slightest variation in A+ voltage the xmtter refuses to xmit, even in the lowest power range.

I installed mine on my boat, hoping to use it for local amateur frequencies, and monitoring weather, etc.. so far, I'm wishing I'd made another choice.

For the record, I also own an FT 1000MP and an FT 2500M ... I'm not a 'former' Yaesu customer yet, but this radio is a disappointment, bigtime.
WPDF549 Rating: 2001-07-25
Memory problem Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My friend and I both purchased the FT-2600 about the same time. Love it features! However, he's had the memory problem from the start. He sent it back to AES, then Yaesu. When he got it back it worked for about a week before it lost its memory again. Guess what...today mine did the same thing! Has anyone found a way to eliminate this problem? Capacitors? Something?
WQ1L Rating: 2001-07-23
Good Performer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've read some of the reviews and I have never encountered a memory loss in my radio. I've had the radio going on about a 8 months or so. I have had good luck with it so far with excellent audio reports. My radio is connected staight to the car battery and I don't know if this is why I haven't lost the memory or if this is a later model. I do however wish that the program buttons on the face where back lit. This would be a great help for night time driving when wanting to change power levels, etc. I have no complaints so far and I would purchase another if I wanted a monoband VHF rig. I also have the FT-90 dual bander and have had great luck with this rig also. I do however wish that the menu systems were the same. The basic principles are the same but different sequences. I would recommend this radio, I've had no problems with Yaesu so far!

Glen
KB1DNI
KG4FMQ Rating: 2001-07-14
Built Like A Tank Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this nice rig about a year ago. It is tough, and with its large Heat-Sink below it. The Heat-Sink disipates the heat well. The extra 10 watts helps in the white spotts. It is built just as tough as the FT2500 was. I was looking for a 2500, but when I heard the 2600 was on the market, I had to buy it. The rig has more than enough memories for storring repeaters. This rig has great audio on receive, and on transmit. It is not hard to learn how to use it either. How might we say it is a user-friendly radio. It will make you a good solid 2M rig for a Beginer or a Pro. Yaesu did their HOMEWORK on this rig.
Chris KG4FMQ
73
W8ZAP Rating: 2001-06-27
Low Power Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only putting out 40 watts on high power at 13.8
volts has anyone else had this problem...radio is only 2 weeks old
KD5NVC Rating: 2001-06-18
Very sharp rig! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I will buy a second unit due to the success I've had with the first one. No memory problems (see below) the unit fits almost anywhere and is very easy to use!! Good Job Yaesu

For those of you who have memory loss due to mobile use. Use a direct connection from the radio to the battery, using the correct gauge wire! I to use my 2600M mobil and it is powered directly from the battery.

Great unit, I must say that Yaesu should include the software with the radio. This would greatly enhance the sale!!!
W1VVK Rating: 2001-05-13
memory loss Time Owned: more than 12 months.
.i have had the yaesu FT-2600
,sent back to california, (3), times due to memory loss. it is very senesitive to low voltage and low tempertures. i have reprogamed that rado (3), TIMES, i will not do it again. any one want to buy it? or maybe swap a boat anchor for it?

jack mahar W1VVK