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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-7800R

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-7800R
Reviews: 197MSRP: 329.00
Description:
Dualband mobile
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001974.6
N0YXE Rating: 2008-09-01
GREAT PRODUCT AND BUY! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my FT-7800R last week and put it in my shack. I was tired of using my HT for checking into nets, ect. This radio solved the problem and has been really wonderful right out of the box. Turn on and play; there's no learning curve for simple, basic operation. The mic is a joy and pleasure to use when changing frequencies and bands and the price was right for a dual bander. Reports have been solid; good, clean audio all around. There's plenty of power for just about anything and the cooling fan is quiet when is goes on. Overall, it's just great.
KB4TPP Rating: 2008-05-03
Good one Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Replaced a 10 year old Icom 207H. The 7800 was very easy to program out of the box, especially if you have used recent Yaesu/Vertex's of late (e.g. FT60, VX150/170, etc.) Easy to store memory channels and add names in one step. Well made JAPAN built unit, only downside to this radio is the sorry excuse for a speaker. My Blackberry Pearl speakerphone is louder at low volume. So count on adding an external one if you actually want to hear it going down the road.

TX audio is clean, not overdriven and tinny as some Yaesu's of the past. Really impressed with RX on 222, if only it could TX there...but then it wouldn't be a 250 dollar radio. Overall a good choice, cheaper than the Icom 208, and has just as much going for it.
ZOULAS Rating: 2008-04-26
Great Little Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waned a dual band mobile to use at home as HT's can be a bit too complicated. This unit is just great. Its much smaller than you would ever think. Made extremely well, its a small heavyweight!! With just a few minutes in the manual I was able to make all the adjustments I needed. The display is crystal clear, buttons are easy to reach. The speaker is quite loud. Its a lot of radio for $250, worth every penny. I also considered the FT-8900 for cross band repeat but I did not feel it was worth the extra money although the FT-8900 is probably a better radio (quad band!) If you are looking for a dual band mobile for home use or mobile use this is probably the best on the market.
ZL1RD Rating: 2008-04-02
Superb Dual Bander Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the best sounding dual band rig on both transmit and receive audio of any dual bander I have ever used. For the price it has a very impressive set of features, including wide band receive with no obvious degradation in receive sensitivity. I listen to the police on 489 mhz, and it sounds as if I am in a patrol car. Radio has features in it many scanners do not, and can easily be used as a scanner. The radio is a pleasure to listen to and use, with superb transmit audio. I have found it a stable solid performer.
K0KMP Rating: 2008-03-08
Look no further for a mobile dual bander! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This radio has performed extremely well for me! Very easy to use, especially if you are used to Vertex menus on HTs and other mobiles. It is very easy to make your own "separation kit" if you don't want to spend the extra $$$. I paired it up with a Comet SBB-5. Great match!
WD0FDN Rating: 2008-02-26
Tough radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
No problems with over a years use, both mobile and base. Although user friendly right out of the box I found the programming software worth the money
KD0CVJ Rating: 2008-02-24
I like it!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great little radio. The menus and programming take some getting used to, but other than that it's been pretty sweet so far. Others have commented about the low audio output ... and I found that to be true as well. I bought an MLS100 remote speaker and that did the job!

Will post pics of the mobile install as soon as we're out of the deep-freeze, and I will update this review if anything goes awry or I discover any reason to give this radio a 6!

73s
de KDØCVJ
NB7I Rating: 2008-02-03
Works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had it installed and programmed for over a year. Works fine except for one noted oddity -

When I first programmed memories, I placed my repeater in channel 1. I added the other channels I wanted to listen to and started scanning. Never heard anything on the repeater frequency, but people were using it, and I could see it was being scanned on the display. All other programmed channels were scanning fine. Re-programmed repeater in another channel, and it scanned fine.
Why not re-program channel one? From the manual, page 35 "Note that channel one may not be deleted" Howzacome?
Anyway, I don't change the programming much. Trunk mounted, external speaker up front, no other problems.
KC0ZZT Rating: 2008-02-03
Great Dual Band Mobile Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Giving this a 5, I really have no complaints with this radio. It has been mounted in the truck and I bought this as a used bench rig from another Ham off eBay.

Once you learn how to program these by hand and use the menu it is pretty easy. I do find myself referencing the user guide every once in a while.

I now own software & program cable to program and back up the radio configuration. Only wish is that it would cross-band repeat. Planning on acquiring another Yaesu for a base unit with this feature. Possibly a 8800r or 8900r.
KD4T Rating: 2008-02-01
Bad experience with Yaesu Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought FT7800 because I needed separation of faceplate to mount in my Highlander. Tx and Rx were good but the frequency control is too sensitive. It is very difficult to stop on the right frequency, and the least touch will change. After 2 years of ownership the radio started powering off after a few seconds. Sent email to all local repair facilities and no one will touch a Yaesu uhf radio. Email to Yaesu with detail of problem got a reqponse that their labor rate is $70 per hour plus all parts and shipping. It appears it is better to throw the radio away and buy from another manufactorer.