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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
MRMATT Rating: 2007-07-04
Good, BUT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got mine from a friend. I was using a Yeasu 2met rig, who kept telling me to buy one. So I bought his. And what a great radio and the time. I made my own separation cable, and it worked great. With the homemade cable made it ease to install in my truck. When I told my truck it make it ease to install in my car. I mod the radio, to work with the fire dept. After selling my car. I took out the radio and put it on my shelf and left it. Well one of the volunteer fire dept, was going to buy it. I when out and installed it in his car and the radio did not work. It turned on only. It was locked on a freq. None of the buttons worked or even the knobs. So I don’t know how it could brake after sitting on a shelf for about 6 weeks.

But on a brighter not I am currently buying a new Yeasu Ft 7800. So I would say it’s a good radio.
WH6QB Rating: 2007-06-05
Loving it!!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well, I just got a long winded lecture from a fellow ham about how inferior the Yaesu radios are to Kenwood. He talked long and deep about poor design and an overly sensitive receive and poor audio. Especially bad in high density environments like LA.

Then I asked him how I sounded and got a great report back from him. Then I told him I was on a 7800 from downtown LA and that I used it all over the Los Angeles area and get great performance. So go figure.

After that I felt compelled to write this review.

I use mine both mobile and in my shack. I have been nothing but pleased with mine. I have also not encountered the "problems" others have noted. I find the knobs easy to use and I use the G4HFQ software to program it. I strongly recommend this radio to anyone who needs a rock solid dual band radio and has not convinced themselves they need dual receive and cross band operation.

For the money I think it is hands down the winner for a dual band mobile rig.
KE5NUC Rating: 2007-05-22
Great TX/RX audio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
In doing my best to fair about this radio..........if the programming was as intuitive for me as Icom, I would not have a complaint. And if the volume and squelch knobs had mechanical detents that would be great also. It's a challenge for me right now to program this thing compared to Icom. Otherwise, this would be perfect for me. I give it a 5 because I believe I'm too very stupid to program this thing right now. That will change the more I play with the radio and read the user manual. Great QSO reports. Just need to spend more time with it. Looking for programming software. If anyone has tips on PG and software, please give me a shout. Gracias! Terry/KE5NUC, email ke5nuc@arrl.net. 73
ZL1GI Rating: 2007-05-15
Great Dual Bander Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I now have two of these, one in the car and one in the shack. The FT7800R is a reliable performer and relatively easy to set up and use - once you get the hang of it. Using third party software, as I do, to program it takes all the stress out of loading and configuring the many memories and options.
If you are looking for a dual bander which is rugged, sounds good and has plenty of features and you don't require dual receive capability then this is the rig for you.
W4BGN Rating: 2007-05-15
EXCELLENT!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The best 2/440 radio I have owned. Although it takes some time to get used to the menu system.

QSO reports have always been good as far as transmit audio. Great receive, very sensitive.

I currently own 2 of these and would not hesitate to buy another!!!

73's
VK5FDAV Rating: 2007-05-11
WOW!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi all, I will just add my 2cents worth.
my basic base set up is ft7800- thru cnt400 (11m) - uvs300 antenna.
The first thing I noticed is that this is a serious radio, it feels like a motorola rig when handling it!. But I guess its whats on the inside that counts right?
The radio has the best lcd screen I have ever seen! viewable at any angle, seperate volume and squelch controls, plenty of buttons so you dont have to do to many key presses to do the simplest operation, great back light, the menu is a little hard at first to use but considering all the features this radio has I think it is justified, 1000+ channels highly customizable different banks and what not, ultra fast scan and frequency search with user defined search parameters, recieve right up to 900MHz but works aswell on airband. Recieve audio quality is fantastic!!, transmit audio on simplex and duplex I am told is very crystal but not to tiny. Now as for performance, my first few contacts were some distance away, one was even interstate 350+KM away only using 5 watts, as 5 watts is all my licence allows. The handheld dtmf mike is brilliant- it is customizable and backlit too.
I find it hard to flaw this radio in any way, the only thing I would suggest is a slightly more userfriendly manual, but I am just really satisfied with the nity gritty performance.
the fact that the price is cheap is just another bonus, but even if they were double the price I would still buy another one!

cheers 73s
Dave. VK5-FDAV
KB9IOY Rating: 2007-03-23
nice dual band rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just picked one up and so far I like it. Im using it as a base with a Diamond X510N antenna. The signal reports are real good and i think the recieve audio is very nice. Programming the radio was pretty straight forward for me but I also have an 857D so Im familiar with Yaesu menus. Without experience with the 857 I probably would have had trouble with programming.
LEE317 Rating: 2007-02-09
Great value radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This was an excellent value. I've used it as a base unit in the shack for 9 months without a problem. Has digital PL, DTMF, everything you need in the modern age VHF/UHF at a great price. Excellent entry level radio. Even easier to manage with the PC programming cable and software, which like most can be a little tricky.

Keep the book nearby because you won't remember how to access all of the features.

JUST AN FYI:
Like most Yaesu's the mike is attached to the head unit so if you are installing it mobile with the separation kit you have to plan on the mic with the head (unlike most Kenwoods where the mic is attached to the radio itself).
N1TI Rating: 2007-01-26
Best bang for the buck! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Serves my needs well. Programming learning curve is a little steep for the Yaesu newcomer. I agree regarding the mike cord strain...needs better strain relief. I haven't had a problem yet with the 7800 but I did go thru similar problems with the FT90r. I wish there was a momentary lockout in scan. I'm buying a second one for the shack soon.
N5MDM Rating: 2007-01-19
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my Ft-7800 for about one yr., no issues. Works great. Easy to program, operation manual is nice also. No over heating issues known, I use 50watts out alot. Fan comes on as soon as you key up,works good. Nice dual band moble. I've got mine hooked to a Comet GP3 2m/440 vertical at the house. There are many features on the radio I dont use. Nice reports. David N5MDM