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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-2500

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-2500
Reviews: 58MSRP: 250.00
Description:
2M/50watt/Fm/Mobile
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00584.8
W1JIM Rating: 2004-01-07
Tough rig, can't go wrong! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had several of these over the years and currently have one running 24/7 as my DX cluster packet station. The one problem that I've had is the display lamps. After replacing them once (and I leave them on low brightness) I finally decided to replace them with LEDs. I got 2 high brightness reds and 2 high brightness oranges. I put the reds in the LCD area and the oranges in the control areas. I put 450 ohm resistors in series with them but if I did it again I would go with something in the 750-1k ohm range. I used 1/4 watters but would have been better of with some SMD resistors.
Enjoy!
W1JIM / Jim

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W1JIM on 2000-04-02

I now have 2 FT-2500M's as well as a FT-2600M, an Icom 2100H and 2000H. The Yaesu is easy to operate and always gets good over the air reports. I love the alphanumerics and the large easy to use controls. The display is very easy to read. The 31 memories are ample, some have more but frankly how many do you need; you can only hit so many repaeters on your daily commute. Unfortunately they have discontinued this radio and replaced it with the FT-2600 which I beleive will also prove itself to be a fine radio, I just have to get used to it!
KG6LFN Rating: 2004-01-02
NEVER A PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This radio has been bounced around in a 4wd in the desert, installed in three different trucks and used as a base station with absolutely no problems whatsoever. It just works and works, hi power, low power, searing desert heat and freezing mountain cold. It has a huge heatsink on it like a radio should. No worry about a cooling fan burning out or sucking mud, blood, beer or dirt into the works. I bought two more of these FT2500M's at a ham swap meet that were new and still in their boxes. One went into a friend's Jeep and I saved the other as a spare just in case mine fails someday. I haven't used the spare yet! If space is not a big concern and you want a two meter radio with no bells or whistles that will just work and work with good signal reports and a great front end, I can't even imagine anything working better than a FT2500M!
KC7UMB Rating: 2003-10-14
I Love This Radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my FT-2500M for over 5 years, and it's been in 4 different vehicles as well as base station use, and it has performed flawlessly, not even a burned out bulb. I ONLY wish it had more memory channels. (28+1) I am thinking about buying a 2800M for a second radio, and can only hope it'll be close to the quality of my 2500M.

73's, KC7UMB
W5ZZQ Rating: 2003-08-09
Great radio!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The best 2meter radio I have owned. Built like a tank. Intermod rejection is great. Have had it for over 5 years without ANY problems at all. Had to replace the display lamps - put green ones in. Looks great. If I can find another one I will surely buy it. Wish I could find a new in box 2500M.......
KD5HIY Rating: 2003-06-09
Great Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great piece of equipment, unfortunatly it fell out of my closet and cracked the screen. anybody know where i can get this fixed. i love this radio and don't want to have to part with it, just because of the screen

Chris
KD5HIY
73
K2VI Rating: 2003-04-20
TOP NOTCH!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
PURCHASE MINE NEW 4/30/96..I HAVE USED IT ALMOST EVERY DAY.I ALSO RUN 50 WATTS MOST OF THE TIME.IT STILL WORKS LIKE NEW.WHAT A WELL BUILT RADIO.EXCELLENT VALUE.I DID SHELL OUT 330.00 FOR IT SO IT BETTER WORK PERFECT.AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS.NO DOUBT IT WILL.NO SIGN OF INTERMOD OR OVERLOAD.ANOTHER YAESU GEM!!!

KG4FYP Rating: 2003-01-24
Great - Only One Glitch Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a great radio theres only one thing that is odd to me you can not do repeter offsets that are not even such as a .08 offset it only does .50 or .100 that is the only problem i have found
N0RQ Rating: 2002-12-22
great basic 2m rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought 3 of these back in 1995, when they were $300 each (ouch!). However, they've been very good. The only complaint would be the main knob -- once in a while, a click will not change the frequency/channel, and once in a while it will change it twice for just one click of the knob. I've had to replace a couple of lamps, but that isn't too hard either. They've served well, and I plan to keep them for as long as they last. The FT-2500M is known as a workhorse, for good reason.
TF3AO Rating: 2002-06-14
Good buy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one of these fine radios when travelling in USA 6 years ago.
As with others I had a problem with the display lamps, but got them mailed from a good ham friend at Yaesu. (easy to change these lamps).
Mods for this radio are very easy, just a wire loop to cut.
I have used this radio a lot and most of the time in my 4WD Toyota Hilux, going off road in the interior of Iceland. No other problems than the lamps so I do highly recommend this tank built radio.

Seli TF3AO
KG0CV Rating: 2002-06-14
Rough & Tough Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good solid performer. Only problem it likes to
eat up the display lights and they are a challenge
to put in.( that why I rate it a 4) Easy to operate and program. Operated this radio in a 18 wheeler driving down rough dirt roads taking the beating and kept on ticking.This differently is a Yaesu proofen design.