Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes
Reviews Home

Reviews For: Yaesu FT-1802M

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-1802M
Reviews: 87MSRP: 199
Description:
The Yaesu FT-1802M is a ruggedly-built 2 meter transceiver with 50 watts of RF output. It features extended receive from 136 to 174 MHz. It has illuminated front panel keys and boasts 221 memories. There is also a 10 channel NOAA weather bank. You get CTCSS and DCS Encoder and Decoder circuits. The FT-1802M even has a unique a CW trainer to practice Morse Code. It also supports one-touch access to Yaesu's renowned WiRES-II Internet Linking System. There is a security password to help prevent unauthorized use.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14874.1
G0UAA Rating: 2007-08-01
Sandwich/Waffle Maker Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hi all
(It Ain't Half Hot Mum)
I'm thinking of getting a FT1807 To match my FT1802, And bolting them bottoms together with a butt hinge to make a Sandwich/Waffle maker whilst having a chin wag (natter). After I went to unplug the antenna to use my 2nd antenna in mid QSO. And it was like putting my finger tips on a George Foreman griddle I very nearly flung it. (Possible Claim for damages, As I carnt get my wallet out of my pocket now, But the mouths are happy ?) Excellent little mono band at a real bargain price. DTMF microphone (Would cost us Brits 40 notes to buy separate) & 2 Years warranty to Boot. Why buy 2nd hand when they are this cheap Spanking New. 5 out of 5 for me I like it, Easy to get all my memories in and once tagged I do not bother using VFO mode. Just switch it on & scan to my hearts content & a lovely Orange Display & Not forgetting the Security Password feature. It has to be a Winner in my book (1st entry)
(Its good being Me)

73's Ian G0UAA IO83VT SD83

Ps. A very uncomplicated Radio for basic use.
But watch those Pinkies


KC0QME Rating: 2007-07-22
12V Mobile Skillet!!!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well first off let me say that I love Yaesu, all I own is Yaesu's... 897,2800M,7800,7R and so on. This is the first Yaesu product that almost pushed me to go out and buy an Icom and I am not joking either. This thing gets so hot that I can cook a steak and have fun talking on 2 meter simplex at the same time " Look out Emeril, here comes new talent". I have had the heat warning message come on 20 times since I've owned it and my SWR is 1:2:1 so I know thats not an issue. I have no idea why Yaesu didn't put a fan on this thing and put the heat sink on top, don't they know heat rises???? I think the little Japanese men where smoking crack when they designed the chassis of this radio. If it wasn't for the heat problem it would be a 5 out of 5. I like everything else about this radio especially the adjustable Mic gain and its password protected if need be. If Yaesu reads this you need to take the guts out of the 1802 and put them in a 2800M's chassis and then you will have a close to perfect mobile radio. I can now see why so many have experienced the Pa board being BBQ'ed. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this rig period or you will have a $150 dollar door stop I can promise you that much.
KB0LPI Rating: 2007-07-06
Good but not great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I found this radio harder to program than other units from Icom I used. Most settings are in a single menu with cryptic abbreviations "MW MD?" "VFO.SCN?" "RPT?" Hope you have your manual handy. I found the "ABCD" buttons hard to press on the mic as well.

Transmit audio reports are good and the speaker is plenty loud and clear for mobile use. The display is large and easy to read under any light condition.

After using it for a couple months, I couldn't hit a repeater with 50W I should have been able to get to with 10. Testing showed 4W out on all power settings. The PA was cooked.

I sent the radio in under warranty and got a card in the mail 2 weeks later saying they had the radio, and the turn-around time was 4 weeks. I also had a box with the repaired radio in it the same day. I was impressed with the 2 week door-to-door service.

I'm knocking it down for the cryptic scroll through 59 option menu (not an exaggeration), and for blowing up the PA, but I give it credit for being a good sounding, easy to read radio with a lot of features for $125 and fast warranty support.
KC5BHJ Rating: 2007-07-01
Good, but HOT radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I own two of these radios for about 4 mo. now. I run one as a standby base and the other as a mobile in my pickup. I just packed up my normal 2 M base (Yaesu FT-897D)for a trip to NM,and had a normal QSO on the 1802 standby rig and man did that litle radio get HOT! I mean.. can't hold your hand on it hot. I attached a 12V fan we'll see if it helps. I'm not sure about the rig in the pickup, I've never felt it after a QSO, but I will the next time.
I wouldn't buy another...I think I'd spend a little more and get the 2800. I bought one for my son and he loves it and it has a much bigger heat sink!!
KB1JVI Rating: 2007-06-11
Easy learning curve Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got this radio installed, and got it on the air. The audio I have been told was excellent, and the radio is very easy to learn after reading the manual.
KA1HSP Rating: 2007-06-09
Hot Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I loved the FT-2800 but it had a horrible problem of BEEPING through the menu and WX channels when near another RF source. BUT loved the rugged construction, tight receiver, large knobs, LOUD RX audio, front mic jack, traditional button mic hanger, NON-REMOVABLE face plate, simple yet modern operation, etc. I really really liked it.

Finally swapped it out when the FT-1802 hit the market. Similiar spec on paper but the radio seemed to be an "econo-version" of the 2800. RX was not as tight as the 2800, audio not as loud, easy solution ... run tone squelch when possible, keep the squelch knob at 3 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock, and use an external speaker.

BUT ..... the FT-1802 always ran uncomfortably HOT, and I do not talk very much. I dubbed it my "12 volt skillet". It never transmitted into VSWR higher than 1.4:1 at band edges and 1:1 at 146.000 MHz. I progammed the memories to use only 20 watts output. I have always felt these new 50 watt radios in such tiny boxes is more of a marketing gimick for the 3db (1/2 S-unit) increase.

Well I noticed that there was no repeater ansering when I make my usual call on the commute a few weeks ago. The dummy display bar shows all is normal. Put the meter in line and the RF module appears gone, driver power only.

This really could be a fantastic little radio with the simple addition of a cooling fan like on the FT-7800 which I keep on packet at home.

At $130 shipped from HRO, I may buy another one. The RF module is $70 + shipping + time & aggrevation. The age of throw away radio is here like with most consumer electronics. Maybe my experience is just a fluke.

73'sssss .... Joe, KA1HSP
KG6POG Rating: 2007-05-16
Great 2 meter radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My last 2 meter radio was also a Yaesu but it was the FT 2800m. I could not key my Kenwood TS-480HX without having to shut the old radio down. I also had problems with intermod with the 2800. But the new 1802 has no problem with rf even when I switch on my KW amp the radio is quite and shows no ill effects, like switching channels or getting locked in a circle with the weather bands.
Also using the same antenna I can still hit all of the repeaters I had programmed into my FT 2800m.
So I'm very pleased with this unit and have three of them. One as a base and two in our trucks.
W4BGN Rating: 2007-05-15
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
HOW ON EARTH COULD YOU FIND A MORE DURABLE RADIO???

This is the best 2 meter rig as far as I'm concerned. Definately the best bang for the buck. Totally blows the competition away.

If you need a great radio, you better buy this one, hands down...
KC9AYN Rating: 2007-05-14
GREAT FOR THE $$$ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
YOU HAVE TO EXPECT SOME HEAT BUILDUP WITH NO FAN AND THE HEAT SINKS THAT ARE THERE.
TX AND RX ARE SUPERB. ITS SIZE AND FUNCTIONALITY ARE ABOVE AVERAGE. DO NOT EVEN NEED THE BACK LIGHT ON DURING THE DAY. YOU CAN READ THE NUMBERS FINE.NEVER OPENED THE MANUAL. IF YOU OWNED A YEASU RADIO BEFORE, PROGRAMMING IS STRAIGHT FORWARD.
THIS IS A WINNER.
K1WJ Rating: 2007-05-11
So far so good Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
We have had 2 FT-1802's for 6 months now, one in my car, one in my wifes car (K8IVY). Both radios have had no issues thus far. Nice, heavy, well built. Gets a tad warm on 50watts. For me, it was easy to program & manual seems fine also. For the price, a real good deal in my view. Audio is fine in menu setting wide and mic gain at 5.
73 K1WJ