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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-736R

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-736R
Reviews: 41MSRP: FT 736R
Description:
FT-736R
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.rigpix.com/yaesu/ft736r.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00414.7
W6PMR Rating: 2007-08-04
All mode on 220 and four bands! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I picked up this rig because I'm setting up a contest station and needed 220mhz all mode. My
rig came with 6/2 and 440 and 1.2. I soon found out it's faster and cheaper to just buy another 736R with the bands you need and re-sell the spare radio.
Mine now has 2/220/440 and 1.2ghz and fulfills all my base contest needs. After using it for about six months these are my observations on this radio.
I live in a semi-rural area so intermod and selectivity do not seem to be any problem. Sensitivity as compared to my other all mode 2 meter radio, (Kenwood 751) is about the same switching antennas on the same signal. Not exactly lab testing but It's what I have to compare. No r.i.t. and no dial lock are my only complaints.
There are no other radios out that are multi band with 220 so if you have the space, (it's a big guy!) put it on your desk.
All-in-all it's a unique rig that seems to be a decent perfomer with the only downside being that it's getting long on the tooth and that age will factor in after a while.
WD9GJK Rating: 2007-02-24
Best for the buck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my ft736R for a year now I Found it on Ebay and love it so much that when I found one at an estate sale I bought a second one... The receiver is very sensitive and excellent transmitter reports from all worked. I bought the first because my Ft-847 doesn’t have 220 SSB and wanted that band for VHF contesting. The rig came with 2-220-440 installed and the PLL board I got the second because it had 6 meter board in it freed up the 847 for serious Hf work the modules are real easy to take out and install my primary 736R now has 6-2-220-440 and the second one sits up by my computer for local fm repeater work in the Chicago area. All I am using is a short whip antenna off the back of the rig and can work repeaters 40 miles away no sweat. This rig has filled a void in my VHF-UHF station and I am very happy that I found it. I am currently looking for a 1296 module for the second one and will be able to work all of the bands it was designed for. It is truly the best VHF-UHF rig I have owned. If you get a chance to work on you wont be disappointed in the performance it put out.
Thanks for reading Mike WD9GJK
PE2PE Rating: 2006-10-09
good rig - problems now Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio new in the 80's, with 50 Mhz and 1296 Mhz modules + SP-767 speaker and MD-1 microfone.
I did not use the rig too often on 2m because my FT221R with Mutek frontend is performing much better....
The internal powersupply died last year, I was not able to repair it allthough I exchanged the C's. But an external PS is the solution for this.
Since 2 years I have another problem: on 70 cm's the rig becomes instable after 5-10 minutes. The frequency is drifting - faster and faster every minute.. Switching to another band and wait a few minutes is a solution but the problem repeats within 5 min. after switching back to 70 cm's.Has anybody an idea how to solve this ?
(See QRZ.com for my Email).
1296 Mhz is still working perfect, an external preamp is a must.
These days I use my FT736 mainly for 6m. It is performing very well, also in WSJT modes.
And last but not least: I like the frontdesign !

Freek - PE2PE
N0TTW Rating: 2006-09-21
A hot radio :) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio a year ago and at great price on Ebay ($1200). It has the 220 and 1.2G options installed as well as a couple other options. I have had a ball using it for terestrial and satellite work.

This radio is worth its weight in gold. HAMGUY123 on Ebay would have it stripped down and it would cost you over $2000 to get the options I have.

So if your lucky, grab one! You won't regret it.

WR1H Rating: 2006-03-17
Love it ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got a brand new "in the box" with all accesories. Well ... I had actually bought it back in 1999, and never opeened it.

I am having the time of my life with it. The power supply is a bit noisy. I will try driving it with my Astron VS-50M.

So far, its cool to have a Brand new 1987 circa Sat radio. I have installed the 23cm and 6m modules.

So far so good. Looks funny next to my brand new IC-7800 !.
WA2EHL Rating: 2005-05-23
Excellent satellite rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased 736r used from a mid-western ham outlet and was surpised how clean the rig was.Have logged many contacts on sat without the use of a pre-amp on 2 or 70cm.Had a new one back in 1991 and sold it after the demise of AO-40,but am back full force on the "birds".Although the built in supply is a little noisy,I can live with that.By the way you can still purchase the FTS-8 ctcss unit from Burghardt-Amateur.
KI4GPX Rating: 2005-02-25
Excellent all-mode base rig! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After reading many good eHam reviews on the FT-736R, I decided to purchase one (pre-owned, of course). I wanted 220Mhz capabilities, as well as 2M & 440Mhz. The added kick was to be able to work SSB and SAT -- all on one rig.

The FT-736R has done a great job -- with excellent audio reports. I'm a relatively new ham, so ease-of-use and configuration are important to me. The FT-736R scores high in these areas as well.

The only constructive criticisms I have are:
1) I wish the rig had more power output.
2) The frequency scan feature is a little cumbersome to use.

All in all, a very good choice for anyone looking to purchase a solid base unit that will do 6M, 2M, 220, 440 & 1.2Ghz. You choose -- 4 modules will fit the rig -- with four seperate antenna outputs. Life is good!
CharlieJ, W4TCJ
(Formerly KI4GPX)
OE3JTB Rating: 2004-12-28
nearly excelent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Very solid TRX, used in 24h VHF/UHF/SHF contest, only one damage, PA of 23cm module has gone, my fault :-(

I have installed all options, only the keyer is missing.

I use it in connection with a DSP MFJ module, so nearly every station is readable.
I bought a second one for my 2nd QTH, the best TRX for 6m/2m/70cm/23cm I ever had, no compare to 910H or equal.
Using PA for all bands, very small sig :-), no TVI.
If you can get one, buy it.
Negative is only the spare part are very rare, but the TRX seems to function the next 10 years without problems.
WV4R Rating: 2004-12-20
I Fondly Remember my FT-736R... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I Fondly remember my FT-736R which I bot NEW back in the early 80's. I was living near Downtown Miami intermod city and recall the "S-meter" going nuts but Never passing any intermod, unlike my other "mobile" style radios. I liked the modular band units. The FM Audio was real Studio Quality using only the Yeasu desk mic. Operation was straight forward although I had to add an Outboard ComSpec PLL box for metro repeater ops. I liked the Dual Power design for 12VDC ops IF the 110/220VAC failed. The unit was big. The unit was heavy. The modules were not high power. Power was continuously adjustable. The unit Looked and Felt like a quality rig. I never experienced any of the Negatives of previous Product Reviewers. I sold my FT-736R only after my job went out of business and I had to sell out and move out, otherwise, I probably would still have it. Because I owned the FT-736R for Nine Years without a hiccup and because it Did What It Did, it has to earn the WV4R "FIVE" Star Rating for a classic rig which is still worth it's money today. 73 es God bless. murf/wv4r.
VE8NSD Rating: 2004-12-20
I like mine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine on eBay (gasp!) from a guy named Adam Farber who sells lots of '736's and accessories for them. Great guy, great radio. I use mine strictly for 6 meter aurora and e-skip. It works great and there's nothing that I would change. I built up a base mic from a bunch of old Turner parts for it and put an old Mirage 150 watt amp after it. With a 2 element quad I'm having a great time. Less TVI then my Yaesu FT-817 that I used to use on 6. Also less susceptible to RF fields then my '817 which was always howling about something if I hooked any sort of amp to it. The speech processor makes a real difference on aurora conditions. Plus, (and this is a minor point) this radio just looks right. Visitors to the shack are impressed just looking at it. Even though these are old radios they still aren't cheap. There's a reason for that. It's a good set.