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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
WB4UNA Rating: 2004-09-10
Great radio Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I finally got my hands on one and it will stay with me for along time. I wanted 220 and since they do not make any ssb gear for that band it took awhile to locate one like I wanted.. It has great recieve on the bands I have..2/432/220..I have made many contacts with it in the last few months and always get good reports ..Just wish they still made them...
AC5ZO Rating: 2004-06-15
Update Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It turns out that my radio was suffering from a slow failure on a ground connection in the TCXO area. This allowed the radio to drift around and exhibit poor selectivity. My review of this radio was colored by the fault condition.

Yaesu Factory Service repaired the problem and realigned the radio in January 2004. It works better than I remember, so the fault could have been developing over a period of years. I just used the radio for the 2004 June VHF QSO party and it is working fine. I don't have any plans to replace it, now.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by AC5ZO on 2003-06-26

I bought the 736R new quite a few years ago. I have the CW filter and additional modules for 6M and 1200.

I like the full duplex for satellites. When it was new, it also gave me 6M at a time when 6M was not a standard part of many HF radios. It has been used for some remote work from hill tops while on 4WD expeditions and it has held up to the rugged treatment.

What I don't like about the radio is the receiver which is subject to overload and poor selectivity. The sensitivity is also poor, but that can be corrected with any of the preamps on the market.

I am currently looking for MuTek boards for this older radio rather than selling it. I think for the best weak signal work, good transverters are probably superior when used with a good IF radio, but with the 736R, you get everything in one convenient box. I have contacted MuTek in GB and they are still in business and I will write a review on the finished product when I am done with the upgrade.

DK6NY Rating: 2003-06-12
Best on market - but still not superb Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got mine 4 years ago - added 50M and 1G2 modules and filters. The rig has all modes on all 4 bands, which makes this TRX so amazing. Easy to use. Power output is enough for me (10/25/25/10). It has great cross band functionality.

Operation: I use it TX on 1G2 SSB, RX on 430M. Sound is ok, but the ssb processor is hardly noticeable. The frequency is pretty stable, but the rx part should be improved (needs improvement on all bands, needs dramatic improvement on 430M). Rx is rather noisy, the strong signal capabilities are so-so. If you have the choice between getting an FT736 with or without mutek frontend -
GET THE MUTEK !
It has electronic (pin diodes) rx/tx switching - this makes cw bk operation bearable. Great !

Maintanance: the 736 is easy to adjust, once you have the service manual. All the spec values can be reached exactly which is not the case for all ham boxes. All necessary adjust points are easy to reach. The psu is rather poor for this TRX.

Resumee: the best VHF/UHF box around. Use preamps on 430M and 1G2 to overcome the rx noise. Don't adjust the 2m power to 30 watts as long as you don't have multiple power supplies. Place a small fan on top of the psu.
PY2ZS Rating: 2003-02-11
Very good, with minor design flaws Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I recently got an used FT-736R, and I found it a great bargain for satellite operation. The reported audio is excellent and the basic funcionality is really very good. This is the only multiband/multimode base transceiver with 220 MHz option. (Why FT-847 doesn't have this option???)

But there are some design flaws:

a) The internal power supply is noisy and there are many FT-736Rs with burned power supplies due to overheating. No problem, use an external power supply!

b) The main encoder ("VFO" encoder) "pop" as the radio becomes warmer, like in his brother FT-767GX...

c) Lots of positive feedback and oscilation at the PLL unit in the 70 cm module. As you see, Yaesu tried to solve this problem with lots of grounding wires around the upper side of the FT-736R.

d) Speech processor: The processor at FT-767GX is a real RF processor, and FT-736R has only a shy ALC-type speech processor (I believe is more likely a CB rig...)

e) The internal CW keyer is optional (*@#$%&%&!!! - It is not availabe anymore...)

Nevertheless, I recommend this excellent radio for every VHF/UHF fan! You won't regreat!
KA8YKT Rating: 2002-12-15
great vhf-uhf rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my ft-736r at dayton the year it was introduced it has been on several field days as well as vhf-uhf contests. It has served me well for all these years on fm,ssb,and a littel cw from time to time.This radio has been a very good one for me and i expect it will continue to be,so i say if you can find one and it checks out with a ballpark price or better BUY 73 KA8YKT
KG4GSC Rating: 2002-07-26
Recommended- Excellent VHF/UHF rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine used a bit over a year ago...added a 6M module, added amps for all bands and have not looked back. Quite happy with all functions....receive seems as good or better as compared to a friend's FT847. Yup, wish for higher output from the unit on 6M, but an old Mirage amp has solved that problem. Satellite tracking is efficient, using the PC interface to track is quite neat! Now, I just have to shield the PC a bit better <>.

Haven't missed AM....I have a boatanchor for that! (Gonset) My 736R has the tone encoder, keyer, CW filter and 6/2/432 modules. Quite the keeper.
K7SAO Rating: 2002-03-19
Best Multi-Band Rig Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Here is one great rig. Purchased mine from Ebay (gasp), but was lucky to receive a tranceiver in nearly new condition. (Paid only 850.00, not bad for Ebay hihi)Currently only has 2 and 70m modules, but my objective for this rig is satellite work. For me, everything is straight foward for operation, and functionality. AM would be nice, but can't complain for all the features installed. Did mod it for 9600 baud with good results.
KA0MR Rating: 2002-03-19
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First why would you want AM to start with. No external amplifier available I know for 6m will tolerate more than 10 watts input. The eas of the modules installation was easy.

The reciever could be a bit better but for 4 bands it ain't bad. I bought the 1.2G module as well as the ATV module and enjoy beautiful ATV pictures. I have one many VHF-UHF awards for contest with this radio. Mine has 2m-22-432 and 1296.

It's a shame they don't make it anymore no other rig out there can compare.

And Alex send me your e-mail and home address and I will make you a copy of the owners manual in acrobat PDF and mail it to you free.


Bob KAØMR
mdrdg@prairieinet.net
KG4EHV Rating: 2001-08-25
Great all around rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Being my first VHF-UHF all-mode rig I've really enjoyed this radio. Got it used on E-bay(gasp!)it was in super shape,added the 6m. board first and just picked up the 220 board. I like having a button for everything. Easy to set-up and use. Get excellent audio reports. Sent off to Yaesu last year for a tune up, no problems.
NE0P Rating: 2000-05-17
Great All band rig, but.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I recently sold my Yaesu FT736 to get money to upgrade HF station. I originally bought it used (but in mint condition) with the 6 and 222 units in it. Sold the 6 and finally replaced it with the 1.2 g unit. I think the radio is excellent, and am giving it five stars because it is currently the only multiband radio with 222 mhz (SSB and CW), and buying an Icom 375A would cost more than getting a 736 with the 222 module. A couple of things that I did not like about the rig:

1. No AM
2. Only 10 watts on 6, would like to see 25 like on other bands
3. Frequency shifted when going from USB to CW. Made cross mode contacts involve retuning.
4. Tone encoder was not standard, although mine had it installed
However, other nice things were:
1. ability to add CW filter and keyer
2. Modules were easy to install
3. Built in power supply, with ability to run off 12 volts
4. Ability to drive mast mounted preamps with it
5. Ability to turn power down on all modes, including SSB. This was nice