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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-90r

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-90r
Reviews: 138MSRP: 399.96
Description:
Micro 2m/440 transciever
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/ft90r.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001383.5
N3SRB Rating: 2000-06-12
Easy to use - works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this radio at Dayton in 1999 and use it in conjunction with my VX-5 and other friends with the VX-5. The ARTS function works well and has proven its value on the highway. The compact size makes for an easy fit in the Civic when used with a Radio Shack adjustable bracket. I planned to purchase the ADMS programming kit, but found that it was fairly simple to program manually. I programmed the default start up display so that a message scrolls by stating that it is a Yaesu amateur radio transceiver owned by N3SRB. It saves having to answer those frequent questions from non-ham passengers.
KC0GWG Rating: 2000-05-23
Little Big Mouth is right on the money! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I researched for all of three months looking for my first mobile duel bander rig. From the first time I read the reviews to the first time I opened the box, I was impressed. Yes this is one hot little radio but if you keep in in the clear it keeps it's cool just fine. My only complaint is that it's only FM. Every new toy has it's lemons and this certainly was not one of them.
KD6SRG Rating: 2000-03-31
Great scanning, poor display and audio Time Owned: unknown months.
Got this radio from another person who had problems reading the display. He is older and opted to get the ft-8100 for it's better display and dual-band receive.

After using this radio for a week, I can certainly agree that the display is hard to read if the radio is not in the shade. The built in speaker barely makes it in my Civic with the air on.

What I like about this radio is the scanning features, the micro-size, the power output. Also, a cool feature that I can't wait to check out is the ARTS.
WA1PIX Rating: 2000-03-20
You'll enjoy this small dual-bander! Time Owned: unknown months.
This radio's picture says it all. A dual-bander smaller than a compact CB set! What's not to love? Realize that this is a "one band at a time" rig, and so it cannot be used as a cross band repeater. It does a good job on 2-meters and 440. There's nothing outlandishly wrong here that I can report to you that might deter anybody from running out and getting one. Apart from the virtue of it's small size, though, the rig fails to generate much more excitement. A couple of good points-- it has a fan that virtually makes no noise whatsoever and also can be set to come on at high speed only when temperature demands so. Full programming, scan control and frequency setting can all be controlled from the mike. One feature missing on this rig, though, is CTCSS scan for searching out unknown subaudible tones for new repeaters. Terrible audio quality coming out of it's top-firing speaker and weak out-of-band scanning performance (AM aircraft receive comes off well, though) prevent me from rating this rig at a "5". I like it, and if it's price ever comes down to the $300 range it'll be a force to deal with.
W6LAR Rating: 2000-03-02
Returned mine in first week! Time Owned: unknown months.
After about 3 days in service in my truck, I carried it back to HRO for a full refund. Its cute as a bug BUT it gets so hot on full output you can't touch it. Also, after about two minutes of use it would drift so far off frequency on transmit I'd loose any repeater I was into. I thought it may have been temperature related but even on a cool morning with the rig first truned on it failed.
I have heard other similar stories and a friend sent his back for repair in the first few weeks twice and Yaesu had it in the shop for over 6 weeks before he got it back with the SAME problem not fixed! So, beware.... They just tried to put a snazzy rig on the market too soon. I love my VX-5 HT and maybe they should have made a moble with the same features. My truck now sports an FT-8100R that runs just fine and sounds good. Plus you can have two bands on at the same time, not with the FT-90r...
KG4AUQ Rating: 2000-01-22
Incredible little mobile rig Time Owned: unknown months.
Granted, I've only had this radio installed for 3 days now but so far I'm extreamly impressed with it. I haven't noticed it getting hot like the previous reveiwer. The front end seems to be very sensitive, making simplex QSOs mush more practical for me. I've gotten nothing but positive comments about my audio- and It's amazing that a radio the size of a 10 year old HT can produce 50 watts. The removeable face and mounting kit made installing it in my Daewoo Leganza a snap. I highly recommend this radio.
N0RH Rating: 1999-12-21
Nice package wiyt a few problems Time Owned: unknown months.
First a few af the things I like most about this radio. The package is a first, If you can't find a place for this one in your car, I guess you
will have to use your H.T.
I like the display, easy to see pleasing color.
Overall performance about average for dual banders.
On the down side, very wimpy audio,distorts badly
at about the 12 oclock position with internal speaker. Even with external speaker you can't go
much past 1 oclock position. I removed mine from my truck after one day of use because of low audio.
I am now useing It at home, the audio is just
adaquate.
Also this radio runs Hot Hot!! I turned power
down to 20 watts to bring the temp. down some.
I have a good match to the antenna.
Even with its faults, I like the radio.
KC0DXF Rating: 1999-09-09
Good things come in small packages! Time Owned: unknown months.
This is the smallest dual band radio on the market. If you don't have much space in your vehicle but just have to have a dual band radio, this is the answer. It packs 50 watts on VHF and 35 on UHF. It is also an excellent scanning radio with more receive frequencies than most radio's in this class. I especially like the microphone. It fits my hand nicely and I can still operate the gearshift while holding it (not while talking of course). The remote mount for the faceplate allows you to put the radio under your seat or in the trunk (need more power cable for the trunk though). The small faceplate and mounting bracket will fit just about anywhere. It does not cross band repeat but does everything else, including cross band split. I purchased the radio at Dayton and have had no problems with it so far. Looks like a winner on all counts!