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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
W5NM Rating: 2006-06-14
Stinks ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned a FT-90r a couple of years ago and had
squelch problems. I did a MOD that I found and
that helped a little. Unit always overheated and
after a few months it developed the infamous
"lose its memory" problem so many other FT-90r
radios experienced. Very Poor radio. By comparison,I recently purchase an FT-1802M 2m
transceiver and it is the Best 2m only radio I
have ever owned... Go Figure.....
KG4VTQ Rating: 2006-06-14
Still working after all these years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I wrote my first comments about this rig in late 2002 after a short period of ownership. After a change of vehicle and the passage of more than 3 additional years, the FT-90R is still in daily use, still performing well, and still providing more than satisfactory service.

I continue to be amazed how well the unit performs in comparison to the experiences that have been regularly reported here, but it may be the reason is that I only ever use it on the mid power levels since those are more than sufficient for my needs - given my glass mount dual band antenna, higher TX power would do little more than let me reach stations I wouldn't be able to RX anyway!

I've now installed the rig in the back of my vehicle with just the head and external speaker up front, so the fan noise isn't intrusive and of course I don't notice the heat the rig generates back there, and just get on with using it.

In the almost 4 years since purchase, I had one squelch issue where the rig showed a near full-scale RX signal but gave no audio and wouldn't un-squelch. It was a hot day and the rig had just been switched on. A quick TX resolved it. There was also a brief period where the fan caused a little excess noise when running high, but I cleaned it out and it's been fine since.

I've had no issues with memory loss or lock ups, and after the first 6 months have rarely needed the manual.

I live in an area with a number of paging systems that typically cause intermod problems, but the FT-90R is generally no worse than any other rig I've tried, and better than a couple of others. Scan speed in memory mode is sufficiently fast that it goes some way to alleviate the lack of dual watch, and the controls are sufficiently logical and few that it becomes second nature to operate quickly and easily while driving.

There are disappointments. RX audio with the internal speaker isn't great. It's sufficient in a reasonably quiet vehicle, but with added noise levels and the further off-axis from the speaker you get, the more soft and muffled it sounds. A well placed external speaker would be a wise investment for many. The separation kit is an unreasonably silly price - for a few cables and a mount for the head, this should be half the price or less. The kit works just fine, but it's a rip off. The head has to be screwed to the mount meaning that it can't readily be removed - that's not just a disappointment, it's a serious oversight. At the price, Yaesu could and should have designed a mount that allows the head to be snapped in and out. The size and design of the case, ventilation and fan make it easy to mistakenly mount the unit in locations where there isn't sufficient airflow, so heat build up can be a serious issue. Careful thought about mounting location helps.

That said, I like this rig a lot. I am mindful of the negative comments others have made, and can only assume this reflects very poorly on Yaesu's quality control. It seems apparent that the design and manufacturing compromises needed in order to build such a superbly compact full-power rig, coupled with component tolerances and possibly dubious quality assurance methodology on the production line has resulted in a radio that is astonishing in design, but unpredictable in use for a proportion of owners, and that cannot be justified. FT-90R units cost good money and we all have a right to expect what we buy will do what the manufacturer claims. For some, their units clearly don't and haven't.

For that reason this is not something I could recommend to anyone. It's now not possible to buy one with the benefit of a meaningful warranty, so any purchase of one is a lottery - whether it works correctly or not seems a matter of pure luck. On the other hand, while there are a number of reports of FT-90R units that appear to have faults, the proportion of units affected is an unknown, and through the period of manufacture there's no apparent indication of if and when Yaesu modified the design to resolve issues they may have been aware of.

Ultimately, for users such as myself, this is an amazingly small, very neat, simple to use, dual bander that is very satisfying to operate, and which generates very positive signal and audio reports. It lacks the extensive features of the newest generation of mobile rigs, and takes a little while to get used to, but with 180 memories, wide RX, physical dimensions that make it barely any larger than a older HT, a control panel that is simple and uncluttered, a display that is clear and easy to read in anything but direct sunlight (and which has a pretty wide range of brightness and contrast adjustments to suit almost any lighting conditions) and with the facility to remote mount the head if space or circumstances dictate, this remains one of the few really versatile mobile rigs.

IF (and it's a big IF) you can find one with a known-good history and are in need of a compact dual bander and don't need dual watch, the FT-90R is a truly good option. On the other hand, if you have space for a larger model, or can't source an FT-90R of known quality, some caution and serious thought is to be advised before you buy one.

All told, I'm not going to be selling mine. It's already given me great service over a life-span that makes me a satisfied owner, and while I have no way to know whether I'm in the majority or not with this rig, clearly there are some good ones along with the bad. But it's the bad ones that need to temper anyone's purchasing choice. Mine remains a 5/5, and it's the first and only mobile rig that I could say that about!

----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by KG4VTQ on 2002-11-15

I bought my FT-90R and think it's great - but I wouldn't recommend the radio to anyone because it's clear so many of them are too variable in quality and suffer too many common problems.

That said, mine is reliable, doesn't overheat and hasn't suffered the squelch problems others have noted. Since I mostly work local repeaters, I stick to mid power levels most of the time and I think that helps a lot.

Operating the radio is a daunting proposition until you get used to it, and a copy of the manual is an absolute essential. After you get familiar with it, it's easy to use and very simple to control. The range of brightness and contrast adjustments on the display are adequate to ensure I can read it under almost all lighting conditions I've found, and while the audio quality makes an external speaker a sensible addition, it's acceptable unless the window is open at speed. Sensitivity a very good, though being able to hear weak signals also tends to make the front end a little open to surious signals too. My FT-90 is a little prone to intermod from the plethora of paging systems in the area, but it's barely worse than other mobile radios I've tried.

I bought the radio because of it's size and was prepared to accept the inevitable compromises such a small unit entails, most notably the lack of dual-receive. Personally, that doesn't bother me much, though occasionally I miss the facility to monitor two repeaters at the same time as I used to on my Alinco 599. That said, I seemed doomed to always answer a call on the wrong band, so everyone else is probably happy I can't do that now! Also, despite the need for a copy of the manual from time to time, I found the enforced simplicity in the controls a great benefit after the multiple buttons and multi-functions of the Alinco.

All in all, I think this is a neat and well thought solution to the problem of fitting a dual-bander into a lot of today's cramped cockpits. There are inevitable compromises in features and operability as a result of the size constraints, but these are fine by me. Given the quality control and heat-related issues that seem common, it's difficult to rate the FT-90R any better than a 3/5, but for my unit which seems to suffer less than others, and which suits me just fine, I'd have to score it 5/5.
NL7FK Rating: 2006-05-09
Great little Radio if used properly Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I guess I am a lucky one. I have used my FT-90R for more than three years without a hitch. My radio is one of the last year of production radios so maybe the bugs wre worked out on my radio. As stated in the intro it is a great radio if used properly.

#1. Although it is small it cannot be cramped into a small cubby hole in the dash while in mobile operation. It needs to be mounted in its mobile bracket to allow proper air flow.

#2. Although the radio is capable of high power operation high power should be used only when actually needed. Too many people operate on high power when a watt or two will work. Does using the minimum power necessary to hold a QSO ring a bell?

#3. I am a bit biased toward Yaesu equipment because I have a MKV, 990, 890, 60R, VX6, FT90, 2400, 7800, 150, and a Yaesu 1000 Rotor and have yet had a problem with any one item.

Will buy Yaesu again? You Bet I would. Would I buy another FT-90? You bet I would as long as I know it has not been abused.
N5NPO Rating: 2006-05-07
Tiny Marvel! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Got mine used from an ad online. Could not belive how small this thing was. I had mine for about 6 mos and used it a lot with absolutely no hang ups. I am a two way radio tech and I used the ADMS software to program the radio with public service stuff as well as ham repeaters. Only thing about it, due to its tiny size, an external speaker in a mobile enviroment is a big help. I would not hesitate to aquire another one....
73
VE1HUP Rating: 2006-03-15
Fine Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I thought it was about time I added my 2 cents. I have had this rig for almost 3 years and love it. I have had no issues at all. With the cramped quarters in most vehicles, I wish that they still sold these as I would buy another for my other vehicle. 73.
WA2FAA Rating: 2005-09-19
Hanging in there Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my FT-90R for 3 years now. No problems what so ever. Was mobile for over 2 years, now is in the kitchen on 16 hours a day, and still purrrss. With aircraft and public service, it's just what I needed, and love the size.
N1IDU Rating: 2005-09-19
So many problems. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these radios, and only one is in service now. Memory loss, along with loss of alignment settings & squelch problems on one unit- the other lost memories a couple of times but never lost alignment (yet).. If you want a Yaesu dual band mobile that WORKS, try the FT-7800. Mine hasn't died
after a year(again,yet). I'd need to wear a mask to unload the
ft-90's Avoid.
WA4WPD Rating: 2005-09-19
Why can't I use negative numbers? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these. Bought 6 months apart. Don't run it mobile in the south. Overheats without being on.

Even in the shack they don't work (for long).

Same problems every one else has. On one the squelch on 2 meters very seldom works now. That's the one that's "been fixed" twice.

Both collect dust now.
SP5UFE Rating: 2005-05-19
Good Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Very good rig. Audio from this little radio is great.
KC0GLA Rating: 2005-01-01
Nice and small Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this radio for 2+ years now and have not had any problems. I do have one gripe which is the fan. I live in a dirty area and have had to clean out the fan and lubricate it. Also the radio does get hot on higher powers.

The recive is great, compared to my D700 which is very prone to outside band interference. I now use the radio for local repeaters and it woks fine for that since the power is not needed most of the time.