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Reviews For: Yaesu FT-1500M

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FT-1500M
Reviews: 185MSRP: 229
Description:
This is the new Yaesu FT-1500M Mono-band 2 Meter mobile radio. 50 watts out, MH-48 mic, CTCSS encode + decode, DTMF encode + decode, 130 memories, 1200-9300 Packet ready (connector on back), Backlit display, and most other bells and whistles you would come to expect from Yaesu (including SmartSearch, Clock Shift, ect.).
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/ft1500m.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001854.6
KV4BL Rating: 2002-06-24
Great Little Radio...and this from an avowed Yaesu hater!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First off, let me say that I've had nothing good to say about Yaesu or any of their products for several years, after having some really BAD experiences with their products and "service" department. In January of this year (02) I contemplated purchasing a small, economical, 2 meter mobile to use in the company (patrol) car when guarding a water plant in my jurisdiction as an overtime assignment (post 9-11). I put in many long hours at this job and boredom is my worst enemy. I considered an IC-2001 but for some reason, was totally intrigued with the appearance and features (including size) of the FT-1500-M that I saw in a flyer that was laying around my house. I first dismissed the idea as I figured it must be a piece of $#@% if it was a Yaesu, based on my past experiences with them. The more I looked at the flyer, the more I thought about it and reasearched it on E-Ham's review section. At the time the most common complaints that I found were that the speaker had a "tinney" sound and its microphone contrasted in appearance with the screen on the radio in terms of color. Well, in all fairness this is a SMALL radio and the speaker probably would be expected to be tinney. It does have an external speaker jack so I can live with that. I'm not buying the radio for its ability to cosmetically enhance my patrol car so that is not an issue for me. I figured that I wanted a radio that I wouldn't cry over if I jammed on brakes and slammed it into the dash or other wise had misfortune with so I decided to take a chance on it. Ordered it from HRO, Atlanta and have been glad ever since. As my car varies from time to time, I put a heavy duty cigarette lighter plug (available at most truck stops with the wire attached) on it and use a NMO magnet mount with quarter wave whip. This radio has excellent receive, have not noticed any intermod on it and I get excellet reports on my signal and audio. One feature I like is that when programming a memory channel, you set the power (rf out) level on the channel's memory. This way, I can have the closest repeaters set for 5w, the mediium distance machines at 25w and the simplex and distant machines at 50w. I've had this radio for just under 6 months and it has not given me any problems. It will get warm with extended xmits on 50 watts but it takes longer to do so than the Icom 2100's that I've owned previously did. This radio is very compact and easy to take along with you. The sepaker is a little tinney (as expected) but it is certainly useable. I use an old mobile CB external speaker as it does give better sound and the receive audio is all that I could ask for. For a radio that is available for well under $150, I have no complaints and would buy another without hesitation. I think Yaesu has done very well with the 1500m, avoiding the major and numerous design flaws that have been teir hallmark for way to long with too many of their radios. I hope this trend of excellence continues. Yaesu, thank you for not "doing it again" to me. I'm glad I took the chance on this radio.
AF8X Rating: 2002-06-23
Fits the bill Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My Saturn is so small I barely had room for a cell phone, however the Yaesu 1500M has found an ideal out-of-the-way place to reside in the
small Saturn cockpit, on the left side of the console near my knee. Great audio reports.
I found the speed-dial memories useful for
entering the node numbers of my friends on Echolink.
W7IAN Rating: 2002-06-22
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have only had this a few days but seems to be working great. Does heat up fast on 50 watts transmit though. Great radio.
2E1VAR Rating: 2002-06-17
Excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Built like a tank, nice and small for modern cars, lots of features, what more can i say ? faultless !
WHOCARES Rating: 2002-06-02
Only had this one for... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only had this one for about a week, but I have to say I love it! One things that concerns me. How did this radio's review get posted in the hf section?
K2PYY Rating: 2002-05-15
PL Problem Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I kept dropping the repeater and I called Yaesu. They were great and sent me the alignment instructions by FAX. I was told to increase the PL and if I didn't or couldn't to send the radio back. It was interesting and all done from the front panel in tuneup mode. There are four parts of the 2 meter band and each can tune four pl frequency amounts of deviation. I did it in about ten minutes and it was plesant and robust. Each combo has a number on the screen like 40. Not having any test equipment I just raised it to a guess-- 47 and saved it. I got good reports the next day and held the repeater. So if you are dropping out it may be that the PL is just a little light in deviation.

73's
Howard
K2PYY
JEFF Rating: 2002-05-13
Yes! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After using this for over a year in a 4wd application, with plenty of dust and rattling, it still works like a champ.

I just did the mic mod described in the main "Articles" index for the FT-100D, which uses the same mic. It sounds better.

Now that the price is 129 at HRO, I may buy another! The only problem is programing software is still back ordered by HRO (since Feb)
W0NYA Rating: 2002-04-07
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased my FT-1500 to replace my old, trusty FT-2400. All the old rig needs is a new memory battery and it goes out to the car. I used the FT-2400 as a base, and now I use the FT-1500 as my base station. This is one fantastic little radio (and I mean little)! I love everything about it. The setup is great. You can chose from 35 funtions, easily access them, then set up and forget it once you're up and running. I like being able to adjust deviation, adjust the intensity of the display, and using the RF squelch, among numerous other funtions. The RF squelch helps eliminate any "in home" intermod (like my computer!) enough so I can use the scan funtions. The receive audio is great...and loud. I immediately hooked up my external speaker, though. The internal one is simply too small, in my opinion, to give any "fullness" to the audio. I have also received excellent transmit audio reports. This radio is solid...built like a tank...just like my trusty ol' 2400 is. I personally found this radio intelligently designed for ease of use. Hats off to Yaesu on this one. I would easily purchase another one just to carry with me for use in and out of the car. It's small enough to make that possible. NO, I don't work for Yaesu...and, YES, I truly love this radio....and for $139??? You couldn't ask for anything more.
WD8TIM Rating: 2002-04-06
GREAT RIG! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
what can i say! the radio works great in my tractor trailer, even going in big towns, very little intermod, and always have great reports.
ZL2WJA Rating: 2002-04-04
great performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
had my ft1500m for about 15 months and its working well,no probs.
i like the rx sensetivity can hear repeaters all around the bottom part of the north island.
had good reports on the tx audio,people say it is clear and natural sound audioi use it as a base radio.
so no complanits from me about this little rig ,well worth the money.
73s all from new zealand