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After about 6 weeks of using this radio I think I know it well enough to write a small review, so here goes.
I chose this radio mainly because of its specification i.e. all band and all mode. It is capable of working the MF/HF/VHF/UHF bands covering 160m to 10m, plus 6m, 2m and 70cm.
As standard it has AM/FM/USB/LSB/CW plus a range of digital modes I have not even explored yet.
I wanted a radio that would last for a while as I fully intended to go beyond the 10W foundation limitation, and work towards the intermediate and full licence.
This radio is capable of 100W from 160m to 6m, 50W on the 2m band and 20W on 70cm.
The radio is housed in a very compact case measuring approx. 6" wide, 2" high and 9" deep (you can do your own metric conversions) and weighs just over 4.5 lb.
The main controls are all front facing or on the side of the front panel with some button having more than one purpose depending if it is given a short press or a long press.
The 3 multi function buttons beneath the LCD are menu select buttons and refer to the options that appear above the buttons. These options will change depending which menu segment is active. I suppose this feature could be compared to most modern mobile phones where the choices on screen change depending upon the menu that is active at the time, with the buttons referring to the menu choices on screen.
I expect the big questions for everyone are:
Not easy questions to answer, with a lot depending on your ability to remember sequences of button presses to achieve the desired result.
The tuning function is by rotary knobs similar to most radios, but these are configurable for mode, step etc. from the menu system.
The band change function is achieved using two buttons (up and down) on the top of the front panel above the main dial. The mode change is achieved using two similar buttons (up and down) above the top left of the display.
For each button press the selection changes and cycles around from the last choice to the first choice, and vice versa. They are very easy to use as the display updates with every button press.
The entry point into the menus is the "Func" button. If this button is pressed momentarily then the radio enters "Multi Function Mode". The lower part of the LCD will show 3 options that can be selected by the 3 multi-function buttons. If the Select knob is rotated then these sets of options will change, with sets of options from MFa to MFq.
These quick menus hold the most common and frequently used features such as writing to memory, scanning memories, bandscope, repeater shifts and CTCSS tones. Some options are simple toggle on or off and some options have multiple choices that need repeated button presses.
The deeper use of the "Func" button is entered if you press and hold the button for one second. This enters the main (configuration) menu system. Rotating the Select knob will now cycle through 91 different menu choices covering all aspects of the radio such as output power, DSP parameters, tuning steps, mic gain, LCD colour etc.
As an example I will summarise the steps needed to initiate a scan through the stored memories:
The big question is about the manual. Is it up to the job? I find the manual a little unusual. It appears to have been written by an expert who knows the radio inside out but with an expectation that the reader also has a certain level of pre-existing knowledge. At times I find myself seeking further knowledge elsewhere because the manual explains exactly how to configure a particular function but fails to explain when I would need to use that function or why? This is my first amateur radio and I have no base for comparison. Perhaps all radio manuals are like this! However I certainly think it could have been done a little better than this.
As to performance, so far so good. I have managed a number of HF contacts across Europe and have worked through numerous local VHF repeaters and links with ease. I have had nothing but good reports from these contacts.
In summary, I think this is a excellent radio, well worth the time and effort getting to know its many features and options.
Check out the manufacturers website at Yaesu UK.
Read hundreds of other reviews of this radio at EHam.net.
Review by Robin 2W0LAZ.
March 2007.