This will make you a better operator

[@AC9DJ]

I agree 100% with your results. My 2 most used radios are the VX-6 and since it's release the D75. Yes the D75 is pricey but it does everything and it does it very well.

[@hangonitsgettinreal]

I have started carrying a HT more than I used to. I do carry it when it's too far to walk home and in bad weather. Here in N East Texas the cell service drops out constantly.

[@rickgilbrt]

I can get USB-C charging in just about any vehicle I get into without any vehicle mods. For that reason alone, USB-C charging capability is high on my list of valued specs on an HT.

[@KM4ACK]

can't argue that logic 👍

[@Obeeewaan]

actually doesn't have to be C type, any usb will do in a pinch...

[@rickgilbrt]

@@Obeeewaan - the connectors the voltages have to match. Can't charge a radio that expects a 12v supply using a USB type that only supplies 5v.

[@RobertoRubio-ij3ms]

Amazing video. Concise and filled with value.

[@bradmeyer7612]

For on the go charging I have a universal charger ( usb with two long alligator clips for + and - terminals on the battery) I then plug into a solar charging unit. You can plug the usb cable into a 12 volt car charger.

[@garberinc]

Hey Jason! Great idea for a video. I have been EDC an HT since a tornado came through in 2010 and I was not prepared- radio wise. I never leave the house without an HT even though my truck has radios. My go to- Icom ID50. I do have the ID52, but the 50 is a little smaller. Excellent battery life. Rugged and waterproof. Near repeater search is killer! And the build quality and signal sensitivity blows my FT5 out of the water. Keep up the great work!

[@KM4ACK]

I have a couple of friends that own the ID50 and the swear by it.

[@jerutley]

The Parasitic power draw on the Yaesu radios is because of the push-button power (not a physical switch). The CPU has to constantly be using power to monitor for the power button being pressed. My VX8-GR is the same way.

[@jtderby]

The FT-60 is the perfect stash in the car radio. It’ll outlive your grandchildren plus if you keep the AA batter holder with it, you can run full power with six AA batteries you can find almost anywhere in a pinch.

[@TestSpaceMonkey]

Something to consider on USB C charging (and this might be only some of my radios): when plugged in the noise floor goes up *4* S units. I figure there's at least a switching supply/boost converter on the power bank/wall plug side and another one inside the battery/radio to feed the battery properly ... that's a lot of noise potential.

[@TrenchKraft]

Love the VX-6R

[@themercman07]

Love this concept. I carry a back pack with me everywhere i go. I keep my county issued radio wnd my 2/70 HT in it at all times. Never know when you will need it and keeps you familiar with it.

[@dougdaniels]

I'm a big Kenwood HT fan. Still use my 20+ y/o THF6A regularly. I wish they had a current offering that wasn't $750. Just something basic, no digital, no APRS.

[@Littrell1966]

I hope you will be able to test a VGC with bluetooth TNC HT, you really use and test you equipment and deliver us great video's!!!

[@thedoobie1]

This.

[@patthesoundguy]

I have been EDC the Retevis RT85 whisch is basically the non materproof 5watt version of the RA89. Been on my belt everyday for probably 2 years almost. I have a holster and a shoulder mic on a lanyard around my neck. I will be uprading to the RA89 fairly soon because I want the extra power and IP rating. I have an RT3S DMR from retevis that I love but I like the simplicity of the RT85 better.

[@dantheradioman]

I do this as well. I always have an HT on me. At home I listen to the same repeaters & monitor simplex. If I find myself at a hill or view I will put my call out. Sometimes I do APRS with a Mobilinkd TNC. When I'm out hiking I always have HT and a Garmin InReach satellite messenger. When I'm traveling somewhere I'll program some local repeaters either via Bluetooth or just from the face. I have always been able to talk to locals as I travel about with just an HT.

[@brentboydston2565]

Sorry, but I have to call clickbait you never answer the question how this experiment made you a better operator. Would still like to know

[@kj4dwx]

Uh it's obvious. He used his radio everyday. ( Not like the majority who buy something and leave it on the shelf until emergency happens and can't remember how to use it) He also learned what features both like and dislikes to help new hams decide before they buy$$. Good videos, keep it up.

[@kurtwolter3984]

@@kj4dwxYes. Great vids. I’ve learned a ton here. 👍

[@brentboydston2565]

To be clear: I'm a regular and consistent follower of your channel. I commend you for the consistently high quality of your videos, content and generally analysis. That being said, I doubt you'll cry over a little bit of constructive criticism. 73 man!

[@Deano_K5MPG]

@@brentboydston2565 except your criticism was not constructive.

[@redinator9896]

FT-65 IS a nice budget radio. The antenna internally broke on my first one. I bought a spare and a comet antenna.

[@pale_2111]

The Kenwood D-75A is my favorite HT I have. I do agree with the battery life. It'll do whatever you need it to do and then some. Just wish Kenwood would've put a bit more thought into the design, like making it waterproof.

[@truckinguy92]

The radio is already $750, making it waterproof would more than likely add $100 to the price tag. I have found most waterproof radios sound muffled because of the waterproofing membranes required to make them as such.

[@kd0duj]

The Yaesu FT-60 is a dual band radio

[@cmritchie04]

I like the Kenwood D75, the issue is nobody else in the household is onboard with radios...even with a GMRS license. They are glued to their cell phones only. So I stick with commercial radios for now.

[@BradleyBrown]

Thanks for sharing your timely thoughts on these radios! I had a fellow I met at Field Day reach out to ask what kind of radio he should get for kayaking, and while I had heard of the VX6, I hadn't the heard of the more affordable Retevis. I was unaware of the parasitic power drain on the FT-70D, either. I love the radio, myself, but am always stumped as to why the battery is near dead when I pick it up. I'm thankful I picked up a spare battery, but am going to start storing it disconnected. I'm also surprised how few hams carry a handheld. I always advertise a talk-in simplex frequency for club activities and for coordination and safety at Field Day, and it's proven very helpful to those that do have theirs handy. 73 de KC1JMH

[@Cliff-KI5OPP]

Good to know about charging the ft5 with 12 volts. I was to scared to try

[@mediocreman2]

I love my Kenwood TH-D72A and have considered the 74 and 75, but they don't have full duplex for some reason.

[@fidgeekouts5881]

Good video. I disagree with you on the ft-70D, but you've given me a few others to take a look at . Thanks!

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks. Not everyone will like the same radio. Each of us have different needs. Mine can vary by the day.

[@fidgeekouts5881]

@@KM4ACK exactly, and that's the point ;)

[@spldrong]

My UV-5R never leaves my backpack

[@elgambitero7039]

Huge lover of my vx-6 here. Saying "It runs forever on the battery" feels like an script slip-off or typo. But if it wasn't, please please tell me where did you get your batteries from. Battery life on the vx6 is horrendous. Dead after an afternoon of just monitoring, can be flatted out in a 15 min QSO. Everyone i know, or heard talking about this vx6 coincides with this.

[@KD4QNA]

Is the Retevis 89 the same model as the TYT UV88? Very similar in appearance and price but haven’t gotten 10w out of the TYT yet. Also, with the Kenwood D75: how much VARA FM have you done with it and does it “behave” with external gear needed to achieve VARA?

[@Nolano386]

the baofengs have their downsides but one plus is you can leave one alone for 3 years and the battery won't drain

[@moga864]

Anytone 878II+ Yaesu FT1 VGC N76 those are my top three Need to find out whether the aftermarket battery you featured will fit the FT1/2.

[@Littrell1966]

@@moga864 Pretty sure the Ft1 through 5 used the same battery. I love my FT1xdr and have a bigger aftermarket battery, but I didn't know about the one with a USB C port.

[@moga864]

@ my thought is the same, but GTK I’m not the only one operating under the assumption. TU 73.

[@jameslee522]

Is there any dmr radios that are water proof, have aprs tx and rx, and thr ability to have dmr encryption?

[@RussellThomas]

other than sounding better i feel that same with the FT-70. I wish they could make the next version of the FT-5 have the speaker setup from the FT-70 LOL

[@notsure7874]

My problem with the vx-6 is the knobs. Its way too easy to bump the knob and chamge frequency accidentally.

[@KM4ACK]

I run into this with many different HTs. The lock button is my friend :-)

[@chrissewell1608]

Radio 1) Didn't like it because it does'nt have USB-C charging! 😢 Radio 2) Didn't like it because it does have USB-C charging! 😢 There is just no pleasing you Mr. Powers! 😂

[@WilliamMcKeehan]

Jason, I found that just carrying an HT didn’t do much for me. When I’m out of the house, I have my mobile station - when I’m out of the mobile I’m typically in a store/restaurant and find HT coverage very poor inside of those buildings. What do you use your HT for that makes it valuable (and you a better operator)? Do you give yourself tasks to perform with the HT while away from the house?

[@KM4ACK]

Not really tasks per say. I often use the HT to listen to NOAA and FM radio. If I was near the car, I would also turn on cross band repeat if I couldn't hit the repeater with the HT. Carrying an HT everyday gave me insight as to which was needed for a given situation. Made me a better operator as I became super familiar with the operations of each HT. I'm a glutton for punishment so about four months into the experiment I moved all of the HTs to VFO mode and manually punched in frequencies I wanted/needed for the day.

[@503Nick]

What makes the d75 UI so much better than the ft3/ft5? Not talking about the tnc access or Bluetooth connectivity.

[@KM4ACK]

One small example is when you reply to an APRS message. On the Yaesu, after you hit reply, you have to delete the original message before typing the outgoing msg. On the Kenwood, you hit reply and are greeted with a clean compose screen ready for typing. It’s these small touches that make a big difference when you use the radio in a regular basis.

[@503Nick]

@@KM4ACKI use the ft3 multiple times a week for APRS messages and sota spotting. I love the radio and battery performance. But deleting messages when replying is in fact annoying

[@CraigSotelo]

So how did this make you a better operator?

[@martinvanek5951]

What comes to mind is knowing how to operate each radio if you have multiples. I often find myself having to reference the owner manual if I haven't used a radio for a while. This is especially true for me when needing to change menu settings. 73

[@KM4ACK]

Being much more familiar with each radio because they were carried on a regular basis. I learned much more about the ins and outs of each radio and exactly when I needed to carry a particular HT.

[@jarredjones8476]

Iv e carried a HT for 12 years lol.. for the past few years i carey 3 all do different things.

[@calvinkutemeier393]

No VX-2R?

[@FatJoey-k9m]

Wow!

[@rickgilbrt]

HT's should have mechanical on/off switches to eliminate parasitic draw. My FT-70 normally sits with the battery dislodged and held in place by the belt clip to avoid the parasitic draw. With its tiny battery, the FT-70 will drain down in a month or so if the battery is connected. Bad, bad design.

[@mariofazio6006]

Excellent ht comparative, thanks and 73, LU4EOU

[@dougdukes1039]

Who made your cap?

[@KM4ACK]

www.gearforever.com/

[@numbersix7193]

I have had all the Yaesu radios. All but the ft70 have gone. The VX6 was the worst receiver compared to all. The best I have found is the Icom ID-52. Since you excluded Icom the comparison was not complete.

[@RussellThomas]

W0AEZ we need a battery for the D75!! 😁😁

[@KM4ACK]

AGREE!!

[@HamRadioOnFire]

Did you mod your ic705 for usb C?

[@KM4ACK]

Not yet but it's on the to do list

[@jackmortimer329]

Other than having a box clipped to your belt all day, how did you use an HT every day?

[@KM4ACK]

Mostly just talking on local repeaters.

[@chrisreich40]

The 't' in 'often' is silent.

[@MeOnTech]

nice

[@floid33556]

So what did you learn and how are you a better operator? I learned that you like yeasu radios.

[@KM4ACK]

I like Kenwoods as well :-) By carrying the HT everyday, I am vastly more knowledgeable about the ins and outs of each radio. Being more familiar with your gear is part of what makes one a better operator.

[@jimweisgram9185]

Man, there are so many HTs to choose from these days, while reviews tend to hit high points but not some nagging headaches. It would be nice to see reviews of HTs that include comments about front end overload and spurious emissions. If you are out in the outback 100% of the time the overload issue may never matter. But I am thinking about emergency response (CERT) and it is something that *can* be a showstopper. Spurious emissions is another good one, since you are leaking power on the airwaves, that power isn't going to waste. And then there is the off chance you will be interfering with other communications without knowing. Does anybody know a reviewer that makes a point of including these topics. I get frustrated when a reviewer will mention these in ine post and then turn around and recommend a radio with one or both issues in another post.

[@nine7295]

FT-60R isn't type accepted for GMRS

[@avaughan585]

This is all well and good but an HT is as good as a chocolate teapot in my neck of the woods. There is no one listning. And I am close to three cities. I did a similar experiment in 2022. I called CQ every day for a year. Total QSOs... 5

[@KM4ACK]

Understand. Not all areas are as active. I'm always impressed when I visit Huntsville, AL. Those guys wear out 146.52 simplex. I wish my area was half as active on simplex.

[@doc145]

Just not into VHF. I love HF.

[@oobihdahboobeeboppah]

Thank you for NOT promoting the Baofeng radios that are so often reviewed on many YT channels.

[@mediocreman2]

The Retevis is just as chinese.

[@Deano_K5MPG]

Baofeng radios got help to a lot of people during Helene AND, majority of radios are Chinese

[@kurtzFPV]

You'd really like notarubicon production's channel.

[@KI7JOM]

I went to click the thumbs up and almost disn't because you had 73. Sorry i ruined your feng shui with a thumbs up!

[@SubVet1984]

I know this. If you don’t use your radio regularly you will not know how to use it when it counts!

[@vu3sdo]

I am a big fan of Kenwood HT, but a BIG no to chinese radios

[@KM4ACK]

I typically agree but I have really enjoyed that RA89. It's no Kenwood or Yaesu but still not a bad little radio.

[@DrFredism]

There are so many bad externalities about choosing a radio made by China over one made by the USA or our allies. After my requisite entry level Baofeng I will never buy another Chinese radio.