YAESU FT-2980 REVIEW - After 12 Month of use. Was it a good purchase?

[@willie_mccoy]

I've had the older 75 watt version for almost 10 years. Still in use. Great radio.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Tough kit that lasts I have the 2600m which is the reason why I got his one. Have fun with yours my friend. 73 de M0YKS

[@bassangler73]

Thanks man! I have been on the fence about this radio but after your review I'm going to order it!

[@applejacks971]

I've had one of these sitting on the shelf new in the box for the past 2 years. Maybe its time to open it up and start tinkering with it! Sweet lil rigs!

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Mine is switched on and still sweet. Have fun with yours. 73

[@applejacks971]

@@M0YKSHamRadio I guy locally has a new in box FT-1900. I could prolly pick it up for $50 usd, not sure what I'd do with it though. I got on the 'lets buy an ht because its cheap...'. 2 weeks later I have 10 of'em on the shelf lol!!! Can't pass up a $60 ht though, amirite!!

[@tonyv8925]

Thank you for this video. My FT-1900 malfunctioned...no receive audio when squelch is on, but audio when squelch is off, so I purchased the FT-2980 as a replacement. I use it as a base station 2m radio. I have it hooked up to a 1/2 wave vertical dipole so I have a little gain over a 1/4 wave ground plane. Maximum repeater range is about 60 miles at 10 watts, a little more if I go 30 watts. 73 de N8WJQ/EN72jj

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi Tony, good to hear you have the FT-2980 I'm still running mine after a couple of years with no worries at all. Great little radio have fun with your new toy. Money well spent 👍 73 de Simon M0YKS

[@adamwhite3584]

The trick with these if you use it mobile is to use much larger power cable then what comes with it. If you don't starve it for current and have 13.5vdc at the radio while keying In high power you're golden.

[@SolitaryBro]

Just got one of these new in the box from mi dad..... Thanks for the video.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Nice one buddy they are cool radios you will like it 👍 have fun.

[@SuffolkSifter]

Great review there. I am thinking of getting one for my Packet/APRS station as my old Kenwood TM-241 has just died. Just got to get my head around making up a lead to connect my Paccomm Tiny 2 TNC 👍

[@bassangler73]

I bought one about 3 weeks ago after watching your review...I love it!

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Good stuff buddy have fun 👍

[@bassangler73]

@@M0YKSHamRadio 👍

[@stesmith7040]

Thanks mate I’m looking around at the min and I’m a new m7 you just persuaded me 👍 Steve M7BUA

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Excellent stuff Ste! Congrats and welcome to Ham Radio. You will be impressed with the FT-2980 for sure. Its a nice radio and well made. I still cant believe the chunky'ness of it. I love mine. 73 Good Luck.

[@Sidmi5utc]

Hello Simon. I have the FT2900 virtually identical but for 5 watts less with a Diamond F22 antenna. Good package. The nice big screen means i don't need to put the glasses on ! 73 Syd

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi Syd, 👋 great to hear you are running a very similar setup this combination works very well indeed. I totally agree, it's the best display on all of my radios to see as I also need glasses but can't be bothered to get them for radio lol I need them for paying the bills and that's about it lol 73 have a great easter and enjoy the radio. Like you said virtually identical as 5w is not worth upgrading from 2900 to 2980 both are fab radios. 😀

[@Sidmi5utc]

@@M0YKSHamRadio Thanks for the reply Simon ! 73

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Always a pleasure to receive good comments 73 Syd de M0YKS Simon

[@G5STU]

I'm the sort of person that only watches the reviews after ordering something, and today is no difference haha - sounds like I didn't make a mistake.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

I'm similar lol yes you will enjoy this radio it's been very good and still is good after having it a couple of years now. No problems or complaints from me. Have fun when you get yours. 73

[@markg6jvy135]

Nice follow-up 👍👏👏

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Mark 😁 I honestly think that it is very good little radio 📻

[@bayanicruz8914]

Gud day sir..mine here in the philippines..can run tru up to 200km on simplex nice 2m radio

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Greetings from Yorkshire UK. Yes they are very good radio and TX/RX very well. Congrats on the good results. I like the simplex operation. 73!

[@bayanicruz6319]

@@M0YKSHamRadio greetings sir..how is your ft2980 now..mine still in action and can run now up to 300+km on simples using homebrew mini g7 ..what aireal antena are you using now?

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

@@bayanicruz6319 greetings bro, still working perfectly and using Diamond F-23 mono band antenna. Works well for me. Best 73 have fun 👍

[@bayanicruz6319]

@@M0YKSHamRadio good..stay safe sir God Bless 73's

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

You too my friend

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

Thx, n nice FT-847

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Tnx buddy

[@eminusipi]

I don't understand why radio manufacturers use the terms low, high etc when listing the power instead of 5w, 10w 20w... Same number of characters but is telling you exactly what the output is! No need to refer to the manual for that! This radio is heavy, very solid. The display is great. It's nice not to have to choose between several modes just to access the local repeaters. No digital nonsense to deal with not used in my area. I like this radio. Very few UHF repeaters where I live and not very active so 2m is fine for me.

[@aqsoran]

I'm exactly waiting for a shipment with this radio :) 73! SP6IA

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Good stuff 👏 👍 hope you love it

[@bayanicruz8914]

My 2980R is blowing 90-100 watts in full power..DX419(PHILIPPINES)

[@bayanicruz8914]

That is without mods .

[@M0RSF]

Hello Simon, hope everyone is well. Great transceiver for the price, I enjoy using mine. Good RX and I too use Narrow TX though I've had a couple of reports on Simplex QSO's saying that my audio sounded Compressed. That may be the case or it could be the settings of the RX stations. Likewise I can recommend the FT-2980 to the newly licensed and not so newly licensed. 73 Chris M0RSF

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi Chris all well thanks hope you and yours are also 😁 👍 you always sound great when I hear you on your FT-2980. Definitely decent radios and I was surprised how big they are which I like as not only looks great but feels quality when using the vfo and af/sq etc. Glad you like yours and thanks for sharing your positive findings. 73 buddy hope to hear you out on SOTA G L and have fun.

[@mabo4848]

Narrow only is used on repeaters

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

In the UK we are narrow 12.5 khz

[@mabo4848]

@@M0YKSHamRadio on direct simplex ?? Ah ok here in Germany we have wide on simplex and on relays narrow mostly

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

It was like that here previously with 25khz channel spacing then they changed it to Narrow to free up channels for digital gateway stuff and more general chatting channels about 20 years back. 73

[@yuriys.6352]

thanks.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Your welcome

[@Daniel-M7BCE]

That blooming M7BCE gets everywhere...lol

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

He sure does 😁👍

[@sweeneyTodd-de4by]

What a fantastic video had to subscribe, just doing my foundation licence, been looking for a radio to start with this looks OK for a beginner, can you tell me a good antenna to go with it please?

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks buddy and look forward to hearing you when you get a licence. Great basic radio, easy to operate with a nice big display 👌 a good mono band antenna fo suit would be something like a Diamond CP-22E. Good luck 73

[@ParthaVU2GPS]

The default step in my rig 12.5kc. How can I set the default step as 5kc. Instead of going to the menu and selecting 5Kc step every time I switch on the rig. Also by going in to the menu you can adjust the power output for LP 1, LP2, LP3 and HP. I have set my HP output at 50W. I also saw in a video someone setting the HP level to 100W.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

I just set mine to 5k Via the menu, powered off. Switched on and it is working as set still on 5k. I never had a problem and it is easy to set. Can't see why you are struggling? I wouldn't be adjusting output power up from factory settings unless you want to melt your PA. 85w is pretty good another 15w won't make a difference. Get a better antenna instead 👍

[@ParthaVU2GPS]

My set has default 12.5Kc. Every time I go to the step change it to 5Kc and it works. But when I switch off and switch on it is back to 12.5Kc. Though it is a small problem i thought that there may be a way to make it default 5Kc.

[@drewby4563]

Hi bud ! May I ask what'd like at 10wstt , does it pump out 5w/10w/30w or less on the lower power settings..

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi bud the pwr setting offers: Low 1, =5 watts. Low 2, =10 watts. Low, 3 =30 watts and high, =80 watts. Hope this helps

[@drewby4563]

The speaker is nice I like it 👍🏾

[@drewby4563]

I'm debating weather to purchase one before there all gone

[@drewby4563]

M0YKS !! I've just bought one , could you point me In the right direction on a suitable power supply for because I'm going to use it as base station

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

@@drewby4563 congratulations. Go for a 30amp power supply unit.

[@turnerja100]

Hi Simon, I believe this radio has an internet button? I'm wondering if I can connect to anything via a pistar hotspot? Or can it connect to a Fusion repeater or anything fancy like that?

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi James I have to confess that I have not used the feature but I believe its to do with quick access to wiresX which I know nothing about lol 😆

[@prepperdan]

My entire area is full of active 2m and 70cm repeaters so its too bad this unit is not dual band

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Your lucky to have many repeaters. I love this mono band radio and I use it on a high gain mono band antenna so perfect for me. 73 tnx

[@PIasmaZombie]

i just checked on the yaesu homepage, that thing pumps out 80watt they say, has no fan. doesnt it overheat when transmitting with 80watt with that for a longer time ?? does it get warm when only receiving? seems like a good purchase 80watt VHF for a lower price.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Stays cold unless tx 85w

[@PIasmaZombie]

@@M0YKSHamRadio you can put a teapot on that thing ♨️

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

@@PIasmaZombie lol yes its great in winter or camping lol

[@hikingfish3]

How rapidly can it scan through channels?

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

It is similar speed to most decent radios but I have less Channels in the memory than most so mine is very quick

[@hikingfish3]

@@M0YKSHamRadio I concur (finally bought the radio myself). Takes a few seconds to scan through all my local repeaters (about 34). At least twice as fast as my Anytone AT-778UV or my Baofeng HT's.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

@@hikingfish3 that is good to hear. Have lots of fun with your new radio 👍

[@hikingfish3]

@@M0YKSHamRadio FYI, your review greatly inspired me to get the radio. I had read a few that spoke highly of the radio, but actually seeing it was even better. Cheers!

[@santerre1974]

How to unlock to transmit?

[@TheRandomDead]

Purchase mars mod or remove a diode inside.

[@Scif64]

menu system is same as my FT70d but i would need dual band if i got similar because we have various repeaters on 2m and 70cm in the area. Next time i catch you i need to pick your brains about some fabrication with aluminum. 73 :)

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

I have a FT-2600m that I use at my holiday shack which I have owned since I was an M3. That's why I went for another mono bander but also had taken the triband antenna down and put up the Mono band F-23 which has made a huge difference. I mainly wanted it to be able to pick up stations reading RSGB news etc over the moor tops and beyond as my location in the Pennines whilst high is difficult getting in and out of some of the valleys that are on the other side. This little beauty and big stick antenna does the damage lol. No worries on the Aluminium chat, probably wont be on tonight as the bands are packed and I haven't bothered to do the contest this time. I had a good few days back at work and now lol I am on Easter holidays for two weeks. Plenty of radio including taking down sat antenna and fixing. 73 buddy catch you soon.

[@mr.fantomas7726]

I'm watching too

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

@@mr.fantomas7726 73 my friend Thanks

[@forgetyourlife]

does it have weather channels? I saw WX in the menu but you went on by

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Yes it has emergency weather in the USA

[@forgetyourlife]

@@M0YKSHamRadio RR I looked it up. It’s nice and easy. Press P4 on the mic and there’s the WX stations. What’s that do for you over there?

[@news_internationale2035]

@@M0YKSHamRadio Canada does weather band like the USA for those wondering.

[@bayanicruz6319]

Sir how do you recognize f yaeau ft2980r is original or china made?

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

I think they are made in China but not sure.

[@crena64]

Can this pick up your local police station radio.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Probably not possible if the police have encrypted transmission. It depends on where you live. We used to hear them in UK but not now.

[@WX4GPS]

Does he realize his video is reversed and everything is not reasonable, should be easy to fix in post processing.

[@Dragonfly1969]

Is your 2980 Japan made or China

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Cant quite remember but I think this on was made in JAPAN. I got it when the new release first came out. Its been decent and is still in use and working as well as ever. I just got around to hooking it up to an old YAESU Ext speaker (SP-102) . Its been on a little home made speaker but now its into the SP-102 the sound is amazing, much richer.. 73 tnx for watching