Yaesu FT-2980R Two Meter Mobile Overview

In this video we take a look at the Yaesu FT-2980R two meter mobile radio. This radio packs a big punch in a small package. Check out the video for the major features of this radio.
Price: $175.95
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[@jacuswoczega9180]

Your review is much deeper than many others, reading official paper. Thank You

[@Everythinghamradio]

Thank you…most people say the opposite…😊 73

[@Patmosphere]

Thanks good review. I ordered one of these earlier today for a good price.

[@kd5hms63]

I bought this exact radio and I love it. It is simple to program. It is a solid 2 meter base radio with additional power if needed! I highly recommend the Yaesu Ft-2980 transceiver-

[@2wrdr]

"simple to program" are you talking from the front panel or with purchased software?

[@kd5hms63]

@@2wrdr front panel

[@auburnsportsmansclub5066]

You call it a "base radio", but isn't this really a "mobile" (car) radio?

[@kd5hms63]

@@auburnsportsmansclub5066 it is both- used as a base or a mobile

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

Getting ready to add one of these to the shack, as soon as they get in stock

[@joeframo3347]

Very nice radio I like it I like the design and the way it looks looks rugged 💕 thank you for sharing this

[@lennyround-n8xlq]

Just bought one from Ham Radio Outlet today. Ordered the MARS MOD too. It’s replacing the ol”FT2400 that went through my house fire. It needs fixed up some cause of the fire but is still transmitting and receiving. Very tough little radios!! 73’s N8XLQ

[@skyscratcher8825]

VHF is very dependent on “height” if your antenna is head height in a depression or flat ground you can have xyz++ watts and you will only get 3-5 miles. Except in rare circumstances 2M IS line of sight. BUT get on a hill or raise that antenna high and... I have made up to 130 mile 5/9 QSOs from Colorado mountain tops with a 5W HT.

[@davidg301]

love your review detailed. Own one and still learned new tricks; thank you sir

[@hamandshortwaveradioirelan4773]

Great review of the features

[@jinco1221]

Nice review thanks!

[@reynaldotabot]

How come mine ,I measure the range .it only reach 3 miles at 80 w.what do you think is the problem? By the way I’m using a Larsen antenna

[@DonzLockz]

Great practical info, very helpful. Cheers! ;)

[@markrutledge564]

Sorry new what is the maximum range for this Radio?? Thank you.

[@otonino1199]

2/3/24 still watching thanks!!!

[@daveruff47]

how are you powering this in the shack?

[@AG5CC-USA]

Nice overall video. Thanks for sharing. This video helped me make the decision to purchase two of these radios. So far I love them. There is one thing that is giving me problems and that is the Memory Bank Link Scan. I can mark the banks with the blinking skip icon but I can never get just those banks to scan. Perhaps you could do a short video explaining and showing how that functions?

[@Everythinghamradio]

Thanks for watching, unfortunately I don’t have radio so I can do a video on it. All I can do, unfortunately, is direct you to the manual page 41, but I’m sure you have done already...:/

[@MrBloosBoy]

I have a Yaesu 8900 and it has the encode/decode feature. I like it. Aids me and my buddies in a little more privacy when we chat. We live in a busy metro area.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Oh yea, I love the encode and decode functions

[@eminusipi]

I live in San Diego and in the past the repeaters were very active. I scanned those three repeaters that had the most activity all day in the background and only heard the same three guys on a few minutes a couple of times a day on one of them. Dead all day long otherwise! Very disappointing. Guess I have to get a small HF antenna up again (HOA)! I used to have a Cushcraft MA5V and probably will get another for that.

[@MrRustyBob]

what mobile antenna would you recommend for this radio. I'd like to find something in a window mount.

[@Everythinghamradio]

If you are set of a window mount or through the glass mount you are going to end up limiting yourself to probably a quarter wave antenna. You could probably get a thru the glass mount as a half or 5/8 wave. If you a little more open to mounting style you could do a lip mount or truck mount and you would have better performance because you would have more of a ground plane. As far as which antenna, mfj, diamond, cushcraft are all good antenna. They are all going to perform about the same on VHF and UHF. It’s when you get into HF that antenna become more important to pay more attention to, if you will.

[@MrRustyBob]

@@Everythinghamradio It would be going on a pickup. I've searched the "google machine" for just such an antenna & mount and only found some crazy insane HF contraptions. I'd prefer to stay away from the mag mounts.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Here is a lip mount… amzn.to/3AiB7p6

[@robertcurrie5877]

Can the screen color be changed?

[@Everythinghamradio]

Unfortunately I do not believe so

[@sonophotossonophotos2538]

Radio to radio how far .. miles

[@joewiehr1931]

What power supply do you recommend for it?

[@forgetyourlife]

30 amp supply since its an 80 watt radio. Switching is fine. Powerwerx or MFJ

[@furonwarrior]

It uses around 14.35 watts on my power supply at 80 watts with a dummy load. I’d get a 15 watt power supply at the minimum.

[@sonophotossonophotos2538]

How far I call talk radio movil to a same radio at home..line a base

[@Everythinghamradio]

Many variables come into play when working simplex. Frequency ur using, terrain between the two stations, are both antennas at ground level, power output, trees or other obstructions, etc. So it could be anywhere from 1 mile to 100 miles. If you are on top of a mountain, you can talk 100+ miles. If you live in a city with lots of tall metallic building you might be able to talk a block away. You would just have to experiment in your area to see what coverage on simplex you would have…I’m sorry I can’t give you a more definite answer

[@santerre1974]

Why when i want to transmit it says error?

[@Everythinghamradio]

Without having more information, I’d say maybe your trying to transmit outside of the ham band?

[@buddyadelsberger5083]

$149.99 currently at DX Engineering

[@aljunlasac8873]

Can we reprogram it for a 100-watt TX? Thanx.

[@Everythinghamradio]

No I do not believe that you can change if it’s preset power output levels...

[@724Chicago]

You can modify the power levels in the service menu but be careful you can mess up a radio if you're not careful. I wouldn't go higher than 80w and the difference isn't noticeable going from 80 to 100. Actually the ft2900 finals weren't even rated for the 75w but they had the radio setup for factory to make that power. 73

[@0426dav]

@@724Chicago How do you enter the service menu?

[@724Chicago]

@@0426dav Search Google for ft2900 service manual. Use extreme caution in that menu as you can really mess up your radio as you're in the alignment menu. Good luck. 73.

[@royhein2479]

I have one and it says error one the frequency that I have put in could someone please help me

[@Everythinghamradio]

Off the top of my head I would say it could be two things. 1. You are trying to put in a frequency that is out the band limits of the radio. I.e you radio receives up to 599.995 and you are putting in 610.000. Or 2. You are trying to put to many after the decimal...i.e. 145.5995.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Can you give me a little more information as to what you are trying to put in?

[@simonjester100584]

Good information, but I think it would be a good idea to demonstrate some of what you are describing to make a better video.

[@bayanicruz8914]

Pls help.. my 2980r is out of freq..allways on plus 7mhz every time i change the freq..DX 419 (Philippines)

[@Everythinghamradio]

If you are talking about the transmit being off, I’d say your offset is turned on to an incorrect amount. If the whole radio is 7mhz off according to another radio or a spectrum analyzer then u would need to contact the manufacturer or a radio repair person.

[@bayanicruz8914]

@@Everythinghamradio thanks sir ..73's

[@bayanicruz8914]

My yaesu ft 2980r now ok..it was tested to signal generator and reset it..thanks 73's

[@truthfilterforyoutube8218]

The " Tones", are actually not about radio to radio....they are programed into certain repeaters....if you want to use a certain repeater....you must use the " Tone", that is in the list of repeaters in your area ! Not all repeaters require this....but many do !

[@henfrilangy3842]

Can it do CW?

[@Everythinghamradio]

Any radio is capable of doing cw but you have to build a separate audio circuit that would make the audio to transmit via the vox function in the radio. The only radios that I have seen that will allow you to “talk” on cw are those that are SSB rather than FM. There is an HT that has a CW practice function on it but it is the only one I have ever seen that has that function.

[@henfrilangy3842]

Everything Ham Radio thanks for taking the time to reply

[@georgemullin7772]

Great video can I use a 12 volt battery and use as a base radio

[@Everythinghamradio]

Absolutely! I would recommend using a marine deep cycle battery with a motorcycle battery charger or some other type of charge maintainer to keep it charged…

[@georgemullin7772]

Thanks vary much will this radio transmit above 165

[@georgemullin7772]

What is the highest transmission number u can go on this radio

[@forgetyourlife]

I recognize your voice. Did you do a podcast or somthing? Also this radio goes on sale for 129.99 alot. I wouldnt pay 175 for it.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Yea I had a podcast a couple years ago...

[@0426dav]

Where have you seen them advertised at 129.99? Thinking of getting one but 175. is not what I have in mind.

[@forgetyourlife]

1DavidStarr1 the 2980 is 139.99 at Ham Radio Outlet, DX engineering and Gigaparts etc right now.

[@Patmosphere]

$139.95 today 8.31.2020 - HRO

[@forgetyourlife]

@@Patmosphere 149.00 at HRO now. They just keep going up. 199.00 at GigParts yikes.

[@adamwhite3584]

Well mine puts out 88 watts, on two different meters. However I need to borrow a 10 year old because I can't figure out how to program a 123.00 tone for repeaters.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Refer to page 21 in your manual... Says hold the Mhz button for one second then turn the dial to “49 SQL TYP”, press the Mhz button again and then turn your dial to tsql if you want a receive tone as well or tone to just transmit a tone and press the Mhz button to confirm the change. Then turn the dial to “52 TN FRQ” and press the Mhz button. Then turn your dial to the appropriate tone, 123.0 in your case, and press the Mhz button to confirm. Then hold the Mhz button for one sec one to exit the menu.

[@furonwarrior]

@@Everythinghamradio I’ll probably need this information later. Thank you.

[@robertallen3133]

How can I contact you ?

[@Everythinghamradio]

You can send me an email at k5clm at everything dot com

[@nickkoch3959]

It's a video ...use motion to show its processes.

[@susi469]

Is this a Japanese made radio or Chinese?

[@Everythinghamradio]

I believe Yaesu radios are made in Japan

[@susi469]

@@Everythinghamradio Great to hear! I think it would be my patriotic duty to buy American first and if impossible from a country that is our friend!

[@joewiehr1931]

Japanese

[@user-kv7gj7wd7w]

Makano ang penalat

[@P.S.009]

Its pronounced Yah-eh-sue

[@Doraemon_mo]

ya-E-so not yayzu what the fuck!

[@josevictorec]

Keep your dirty mouth to yourself.!

[@michaelb9413]

Grow up!!

[@davep1808]

Heck, i can get all this info from the manual. Why the hell is he even publishing a video?.....LOL

[@Everythinghamradio]

You are correct...all of this you can get from the manual. However, not everybody wants to read the manual or take the time to search for the manual and they just want a general OVERVIEW of the radio before they buy it. This is why I make the videos.

[@GG-vx7gi]

Good concise video for someone shopping for a radio.

[@Everythinghamradio]

Thank you

[@joewiehr1931]

SO tell me how do I save a power level to a memory channel ???????????????

[@leewilliams7443]

Good for you do ya want a cookie