Anybody know anything about this new radio? I was dragging my feet on getting a FT-8800 and it looks like they're largely discontinued. Am I wrong? New digital radios the wave of the future?
Yaesu FTM-100dr?
- Thread starter C6H12O6
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- #3
Yeah, I saw that, but HRO doesn't even list them on their website any longer and they're blowing out the FT8900. HamCity lists the 8800 as discontinued. I could probably still find one on Amazon or eBay, but prices look to be way higher than the new FTM-100DR. HRO even has the 8900 for cheaper than the 8800 on Amazon. That might be the best deal going, but I don't really need/want a quad-band radio and the antenna issues that go with it.
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- #5
Ah, well that makes sense. I'm a bit of a HAM rookie. Got my license a few years ago, but never had my own radio. I've borrowed a hand-held from my father-in-law for some club runs, but really want to install a radio in the new 100. When I last talked to the HRO guys a few months ago, they said the newer digital stuff is pretty unnecessary around Portland right now. I guess I should talk to them soon before they run out of the 8900. $329 for that radio looks like a pretty good deal.
The only real advantages I can see of the FTM-100, other than the new digital stuff, is the 50-watt power on all bands for the 100, GPS function, and a better display. But, it can only monitor one channel at a time, unlike the 8900. Hmmm... I'm sure either will do more than I need it to. I mostly just want it for club runs, emergency communications when I'm out of cell range, and emergency communications with the wife at the fire district when the Trump/Clinton/Zombie/Climate/Earthquake riots start. Doubtful any of that will be helped with the digital radio.
Any input is appreciated.
The only real advantages I can see of the FTM-100, other than the new digital stuff, is the 50-watt power on all bands for the 100, GPS function, and a better display. But, it can only monitor one channel at a time, unlike the 8900. Hmmm... I'm sure either will do more than I need it to. I mostly just want it for club runs, emergency communications when I'm out of cell range, and emergency communications with the wife at the fire district when the Trump/Clinton/Zombie/Climate/Earthquake riots start. Doubtful any of that will be helped with the digital radio.
Any input is appreciated.
The other issue with the FTM-100 is their digital mode is only compatible with other Yaesu radios that support these digital modes.
This is what makes me mad about digital and HAM is you are locked into one manufacture and there is no interoperability with these new modes. Analog modes will work fine.
This is what makes me mad about digital and HAM is you are locked into one manufacture and there is no interoperability with these new modes. Analog modes will work fine.
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- #7
True, but it will still operate in analog, which is the only option on the older radios. Do you lose anything with the newer digital/analog radios? I guess the cross-band repeat capability of the 8800/8900 in the older radios and the ability to monitor two channels at once. Doesn't even sound like the APRS/GPS stuff really functions if you are monitoring another channel. I might have that wrong, but there is a lot of misinformation out about the new radio, and not a lot of comprehensive reviews.
A few places still show that they have some 8800s in stock:
Yaesu FT-8800R 144/430MHz Dual Band FM Mobile Transceiver
I went through this process fairly recently, and for me the 8800 made the most sense.
I didn't have much in the way of Yaesu's digital "fusion" near me.
I didn't have much use for the extra bands of the 8900.
I might have gone with the Kenwood TM-V71A but couldn't justify the extra cost over the 8800 closeout price.
I didn't have much in the way of Yaesu's digital "fusion" near me.
I didn't have much use for the extra bands of the 8900.
I might have gone with the Kenwood TM-V71A but couldn't justify the extra cost over the 8800 closeout price.
Put it this way. Last month the choice wasn't that hard on you.