Yaesu FT-60R Dual Band Handheld 5W VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Transceiver

I'm new to ham but not new to portable radios. The Yaesu FT-60R is a solid unit and an excellent radio for the money.I purchased this handheld based on the abundance of positive reviews and I was surprised to find that it was even better than described. This is high quality radio and an excellent value.I didn't want or need a lot of bells and whistles. I just wanted a solid hand held 2 meter transceiver and the Yaesu FT-60R meets those requirements. The radio is well made and has a good overall feel. The supplied belt clip is robust and will fit at least a 3" wide belt. The controls are simple and the ports are protected with rubber covers.Transmit and receive functions are good with the supplied antenna but I do use an external antenna for vehicle operation. The supplied charger is easy to use and radio comes with everything you need to get on the air (radio, battery, antenna, charger and wall transformer)The manual is easy to understand but if you're going to program a large number of channels with multiple PL tones, power settings and other parameters - I would recommend buying the software and cable to program the radio via a computer.The negatives are few and well documented but here they are again:The SMA antenna connector works but a BNC style connector would be better if you switch antenna a lot.The keypad is small and every key performs multiple functions. This is the price for a very compact radio.The knobs are close together (small radio again)The radio will sort of stand up on its base but it really wants to fall over. A flat base would be nice.Could use a more modern battery type but the supplied battery is OKThe Pros:Solid, simple, functional radio !Large frequency coverage on the receiver side. This radio can monitor from the aircraft band (108MHz-137MHz) and all the way up to 999 MHz (excluding some cellular bands). This is nice for monitoring aircraft, weather and other bands.Repeater offsets are pre-set but can be manually programed if the pairs are not common.3 transmit power levelsCompact sizeThis radio has been on the market for over 10 years and I don't know how much longer Yaesu will continue to make this radio but I hope they don't drop it. This is a very good "all-around" hand held.

A little background first: I am an avid off-roader, and i tend to venture out by myself; not a smart thing to do, but it's how I recharge my personal "battery". After doing a little research into getting some type of communication device (places I go tend to not have cell service) for safety reasons, I stumbled upon an article that breaks down CB vs HAM vs MURS vs GMRS. I was sold on HAM for its repeater capability, as well as the requirements for a license to operate; cuts out the junk, and the range is far better. Anyway, I researched little HT radios (not unlike the FT-60), and discovered this little guy. I bought it with the idea of programming repeaters nearby where I off-road; you don't need a license to transmit in an EMERGENCY situation. After receiving it, I was surprised to find how solid this little guy is. Its a brick! Along with it, I purchased the Diamond SRH77CA to replace the "rubber ducky" that came with it. Some other notes:1- The instructions are clear2- Programming memory frequencies is easy once you get the hang of it.3- Again, its solid. I feel as if i were to drop it, it would definitely survive.After a few months listening in to various repeaters and their nets, I decided it was time to get my license; so I did. Subsequently, I am able to hit and hold repeaters from my master bedroom of my residence which is located in the suburbs of San Diego; plenty of obstructions which would normally disrupt the signal. For example, I can hit the Otay Mountain repeater with 5 watts, which is about 25-ish miles away, with excellent sound reports. I can also hit Mt. Palomar, which is still yet pretty far.During a trip to Anza-Borrego State Park, I was able to get excellent sound reports through a repeater which i would say, was about 15 miles away? I'm not sure exactly, but I was elated. It's nice to know that if i roll my rig, get bit by a snake, or whatever it is the trails can throw at me, I have communications.Also, the HAM community is numerous and diverse. In San Diego and surrounding counties, it is hard to find repeaters that AREN'T being used. For example: The WIN system, Calzona Link, PAPA, SANDRA, etc etc...I love this thing. In fact, it has motivated me to install and purchase the new Yeasu ft 7250 in my 4-Runner; the FT-60 has instilled a sense of brand loyalty, and will stick with them. It started with this little HT; i recommend it for the newby with 100% confidence. If you want the cheaper Chinese brands, go for it, but I think you wont be happy.

Great radio. I purchased this handheld for traveling and backpacking. This unit is tough, I dropped it down a 15 foot cliff onto rocks below and it held took the fall well. I only have a small scratch on the glass display. The case didn't crack and it still transmit and receives perfectly. My HAM Club suggested this radio and I fully agree.

I purchased for emergency situation and roadside backup communications. Setup at first seems complex due to the range of features but really is actually simple if you look into the clearly explained manual. It is a pretty solidly built unit, the size and weight are just right for daily carry, the stock antenna is quite fair despite my local high RF traffic. Connecting to a near repeater network has gotten good contact even through a bit of a mild storm when my phone's data became inconsistent. Another bonus is that you can hear multiple bands but it is blocked to transmit only on the 2 bands that wont get you in trouble, my local sheriff and fire departments likely appreciate this greatly.Overall its a great buy, for the beginner ham whether you need emergency responder features or not, its 2-3x the price of certain other supercheap handheld ham radios for good reason. There are also budget friendly upgrades available to make it even better for volunteer emergency response use but i have no regret in buying it over the cheapest options as it is.