The Yaesu FTM-200DR is a brand new VHF/UHF mobile transceiver from Yaesu. It sits right between the FTM-100DR and the FTM-300DR, since it has more features than the FTM-100DR, but lacks the true dual-receive functionality of the FTM-300DR. In this overview, we’ll take a look at this new mobile radio, and help you decide if it’s right for your shack or your vehicle.
Good
- 50w of TX power – With 50 watts of power, you’ll be able to make plenty of connections, especially if you’ve got some powerful repeaters nearby. You have the option to operate in lower-power modes to save power or reduce heat buildup, though the powerful heatsink and fan means you shouldn’t have much trouble with heat.
- Dual-band monitoring – The FTM-200DR does offer dual-band functionality. It’s not a true dual-receiver radio, but it does have an option that allows you to frequently check the secondary band at a programmable interval, which can mimic dual-receiver functionality in some use cases.
- Customizable display – The 2-inch display is bright, clear, and customizable. Multiple views can be toggled, and you can also change the color of the display to meet your own personal needs.
- Your choice of microphone connections –The Yaesu FTM-200DR has two microphone connections. You can connect a microphone to the detachable head unit, or to the rear control unit, depending on your needs. This makes it very versatile, especially if you’d prefer to mount the rear unit in the rear of a vehicle.
- Simplified design – The FTM-200DR has a simplified design and fewer buttons, and it’s pretty straightforward to operate, especially if you’ve used Yaesu radios in the past.
- Strong APRS support – The FTM-200DR is a good choice for hams who want to experiment with APRS. Since it’s a C4FM radio, it’s also possible to send digital data and voice over the FT-200DR.
- Bluetooth support – The FTM-200DR is compatible with most commercially-available Bluetooth headsets, though they recommend their SSM-BT10 headset for guaranteed compatibility.
Bad
- There’s a bit of a learning curve – The FTM-200DR doesn’t have a ton of buttons, but lots of them incorporate dual functions depending on your mode of operation, so it may take some time to get used to the way you interact with this radio.
- Not the best value for everyone – By adding so many features to the FTM-200DR, Yaesu pushed its price up quite a bit compared to the FTM-100DR, which it’s replacing. This unit is nearly the same price as the FTM-300DR, which is a more fully-featured radio, so it’s not exactly a value pick.
Bottom line
The FTM-200DR is a good option for hams who want a balanced, feature-rich radio and don’t mind its price point. It does its job well, and is another great addition to Yaesu’s lineup. But if you have a slightly bigger budget, you may want to consider upgrading to the FTM-300DR which has more features like dual-receiver functionality.
Expert reviews
- In a first look at the Yaesu FTM-200DR, Jason from Ham Radio 2.0 had good things to say about this mobile transceiver. He liked the customizable display and the fact that the default was white text on the dark background, which is great for mobile operation at night. He also liked the personalized memory groupings, which makes it easy to connect to frequently-used channels and repeaters.