One big thing I learned is it can receive on aviation bands. As a pilot it is great to monitor those if I want. And it can also monitor other bands that General has access to and as I am studying for that this makes it a solid justification after living with the Baofang for two years.
Completely agree...my FT2-DR works great for me. Love that Yaesu came out with the FT3 and shows incremental improvements. Many times Ham radio gear doesn't improve as quickly as other electronics. A couple of years from now, might go ahead and grab the FT3. KY4BDP
I love my FT3D. I use it in Direct X mode when there is internet available. In addition, I can run my own PDN node to my base station (FTM100) and not be tied to anyone's repeater. This lets me talk around town on Wires X with no problem. I use the second channel for monitoring APRS all at the same time. It is a great multi-purpose tool.
I guess Im randomly asking but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid forgot my account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!
I just got the FT3DR and it's awesome. I think it's a great starter radio. I don't think the menu system is all that confusing. But it's my first radio. Not sure I will need another for a long time.
Love both my FT2DR and newly arrived (yesterday) FT3DR. I love the screen on my FT2DR, not sure why some have a negative view of this handheld. I'm keeping both.
The FT3D was my first radio. I just tested out and got the tech and general in one sitting. Awesome little radio but I live in the middle of nowhere so I had to change out the stock antenna for a Diamond. I have used it in my car and it has incredible reach with only 5W. I hit the repeater from my house (sitting outside) and it is about 18 miles away.
I have both of them FT2D and FT3D. the big difference that the FT3D battery life is doing very well then FT2D, and the GPS sensitivity is awesome. Of cause as the visibility of its color screen is perfect even under the sunshine.
Glad that you mentioned that the Signalstick Antenna fits on the ft3. When I get this radio I’ll be putting a Signalstick Antenna on it. My opinion buy far the best antenna on the market for us outdoorsmen. Next video show us what the Signalstick Antenna looks like in the ft3. 73 kn6mat
@@edwardarmstrongsr9063 it’s an awesome radio. You’ll love it. I actually just bought the ft60 off a friend. Ive been wan that radio for 4 years. Couldn’t pass up the deal
That’s funny “I don’t even know I’ll get the FT3D” knowing you did upgrade, being rather new into HAM Radio and following you. I’m not sure exactly when you did. You couldn’t resist after borrowing the one you have for this video 😂
I'm new to radio so I don't have a license yet. However I do plan to take the test and get my first HAM radio. I'm heavily leaning toward the Kenwood TH-D74A but this is another one to consider. Thanks for the video.
Can confirm that the accessories go way back in compatibility. I have the same set of accessories I used for my ft2dr, ft1dr, and vx8gr with the exception that the vx8gr has a different programming cable.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse You know how to tell if Bob is in the store? Look for his crazy shirts. They always catch my eyes. Lol. I can see him from the parking lot.
Went in today and bought my FT3DR and Bob was in there. He loaned me a screwdriver because you have to screw on the belt clip to the battery. And then I came here to watch videos on it and here you guys are talking about Bob. Is he almost as famous as Gordo now?
I know this review is a bit old but what are the FT2DRs more expensive than the FT3DRs? Is it because they are not manufactured any longer and people like the 2s better for some reason? Thanks
Hello, I just sold my ft1 & ft2 for this. Now let’s see if it will do satellite work like the Yaesu rep stated at Daytona. I bet it doesn’t, so I’ll still be buying a Kenwood down the road. Should be in my hands on Friday. 73,
Hello wdsracer, I haven't yet. The FT3 is like using any other yaesu. If I didn't use fusion is sell it. But can't see spending money for a radio that I will only use for satellites at this time. Stay safe.
Compared to it's older brother, the FT2DR, the FT3DR's audio is significantly inferior, especially on HF. Tune both handhelds to a station on HF and compare the audio, the FT3DR's audio is just plain bad with distortion at even low volume levels whilst the FT2DR's audio is just fine and clear without any distortion even at high volume levels. I also noticed the FT3DR's price has dropped significantly since it was introduced only a couple or so months back suggesting they are not shifting off the shelves very fast.
Loving the radio thus far, only concern I may have on it vs the ft2dr is that from others experience the APRS beacon has a higher success rate of pickup on the ft3dr which has around a 20% success rate in some other folks experience. I haven't had a chance to try it too much yet. The speaker isn't a problem for me in that another owner found that by removing the water proofing in front of it, it sounds better, since my concern is about having the radio by water resistant it is a compromise I'm willing to make.
Love the review- I recently bought ft 70 as my first radio. I wasn;'t sure about C4FM, buuuut found out how easy it is to operate and love it. GPS, Bluetooth, APRS and color screen make this a sought after upgrade. Now if we could just do something about the price. REally I coud get all those features on an FTM400xd for about he same price
The Anytone 878 plus is $300 less and can do as much as the 3DR, plus YSF (Yaesu System Confusion) generally is a mess compared to DMR. I can easily access America-Link through TG 31656, probably the most popular of the only 2 active chatrooms, and they are always experiencing problems with WIRES-X node conflicts, firmware update issues, and inexperienced operators constantly disrupting the chatroom with DTMF tones. The only consolation with YSF/C4FM, is you are only getting slightly less ripped off than buying a D-Star radio from ICOM or Kenwood.
I’m looking for a radio and all I want it to do is be able to talk to a few people at a range of about 100 miles away. Don’t need all the bells and whistles just push to talk like the old Nextel system. But don’t want to rely on cell towers being out or overloaded I live in a hurricane prone area. I’ve watched a few of your videos and you seem to really know your stuff. Like I said just looking for basic radio with push to talk easy setup. Not looking for the cheapest thing or just a walkie talkie set up. want something that is durable and works well. I would like to hear what you recommend. Did I mention easy setup? Hope you can give me a couple of choices. Thanks.
Nutshell: 3DR is 2m/70cm only; D74A can do that and 1.25m as well. 3DR is Fusion/WIRES-X/C4FM while D74A is D-Star. 3DR has wideband receive up to 1 GHz whereas D74A has 100 kHz - 76 MHz, AM/FM broadcast, and some extended freqs around its ham bands, but no air band and nothing above 470 MHz.
Upgrade to the FT3D or still rock my VX-7R? Don't do any digital mode stuff, but with that said, is the new FT3D a better radio with same features as the VX-7R?
Recently passed Extra exam....looking to buy myself a gift 😁 Ive been really active on 2m...super active in the Tulsa area. Secondly I have been having a lot of fun with SDR, using SDRuno, and learning alot about notch filters, noise blankers, noise reduction, de-emphasis etc etc. Recently working on psk31 and js8call. Next rabbit hole? DMR....and for Tulsa area that would be Fusion. Looks like this may be my choice
I can program my Kenwood D74 with Bluetooth on my Microsoft Surface Book. I can also control my D74 and communicate with APRS software via Bluetooth. I can't even program my FT2DR with a PC anymore. My cable won't connect the rig to my PC. Yaesu programming software won't recognize files I've saved to the SD card either. So my FT2DR is basically an inert brick since I've moved to a new town and can't easily reprogram it with a PC. My FT2DR also has an inferior receiver, hard to read display, poor touchscreen sensitivity and weak audio. I'm not willing to take the risk with this new Yaesu after my experience with the FT2DR. It sounded great on paper, but in the end it was just a poorly engineered gimmick.
thank you again for another fine video....re the issue with trying to put on an antenna where the base of it is a little wider and bumps into the GPS. Would a BNC adapter raise the height enough to accept the antenna that was too wide to fit. I am still looking for a radio and having a tough time of it. I think I would put on a BNC adapter on any radio to make it easy on and off and I think it also minimizes the chance of damaging the pin. I have been looking at so many RUclipss and it is difficult for me since most video reviews do not let you know about each feature...They leave some out and do not say what is negative as much as they should. My prime concern is getting a radio that is great for emergencies. Being alerted automatically. and being found if something happens to me. I also want to be able to program in all the frequencies that i could listen to in order to find out what is going on. Also true dual channel so I can be on one and get the alert on the other or be called. Broadcast radio should be important. I do not know enough about D-Star, DMR and fusion to know if I should make one of them an important part of the decision. I think DMR is all over and fusion at this point reminds of the Beta Max....it was the best machine but everyone was using VHS, so the Sony Beta Max had passed away. I know this is a long winded note......but if you have any suggestions of a new or older radio that you would recommend....I hope you can suggest. The Icom is coming out with the 52 model any day I hear and It is an interesting sounding radio. Thank you again....I am learning a lot listening to you.
Can you do an audio quality comparison to your other HTs, inside and outside? Hearing and reading folks not liking the RX audio quality and returning the FT3D. All those features packed in maybe they skimped on the speaker. 73.
I had the FT1 and FT2. Sold both. The FT2 was really just a bolt-on touchscreen on a FT1. The UI was atrocious, which killed it for me. For text entry you had to use the scrollwheel for some items, while others worked via touch keyboard (though even that was cumbersome). I loaded up my save file from the FT1 and suddenly most of the menus were no longer graphical but text only. It's a weird mess and while I may be wrong about the FT3, I don't see anything that would make me spend that kind of money for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking just Yaesu for this, other manufacturers have similar issues with their HT usability.
Should some one new to the hobby skip the digital radios, or would they be good first radios too? I feel like I should buy something that at least has that capability, like this radio or an icom id31a.
I have ft60r other than aprs for any go to does it offer that much more for general repeater work for nearly $300 more? I am running my ft60r on repeaters I can get into open nodes to echolink and even all star. Not knocking it but for retirees why upgrade?
Is there any way of changing the size of the frequency read out on the ft 3 seem very large for the smaller display compared to the larger display of the ft 2
Would there be any phone apps that could use the Bluetooth connectivity with FT-3D? Apart from the APRSdroid type - I've seen that you don't have an Android. My FT-3D will arrive tomorrow, so will test it with APRSdroid if it supports BT.
Maybe this is a silly question for some folks, but how wise is a touch screen on an HT? Does the sensitivity turn off like a cell phone or does it remain touch sensitive even while you are wearing it on your hip and swinging your arms? I would be concerned about changing frequency by getting bumped by myself or others. Also, while the color screen looks prettier, isn't the monochrome screen more practical in intense sunlight? Don't get me wrong - I love new technology, but I'm more about practicality in adverse conditions. After all, shouldn't all portable radios pass the emcomm adverse conditions test to be considered something truly better than just a cool, trendy new tech radio? Just saying... We've used our radios (VX-150, FT-60, FT-817ND) in both darkness and full AZ sun as well as bone-numbing cold and scorching heat, and both easy neighborhood walking as well as rough and rugged conditions; and I couldn't imagine trying to use a full color touch screen in some of those scenarios. How about putting the FT3DR to those tests and seeing what its limits are? In my opinion, that's the real test - unless, of course, your primary ops are in the mall, in your home, in the park, or in your climate controlled citified SUV. ;-) Thank you for all of your videos. I really enjoy them! 73
Here to learn about my FT5D because you said to go back here… Not my favorite way to learn about a new-ish radio. Oh but wait now you say I need to watch the FT2?!?!? I feel some depression setting in…
I purchased an FT3DR recently, and I'm not very impressed. it has a tiny speaker that cuts off all but the highest frequencies. Even YL hams don't sound natural. Selecting a YSF group on the radio is awkward at best. With more than 750 groups, using the ALL feature to scroll through groups 20 at a time is useless. Typing a group name with the multi-letter keys is a pain. the RT-Systems software programs only the channels. There's no provision for programming any of the radio's other settings or digital groups. I purchased an AnyTone AT-D878 about the same time for DMR, and I'm much more impressed with it than the FT3DR.
@@wdsracer he has stated that the wide base of the abree antennas won't fit with the GPS hump in the center. really a bummer if you like the "tape measure" antenna style. Maybe with modification it would fit but I'm just not sure.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Clarification - can the SD card be put in a PC and channels saved to the SD card and then transferred to the radio? Wondering if it's an option to program the radio without needing a cable. Or maybe programming over bluetooth?
I bought the bf-f8hp witch I cannot get to work for crap now I need to buy a 400.00 radio? What am I doing wrong? I know I know, I don't know what I'm doing and am used to Motorola EMS/POLICE Radios. But I thought the Baofeng would work the way everyone says it does.
I have bluetooth on my comm system in my motorcycle helmet. I guess I could link it up to this radio.But then I saw the price and that was an immediate deal breaker for me. The FT2 has my interest but it doesn't have bluetooth. I was expecting the 1st number on the price of the FT3DR to be a 2. And then I would buy one. Thanks for you great reviews!!!! de KQ1K
This is EXACTLY what Im looking to do. I don't want to leave a high dollar radio in my Side by Side and this looks like it may fit the bill. Have You looked into it?
It depends on your elevation. If you’re around buildings or trees. What radio sho you’re talking to is using and the antenna. Just to name a few things.
It only they would add DMR support... :( Yeah, I know -- they are trying to push C4FM. I think that it has lost the war. I would HAPPILY buy a high-end HT that supported all three popular digital modes. I don't like the concept of having to have three separate HTs in order to be able to talk to any repeater... It is for that reason that I am still stuck in analog land. DMR is incredibly popular, but there is no such thing as a "premium" DMR radio that also supports wideband receive. Yeah, I want DC to daylight receive, DMR, C4FM, and D-Star in one package.
I actually just bought the FT3DR as a my first radio. I've had it for less than a week at this point but I'm very happy with the purchase so far.
Avery Uslaner could honestly say, “it’s’ the finest ham radio you’ve ever owned”????😬
Can you transmit in airband frequency or just monitor?
Do you need a license?
@@schulze420 Yes, at least if you're in the U.S. and you want to transmit. No license required if you just want to listen
@@Tripl3Point thanks for getting back so fast.
One big thing I learned is it can receive on aviation bands. As a pilot it is great to monitor those if I want. And it can also monitor other bands that General has access to and as I am studying for that this makes it a solid justification after living with the Baofang for two years.
Completely agree...my FT2-DR works great for me. Love that Yaesu came out with the FT3 and shows incremental improvements. Many times Ham radio gear doesn't improve as quickly as other electronics. A couple of years from now, might go ahead and grab the FT3. KY4BDP
Incremental improvement waiting for FT4.
Drove 4 hours to HRO Portland, bought a FT2 came back to my hotel room and watched this video. Still happy I bought the 2
Peter De Keles 73’s from forest Grove kb7zar
@@Coyotethumper5
Ft2 has a horrible whisteling noise during reception on digital mode. I couldn't stand it and returned mine, bought ft1 instead.
The FT2DR sounds much better, well done.
Just ordered the FT3DR a few days ago, new hobby, studying for license. a friend had me order the diamond antenna . good video
I love my FT3D. I use it in Direct X mode when there is internet available. In addition, I can run my own PDN node to my base station (FTM100) and not be tied to anyone's repeater. This lets me talk around town on Wires X with no problem. I use the second channel for monitoring APRS all at the same time. It is a great multi-purpose tool.
I guess Im randomly asking but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an instagram account??
I was stupid forgot my account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!
@Jude Reece Instablaster =)
I just got the FT3DR and it's awesome. I think it's a great starter radio. I don't think the menu system is all that confusing. But it's my first radio. Not sure I will need another for a long time.
Got my FT 3 yesterday. Very glad I decided to get one.
Love both my FT2DR and newly arrived (yesterday) FT3DR.
I love the screen on my FT2DR, not sure why some have a negative view of this handheld.
I'm keeping both.
The FT3D was my first radio. I just tested out and got the tech and general in one sitting. Awesome little radio but I live in the middle of nowhere so I had to change out the stock antenna for a Diamond. I have used it in my car and it has incredible reach with only 5W. I hit the repeater from my house (sitting outside) and it is about 18 miles away.
Which antenna from Diamond did you get?
I have both of them FT2D and FT3D. the big difference that the FT3D battery life is doing very well then FT2D, and the GPS sensitivity is awesome.
Of cause as the visibility of its color screen is perfect even under the sunshine.
Glad that you mentioned that the Signalstick Antenna fits on the ft3. When I get this radio I’ll be putting a Signalstick Antenna on it. My opinion buy far the best antenna on the market for us outdoorsmen. Next video show us what the Signalstick Antenna looks like in the ft3. 73 kn6mat
I have a ft60 thinking about upgrading to the ft 3
@@edwardarmstrongsr9063 it’s an awesome radio. You’ll love it. I actually just bought the ft60 off a friend. Ive been wan that radio for 4 years. Couldn’t pass up the deal
Just bought my first radio and this was it. Glad to hear your review to reinforce the buy choice.
Great share that made me buy FT3DR and it surely made me happy exploring this new toy along the hobby. Cheers..!
Just got my ft3dr from hro and I love it
I will buy this when I get all my licenses thanks for the info!
You give answers for those Q's that I was thinking, so thank you.
Thanks for the video. I am looking for an HT upgrade from my FT60 and this sure looks like it for me.
That’s funny “I don’t even know I’ll get the FT3D” knowing you did upgrade, being rather new into HAM Radio and following you. I’m not sure exactly when you did. You couldn’t resist after borrowing the one you have for this video 😂
Actually Mike Glover sent me mine :D
I'm new to radio so I don't have a license yet. However I do plan to take the test and get my first HAM radio. I'm heavily leaning toward the Kenwood TH-D74A but this is another one to consider. Thanks for the video.
Great review Josh. Sounds like a winner.
Can confirm that the accessories go way back in compatibility. I have the same set of accessories I used for my ft2dr, ft1dr, and vx8gr with the exception that the vx8gr has a different programming cable.
Ha, too late, I have had my FD3-DR for 5 days, however I did not have a FT2-DR, great video!
Great video! While I do like the improvements of the FT-3 I think I will stick with my FT-1, FT-2 and FT-70, at least until the price comes down!
Wow, that screen looks sooo much better.on the FT3DR. the one on the FT2DR looked way too muddy and poor contrast
Your videos are great. Much appreciated!
Thank you for watching!
It's my first Yaesu that will receive the entire 33 cm HAM band.
Ypu mentioned Bob at the HRO.
I just met Bob at the HRO in Anaheim. He helped me get my antenna for my first mobile setup.
Awesome! I have a couple video on my RUclips with Bob in it. He’s great!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse You know how to tell if Bob is in the store? Look for his crazy shirts. They always catch my eyes. Lol. I can see him from the parking lot.
Went in today and bought my FT3DR and Bob was in there. He loaned me a screwdriver because you have to screw on the belt clip to the battery. And then I came here to watch videos on it and here you guys are talking about Bob. Is he almost as famous as Gordo now?
Great review
I know this review is a bit old but what are the FT2DRs more expensive than the FT3DRs? Is it because they are not manufactured any longer and people like the 2s better for some reason? Thanks
Hello, I just sold my ft1 & ft2 for this. Now let’s see if it will do satellite work like the Yaesu rep stated at Daytona. I bet it doesn’t, so I’ll still be buying a Kenwood down the road. Should be in my hands on Friday. 73,
Kelley Law did you also buy the Kenwood? Is it better than this ft3?
Hello wdsracer, I haven't yet. The FT3 is like using any other yaesu. If I didn't use fusion is sell it. But can't see spending money for a radio that I will only use for satellites at this time. Stay safe.
I have the FT-2dr, FT-1dr, FT-400XDR and the FT-991A looking to see what's next for my collection. Might have to get the FT-3DR next good review
Very concise video Josh. Thanks.....
You always have good stuff keep the great work bro"
I just got a Quansheng UV-R50 and Radiodditty/Baofeng UV-82X3...
If I had the money, I would probably get a Kenwood.
I have 10 people right now subscribed to your Channel Josh
Thanks for watching!
Thank you very much great video
Compared to it's older brother, the FT2DR, the FT3DR's audio is significantly inferior, especially on HF. Tune both handhelds to a station on HF and compare the audio, the FT3DR's audio is just plain bad with distortion at even low volume levels whilst the FT2DR's audio is just fine and clear without any distortion even at high volume levels. I also noticed the FT3DR's price has dropped significantly since it was introduced only a couple or so months back suggesting they are not shifting off the shelves very fast.
I'm lovin' mine. This my friends is what the FT2DR should have been from the start.
Yeah buddy!
Loving the radio thus far, only concern I may have on it vs the ft2dr is that from others experience the APRS beacon has a higher success rate of pickup on the ft3dr which has around a 20% success rate in some other folks experience. I haven't had a chance to try it too much yet. The speaker isn't a problem for me in that another owner found that by removing the water proofing in front of it, it sounds better, since my concern is about having the radio by water resistant it is a compromise I'm willing to make.
Love the review- I recently bought ft 70 as my first radio. I wasn;'t sure about C4FM, buuuut found out how easy it is to operate and love it. GPS, Bluetooth, APRS and color screen make this a sought after upgrade. Now if we could just do something about the price. REally I coud get all those features on an FTM400xd for about he same price
I hope it comes down a bit for black friday...then maybe will buy it.
What about the volume? The FT2D speaker was way too small cause very tiny and low volume.
The Anytone 878 plus is $300 less and can do as much as the 3DR, plus YSF (Yaesu System Confusion) generally is a mess compared to DMR. I can easily access America-Link through TG 31656, probably the most popular of the only 2 active chatrooms, and they are always experiencing problems with WIRES-X node conflicts, firmware update issues, and inexperienced operators constantly disrupting the chatroom with DTMF tones. The only consolation with YSF/C4FM, is you are only getting slightly less ripped off than buying a D-Star radio from ICOM or Kenwood.
I guess agree to disagree. I haven’t experienced anything you mentioned aside from DMR network issues really.
Looking around the 3 is cheaper than the 2!
I’m looking for a radio and all I want it to do is be able to talk to a few people at a range of about 100 miles away. Don’t need all the bells and whistles just push to talk like the old Nextel system. But don’t want to rely on cell towers being out or overloaded I live in a hurricane prone area. I’ve watched a few of your videos and you seem to really know your stuff. Like I said just looking for basic radio with push to talk easy setup. Not looking for the cheapest thing or just a walkie talkie set up. want something that is durable and works well. I would like to hear what you recommend. Did I mention easy setup? Hope you can give me a couple of choices. Thanks.
Just bought a Yaesu FT60R. Didn’t want the bare minimum like the Baofengs but didn’t have the budget for much else
Thanks Josh for great review I am thinking abt one but they are still a Dollar short of 600 here in vk land .
I would be interested in your thoughts comparing the Kenwood TH-D74A to this radio. - Brian WB8AM
Nutshell: 3DR is 2m/70cm only; D74A can do that and 1.25m as well. 3DR is Fusion/WIRES-X/C4FM while D74A is D-Star. 3DR has wideband receive up to 1 GHz whereas D74A has 100 kHz - 76 MHz, AM/FM broadcast, and some extended freqs around its ham bands, but no air band and nothing above 470 MHz.
@@JaronActual D74 does wideband shortwave and HF and SSB receive though.
@@stuarthaggard2971 You're correct, I missed that "0.1-76 MHz" listed in its specs.
Thank you
Upgrade to the FT3D or still rock my VX-7R? Don't do any digital mode stuff, but with that said, is the new FT3D a better radio with same features as the VX-7R?
I still have and love my VX6r. But I bought this FT3dr also. It's awesome. I say... Por qué no los dos?
If it was field programmable I’d be all in on it
Recently passed Extra exam....looking to buy myself a gift 😁
Ive been really active on 2m...super active in the Tulsa area. Secondly I have been having a lot of fun with SDR, using SDRuno, and learning alot about notch filters, noise blankers, noise reduction, de-emphasis etc etc. Recently working on psk31 and js8call.
Next rabbit hole? DMR....and for Tulsa area that would be Fusion. Looks like this may be my choice
Would buying a second hand Ft 2 now be a good option as people are upgrading?
Yes
I can program my Kenwood D74 with Bluetooth on my Microsoft Surface Book. I can also control my D74 and communicate with APRS software via Bluetooth. I can't even program my FT2DR with a PC anymore. My cable won't connect the rig to my PC. Yaesu programming software won't recognize files I've saved to the SD card either. So my FT2DR is basically an inert brick since I've moved to a new town and can't easily reprogram it with a PC. My FT2DR also has an inferior receiver, hard to read display, poor touchscreen sensitivity and weak audio. I'm not willing to take the risk with this new Yaesu after my experience with the FT2DR. It sounded great on paper, but in the end it was just a poorly engineered gimmick.
Josh, I here complaints about the Ft3DR speaker audio being narrow and worst than other HTs. Is that true?
The FT3DR's audio is just bad compared to its older brother, in fact it's bad compared to about every handheld I've owned.
thank you again for another fine video....re the issue with trying to put on an antenna where the base of it is a little wider and bumps into the GPS. Would a BNC adapter raise the height enough to accept the antenna that was too wide to fit. I am still looking for a radio and having a tough time of it. I think I would put on a BNC adapter on any radio to make it easy on and off and I think it also minimizes the chance of damaging the pin.
I have been looking at so many RUclipss and it is difficult for me since most video reviews do not let you know about each feature...They leave some out and do not say what is negative as much as they should. My prime concern is getting a radio that is great for emergencies. Being alerted automatically. and being found if something happens to me. I also want to be able to program in all the frequencies that i could listen to in order to find out what is going on. Also true dual channel so I can be on one and get the alert on the other or be called. Broadcast radio should be important. I do not know enough about D-Star, DMR and fusion to know if I should make one of them an important part of the decision. I think DMR is all over and fusion at this point reminds of the Beta Max....it was the best machine but everyone was using VHS, so the Sony Beta Max had passed away. I know this is a long winded note......but if you have any suggestions of a new or older radio that you would recommend....I hope you can suggest. The Icom is coming out with the 52 model any day I hear and It is an interesting sounding radio. Thank you again....I am learning a lot listening to you.
That is an awesome HT
That's a pretty awesome radio. I'd love to have one. Heck, I'd like to have any APRS HT 😂
Can you do an audio quality comparison to your other HTs, inside and outside? Hearing and reading folks not liking the RX audio quality and returning the FT3D. All those features packed in maybe they skimped on the speaker. 73.
I did on the live stream. The audio is fine. Not the best, better than the ft2dr
Great review, to the point and knowledgeable information. Subscribed. Thanks. VE7 GIU
I had the FT1 and FT2. Sold both. The FT2 was really just a bolt-on touchscreen on a FT1. The UI was atrocious, which killed it for me. For text entry you had to use the scrollwheel for some items, while others worked via touch keyboard (though even that was cumbersome). I loaded up my save file from the FT1 and suddenly most of the menus were no longer graphical but text only. It's a weird mess and while I may be wrong about the FT3, I don't see anything that would make me spend that kind of money for it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking just Yaesu for this, other manufacturers have similar issues with their HT usability.
Should some one new to the hobby skip the digital radios, or would they be good first radios too? I feel like I should buy something that at least has that capability, like this radio or an icom id31a.
What radio do you recommend want to upgrade from my yasu FT 60 R?
Just about mine just getting ready to program it 73 de AE7MR MR TERRY CN84JG-48
The screen is nice, the BT is soso with various headsets and earpieces, 70cm is not as sensitive as the previous model.
Question: What radio would the next step up be???
I have ft60r other than aprs for any go to does it offer that much more for general repeater work for nearly $300 more? I am running my ft60r on repeaters I can get into open nodes to echolink and even all star. Not knocking it but for retirees why upgrade?
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Question: I travel alot. Can I take this radio anywhere that I travel to in the country? Will it work in any state anywhere???
Some countries frown on people having radios. It would depends on the country. But in the us, you are fine.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse can I ask? Does this radio get APRS Digital and Analog???
Is there any way of changing the size of the frequency read out on the ft 3 seem very large for the smaller display compared to the larger display of the ft 2
Would there be any phone apps that could use the Bluetooth connectivity with FT-3D? Apart from the APRSdroid type - I've seen that you don't have an Android. My FT-3D will arrive tomorrow, so will test it with APRSdroid if it supports BT.
Looking over from my VX8DR going...hey...whassup.
Maybe this is a silly question for some folks, but how wise is a touch screen on an HT? Does the sensitivity turn off like a cell phone or does it remain touch sensitive even while you are wearing it on your hip and swinging your arms? I would be concerned about changing frequency by getting bumped by myself or others. Also, while the color screen looks prettier, isn't the monochrome screen more practical in intense sunlight?
Don't get me wrong - I love new technology, but I'm more about practicality in adverse conditions. After all, shouldn't all portable radios pass the emcomm adverse conditions test to be considered something truly better than just a cool, trendy new tech radio? Just saying... We've used our radios (VX-150, FT-60, FT-817ND) in both darkness and full AZ sun as well as bone-numbing cold and scorching heat, and both easy neighborhood walking as well as rough and rugged conditions; and I couldn't imagine trying to use a full color touch screen in some of those scenarios. How about putting the FT3DR to those tests and seeing what its limits are? In my opinion, that's the real test - unless, of course, your primary ops are in the mall, in your home, in the park, or in your climate controlled citified SUV. ;-)
Thank you for all of your videos. I really enjoy them!
73
A quick push and release of the power button will lock the screen and everything else (except volume). Do it again to unlock.
What's a good antenna for the Yaesu FT3DR heard some antennas will not fit because of gps next to ant connector
What antenna do you use on it thanks
@@t0mmym385 signal stick...
Here to learn about my FT5D because you said to go back here… Not my favorite way to learn about a new-ish radio. Oh but wait now you say I need to watch the FT2?!?!? I feel some depression setting in…
Where is the note 1750Hz? Thanks.
What about the speaker on the Ft3dr? Is it louder at all than the Ft2dr?
I purchased an FT3DR recently, and I'm not very impressed. it has a tiny speaker that cuts off all but the highest frequencies. Even YL hams don't sound natural. Selecting a YSF group on the radio is awkward at best. With more than 750 groups, using the ALL feature to scroll through groups 20 at a time is useless. Typing a group name with the multi-letter keys is a pain. the RT-Systems software programs only the channels. There's no provision for programming any of the radio's other settings or digital groups. I purchased an AnyTone AT-D878 about the same time for DMR, and I'm much more impressed with it than the FT3DR.
What is the Icom and Kenwood equivalent to the FT3?
Go watch one of my recent video on testing high end handhelds. Their all there.
Dang, Really love the ABBREEE though....
Allan Jungst what do you mean?
@@wdsracer he has stated that the wide base of the abree antennas won't fit with the GPS hump in the center. really a bummer if you like the "tape measure" antenna style. Maybe with modification it would fit but I'm just not sure.
Is there ssb option in the mode for the general coverage ?
Unfortunately no
Great review. Can the radio be programmed through the SD card?
Sure. You can program channels on the radio and save to the Sd card.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Clarification - can the SD card be put in a PC and channels saved to the SD card and then transferred to the radio? Wondering if it's an option to program the radio without needing a cable. Or maybe programming over bluetooth?
So is this the bee,s knees? can you get a adapter/ extension for antenna
More features, smaller battery?
Does this radio comes with a voiceover?
Can you access DPL frequencies with this radio?
Can it receive airband and PMR?
Except having no SSB ability, it receives everything from 520KHz to 999.9MHz.
I have a question. Is it possible to broadcast with encryption PRIVATELY since the police are allowed to do it?
It’s not legal on the ham bands.
I bought the bf-f8hp witch I cannot get to work for crap now I need to buy a 400.00 radio? What am I doing wrong? I know I know, I don't know what I'm doing and am used to Motorola EMS/POLICE Radios. But I thought the Baofeng would work the way everyone says it does.
generally the baofeng's are fairly easy to program with Chirp (free software). lots of chirp tutorials on utube as well.
I skipped from the ft1 to the 3 how alike are they the 1 and 3?
I have bluetooth on my comm system in my motorcycle helmet. I guess I could link it up to this radio.But then I saw the price and that was an immediate deal breaker for me. The FT2 has my interest but it doesn't have bluetooth. I was expecting the 1st number on the price of the FT3DR to be a 2. And then I would buy one. Thanks for you great reviews!!!! de KQ1K
This is EXACTLY what Im looking to do. I don't want to leave a high dollar radio in my Side by Side and this looks like it may fit the bill. Have You looked into it?
Please tell me .this device how many kilimeters of range '10km.20km.30km. Or than
It depends on your elevation. If you’re around buildings or trees. What radio sho you’re talking to is using and the antenna. Just to name a few things.
How do you set it up for APRS ?
For the month of March HRO has the FT3DR for $349
It only they would add DMR support... :( Yeah, I know -- they are trying to push C4FM. I think that it has lost the war. I would HAPPILY buy a high-end HT that supported all three popular digital modes. I don't like the concept of having to have three separate HTs in order to be able to talk to any repeater... It is for that reason that I am still stuck in analog land. DMR is incredibly popular, but there is no such thing as a "premium" DMR radio that also supports wideband receive. Yeah, I want DC to daylight receive, DMR, C4FM, and D-Star in one package.
Buy yaesu new scanner. It does it all and beyond, but... $1k and not a transmitter.
Can you clone the info from the Ft2 into the ft3? Hope so, got 100's of frequencies
What is the best fm only ht?
Have you played with gmrs at all and is there a yaesu that does dual band and gmrs repeater system
That would be illegal.. per fcc rules governing gmrs... Plus it's 75 bucks for a license to use gmrs...
Best overall antenna upgrade for the FT3DR?
Signal stuff signal stick.