Yaesu FTM 500 Ham Radio Longer Term Review

I've had the FTM-500DE with me for a couple of months now, here are my thoughts having used it for an extended period of time.

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[JeffNPOD]

I just picked up the FTM-500 at the Huntsville Hamfest last weekend. It replaced my FTM-400 in the truck, which i moved into the shack.
I love that bracket it comes with, and especially how the body can be slid in either way - speaker side up or down. The menu "mod" is next on my agenda.

[mrot]

I own ftm 300 & 400 and have no intention paying £600+ for the ftm 500. If it had 2m SSB then that would be a totally different story, I'd be throwing money at Yaesu for that.

[MRMY]

I love my FTM 400 (mine's mobile) - it is great - the 500 has not IMHO pushed me to upgrade. This is a really good video Jonathan. Thanks for the excellent review.

[ejkoz]

I use my FTM-500 mobile and love it. Learning new functions weekly. I attach it to my openSPOT4 tethered to my ipone. Works flawlessly. I have it mounted in the center console of my pickup. Previously had the head remote mounted with RAM mounts, but seemed to heavy to remain solid in place. Thanks for the videos and sharing your knowledge.

[maze]

Reason why I got rid of my 817 and 897 were the menus. I have the FTdx10 and that is eons ahead of previous models. Shame as I am undecided about a new mobile rig, if 2M were active I’d forgive the menu system and buy one. Great vid thanks Jonathon. 😊

[ItsEverythingElse]

I think the software was released right after this video! Finally.

[arthurtwoshedsjackson]

Have the FTM-500 indoors and really like it. Very sensitive receive and easy to use. Have the 8900 in the car.

[rodwilkinson]

Thank you Johnathan, very informative, think I’ll be following in your footsteps using C4FM at home with my FT2 and openspot3! 73 de Rod G3TXA

[Nick_Trice_MNWT]

Great video Jonathan, nothing about this radio is luring me away from my ID5100E 😊

[MrTommy]

I just bought a FTM 500 about a week ago, on sale for $450. But (sigh), it's on backorder. I'm getting back into ham radio after about a 20-year hiatus and am trying to get my old Yaesu 2600 M up and running in the meantime. I'll mostly be using this radio in my shop/shack with my new Diamond X-300 on top of a Harbor Freight flag pole. I've been watching every video on this radio that I can find in the hopes I'll be able to just step in and get on the air. 😂Good luck, eh.

[DLTIM]

Is there something like "BlueCAT", that works with the FTM500 in combination with Repeaterbook?
That makes it nice to use while traveling with the Camper VAN. I LUV it with my ft-857D bluecatting with repeaterbook.

[Chris-hyjy]

So glad I bought a new 400 just before they stopped making them. The 500 could have been a decent upgrade to the 400 but it seems a step backwards unless I'm missing something??

[reverendstabard]

I just picked one up for shack use. However the price initially was too steep for me and so I've waited. Just got mine for $430. At that price I consider it a good deal. Plus, I can use my M70 mic with it as well as my DX10. Are there things I wished they'd done differently? Sure but at the price I paid I was willing to overlook those things.

[johnratcliffe]

They missed a trick not adding SSB to this. It would have been perfect for UKAC use.

[GranvilleWhite-jzde]

Much too expensive, Anytone DMR 578 better value, no C4FM of course but the Anytone still better value, if you happy spending an extra 250+ GBP to get the Yaesu and C4FM is a must for you then go for it but as said in the video most people would be better off with a Yaesu handheld. And as said below if it had SSB it would be worth it! Great review by the way!!

[daveengstrom]

I have watched a few of these videos now. No one really explains the advantages of a digital radio. What is the big deal? What does it do for me? Does it use special repeaters? Does it work with the old repeaters? New guy trying to figure it all out.

[HamTechRadioScannerDrones]

FT5D is so good this Radio is it's Big brother .

[globetruck]

There’s a way to change the menu from the long list to a grid (similar to FT-5DR)… I’ve seen a video showing how to do it but can’t remember off the top of my head.

[lanceriffle]

I want to get another fusion radio for wires X. I have a 400 but in wires X mode it sort of bricks the radio for any other use. So I just use it for FM and Fusion repeaters. Does the 500 operate the same way that is to ask, if in Wires X mode connected to the computer, does it tie up both VFO's? If so then I sould stick with the 200 assuming I just want the radio for Wires X operation.

[REDEBRASILCONECTADO-xu]

Hello Friends
I live in Brazil, traveled to JAPAN, bought a Yaesu FTM 500D (Japanese version). I need to transmit in Brazil on 146.950 and the radio says TELA is prohibited. TX PROHIBITED. Can you help me make a change of region or opening in TX? What is the best solution for my case? Thank you if you could help. Moacyr
PY3FK