Hi folks.

I already have enough HT's here... Kenwood TH-D74A, Yaesu FT-70DR, and a TYT MD-UV380 UHF (for DMR). But, I picked all of those up before I started hearing people talk about the FT-60R, always in glowing terms, and often using the phrase "modern classic". "They won't make a handheld like this in a long time"...

I realize it's a basic radio compared to many others on the market, but to be honest, I don't need GPS, Bluetooth, APRS or a touch screen. How is the FT-60R's receiver performance? All other things being equal, would I notice more sensitivity, better rejection etc. than my Kenwood or newer Yaesu? Have any of you compared the receiver to others on weak signals?

With supplies of new ones dwinling fast or possibly all gone, should I pick one of these up? Why/why not?

Thanks
Chris


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On Nov 17, 2019, at 9:14 AM, Chris - KC9AD <c.doutre@...> wrote:

Chris,

My primary reasons for preferring the FT-60 are:

1. Front panel programming is almost intuitive because it has human-sized
buttons with clear labels and many functions are directly accessible from
the front panel buttons: V/M, direct numeric entry of freqs and channels,
single button entry into squelch type and tone menus.

2. A dedicated squelch knob. No menus, no mode buttons; just a single knob
that directly adjusts the squelch and only the squelch.

3. As you say, a simple dual-band 5-watt radio that covers the basics of
analog simplex and duplex communications in a professional-quality unit.
Plus a case that's big enough to fit in my hand. Plus a clear simple display
that my 73-year-old eyes can read easily, except that some of the tiny icons
might be a little fuzzy to me.

I also like the DTMF keys that allow me to access IRLP repeaters and other
DTMF-controlled repeaters.

I have read comments that say the FT-70 has all this, plus Fusion, plus a
Li-Ion battery, for only a few dollars more. Except the case is smaller and
the buttons are smaller. And it has a two-button squelch mode procedure. It
doesn't even have a dedicated volume knob. Very sexy perhaps, but not for
me. And, unless you really want or need digital voice, those extra DV
features are potentially a distraction.

Gordon West wrote an article many years ago that recommended the FT-60 from
among all the handhelds available at that time. I recently contacted him to
ask him about this. He confirmed that, after all these years, the FT-60 is
still his preferred "first" handheld, basically for all the reasons
mentioned above. YMMV. 73.

Chris Doutre KC9AD

My wife bought me a FT-60 (before I was able to buy one, myself). I love it. As you said, it?€?s simple, has only the basics that I need and nothing that I don?€?t need. It?€?s built like a tank. I?€?ve dropped it and banged against stuff and it?€?s a Timex: takes a licking but keeps on ticking. Great audio. However, I need to replace the keypad as some of the labeling has rubbed off. I would definitely buy another one, if I needed to, rather than the newer, more compact and whiz-bang radios out today. Don?€?t need GPS, don?€?t need DMR, ?€?WIRES?€&#65533;, or any other features other than the basics. I don?€?t used it much for communicating these days but more as a ?€?scanner?€&#65533; for my fire photography activity. The scan speed is not as fast as a dedicated scanner is, but then that?€?s not what it was designed for. The receiver is excellent, of course.

For batteries, I bought a higher-capacity Li-I battery from Batteries America and it works great. I also have the AA case from Yaesu, but haven?€?t had to use it, yet.

In short, great radio, love it, would definitely get another.

KB6KGX

On Nov 17, 2019, at 9:14 AM, Chris - KC9AD <c.doutre@...> wrote:

Chris,

My primary reasons for preferring the FT-60 are:

1. Front panel programming is almost intuitive because it has human-sized
buttons with clear labels and many functions are directly accessible from
the front panel buttons: V/M, direct numeric entry of freqs and channels,
single button entry into squelch type and tone menus.

2. A dedicated squelch knob. No menus, no mode buttons; just a single knob
that directly adjusts the squelch and only the squelch.

3. As you say, a simple dual-band 5-watt radio that covers the basics of
analog simplex and duplex communications in a professional-quality unit.
Plus a case that's big enough to fit in my hand. Plus a clear

simple display

that my 73-year-old eyes can read easily, except that some of the

tiny icons

might be a little fuzzy to me.

I also like the DTMF keys that allow me to access IRLP repeaters and other
DTMF-controlled repeaters.

I have read comments that say the FT-70 has all this, plus Fusion, plus a
Li-Ion battery, for only a few dollars more. Except the case is smaller and
the buttons are smaller. And it has a two-button squelch mode

procedure. It

doesn't even have a dedicated volume knob. Very sexy perhaps, but not for
me. And, unless you really want or need digital voice, those extra DV
features are potentially a distraction.

Gordon West wrote an article many years ago that recommended the FT-60 from
among all the handhelds available at that time. I recently contacted him to
ask him about this. He confirmed that, after all these years, the FT-60 is
still his preferred "first" handheld, basically for all the reasons
mentioned above. YMMV. 73.

Chris Doutre KC9AD

On Nov 17, 2019, at 11:18, Mark Lassman via Groups.Io <kb6kgx@...> wrote:

?My wife bought me a FT-60 (before I was able to buy one, myself). I love it. As you said, it¡¯s simple, has only the basics that I need and nothing that I don¡¯t need. It¡¯s built like a tank. I¡¯ve dropped it and banged against stuff and it¡¯s a Timex: takes a licking but keeps on ticking. Great audio. However, I need to replace the keypad as some of the labeling has rubbed off. I would definitely buy another one, if I needed to, rather than the newer, more compact and whiz-bang radios out today. Don¡¯t need GPS, don¡¯t need DMR, ¡°WIRES¡±, or any other features other than the basics. I don¡¯t used it much for communicating these days but more as a ¡°scanner¡± for my fire photography activity. The scan speed is not as fast as a dedicated scanner is, but then that¡¯s not what it was designed for. The receiver is excellent, of course.

For batteries, I bought a higher-capacity Li-I battery from Batteries America and it works great. I also have the AA case from Yaesu, but haven¡¯t had to use it, yet.

In short, great radio, love it, would definitely get another.

KB6KGX

On Nov 17, 2019, at 9:14 AM, Chris - KC9AD <c.doutre@...> wrote:

Chris,

My primary reasons for preferring the FT-60 are:

1. Front panel programming is almost intuitive because it has human-sized

buttons with clear labels and many functions are directly accessible from

the front panel buttons: V/M, direct numeric entry of freqs and channels,

single button entry into squelch type and tone menus.

2. A dedicated squelch knob. No menus, no mode ?buttons; just a single knob

that directly adjusts the squelch and only the squelch.

3. As you say, a simple dual-band 5-watt radio that covers the basics of

analog simplex and duplex communications in a professional-quality unit.

Plus a case that's big enough to fit in my hand. Plus a clear simple display

that my 73-year-old eyes can read easily, except that some of the tiny icons

might be a little fuzzy to me.

I also like the DTMF keys that allow me to access IRLP repeaters and other

DTMF-controlled repeaters.

I have read comments that say the FT-70 has all this, plus Fusion, plus a

Li-Ion battery, for only a few dollars more. Except the case is smaller and

the buttons are smaller. And it has ?a two-button squelch mode procedure. It

doesn't even have a dedicated volume knob. Very sexy perhaps, but not for

me. And, unless you really want or need digital voice, those extra DV

features are potentially a distraction.

Gordon West wrote an article many years ago that recommended the FT-60 from

among all the handhelds available at that time. I recently contacted him to

ask him about this. He confirmed that, after all these years, the FT-60 is

still his preferred "first" handheld, basically for all the reasons

mentioned above. YMMV. 73.

Chris Doutre KC9AD