Yaesu FTM-300DE/R

Richard Constantine G3UGF takes a look at the latest, feature packed Fusion-capable transceiver from Yaesu.

There’s no doubt that C4FM is now a well-established choice in a maturing market for digital amateur radio. The new featurepacked, FTM-300DE VHF/UHF transceiver is the latest member of Yaesu’s C4FM family, offering FM plus, with immediate access to worldwide communication via Wires X™ enabled repeaters.

First impressions count and it’s immediately obvious that Yaesu have upped their game in terms of design and construction. They appear to have taken a few styling cues from some other radios, innovated and improved the package overall.

Picking the radio out of the box, you get a shock – it feels a little heavy, but much of that is the substantial 350gram, steel, slide-mount cradle, that fits either above or below the radio. There’s a springloaded release catch for quick removal, reminiscent of the old FT-290, plus a hidden screw for secure fixing, if preferred. I wouldn’t recommend hanging the radio below a dashboard with the self-tapping screws – but who does that any more in a modern car?

Innovation is immediately apparent as the solid, one piece, cast alloy chassis with steel covers, is a radical, ventilated design that actively draws air through the chassis, courtesy of a really nice, compact, but larger than usual, near silent cooling fan – essential on a dashboard top, or hot climate.

Current consumption is 0.5A receive and 11A transmit for maximum output at 50W with appropriate reductions in 25W or 5W modes. It easily achieves these ratings at slightly less than the 13.8V quoted and there’s no sign of overheating.

The UHF PA consumes 1A less than either the FT-400D or FTM-100D models, implying a slightly more efficient PA module and despite having two independent receivers, like big brother, the FTM-400D.

The separate, wideband receivers are optimised for the amateur bands at 0.2wV SINAD (test model squelch opened at approx., 0.18wv on VHF). It has Airband AM, Marine and PMR receive-only capability, all at slightly reduced but very practical sensitivities.

The head unit clips directly to the transceiver body and at last, they’ve included a 3m remote cable as standard – no need to buy it separately as in earlier radios (I always thought it a little mean, but that’s value-added selling for you). A 6m cable is also available.

Unlike some other makers and presumably for manufacturing economy reasons, the microphone socket remains on the transceiver body, less than ideal for remote mounting.

In its one-piece, click together form, there’s a small gap on both lower Left and Right front corners of the main body. This conveniently allows the microphone lead to come out either side − a nice touch for Right- or Left-hand drive.

Either by design or default, Yaesu have gone some way to addressing the microphone issue as it’s possible to plug their optional, but very costly snapshot microphone directly into the mini-USB data socket on the side of the head unit.

However, you do lose the benefits of the keypad microphone, now thankfully with larger buttons for Western fingers, a great improvement on the ubiquitous tiny button, MH-48 microphones. An optional mic extension cable is available but, there’s another option that I’ll come too later.

The 50mm (2in) square, colour display is the same as used in the FT-3D hand portable. Photographs infer that it’s larger than it really is, as it’s recessed with bevelled edges to reduce reflections and glare in sunlight. It’s not a problem and the screen is excellent, better than many, has an appealing typeface, clear and legible at around half a metre − even with my aging eyes. Somewhat puzzling and disappointingly, for FT3D or FTM-400D owners, it’s not a touchscreen, which is annoying when you forget.

I do like the permanent display of the supply volts top right corner, plus pushing the SQL button momentarily changes the left-hand volume controls, to allow squelch level adjustments, without navigating programming routines.

There’s 3 watts of nice, clear audio available from the onboard, top-mounted speaker. We’re all used to having a single 3.5mm rear mounted socket for external audio but uniquely this radio has two! It’s possible to combine or separate out the audio feeds from either A or B receivers, or leave the internal speaker connected to the A receiver. I’m not sure how useful this feature will be, unless you are actively monitoring a closed digital/analogue call group of like-minded owners.

Firmware

Gone are the days when a radio came with all its amateur frequencies plumbed in and all you needed to do was to connect up, select the correct sub-audible CTCSS repeater tone and start making friends.

Microprocessors mean that radios now have much more, ‘play value’. Equipment is feature rich, requiring firmware upgrades, SD cards, time navigating menus, sub menus, sub-sub menus, programming and storing.

A USB cable is provided for firmware updates from the Yaesu website and both head unit and main body have very tiny concealed switches that must first be changed from Normal to Update.

All memory options can be programmed manually but with 999 available, plus five home channels and 50 pairs of Programmable Memory Scan channels (PMS) it would be a long and laborious job. Readers may be familiar with RT Systems comprehensive, after-market software, but perhaps not realise that Yaesu’s programming software is also available free, directly from their website. Plug a 32GB max SD card into a PC and program to your hearts content.

The FTM-300D has another clever trick, in the form of Memory Channel Band, Auto Grouping (MAG). It automatically stores and groups memory channels in each frequency band together, making it much easier to find and select a wanted frequency.

Unlike other models, the SD memory card holder is now located on the head unit, not hidden between head and body, thus making it easier and quicker to remove and update. There’s also a mixed memory bank for your favourites.

Feature Packed

Pressing the Display button enables the fixed centre, 61 channel Band-Scope on the active VFO, temporarily disabling the nonactive one. Re-tuning relies on using the VFO dial because the radio doesn’t have a touchscreen, so you can’t point and ‘jump’ but nevertheless it’s a useful feature that also works in memory mode.

Others include Digital Group Monitor, Message & Paging facility, APRS, Altitude Display, Electronic Compass, Internal GPS driven Clock/Timer, Latitude and Longitude location with back track, external GPS connection, rear panel Data socket, multiple repeater shifts and the ability to name channels, etc. There’s more, as this radio is designed for international distribution

Of course, the big plus is the Wires X™ option via a link or repeater. Connecting to an appropriate internet-linked Fusion repeater and pressing the DX button opens up a whole new world. It provides extended UK and European range plus the ability to cross time zones, activate otherwise dormant repeaters and in some cases cross-link to other digital platforms.

Detailing everything you can do would fill every page of PW but safe to say, that the FTM-300D does most things well. For more Wires X™ information, see the Yaesu website

Bluetooth

Earlier, I mentioned an alternative solution to the microphone issue, when using the head unit remote from the transceiver body. This radio comes with Bluetooth as standard, something I first suggested to a manufacturer around ten years ago and something that until recently has been seen as either not relevant, or only available as a costly option.

While claiming that some (but not all) other devices will link, Yaesu have a history of coding their Bluetooth offering to direct buyers to their own product and this radio is no different.

However, the new SSM-BT10 earpiece is in a whole different league from earlier models such as the BH1/BH2 models for the FTM-400D and costs far less.

It’s made in the Standard-Horizon factory in China and unlike the former it has no boom microphone, can be charged in-car via USB (big plus!) and resembles the classic mobile phone devices. It comes with a spare ear curl.

Connecting the device to the radio should be straightforward, via the radio’s on-screen display, with no codes to enter. However, I did struggle initially to remember the menu sub routines and search function, as it repeatedly confused things suggesting connection to my Smart TV, laptop, mouse and car. Perhaps better to do this somewhere with fewer choices.

It has a practical range of around 3 to 5m. Ideal in-shack range and I’ve monitored activity from one floor below the radio. I was concerned that the lack of a boom microphone may be detrimental but, as one of my initial trial contacts remarked, “If that’s Bluetooth all I can say is that it’s the Rolls Royce. “

It can be operated either as a PTT device or with the on-board VOX facility in the radio. Prospective buyers should be aware that it’s small, black and easily misplaced but at less than £30.00, not a fortune to replace. I’m considering buying some dayglow paint.

Summary.

Owners of the superb FT-3DE handheld will love this radio, particularly with its familiar, but slightly more comprehensive display. The FTM-400D series is still for me top of the tree, but only just.

As a dedicated mobile, the 400’s larger display, touchscreen and some additional functions make it an excellent choice. Thus far and with time restrictions I’ve not been able to successfully cross-connect either older or newer Bluetooth devices to either radio. I may be doing something wrong but I suspect there have been changes and would urge some caution.

There’s no doubt that this new radio with its dual receive, colour display and many other functions eclipses the ever reliable FTM-100D, which I suspect will keep its used value for quite some time. How long it remains in production remains to be seen.

Much, but not all of what I like about the FTM-300D has already been said and its performance can’t be faulted, but what about the niggly things I’m not so happy with?

The 75-page handbook is comprehensive but labour intensive, needs patience and a certain mindset. It really needs a hard cover or protective jacket, to prevent it tearing or falling apart. It needs constant referral because learning to operate is made harder by the minimal multiple function, front panel controls. The inclusion of a ‘quick guide’ card to the more common functions would be a great memory aide.

I would swap the complex multiple audio outlets on the rear panel for a touchscreen any day and the microphone socket really does need to be on the head unit.

Pressing the DX button to engage the Wires X connection defaults the radio to the top A channel frequency. Any Fusion repeaters must be either stored in memory or entered on the A channel. It’s annoying if one appears on the B channel, for those keeping VHF and UHF separate on the screen, for ease of use.

I’m at a loss to know why the makers chose to include an A/B button among the few front panel controls when the same function is achieved by pressing the channel dials.

A more useful feature in VFO mode might have been to switch off the CTCSS when shifting from Repeater to Simplex. Presentation wise, the separate Red/Black, DC cables are untidy. They would surely be better as flat twin, figure-of-eight and easier to handle.

Though adequate, the desk stand is something of an afterthought and not really of the same quality as the overall package.

In conclusion, this is an excellent and solid offering from Yaesu that performs well as a mobile or home station, with very good transmit and receive audio. Stand out feature, Wires X excluded is, Bluetooth as standard and the headset is really a must have. My personal rating is, 4.5 out of 5. Current retail, at time of press is, £399.95 + SSM-BT-10 £29.95.

I’d like to thank the ML&S team for their kind support and backup in providing their only shop demonstrator (during lockdown) for this review, when there was an unexpected delay in the availability of the one I now own. It’s a keeper.