There are often many questions on which radio is best if I want to work Fusion Digital C4FM mode?  It can be a complicated answer, depending on what you might want to do with it.

Disclaimer:  Don’t own or never used an FT2DR, FTM3200D, FT-991.  Only imparting info I have been able to glean from various sources about these radios.

Best to go to Yaesu website and study features in more detail after reading this.

A couple of assumptions:

  • Only comparing C4FM features or related
  • Only concerned with 2m and 440 where Fusion infrastructure might exist (repeaters and Wires-X nodes)
  • The FTM-400XDR is the gold standard – most features
  • Not mentioning basic features found on most FM radios these days
  • DN mode (digital narrow) includes advanced FEC (forward error correction) that increases range usuability

FTM-400XDR

Image result for FTM-400XDR

Street Price – $549 as of 2/2017 (been creeping up)

Yaesu Info Page FTM-400XDR

Key Features
  • 3.5 inch TFT LCD Touch Screen display
  • GPS receiver built-in – Smart Navigation
  • APRS Modem
  • All C4FM modes, DN and VW (digital narrow and voice wide)
  • 2m and 440 bands, 2 VFOs (one digital)
  • Cross-band capable in analog mode
  • 3 watts audio on internal speaker
  • Can be used with camera mic to take and transmit photos
  • Can be used as Wires-X Node radio (not a cost effective option for this)
  • Callsign and  distance information displays during digital QSOs
  • Micro SD card slot
Limitations
  • Only one VFO can be digital (one vocoder chip)
  • Not really a limitation, but display unit does not mount to main unit.  Designed to be separated

FTM-100DR

Street price Feb 2017 – $309

Yaesu Info Page FTM-100DR

Key Features
  • GPS receiver built-in
  • APRS Modem
  • All C4FM modes, DN and VW (digital narrow and voice wide)
  • 2m and 440 bands, only 1 VFO (not as convenient for APRS operation while using radio for listening/communicating)
  • 3 watts audio on internal speaker
  • Can be used as Wires-X Node radio
  • Can control a Wires-X node
  • Callsign and Distance info in digital QSOs
  • Micro SD card slot
Limitations vs. FTM-400XDR
  • Smaller display, no color, no touch screen
  • Menu driven with buttons
  • One VFO

FT-991A

Image result for FT-991 Yaesu

Street Price Feb 2017 – $1390

Yaesu Info Page FT-991A

Key Features

Obviously, not a great comparison, being a full HF radio, but will mention some features and limitations:

  • Covers 2m and 440 with C4FM
  • Wires-X capable (some early models may not, may be available with firmware update, not sure)

FTM-3200DR

Street price Feb. 2017 – $149

Yaesu Info Page FTM-3200

Features/Limitations
  • 2 meters only
  • C4FM DN mode only (not really a problem.  Almost always DN recommended)
  • Can’t control Wires-X nodes via this radio.  Can still operate thru them if connected.
  • Can’t be used as a Wires-X node radio
  • No GPS – no distance during digital QSOs
  • No APRS
  • 3 watts audio
  • 220 memories

FT-2DR

 

Street price Feb 2017 – $359

Yaesu Info Page FT2DR

Key Features
  • Dual Band 2m and 440
  • Micro SD card slot
  • Touch Screen display
  • GPS receiver
  • APRS
  • Wide band receive
  • Band scope
  • 5 watts
  • 700mW audio

FT-1XDR

Street Price Feb 2017 –  $299

Yaesu Website info – FT1XDR

Key Features
  • A Full featured HT – too many to list here
  • Dual Band 2m and 440 – 2 independant receivers
  • Micro SD card slot
  • GPS receiver
  • APRS
  • Wide band receive
  • Does have band scope – (limited display)
  • 5 watts
  • 200/400mW audio
  • Wires-X capable (not as a node)
  • Works with camera mic – can take and xmit photos.  Not view.
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