Has anyone tried any of the new Yaesu Digital VHF/UHF rigs?

[Moleculo]

So Yaesu is really pushing their System Fusion - it's built in to all of the new mobile radios, including the newly released FTM-100DR. I'm curious how much traction the new mode is getting. Has anyone here tried them or have repeaters in their area that support System Fusion?

 

[N3KDJ]

So Yaesu is really pushing their System Fusion - it's built in to all of the new mobile radios, including the newly released FTM-100DR. I'm curious how much traction the new mode is getting. Has anyone here tried them or have repeaters in their area that support System Fusion?

I've had one of the new Yaesu FT2DR Handhelds here for about a week. I've not had a QSO with anyone in digital mode yet...We have a repeater very near me apparently installed by a club I used to belong to:
445.6750 -5 MHz 131.8 Paoli, Hospital Chester WB3JOE OPEN
I have called out on there quite a number of times including peak drive time, 4th of July, etc and have never had a station answer me yet. Have not heard a single QSO in process.

I too am curious to how much uptake the Fusion stuff is getting...nice that it supports regular FM from non SF radios in FM mode. You can search your are and ROW here

 

[2RT307]

Our local club just installed a two meter and 70 cm Yaesu repeater. Rebate deal was hard to beat. I don't have the digital mode, and have missed some club meeting
presentations on other options that work with it. Will let you know what I find out.

73,
Brett

 

[CDX8412]

A local club in Pottstown Pennsylvania just put a Fusion repeater online, currently operating in mixed mode (AMS- automatic mode switching). As of late July 2015, it is a temporary install to do testing/shake down, and will come offline to do final tweaking before permanent installation.
I have an FT1D and have used the repeater with several area hams, and it works pretty well. Coverage is equal to, or better than the analog 440 machine it replaced.
Some minor glitches at times when the repeater will switch back over to analog FM, but mostly no major issues noted. Not sure if the repeater switching to analog is due to some interference from the nearby 2m FM repeater getting into the receiver, or if it is someone kerchunking the machine to intentionally switch it.
Also, there is another Fusion repeater just installed in the Allentown, Pa area, and one reported to by installed on a repeater in the Valley Forge, Pa area. The Fusion repeaters are gaining traction in S.E. PA.
***N3KDJ, if you want to schedule a test on the MARC machine sometime, message me on the board here***

 

[Riverman]

I am thinking about purchasing a 2 meter or dual band transceiver. Will a basic FM radio like the Yaesu FT-7900R suffice, or is one that's capable of both digital and analog modes recommended these days?

 

[2RT307]

I am thinking about purchasing a 2 meter or dual band transceiver. Will a basic FM radio like the Yaesu FT-7900R suffice, or is one that's capable of both digital and analog modes recommended these days?

It really depends on your area and what your local repeaters are using. Several different types of digital out there. If your club repeater uses the Yaesu C4FM, then I'd look at getting a mobile that has it. If it's Dstar, then look into that. Very few of the guys in my club have ditched their old analog rigs to take advantage of the digital mode yet, but a lot of them are dabbling with the digital HT's.

73,
Brett

 

[Riverman]

It really depends on your area and what your local repeaters are using. Several different types of digital out there. If your club repeater uses the Yaesu C4FM, then I'd look at getting a mobile that has it. If it's Dstar, then look into that. Very few of the guys in my club have ditched their old analog rigs to take advantage of the digital mode yet, but a lot of them are dabbling with the digital HT's.

73,
Brett

Thanks, Brett.
It seems to me a radio with AMS would be desirable. If I understand it right, it determines if a received signal is digital or analog and adjusts transmissions accordingly.