Name: Yaesu FT-2900R
Brand: Yaesu

75 W

Output

2009

Introduced

Frequency	TX: 144-148 MHz (VHF 2m ONLY, single band), RX: 136-174 MHz
Bands	2m (VHF ONLY, single band)
TX power	5 / 10 / 30 / 75 W (75W / 30W / 10W / 5W. FOUR selectable levels. NO COOLING FAN NEEDED at 75W (passive heatsink!).)
Modes	FM
Weight	1.4 kg (3.1 lb) - ~1400g (manufacturer figure, not independently verified). Die-cast aluminum chassis.
Connector	SO-239
Year	2009

Connectors

antenna	SO-239
mic	MH-48A6J DTMF illuminated mic (included) with keypad entry
data	PTT/DATA port
dc in	DC 13.8V
power req	DC 13.8V.

Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR radio - FCC Technician-class license required to transmit; NOT GMRS, NOT license-free. SINGLE-BAND 2m (144-148 MHz) ONLY - NOT dual-band. Analog FM only. Power: 75W / 30W / 10W / 5W (note the 30W mid, NOT 25W). 200+ memory channels; NOAA weather alert; MIL-STD-810 (shock/vibration). NOT waterproof - the 'IP54' sometimes seen online is NOT a verified Yaesu spec. Memory-Only mode. Introduced ~2009. DISCONTINUED (-> 80W FT-2980R).

75W VHF with NO FAN, Yaesu's highest-power VHF mobile with passive cooling 75W output with NO COOLING FAN NEEDED (die-cast aluminum chassis dissipates all heat passively!) 4 power levels (75/30/10/5W), storable per memory channel Advanced Track Tuning (ATT) RF front-end filter (outstanding intermod protection) 3W LOUD audio from internal speaker large 6-digit backlit LCD with excellent visibility 221 memory channels: 200 regular + 10 pairs band-limit + 1 home channel 6-character alphanumeric labels per channel per-channel storage: repeater shift, CTCSS/DCS data, power level, scan skip, alpha label 10-channel NOAA Weather Bank with 1050 Hz Severe Weather alert alarm CTCSS + DCS encoder/decoder with split tone (CTCSS/DCS mixed uplink/downlink per channel) WiRES internet linking ('Internet' key, DTMF digit or string for internet-linked repeaters) MH-48A6J DTMF illuminated microphone with direct keypad frequency entry + memory recall extended RX 136-174 MHz (commercial, military, public safety, marine) die-cast aluminum chassis; no fan means no fan noise, no fan failure point

Strengths

75 W VHF with no fan, so it runs silently with no fan to fail. Die-cast aluminum passive cooling, per-channel power and tone storage, an ATT front-end, and 3 W loud audio. It has NOAA with Severe Weather alert, WiRES internet linking, 221 channels with alpha labels, and an MH-48A6J illuminated mic, with Yaesu build quality.

Weaknesses

VHF only. No digital modes. No GPS, APRS, or Bluetooth. No detachable faceplate. No color display. No documented CHIRP support. Heavy (~1400 g) due to the aluminum chassis.

Verdict

A high-power, fanless VHF mobile. The FT-2900R puts 75 W into a die-cast aluminum chassis that cools passively: no fan noise in the vehicle and no fan motor to fail in the field. It has 75 W, an ATT receiver, WiRES, NOAA weather alert, and Yaesu build quality. For the most VHF power in a quiet, reliable package, it is a strong choice.

The Yaesu FT-2900R is a single-band 2-meter analog FM mobile radio famous for high power and toughness, a longtime favorite for repeater work and emergency communications. It requires an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit; it is not a GMRS or license-free radio, and it is analog FM only. It is 2 meters only, with no 70-centimeter capability.

It puts out a strong 75 watts (in steps of 75, 30, 10, and 5 watts, note the 30-watt mid level, not 25), holds 200-plus memory channels, includes NOAA weather alert, and is built to MIL-STD-810 for shock and vibration in a fan-less die-cast chassis. (It is rugged but not waterproof, an IP54 rating sometimes seen online is not a verified Yaesu spec.) It had an exceptionally long production run and a "bulletproof" reputation.

It has been discontinued, replaced by the 80-watt FT-2980R. The earlier 65-watt model is the FT-2800M; the budget 2-meter Yaesu is the FT-1900R.