Yaesu FT-710 AESS
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| Frequency | RX: 30 kHz - 75 MHz (general coverage), TX: 160m-6m (1.8-54 MHz, all HF amateur bands + 50 MHz) |
| Bands | TX: 160m through 6m. RX: general coverage to 75 MHz. |
| TX power | 100 W (100W SSB/CW/FM (adjustable 5/25/50/100W). 25W AM. Push-pull PA.) |
| Modes | SSB (USB/LSB), CW (built-in keyer, APF; Audio Peak Filter), AM, FM, RTTY/DATA |
| Weight | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) - 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) for the transceiver. The AESS bundle adds the separate SP-40 speaker. |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 2022 |
| antenna | SO-239 |
| mic | RJ-45 style 8-pin modular (SSM-75E mic included, NOT compatible with older Yaesu 8-pin round) |
| key | 3.5mm stereo (tip=dit/key, ring=dah for iambic; menu selectable for external keyer) |
| usb b | USB-B (built-in audio codec + CAT control, single cable for digital modes) |
| usb a | USB-A (for mouse/keyboard/peripherals) |
| dvi d | DVI-D (external monitor output) |
| ext spkr | 3.5mm (SP-40 external speaker, included with AESS model) |
| rem alc | 3.5mm (for FH-2 remote keypad or ALC connection to external amplifier) |
| tuner linear | 8-pin mini-DIN (menu selectable: FC-40 external tuner, or TR switching for linear amp, or CAT) |
| phones | 3.5mm (front panel headphone jack) |
| sd card | SD card slot |
| dc in | fused DC power cable, 13.8VDC ±15% |
| power req | 13.8V DC ±15%. TX: ~23A. RX: ~1.8A. Fused DC power cable included. |
Direct-sampling SDR with technology from the FTDX101D/FTDX10 at a lower price. An outstanding receiver for the price - Sherwood Engineering's lab rankings place it among the very top HF receivers, measuring almost identically to the more expensive FTDX10 on 20 meters. A 4.3 in touchscreen with 3DSS spectrum display. DVI-D output for a large external monitor. A built-in USB audio codec removes the need for a SignaLink. The AESS speaker system with the included SP-40 gives clear receive audio. An FT8 preset function simplifies digital setup, with a 3-stage parametric TX equalizer, a built-in ATU with 100 memories, an SD card for recording and backup, and mouse/keyboard control via USB-A. The SSM-75E mic is included.
Ethernet NOT built-in (requires optional SCU-LAN10 module, significant omission). Buttons are NOT backlit (common user complaint, penlight needed in dim conditions). Smaller display than FTDX10. No dual receive. Modular mic connector is NOT compatible with older Yaesu 8-pin round mic cables. No VHF/UHF (the FT-991A has this). Some users report DNR produces 'underwater' sound at default settings (improved with firmware updates). Training period needed for menu depth. Newer and less field-proven than IC-7300.
A modern SDR competitor to the IC-7300. The FT-710 AESS brings Yaesu's FTDX-class SDR technology into the IC-7300 price bracket. Its receiver performance, DVI-D monitor output, AESS speaker system, and 3-stage parametric EQ are features the IC-7300 does not match. The missing built-in ethernet and non-backlit buttons are real annoyances. Between this and the IC-7300, both are strong: the FT-710 edges ahead on receiver specs and audio customization, while the IC-7300 has a larger community and longer track record.
The Yaesu FT-710 is a compact 100-watt HF and 6-meter transceiver built around a genuine direct-sampling software-defined radio - and it punches well above its roughly $1,000 price. Its receiver measures almost identically to Yaesu's more expensive FTDX10 on the bench; Sherwood Engineering's respected rankings place it among the top few HF receivers ever tested. For an operator who cares most about hearing weak signals in a crowded band, that is the headline.
Worth getting right is the architecture and the naming. Unlike the FTDX10, which uses a hybrid design with roofing filters, the FT-710 digitizes the radio signal directly behind a bank of bandpass filters - a different, simpler approach that nonetheless performs superbly. It is sold as the FT-710 AESS and the FT-710 Field; the two are the same radio, the AESS adding Yaesu's SP-40 external speaker (the Field substitutes a carrying handle). The "AESS" is the speaker system, not a different transmitter.
The front is a 4.3-inch color touchscreen with Yaesu's 3D spectrum display, and a DVI-D jack drives a large external monitor. For digital modes it is its own USB sound card - one USB-B cable to the PC handles audio and CAT, with no external interface - and there is a built-in antenna tuner, an SD card slot, a one-button FT8 preset, and a parametric transmit equalizer. A couple of common gripes: the buttons are not backlit, and network/remote operation needs an add-on module rather than being built in.
Its natural rival is the Icom IC-7300, which has a larger user community and is often judged easier to operate, while the FT-710 generally edges it on raw receiver numbers and adds the built-in sound card. A step up in Yaesu's own line, the FTDX10 adds a bigger display and the hybrid front end. For a current SDR HF radio around the $1,000 mark, the FT-710 is one of the strongest choices available.