Yaesu FT-8900R
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| Frequency | 28-29.7 MHz, 50-54 MHz, 144-148 MHz, 430-450 MHz |
| Bands | 10m, 6m, 2m, 70cm |
| TX power | 5 / 35 / 50 W |
| Modes | FM |
| Weight | 1.3 kg (2.9 lb) |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 2003 |
| antenna | SO-239 |
| dc in | 13.8VDC fused power cable |
| mic | 6-pin modular / RJ-12 style (MH-48A6J DTMF mic included) |
| power req | 13.8VDC (vehicle power) |
The only quad-band mobile covering 10m, 6m, 2m, and 70cm. 50W on 10/6/2m and 35W on 70cm. Cross-band repeat, dual receive, and VHF/UHF full duplex. 800+ memories and a detachable front panel. It fills a niche no other radio does: HF (FM) plus VHF/UHF mobile in one box.
FM only on all bands, so no SSB on 10m or 6m, which limits their utility (10m TX is FM, 28-29.7 MHz). The quad-band feature set is unique, but the FM-only limitation reduces the practical advantage on HF.
The niche quad-band mobile. If you want 10m FM, 6m FM, 2m, and 70cm in one radio, this is your only option. The FM-only limitation on HF bands is significant but acceptable for operators who want repeater and simplex FM across maximum spectrum.
The FT-8900R is Yaesu's famous quad-band mobile, and the band lineup is the whole story: it transmits on 10 meters, 6 meters, 2 meters, and 70 centimeters, all in analog FM. It is worth being exact about what that means; it covers those four bands and specifically does not include the 220 MHz band, a point often gotten wrong. It makes 50 watts on 10, 6, and 2 meters and 35 watts on 70 centimeters.
Like its dual-band sibling the FT-8800R, it offers dual receive, cross-band repeat, and a detachable head via the optional YSK-8900 kit. The quad-band coverage plus cross-band repeat is what made it a long-running favorite for emergency communications and for anyone who wanted one radio to reach across very different bands. One licensing note: the 10-meter coverage is FM only, and FM on 10 meters requires a General class license or higher; Technicians can use the radio on 6, 2, and 70 centimeters but not on 10-meter FM.
It had an unusually long production life before being discontinued, and it holds its value well secondhand. If you do not need the 10 and 6-meter bands, the dual-band FT-7900R is the simpler and cheaper option, though it gives up cross-band repeat.