Yaesu FT-65R
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| Frequency | TX: 144-148 MHz (VHF 2m), 430-450 MHz (UHF 70cm) |
| TX power | 0.5 / 2.5 / 5 W (5W / 2.5W / 0.5W — three selectable levels.) |
| Modes | FM |
| Battery | Li-ion 1950mAh / 7.4V |
| Weight | 260 g (9.2 oz) - 260g (9.17 oz) with SBR-25LI battery and antenna per Yaesu manual. Dimensions: 52.5×104.5×31 mm (2.1×4.1×1.2 in). Made in China under contract to Yaesu. |
| Connector | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (Yaesu reversed its usual convention on the FT-x5R line - FT-60R antennas do NOT fit) |
| Year | 2017 |
| antenna | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (Yaesu reversed its usual convention on the FT-x5R line - FT-60R antennas do NOT fit) |
| speaker mic | Yaesu proprietary (3.5mm + 2.5mm) |
| charging | 3.5-hour rapid charger (SBH-22, included) |
| power req | SBR-25LI 1950mAh 7.4V Li-ion (included). Optional SBR-26LI 2500mAh. 3.5hr rapid charger included. |
Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR (ham) radio - FCC Technician-class license required to transmit (2m/70cm); NOT GMRS, NOT license-free. Dual-band analog FM only (NO digital). 5W / 2.5W / 0.5W. IP54 + MIL-STD-810 C/D/E; loud ~1W front speaker; 10 NOAA weather channels + severe-weather alert; FM broadcast RX; 200+ memories; 1950 mAh (SBR-25Li). CHIRP-supported (cable needed); drop-in cradle charging (no USB). Introduced 2017. Current (3-year warranty).
Yaesu dual-band quality at a mid-tier price. IP54 + MIL-810 gives genuine field durability, and the 1 W speaker outperforms competitors in noise. It is CHIRP compatible, with 200 channels, WX with Severe Weather alert, FM broadcast, a 3.5-hour rapid charger, and ARTS. A reviewer who owns a Kenwood TH-D74A calls it simple to operate with 200 channels and 10 banks.
Several times the price of budget Chinese analog dual-banders. No digital modes (the FT-70DR adds C4FM for modestly more). No wideband or airband receive. No USB-C. No Bluetooth, GPS, or APRS. No color display. Yaesu proprietary programming (RT Systems software costs extra, or use CHIRP). The compact size means small controls.
A durable entry-level Yaesu dual-band. The FT-65R is for operators who want a radio that outlasts their license term: IP54, MIL-810, a 1 W speaker, and Yaesu audio quality in a compact dual-band. It does less than a bargain-bin Chinese radio but with a level of reliability and audio clarity that justifies the premium.
The Yaesu FT-65R is a rugged, no-nonsense dual-band analog handheld covering 2 meters and 70 centimeters. 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, with no digital modes. It is essentially the dual-band version of the single-band FT-25R.
Like its sibling it is built tough: an IP54 dust-and-splash rating, MIL-STD-810 ruggedness, and a loud front speaker that cuts through noise. It runs 5 watts in three steps, includes NOAA weather channels with severe-weather alerting, and is praised as a simple, reliable first dual-band radio. Its limitations are the flip side of that simplicity: no digital modes, no USB charging (a drop-in cradle instead), and programming needs a separate cable (CHIRP or Yaesu's software).
As a durable, name-brand entry handheld it is a common recommendation for new licensees who want better build quality than the cheapest imports. Its single-band sibling is the FT-25R; the budget analog alternative is the FT-4XR.