Yaesu FT-4XR Dual Band Review

For starters, the radio feels very solid in your hand. With the Yaesu FT-4XR, there is nothing you feel like you might break. From the solidness with which the antenna screws into the top to the lack of sideways play in the belt clip, there is no doubt this is not a cheap radio.

All of the buttons, keys, and knobs on the Yaesu FT-4XR feel good and are very responsive. I particularly like the knob on the top being used as both power and volume, as it should be. While I like their FT-70D, I just really wish it had a power/volume knob.

I will mention that the keys on the front of the Yaesu FT-4XR are pretty small. They are much smaller than it’s larger brother, the FT-65R and smaller than most Baofeng radios as well. This can be a challenge if you want to do much programming in the field and either have larger hands or are getting older and have a harder time seeing them.

Programming the Yaesu FT-4XR from the front panel is perfectly doable, but is a little weird. For those new to amateur radio, it probably will be just fine, but those of us who have been around a while will notice that the programming system works just like a Baofeng in that you scroll through a menu system and select the option you want, then change that option. The menu items use the Yaesu terminology but gone are the quick keys on the front of the radio allowing you to set items like duplex, power, and tone with just a couple of key presses. Like most radios these days, it seems the Yaesu FT-4XR just isn’t really field programming friendly.

The battery on the Yaesu FT-4XR vs FT-65R is about the same although slightly smaller, coming in at only 1750mAh, but I have no reservations thinking this is a true 1750mAh battery as it is quite hefty and lastly quite a while. It also brings over the battery latch system from the FT-65R, which I do not like, but such is life. The release is small and just about requires you to use your fingernail or a tool to slide it over to swap batteries.

Looking at the LCD on the Yaesu FT-4XR shows the new blueish backlighting, although they moved back to the segmented LCD display like on older radios like the Yaesu FT-60R instead of the newer dot-matrix on the FT-65R. It is still a much nicer screen than you will find on just about any of the cheap Chinese radios.

I use the freely available CHIRP for the Yaesu FT-4XR programming software, and it works quite well.

One last really nice feature of the FT-4XR is the belt clip, which is strong, well-designed, and can easily go over a standard belt or even a thick duty belt.

Images:

Radio Specifics:

Test Images:

• Three Selectable TX Power settings (5 W (High)/2.5 W (Middle)/0.5 W (Low))
• Supplied with 1,750 mAh Li-Ion Battery pack
• 3.5-Hour Rapid Charger Included
• Quick Recall Key
• Two User Programmable Keys for Quick Access to Favorite Functions
• Compact Design
• Rugged Construction
• Meets IP54 Rating For Dust/Water protection
• MIL-810-C, D, and E
• Very Powerful Audio Output and Clear Audio from the Big Front Speaker – 5 Watts Output
• Alarm
• Quick Home Channel Access
• Programmed VFO Scan
• Memory Scan
• Priority Channel Scan
• Weather Alert Scan
• WX Channels with “Severe Weather” Alert
• FM Broadcast Receiver Also Built In
• ARTS (Automatic Range Transponder System)
• DTMF Operation
• CTCSS/DCS Operation
• Busy Channel Lock-Out (BCLO)
• Battery Saver Function
• Automatic Power-Off (APO) Feature

Conclusions

The Yaesu FT-4XR is a nice basic radio. If you are looking for a well-built and solid analog radio with no real frills, then this might be a perfect radio for you. While my review might not really sound like it, I like this little radio. It feels so much more solid in my hand and is much slicker to use than my Baofengs.

In the end, will the Yaesu FT-4XR actually do more than a Baofeng UV-5R? Other than probably last longer and provide better reception, not really. Think of this radio as a stripped-down Cadillac, where the Baofeng is a well-equipped Kia. The Cadillac is a lot nicer to tootle around in, and has a lot higher build quality, but it doesn’t really do anything the Kia won’t. It is just a matter of if you are willing to pay for something nicer or not.

Here are some reviews of the Yaesu FT-4XR!