📻 Yaesu FTA550L: High-Performance Handheld VHF Transceiver with Long-Lasting Li-Ion Battery Review

Good value for money, ease of use, most functions are intuitive, most accessories included, headset adapter, lithium ion battery, AC charger, cigarette lighter cable , antenna, belt clip, alkaline battery case, USB cable and ferrite core, I love the noise cancellation, no background noise, good range

Excellent results with this transceiver. For example, I prefer the dot matrix display over the seven segment display found on ICOM radios. The signal quality and ease of use are top notch. The software programming is very convenient. I am a trained engineer and also a top-class radio amateur and can confirm that this is on par with other Yaesu devices. I highly recommend using the Yaesu YCE01 software for the initial setup. Much faster for bulk programming and easy for backups. After that…

Very good quality radio. We mainly use it for AWOS at our airfield which has no METAR reports. Almost as fast as METAR. And much quicker than calling a 1960's technological AWOS and then often getting a busy number. Drives you crazy! This radio is the solution. Just leave it on, it's his charger with the volume turned down. If you want to get a modified IFR clearance on the spur of the moment (walking to the plane), this works in a good place (where communication is generally good). Not the…

Overall I'm happy with the FTA550L which was bought to replace an old and ailing ICOM radio. PROS+ Robust build quality+ Excellent battery life+ Relatively fast charging+ Bright, clear, easy to use - read display+ Feels and works like a "modern" radio with advanced features+ Easy programming with PC software once you've learned the features CONS - Distance reception . With ICOM I can receive ATIS clean and clear in my house, but with Yaesu the signal is blurry and intermittent. Noticed that the

I've had a chance to test the transmit reception and am impressed with the sound quality coming out of the speaker and the range - I could use the ATIS for the airport in about 15 miles to the ground. I'll add after testing the transmissions when I fly next week. One thing I don't like is that to connect the headset adapter you have to unscrew the plate above the connector and screw the adapter on. I know it's not a waterproof issue as there are two very handy rubber covers for data and DC…

This is a great radio. It's feature rich and the new screen is easy to read. It takes some time to learn how to navigate the controls, but if you spend some time you'll find your way around the features. My options were ICOM, Sportys or this one. I chose it because of the alphanumeric display, the computer/programming integration, and most of the accessories included in the price. I had an issue that could be a hindrance to the show. I use this radio in my Champion with external antenna and…

As a pilot you know that this type of backup radio will never be able to pick up someone 25 or 30 miles away to contact except for template work or to go to the next tower, it helps! This model is made in Japan and includes NAV/VOR/ILS functionality, but it's hard to imagine you messing around with it as a backup for instrument approaches unless you're in a real emergency. Anyway, this baby has some interesting accessories like 1) included aviation headset/mic adapter, 2) UK and EU power plug…

Pros: Easy to use, large display, clear audio, detailed manual included Cons: Additional free software for Windows only. I argued between Yaesu FTA-550L and ICOM IC-A24. Backup handheld computer so I had the opportunity to test it first hand. As for the Yaesu 550, I didn't know of an owner, so I had to rely on online research before making a decision. The overall size between the 550L and the IC-A24 is about the same on average. However, the 550L is slightly lighter. The 550L's screen size is…