Just Arrived: Yaesu FTM-350 APRS Mobile
David Coursey, N5FDL Mon, January 4, 2010 at 6:18PM 
Yaesu FTM-350 V/UHF APRS mobileI picked up my new Yaesu FTM-350 mobile (with APRS features) from Mark at HRO in Oakland this afternoon. It it not yet powered up or installed in the car, so I can’t yet tell you about actually using it.
I was able to get the radio ($600) and the BU-1 Bluetooth add-on ($71.95) while I was at the store.
Meanwhile, the CAB-1 charger sleeve ($10.95) for the BH-1 Bluetooth headset ($89.95) that I already own; the FVS-2 digital voice synthesizer/recorder ($35.00); and the FGPS-1 GPS add-on ($95.00) are all being shipped to me from other stores.
When the box(es) arrive and I can install all the add-ons at once, I’ll hook-up the radio. Which better happen soon because I am driving down to Los Angeles on Friday and would like to beacon my position and see how well the radio works.
I did not purchase the FPR-1 “Personal Monitor Unit” ($80.00), a small receiver that does something that isn’t entirely clear to me and that is not described in any detail in either of the manuals (operating and APRS) that came with the radio.
If you add all this up, it is possible to spend over $1,000.00 on this radio, and the minimum purchase of the radio and GPS receiver is nearly $700.00. That sets a new standard for “pricey-ness” in mobile amateur gear (that isn’t D-Star) and all I can say is that the radio better be good.
There are lots of things to like about this radio that are discoverable without even turning it on. I’ll report on them in my next post.
Reader Comments (1)
The Yaesu FPR-1 Monitor Unit is an option exclusively for the Yaesu FTM-350R. It allows the user to receive your 440 band transmissions out to about 1000 feet (300 m), depending on transmit power and terrain. With the FPR-1, others can hear your transmissions during emergencies, special events, etc. This unit has a built in speaker, and you can select Low or High volume. There in an LED indicator that glows green when a signal is being received, blinks slow green when a a Selective Call was received, blinks green twice for data transfer, glows red during charging and blinks red when battery voltage is low.