Yaesu Ft5D

Yaesu FT-5DE / FT-5DR — Detailed Technical Overview

AYBERK BLOG

AYBERK EFE KORKMAZ

12/1/20254 min read

🧰 General Description

  • The FT-5DE / FT-5DR is a dual-band VHF/UHF amateur handheld transceiver (HT), offering both analog FM/NFM and digital DV (C4FM / 4FSK) modes for voice communications. rigpix.com+2jgtech.com+2

  • It supports simultaneous dual-band receive (i.e. “real dual-band RX”) — you can monitor two separate frequencies at once (V+V, U+U, V+U, U+V). yaesu.co.uk+2Hamshop+2

  • It is built to be rugged and portable: compact size, relatively light weight, rubber-protected body, and rated IPX7 waterproof, meaning it can survive submersion in up to 1 m of water for 30 min — useful for field work, outdoor, or harsh conditions. yaesu.co.uk+1

📶 Frequency & Transmission / Reception

RX (receive) coverage — wideband:

  • Band A (Main): 0.5 MHz to 999.995 MHz — covers AM broadcast, shortwave (SW), FM broadcast, air-band, HF/VHF/UHF amateur and wideband signals depending on region. yaesu.co.uk+2rigpix.com+2

  • Band B (sub-band RX): 108 MHz – 580 MHz (region-dependent). yaesu.co.uk+1

TX (transmit) bands (for standard European amateur versions):

Channel step / tuning resolution: 5 / 6.25 / 8.33 / 9 / 10 / 12.5 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 50 / 100 kHz — including air-band (8.33 kHz) and AM broadcast (9 kHz) where relevant. rigpix.com+1

Frequency stability: ± 2.5 ppm over operating temperature range −20 °C to +60 °C. rigpix.com+1

Emission / modulation types supported:

  • Analog: FM / NFM, AM (for broadcast/air-band reception), WFM (for broadcast/FM) depending on band. rigpix.com+1

  • Digital: DV / C4FM (4-level FSK) for digital ham radio networks. jgtech.com+1

🔊 Power, Output & Electrical Specs

  • RF output power: selectable 5 W / 2.5 W / 1 W / 0.3 W when using Li-ion battery or external DC. jgtech.com+2k-po.com+2

  • When using optional dry-cell battery pack (e.g. FBA-39), max output is lower (0.3 W / 0.9 W depending on configuration). k-po.com+1

  • Supply / battery: Standard battery pack is Li-ion 7.2 V, 2200 mAh (model SBR-14LI) included in box. External DC 10.5–16 V also supported. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Current consumption (RX): ~180 mA (mono-band RX), ~220 mA (dual-band RX). yaesu.co.uk+1

  • TX current draw: ~1.6 A (5W on 144 MHz) or ~1.9 A (5W on 430 MHz) @ 7.2 V battery. yaesu.co.uk+2jgtech.com+2

📡 Receiver Performance & Audio / RX Sensitivity

Receiver architecture: for NFM/AM, a double-conversion superheterodyne design; for broadcast AM/FM/WFM, direct conversion. rigpix.com+1

Sensitivity (typical / “µV for 12 dB SINAD” or 10 dB S/N depending on mode/band): ranges vary by frequency — e.g.:

Audio output: internal speaker delivers ~1 W into 8 Ω with 10% THD. External speaker output also supported. k-po.com+1

Selectivity: approx. 12 kHz (–6 dB) / 35 kHz (–60 dB) for NFM/AM reception. k-po.com+1

🔄 Memory, Modes & Digital / Data Features

  • Offers up to 900 memory channels, organized into up to 24 memory banks. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Supports priority memory scan (PMS) sets, memory tagging with up to 16-character alphanumeric labels per channel. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Supports repeater shift/offset configuration (± up to 150 MHz in 50 kHz increments, depending region/band). rigpix.com+1

  • Built-in 66-channel high-sensitivity GPS receiver — enables onboard GPS position & heading display. jgtech.com+1

  • APRS data modem (1200/9600 bps, AX.25) built in — enables APRS tracking & messaging (on B-band). yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Digital mode C4FM (DV) support + automatic mode-select (AMS), plus support for digital-ID (DG-ID) networks, digital repeater nodes, and compatibility with digital nets. jgtech.com+1

  • Band-scope / channel activity monitor: high-speed “band scope” lets user monitor up to 79 channels around the current VFO pivot frequency (selectable 19 / 39 / 79 channels depending step size). Useful for spotting activity. jgtech.com+1

  • Memory Auto-Grouping (MAG), VFO Band-Skip, CAM (Channel Activity Monitor), and other scanning / memory-management utilities. jgtech.com+1

  • Additional features: CTCSS / DCS tone squelch & selective calling, DTMF encode & DTMF memory, VOX and hands-free (with optional Bluetooth headset), microSD slot (for voice recordings, data, logs), external data terminal port for external equipment or firmware updates. rigpix.com+2yaesu.co.uk+2

🔧 Physical, Mechanical & Environmental Data

  • Dimensions: approx. 62 mm × 100 mm × 34 mm (width × height × depth, without antenna / knob) when using standard battery. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Weight: ~282 g (with Li-ion battery and antenna) — relatively lightweight for a dual-band HT with full features. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Antenna connector / impedance: standard 50 Ω SMA type — compatible with many aftermarket antennas or portable antennas. rigpix.com+1

  • Power / operating voltage: standard Li-ion battery (7.2 V DC), external DC accepted (10.5 – 16 V DC), making mobile or vehicle operation possible if required. yaesu.co.uk+1

  • Environmental / durability: rubber-protected housing, water-resistant with IPX7 rating, well suited for outdoor, field, or harsh environmental conditions. yaesu.co.uk+1

✅ Key Strengths & Use Cases

  • Versatile RX & TX coverage: Wideband receive (0.5–999 MHz) plus ham-band dual-band TX — useful not only for amateur VHF/UHF but also for monitoring broadcast, air-band, SW, emergency, or utility signals (depending legal/regulatory permissions).

  • Dual-band simultaneous RX: Monitor two frequencies/bands at once — useful for monitoring local repeater on one band and simplex/other frequency on another.

  • Modern feature set: Digital voice (C4FM), built-in GPS, APRS data support, Bluetooth/VOX hands-free, microSD recording, band-scope — brings HT-level into semi-professional / advanced amateur usage.

  • Rugged and portable, with IPX7 waterproofing, compact size and light weight — suitable for fieldwork, hiking, emergency communications, outdoor expeditions, portable operations.

  • Rich memory & scanning capabilities — 900 channels, memory banks, scanning, memory grouping and monitor tools make it practical for heavy use, repeater nets, logging, and flexible ops.

  • Good audio output & quality especially in digital mode — internal 1 W speaker, external speaker support, digital audio clarity.

⚠️ Limitations / What to Know

  • Transmission is limited to 144–146 MHz and 430–440 MHz (standard European ham bands) — no HF TX support out of the box (only RX wideband). rigpix.com+1

  • Output power max 5 W — while typical for HTs, may limit range compared to higher-power mobile/base rigs, especially without a good antenna or in obstructed terrain.

  • As an all-in-one HT, features are balanced — for very specialized or high-performance tasks (HF DX, high-power mobile, advanced digital modes beyond C4FM) a base station or dedicated rig may still be required.

  • Battery life will vary depending on usage: heavy digital mode, GPS, dual-band RX, etc. will consume more power than simple simplex FM.

🧑‍💻 Ideal Use Cases — Who Should Use FT-5DE / FT-5DR

  • Amateur radio operators requiring a portable, feature-rich VHF/UHF transceiver for field use, emergency communications, portable nets, or hiking / outdoor operations.

  • Users who need wideband receive capabilities (broadcasts, air-band, SW, utility, emergency signals) alongside amateur ham bands.

  • Operators leveraging digital voice (C4FM) or APRS / GPS / data communications / logging — especially in contexts like APRS tracking, emergency comms, mobile operations.

  • People needing a robust, waterproof, rugged handheld for outdoors, disaster preparedness, search & rescue, expeditions, or variable environmental conditions.

  • Hams who value memory capacity, scanning, channel flexibility, and wish to monitor multiple bands/frequencies simultaneously without switching devices