Product

TechnicalReview
by Mark
Mark Spencer,
J. Wilson, WA8SME
K1RO, k1ro@arrl.org

Yaesu FTM-3200DR Digital/

Analog 2-Meter Transceiver
An inexpensive addition to Yaesu’s lineup of System Fusion radios.

Reviewed by Steve Ford, WB8IMY it needs plenty of clearance for the air to
QST Editor flow properly, especially if you antici-
wb8imy@arrl.org pate enjoying long chats at maximum
Browse an ARRL Repeater Directory and RF output.
you’ll see a number of repeaters labeled Getting Started
“Fusion.” If you’re not We tend to equate
familiar with the term, “digital” with “compli-
you might assume that cated” when it comes
these are digital systems, to transceivers, but that
and you’d be half right, isn’t at all true of the
because they are also FTM-3200DR. In fact, it
analog FM repeaters. looks like the Yaesu engi-
These Yaesu System neers went out of their way
Fusion repeaters com- to make the digital aspects of
bine, or “fuse,” analog this transceiver as unobtrusive
and digital within the same as possible. You notice right
machine, hence the name. They will repeat away that the user manual is sur-
analog FM signals, but they will also relay prisingly slender. If you want an advanced
medium and low power settings are 30 and
advanced C4FM digital communication. manual, Yaesu has it online in download-
5 W, respectively.
They detect the difference automatically able form, but frankly, I didn’t need it to
and respond accordingly. I wanted to run the FTM-3200DR at full get the full measure of enjoyment from this
output for this review, but I knew the trans- transceiver.
Strictly speaking, you don’t need a C4FM
ceiver would pull up to 15 A at 13.8 V dc.
digital transceiver to use a Fusion repeater, Once you program the radio with your call
With that in mind, I decided not to attempt
but then you’re missing out on half of the sign (you only need to do this once), ev-
to power it from my automobile’s cigarette
repeater’s functionality. And if you’ve erything else is straightforward and much
lighter (or “accessory power socket,” as
never tried C4FM, you’re missing quite a like any analog FM transceiver you’ve
it is often called these days) and instead
bit indeed. probably encountered. On the left side of
connected the dc supply lines directly to
Thanks to the Yaesu FTM-3200DR trans- the battery. the front panel, you have a sizable audio
ceiver, you can enjoy the best of both volume knob, and on the opposite side,
Thanks to the small profile, I was able to you’ll find the frequency knob. You
worlds. It is a highly capable analog FM rig
slip the FTM-3200DR into a dashboard won’t see a squelch control. To adjust the
and a C4FM digital transceiver in a single,
compartment for the purposes of this re- squelch, you have to press the SQL/TXPO
compact package. At a typical street price
view. I would not recommend that kind button and then rotate the frequency knob
well under $200, the FTM-3200DR is also
of installation for permanent use, though. to select the desired level. I should men-
surprisingly economical.
There is a cooling fan on the rear panel, and tion that the FTM-3200DR has a select-
RF Muscle able “RF squelch” function that triggers
The FTM-3200DR measures just 1.4 × 6.1 according to the signal level shown on the
× 6.7 inches, but at nearly 3 pounds, it feels S meter.
like it was cast from a block of steel. That’s
due to the dense heatsink required to dis-
Bottom Line The pushbuttons are illuminated on the
sipate all the excess energy generated by Yaesu’s FTM-3200DR offers an eco- front panel, as is the main display. While
the RF power deck — and what a deck it nomical way to operate either C4FM taking the FTM-3200DR for a spin in the
digital or analog FM on 2 meters. It’s evening, I also discovered that the LEDs
is! At 65 W output on the high power set- easy to use, solidly built, and offers
ting, this is the most powerful 2-meter FM to the left of the display change color auto-
plenty of transmit power and receive
mobile transceiver I’ve ever operated. The audio for mobile installations. matically depending on receive conditions
— one color alert for reception of analog
Reprinted with permission from December 2016 QST ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio® www.arrl.org  
 Key Measurements Table 1
Summary Yaesu FTM-3200DR, serial number 6C020050
Manufacturer’s Specifications Measured in ARRL Lab
Yaesu FTM-3200DR Digital/Analog
2-Meter Transceiver Frequency coverage: Receive, 136 – 174 MHz; Receive, as specified.
transmit, 144 – 148 MHz.
Modes: FM (F3E), Digital (F7W). As specified.
0.16 Power requirements: Receive: <0.5 A (standby), At 13.8 V dc: Receive, 665 mA (max
SINAD 0.25 0.1
<0.7 A (maximum audio). Transmit, 15 A (65 W), volume, max lights, no signal); 434 mA
Receiver Sensitivity (12dB SINAD, µV) 10 A (30 W), 5 A (5 W) at 13.8 V dc ± 15%. (standby, max lights); 272 mA (standby,
backlight off). Transmit:11 A (high);
I3 7.75 A (mid); 3.84 A (low).

92@10 MHz 90 Receiver Receiver Dynamic Testing

Rx 60
Receiver 3rd-Order Dynamic Range (dB) FM sensitivity: 12 dB SINAD, <0.22 µV. For 12 dB SINAD, 0.16 µV; at 146 MHz
and 162 MHz.
I3 FM two-tone, third-order IMD dynamic range: 20 kHz offset: 62 dB*;
Not specified. 10 MHz offset: 92 dB.
Rx 40 62@20 kHz* 70 FM two-tone, second-order IMD dynamic range: 95 dB.
Receiver 3rd-Order Dynamic Range (dB) Not specified.
Adjacent-channel rejection: Not specified. 20 kHz offset: 62 dB.
Spurious response: Not specified. IF rejection, 125 dB;
62 90 image rejection, 82 dB.
ChRej 50
Adjacent Channel Rejection (dB) S-meter sensitivity: Not specified. 6.16 µV for full scale indication.
Squelch sensitivity: <0.13 µV (threshold). At threshold, 0.1 µV (min), 0.32 µV (max).
Audio output: 3.0 W at 10% THD (load not As specified into 4 Ω load. THD at
specified). 1 VRMS, 2.2%.
3
Snd 1 4
Audio Output (W) Transmitter Transmitter Dynamic Testing
Power output: 65 W (high), 30 W (mid), At 13.8 V dc: 66 W (high); 32 W (mid);
5 W (low), at 13.8 V dc ±15%. 6 W (low); 63 W (high) at 11.7 V dc.
42 Spurious signal and harmonic suppression: ≥70 dB. Meets FCC requirements.
T-R 250 50 >60 dB.
Tx-Rx Turnaround Time (ms) Transmit-receive turnaround time (PTT release Squelch on, S-9 signal, 42 ms.
PR113
to 50% of full audio output): Not specified.
Key:
2m Receive-transmit turnaround time (“tx delay”): 62 ms.
* Noise Limited at value shown. Not specified.
Size (height, width, depth): 1.4 × 6.1 × 6.7 inches (including protrusions); weight, 2.9 lbs.
Price: $170.
*Measurement was noise limited at the value indicated.

FM, another for reception of C4FM digital,

and so on.
Most of the front panel controls are also me, I could hear the radio perfectly under The next thing I did was activate AMS —
available on the multifunction microphone. all road conditions. Automatic Mode Select. This is the feature
Once you get used to the “feel” of the mic, that goes to the heart of how a Fusion rig re-
Fusion on the Air ally operates. With the AMS on, the trans-
it is an extremely convenient way to operate
while on the road. I found that I could select I began by programming a few local re- ceiver will automatically detect whether
various functions simply by touch, without peaters into the FTM-3200DR’s ample the received signal is analog FM or C4FM
having to glance at the microphone. memories. With 199 memory slots, and digital. If it receives an FM signal, it will
10 band-edge memories, I doubt the aver- transmit FM. By the same token, if the
Speaking of being on the road, I was age ham would fill them all. Fortunately, I transceiver picks up a C4FM digital signal,
pleased to see that the FTM-3200DR had the RT Systems software package on the FTM-3200DR will automatically trans-
includes a forward-firing speaker on the hand (www.rtsystemsinc.com) and that mit digital and match the C4FM mode in
front panel. Although it also has an external made memory programming much easier. question (either the higher or lower quality
speaker jack, I have a feeling most users Although there is a mini-USB jack on the voice mode).
won’t find it necessary. With 3 W output, rear panel of the FTM-3200DR, that port
the FTM-3200DR is capable of being is actually for firmware updating. The con- I used a 1⁄4-wavelength magnetic mount
downright deafening, yet the audio seemed nection to the computer for programming antenna for my review tests. While operat-
clear and crisp, even at the loudest settings. is made through the microphone jack. ing FM, I was able to consistently reach
With the speaker pointing almost directly at distant repeaters and received excellent

QST ® – Devoted entirely to Amateur Radio www.arrl.org Reprinted with permission from December 2016 QST
audio reports. At one point, I found myself
on a 600-foot-high ridge and couldn’t re-
sist reaching out with 65 W. From central
Connecticut, I was able to hit repeater
systems from Rhode Island to Long Island
and hear them quite well. I was impressed.
There are only a few System Fusion re-
peaters in Connecticut, so I returned to
the ridge another day to try C4FM with
the extended range the ridge provided. I
had to make a few calls, but I eventually
raised a fellow who was operating with a
Yaesu System Fusion handheld. His audio Figure 1 — The FTM-3200DR rear panel. In addition to the solid heatsink, a small fan
was remarkably clear with few drop-outs helps keep the radio cool during extended operation. In addition to the antenna and ex-
ternal speaker jacks, there is a mini-USB jack for firmware updating.
(he was operating from a moving car).
At my suggestion, he switched to analog
FM and, sure enough, the repeater and my
FTM-3200DR detected the change and country, I was able to monitor local fire dis- Conclusion
switched modes automatically. patch and even railroad communications, The Yaesu FTM-3200DR is about as basic
such as Amtrak. as an FM and digital transceiver can be,
The FTM-3200DR offers a function and that is its strength. Some amateurs
called Group Monitor that adds an extra The extended frequency range includes
find digital rigs intimidating because
dimension to digital operating. When the NOAA weather radio channels, and the
of their relative complexity, but the
Group Monitor function is on and you’re FTM-3200DR comes with all 10 chan-
FTM-3200DR is about as close to plug-
operating in digital mode as a member of nels pre-programmed in memory. To step
and-play as you’re likely to see. You
a “registered” group, the transceiver will through the channels, all you have to do is
merely apply power, enter your call sign,
send short “pings” at regular intervals. This press the P4 button on the microphone. If
activate Automatic Mode Select, and away
makes you visible to other Fusion group a station transmits a severe weather alert,
you go. And with 65 W at your disposal,
members who are within communication the transceiver is capable of automatically
you’re bound to be heard wherever you
range, and vice versa. When a station is decoding the alert tone and switching to the
happen to be.
within range, you’ll see the call sign and active channel. There is also a menu setting
hear an alert chime. To get the most out of that automatically increases the audio level Manufacturer: Yaesu USA, 6125 Phyllis
Group Monitor, it does help to download of an alert, making it louder to get your at- Dr., Cypress, CA 90630; www.yaesu.
the advanced online manual. tention! The alert function is set to OFF by com.
default, so you have to activate it through
I t i s wo r t h m e n t i o n i n g t h a t t h e the menu system.
FTM-3200DR lacks the ability to connect
directly with the Yaesu WiRES-X digital
network through a System Fusion repeater,
See the Digital
or a WiRES-X digital node. However, like Edition of QST for
all transceivers with analog FM capability, a video overview
you can use the FTM-3200DR to access of the Yaesu
FTM-3200DR
the network through an analog WiRES-X digital/analog
node. 2-meter
transceiver.
Extended Receive
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the
FTM-3200DR’s extended receive capabili-
ties. The receive frequency range extends
to 174 MHz, and I discovered that there
are a number of services that continue to
use that slice of spectrum. In my area of the

Reprinted with permission from December 2016 QST ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio® www.arrl.org