The FT1500 is a very usefull piece of equipment for almost every ham

I enjoyed using the Yaesu ft1500r.  This is a very nice rig, giving a choice of four output levels, 5w, 10w, 25w, and 50 watt.  It has 10 WX

or weather channels preset in the memory bank.

The way it has been built is so useful as although small and rugged, 5 inch square x 1.4 inch in height and weighing only 960 grams, it is a very useful and tidy little 2 mtr rig.    Below is a part of the script from the yaesu information sheet, I hope it helps with some of the questionable thoughts you might have.

 The FT-1500M includes a total of 149 memory channels, including 130 "regular" memories, 9 pairs of subband-limit memories, and an instant-recall "Home" channel you can program with frequently-used repeater information. Al I memory channels will store CTCSS enc/dec, user selected power output level, scanning status ("Skip" or "Stop"), and user programmed Alpha- Numeric titles.

                                     SMART SEARCH

The Smart Search feature may be used to automatically program a special bank of up to 31 memory channels, based on radio activity. Smart Search will sweep either the entire band or the portion of the band within the programmable band-scan limits, and will load frequencies on which activity is found. Smart Search is very helpful when visiting an area for the first time, allowing you to identify and automatically program channels where the action is!

                            SELECTABLE POWER OUTPUT

 Power output levels are user selectable in four steps: 50/25/10/5 Watts. The power selection can be stored into memory, allowing you to conserve power while operating on strong local repeaters. Current drain at full (50 W) power output is 8 Amps maximum.

                            CONVENIENT PROGRAMMING MENU

The Menu system includes 35 transceiver settings, alphabetically arranged, allowing the operator to "Set and Forget" many operating parameters of the FT-1500M. The Menu may be accessed either via the top-panel's [SET] key or the microphone's [A] key or programmed with the optional ADMS-2F software kit.

                       MH-48B6J DTMF DIRECT ACCESS MICROPHONE

The backlit MH-48B6J Microphone allows direct keypad frequency entry and memory channel recall. With the PTT button keyed the MH-48B6J allows manual entry of DTMF tones for autopatch use. The FT-1500M also includes an 8-memory, 16-digit DTMF autodialer. Four user-programmable keys on the microphone may be configured for easy control of user selectable operating functions.

     BETTER RECEIVE PERFORMANCE

The FT-1500M's receiver section is as tough as its

construction. It features Yaesu's renowned RF ATT (Advanced Track Tuning), that allows for outstanding spurious image rejection. The automatic tracking bandpass filter used in the ATT system protects the RF receiver section from strong out-of- band signals that can result in intermodulation and adjacent band interference in lower quality transceivers! The FT-1500M's wide band receiver covers 137 to 174 MHz. The FT-1500M can monitor Amateur, Public Safety, and Weather Band stations with ease, keeping you in touch with all the action in your community!

                            EASY DATA INTERFACING

For packet operation at either 1200 bpsor 9600 bps, The FT-1500M is conveniently equipped with a DB-9 data jack located on the rear chassis for neat and organized data interfacing.

The DATA jack provides connection points for transmit data, receiver audio, PTT, and ground. Signal levels, bandwidths, and impedance levels are all optimized for the user selected data rate for maximum throughput.

                       50-TONE CTCSS ENCODE AND DECODE BUILT IN

For easy repeater access or silent monitoring of busy channels, CTCSS Encoder and Decoder circuits are built into the FT-1500M. CTCSS data may be stored independently in each memory channel. The FT-1500M includes a CTCSS "Tone Search Scan" feature which lets you search for the CTCSS tone on an incoming signal.

                            ALPHA NUMERIC CHANNEL DISPLAY

Memory channels may be displayed either with the channel frequency or a personalized Alpha-Numeric title for easy channel recognition. Up to six letters, numbers, or characters are conveniently programmed from the FT-1500M control panel or optional ADMS-2F PC software.

                            WIDE / NARROW DEVIATION SELECTION

For operation in areas where 12.5 kHz Channel, separation is used, the FT-1500M transmitter deviation may by set to a "Narrow Deviation" mode which will set it at ±2.5 kHz.

                           WEATHER MEMORY BANK

The FT-1500M includes a separate 10- channel Weather Band Memory Bank for quick and easy access to weather broadcast information in your area without having to scan through your regular memories! Alpha-Numeric titles may be programmed for Weather Band channels, as well!

       VERSATILE SCANNING CAPABILITY

The FT-1500M includes a separate 10- channel Weather Band Memory Bank for quick and easy access to weather broadcast information in your area without having to scan through your regular memories! Alpha-Numeric titles

may be programmed for Weather Band channels, as well!

AND MUCH MORE

Additional features include:

    * Supply Voltage Display

    * Transmit Time-Out Timer (TOT)

    * Automatic Power-Off (APO)

    * Automatic Repeater Shift

    * S-Meter RF Squelch

    * Bell Alert

    * CTCSS Paging

    * Priority Channel Revert during Scan

SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL

TX Frequency Range:

144 MHz-146MHz

RX Frequency Range:

144 MHz-146 MHz (B1),

137-174MHz (B2)

Channel Step:

5/10/12.5/15/20/50/100 kHz

Freq. Stability:

Better than ±10 ppm

(-20 °C to +60 °C)

MODES OFEMISSION

F2, F3 (G3E)

Antenna Impedance:

50 Ohms unbalanced

Supply Voltage:

13.8 VDC (±10%)

Current Consumption:

RX less than 0.7 A (signal)

Less than 0.3 A (squelched)

TX 8A (50W)/6A (25W)

3A (10W) 2A (5W)

Operating Temperature Range: -20 °C to +60 °C

(-4°F to +140°F)

Case Size:

(127(W) x 35(H) x 126(D)mm)

(5"x 1.4" x4.9")(w/o knobs)

Weight (approx.):

1kg (2.2lbs)

TRANSMITTER

RF Power Output:

50/25/10/5 W

Modulation Types:: FM: Variable Reactance

Maximum FM: Deviation:

±5 kHz rFM: ±2.5 kHz)

Spurious Radiation: -60dB (50/144/430 MHz)

Microphone impedance: 2 K ohms

RECEIVER

Circuit Type:

Double-Conversion Superheterodyne

Intermediate Frequencies: 21.7MHz & 450 kHz

Sensitivity for 12dB SINAD)

Better than 0.2 uV

Selectivity (-6/-60 dB): 12kHz / 28kHz

IF Rejection: Better than 70dB

Image Rejection: Better than 70dB

AF Output: 3.5 W (4 Ohms, 10% THD)

AF Output Impedance: 4 to 8 Ohm

Specifications subject to change without prior notice

ACCESSORIES

SP-7 Ext Speaker

MLS-100 High Power Ext speaker

FP-1030A 30A Power Supply

ADMS-2F PC Programming software