Last week, I posted a short overview of my impressions of the Yaesu FTX-1 Field ham radio, which has replaced the IC-7100 as my full-time in-car mobile companion. This week, I present a more detailed review of this compact, portable radio: where it stumbles and where it shines. This radio has a lot to recommend it as a shack-in-a-box: HF, VHF, UHF, all-mode, all-band, great speakers, a great display, an excellent receiver. But Yaesu made a number of odd choices in its design, and the firmware remains a problem!
Dive in and see what I mean!
Don't forget to Like and Subscribe!
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Points of Comparison
01:43 - My Goals with this Video
02:08 - Describing the Radio
04:49 - Where Yaesu Went Wrong!
13:07 - Things they could (and should) fix!
15:44 - Let's Get to the Good Stuff!
25:27 - Wrapping Up
Music: Master Planned Music (@masterplannedmusic )
The FTX-1 In Detail -- What Works, and What Doesn't!
27.02.2026 15:16 —
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Last week, I posted a short overview of my impressions of the Yaesu FTX-1 Field ham radio, which has replaced the IC-7100 as my full-time in-car mobile companion. This week, I present a more detailed review of this compact, portable radio: where it stumbles and where it shines. This radio has a lot to recommend it as a shack-in-a-box: HF, VHF, UHF, all-mode, all-band, great speakers, a great display, an excellent receiver. But Yaesu made a number of odd choices in its design, and the firmware remains a problem!
Dive in and see what I mean!
Don't forget to Like and Subscribe!
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Points of Comparison
01:43 - My Goals with this Video
02:08 - Describing the Radio
04:49 - Where Yaesu Went Wrong!
13:07 - Things they could (and should) fix!
15:44 - Let's Get to the Good Stuff!
25:27 - Wrapping Up
Music: Master Planned Music (@masterplannedmusic )
The FTX-1 In Detail -- What Works, and What Doesn't!
23.02.2026 15:15 —
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I've been using the Yaesu FTX-1F as my primary ham radio for over three months now, and I **have opinions**.
This brief ham radio review will explore my experiences with Yaesu's shiny new hotness, after a dozen POTA activations and hundreds of contacts on VHF, UHF, and HF.
This is really a down-payment on a much more detailed review, coming soon!
Stick around, and don't forget to like and subscribe!
Music: Master Planned Music (@masterplannedmusic )
Chapters:
00:01 Introduction
01:04 This is a controversial radio!
01:32 This radio arrived half baked!
01:48 Bugs!
01:54 Firmware Updates bricking radios!
02:35 Let's talk expensive!
03:05 There's also a lot to like!
04:32 Even so: Yaesu needs to check itself!
FTX-1 After 3 Months - Is It Worth It?
19.02.2026 15:51 —
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Here's an update about my current plans for upcoming long-form ham radio videos! My focus for the next two installments will be the Yaesu FTX-1 field radio. ...
Coming soon: FTX-1 opinion piece AND detailed breakdown #yaesu #hamradio
18.02.2026 19:51 —
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I've been using the Yaesu FTX-1F as my primary ham radio for over three months now, and I **have opinions**.
This brief ham radio review will explore my experiences with Yaesu's shiny new hotness, after a dozen POTA activations and hundreds of contacts on VHF, UHF, and HF.
This is really a down-payment on a much more detailed review, coming soon!
Stick around, and don't forget to like and subscribe!
Music: Master Planned Music (@masterplannedmusic )
Chapters:
00:01 Introduction
01:04 This is a controversial radio!
01:32 This radio arrived half baked!
01:48 Bugs!
01:54 Firmware Updates bricking radios!
02:35 Let's talk expensive!
03:05 There's also a lot to like!
04:32 Even so: Yaesu needs to check itself!
FTX-1 After 3 Months - Is It Worth It?
15.02.2026 15:50 —
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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Channel Update: FTX-1 review plans and POTA with a Buddipole! #pota #yaesu #ftx-1 #hamradio
14.02.2026 19:50 —
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In ham radio, the best antenna is the one you have in the air! Don't let the naysayers hold you back! It's time to get your wire up and make those contacts. You might be surprised by what you can achieve. Tune in for some real talk about hamsticks and making connections! #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #POTA #Hamstick #portableradio
(Music: Master Planned Music @masterplannedmusic )
Your Wire Doesn't Need to Be Perfect to Reach the World #hamradio #shorts #antenna
09.02.2026 20:09 —
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A couple days ago, I posted a quick short about a surprising DX contact I made with Australia using nothing but 50W and a hamstick. Someone sniped that I must have been very high up, or else using a digital mode, but no, it's just that the hamstick actually works. Is it amazing? No, but the best antenna is the one you can get in the air. In this video, I talk about what hamstick is, and a bit more about that very successful Parks on the Air activation that included Australia, Spain, and the Northwest Territories.
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - What is a hamstick?
04:22 - Hamsticks are ubiquitous
04:39 - The compromise of hamsticks
05:22 - The amazing results of a single hour
06:28 - And then Australia happened! VK2IZ
07:18 - Did I mention it was 50W SSB in a valley?
07:51 - So, why hamsticks?
09:46 - Because it works!
10:38 - Ignore the orthodoxy! Make contacts with what you have!
Forget the Trolls - Hamsticks Actually Work!
07.02.2026 15:52 —
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In ham radio, the best antenna is the one you have in the air! Don't let the naysayers hold you back! It's time to get your wire up and make those contacts. You might be surprised by what you can achieve. Tune in for some real talk about hamsticks and making connections! #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #POTA #Hamstick #portableradio
(Music: Master Planned Music @masterplannedmusic )
Your Wire Doesn't Need to Be Perfect to Reach the World #hamradio #shorts #antenna
05.02.2026 20:08 —
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Consider this a teaser for a slightly longer upcoming video where I challenge the Dipole Orthodox and sing the praises of the humble hamstick!
Why everyone's wrong about hamsticks (teaser) #hamradio #antenna
05.02.2026 18:15 —
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A couple days ago, I posted a quick short about a surprising DX contact I made with Australia using nothing but 50W and a hamstick. Someone sniped that I must have been very high up, or else using a digital mode, but no, it's just that the hamstick actually works. Is it amazing? No, but the best antenna is the one you can get in the air. In this video, I talk about what hamstick is, and a bit more about that very successful Parks on the Air activation that included Australia, Spain, and the Northwest Territories.
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - What is a hamstick?
04:22 - Hamsticks are ubiquitous
04:39 - The compromise of hamsticks
05:22 - The amazing results of a single hour
06:28 - And then Australia happened! VK2IZ
07:18 - Did I mention it was 50W SSB in a valley?
07:51 - So, why hamsticks?
09:46 - Because it works!
10:38 - Ignore the orthodoxy! Make contacts with what you have!
Forget the Trolls - Hamsticks Actually Work!
03.02.2026 15:50 —
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Consider this a teaser for a slightly longer upcoming video where I challenge the Dipole Orthodox and sing the praises of the humble hamstick!
Why everyone's wrong about hamsticks (teaser) #hamradio #antenna
01.02.2026 18:14 —
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In this video, I quickly show how to use `dfu-util` instead of the STMicro Cube Programmer to update the firmware in your FX-4CR ham radio. Even if you hate the command line, you'll find this is really easy!
Downloading dfu-util: https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
Downloading official firmware: https://bg2fx.com/downloads
Downloading the F5BUD V2 firmware: https://github.com/f5bud/FX-4CR-V2
Check out the rest of my FX-4CR series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3wAZHSftLn7OLdjrHbaZJBx8zHJdIa6c&si=E-xmv0UO0vNbnMBA
Bypass the Headache | FX-4CR Command Line Firmware Update
29.01.2026 15:12 —
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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
- YouTube
28.01.2026 15:24 —
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In this video, I quickly show how to use `dfu-util` instead of the STMicro Cube Programmer to update the firmware in your FX-4CR ham radio. Even if you hate the command line, you'll find this is really easy!
Downloading dfu-util: https://dfu-util.sourceforge.net/
Downloading official firmware: https://bg2fx.com/downloads
Downloading the F5BUD V2 firmware: https://github.com/f5bud/FX-4CR-V2
Check out the rest of my FX-4CR series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3wAZHSftLn7OLdjrHbaZJBx8zHJdIa6c&si=E-xmv0UO0vNbnMBA
Bypass the Headache | FX-4CR Command Line Firmware Update
25.01.2026 15:11 —
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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
- YouTube
24.01.2026 15:23 —
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Exciting news! In the V2 firmware, the PTT delay issue is completely resolved, and I can hear everything at full volume immediately after releasing the PTT key. A massive thank you to Daniel F5BUD for this amazing fix! #SSB #HamRadio #FX4CR #TechWin #RadioFix
FX-4CR PTT Delay Fixed: Huge Win for SSB! #shorts
24.01.2026 15:22 —
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In this clip, I discuss why the FX-4CR might be a better choice than the FT-891 for those on a budget. With its modern SDR technology, active firmware development, and built-in sound card, this radio delivers impressive performance even at 20 watts. Hear how I achieved solid contact reports and why you don't need to go overboard with power to make connections!#sdr #hamradio #fx4cr #portabletransceiver #budgetradio
FX-4CR vs FT-891: The Real Winner #hamradio #transceiver
24.01.2026 15:22 —
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More so than the rigs themselves, the antennas are central to what we do in **ham radio**. This video emphasizes the importance of antennas, stating that a good **amateur radio antenna** is crucial for working the world. Even a low-power transmitter can be effective if you understand **antenna basics** and how they interact with **radio waves**.
The Power of Antennas in Ham Radio #shorts
23.01.2026 15:31 —
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#HomeShack #HamRadio #GoalSetting #NewYearGoals #AmateurRadio
I'm excited to share my latest plans for setting up a dedicated ham radio shack at home! This video dives into the initial ideas and considerations for creating a functional ham radio station setup. While I'm making progress, I'm fully aware that even the best ham radio plans often change once reality sets in.
Planning begins for a home shack! #shorts
23.01.2026 15:31 —
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03.03.2026 15:04 —
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