YAESUFTA-850L Color Bluetooth NAV/COM Aviation Transceiver

Fantastic radio with the option to plug in your headset. It comes with GPS and several navigation features too. The manual is thorough and easy to follow, but it’s so easy to figure out just by exploring it directly. This radio goes with me on every flight and I can rest assured that in the event of an emergency - loss of comms or navigation - I’ve got this radio to bring me safely home.

Exactly as expected. Easy to setup and the color screen is easy to read. It takes some reading/practicing to get it up and programmed but the info you need is in the manual, just takes practice.

So, after reading all I could find on this device, I had mixed feelings about it and those are what makes me write this review. I am very pleased with the multiple options this radio can perform, and the size of it. The color screen is nice but is really overkill since it doesn’t do much with colors. However, I am not happy with the functionality of the screen in any real sunlight, as it just appears BLACK! I have increased the brightness as high as I can set it, and that does help some, but it also kills the battery. I also changed the timeout of the screen so I can read it before it goes dark again. This is a problem with this unit, and it needs to be addressed. The features are easily selected from either the keypad or the touchscreen which is nice. the functionality is not bad and takes some getting used to but work well once you figure it out. I didn't like the way you have to program the groups and adding channels for scanning or sorting. I good guild or video would have been nice to have here.The overall quality of the speaker and voices is quite good and improved substantially in the air. I connected it to my headset, and it was way better than my aircrafts radio. The VOR and ILS functions worked very well too and I found them to be quite accurate when referenced by those in my plane. You could use this for instrument references if so needed. The radio came packaged nicely with alot of extras like DC porwe cable, AC powercable and base charger, headphone interface, and PC USB cable. There was one battery (2200mah), and a double A battery case if so desired. A belt clip, screws for the headphone jack, and a fairly decent manual. All-in-all not bad for the price. It was a big stem up from my old ICON unit.So, is it the best on the market, that is yet to be decided, but it is one of the best for sure. Just hope they figure out that screen lighting issue. Oh, and the device is not reccomended to be used while plugged into a charger or DC cable. So charge, use then charge again. 5.2 hours for a complete charge from empty.

This Radio is amazing it have so many functions I really recommend .

Great item. Has more than I hoped for. Quick delivery

I am an Extra Class "Ham" radio amateur, and a student pilot. Of course, I checked first the leading ham brands of radios such as Icom and Yaesu. The way to understand this phone, is that it is built around the address book. Address book entries can have frequency and/or coordinates. All entries from 108 - 117.95 MHz are Nav channels automatically. The higher channels are voice two-way channels. VOR and ILS functionality automatically switches on when proper signal is received. Hence, switching between Nav and voice is all automatic. Also feature NOAA WX channels. Any address entry with coordinates can be used as way points and used for GPS navigation. Routes such as RNAV approaches can be configured and stored. Tip, only use one CT or CTAF frequency with coordinates, so that when configuring routes, only one entry pops up per airport. This radio does not have DME but approximates distance when coordinates are given for the Nav entry via GPS, more precise than DME. The radio is only useful, if proper address entries are made before flight. Generally, it appears to work. The radio can backup VOR, ILS, DME (via GPS), and heading indicator, and shows GS speed and true altitude. HI appears to work better than the gyro steam-dial we have on our aircraft. The antenna however is lossy when compared to aircraft antenna. The best I was ever able to hear a VOR was from 40 miles at altitude, with many VORs hat came in way under the 20 miles mark, while onboard VOR was clearly having much better reception. Ground reception is poor. Used it with CFI around field which worked great, but barely can follow TRACON 10 miles away from airport at ground, directly under major STAR route. ILS approach appears to be spot on, although I was not trying as PIC myself, mainly because I am not comfortable enough, yet, fiddling with tech while flying myself. BT with Bose A20 headset is beautiful. Compared to ham gear pricing, the radio is fairly priced, particularly because it comes with ALL accessories. Display is beautiful in the realm of HTs. Not sure how long the battery last, but I have taken it on consecutive XC flights without recharge. Software is Microsoft only, but works without issues on Parallels. Software is mandatory to make use of the phone as described above. It is super rugged and always with me in my flight bag. Is it a useful tool as backup? Maybe. As a radio for sure, and experienced onboard radio failure (with panel backup still working, though). As a Nav aid, I probably rather use Foreflight on iPhone or iPad. And remember, as backup, you need to have waypoints and routes pre-programmed. I cannot imagine you can setup an RNAV route in the air, but perhaps a direct visual route. I am not sure if I would use the radio, unless stuck in unexpected IMC soup, without alternate, and with non-working onboard instruments. Probably would request vectoring instead. Still a great learning tool/toy for new pilots. Not regretting the purchase at all. It is single handed the best handheld aviation radio on the market, particularly if you like features. If you want to use for listening into ATC, I would invest into a good aviation band (tuned) mobile or fixed-base antenna.