There are radios you buy. And there are radios that find you. My Yaesu FT-290R belongs to the second category. I was scrolling through willhaben (Austria's Craigslist) one evening, no plan, just browsing, and there it was. FT-290R, good condition, fair price. Two days later it was on my desk and it hasn't let go since. Best part: the FT-290R is the same age as me. We're both early-eighties models. Maybe that's why we get along so well.
What Are We Looking At?
The FT-290R hit the market in the early 80s and was pretty wild for its time: all-mode on 2 metres, portable, battery-powered. FM, USB, LSB, CW. All packed in. A chunky VFO knob that feels great to turn, ten memory channels (which you had to choose wisely back then) and an S-meter that actually shows something. This thing is from an era when radios were built, not assembled from app-controlled modules.
- Frequency range: 144–146 MHz
- Modes: FM, USB, LSB, CW
- Output power: 2.5 W or 0.5 W (switchable)
- Power supply: 8× C cells or 13.8 V external
- Weight: approx. 1.6 kg with batteries
- Antenna: BNC, telescopic whip included
2.5 watts or even half a watt. Sounds like nothing? True. But when you key up a repeater that shouldn't work on paper, you'll grin like a kid on Christmas morning.
Battery Upgrade: Lithium Cells with USB-C
I've had the rig for almost two years now. It was high time to swap the batteries for rechargeables. Eight alkaline C cells cost a fortune over time, and after one afternoon they're dead. My solution: rechargeable lithium C cells with USB-C charging. 1.5 volts per cell just like alkaline, 4,100 mWh capacity, charges directly via USB-C. No separate charger, no hassle. Fits perfectly in the original battery compartment, pop them in and go.
The big advantage over NiMH: lithium delivers a full 1.5 volts. That's a solid 12 volts with eight cells, just like alkaline. No voltage sag, full transmit power. For more on battery planning for portable operation, check our battery planning article.
The Cell Test: In and Go
First test had to be indoors, obviously. Telescopic antenna out, tuned to the local 2m repeaters, hit PTT. One repeater without CTCSS keyed up cleanly. Indoors. 2.5 watts. Telescopic antenna. That's the FM limit since the FT-290R has no CTCSS module. But that wasn't enough. I wanted to know how it actually sounds. So I grabbed a second rig, called the FT-290R through a repeater, and basically answered myself. Yes, I called myself on the radio. Sitting there with two radios on the table talking to yourself feels slightly insane. But the modulation was spot on. Clean, clear, no mushiness. Impressive for a 40-year-old radio.
Sure, an outdoor antenna with 50 watts would do more. But that's not the point. The point is the grin on your face when an eighties radio just works, as if nobody told it that it's old.
Why This Thing Is Addictive
Switch on, turn the dial, operate. Done. No touchscreen, no firmware update, no app crashing. The FT-290R is less of a repeater radio and more of a machine for simplex and SSB. That's where it feels at home: simplex on 2 metres, antenna to antenna, no infrastructure in between. Minimal tech, maximum fun. And that mechanical click when you flip the power switch is priceless.
On 2m SSB in particular, the little Yaesu shows what it's got. Anyone who knows the 2m SSB net knows SSB on VHF is still alive. And with the FT-290R you're right in the middle of it. Authentic, no 100-watt amp backing you up.
Perfect for Learning to Repair
What also makes the FT-290R brilliant: it's ideal for learning to repair radios. Discrete components instead of tiny SMD parts, a clear circuit diagram, and when something's off you can troubleshoot with a multimeter. No microscope or hot air station needed. Swap a capacitor, reflow solder joints, clean contacts. All doable, all learnable. You wouldn't dare do that on a modern rig. On the FT-290R? Go for it.
And the best part: spare parts are still available. Online, at ham fests, or cannibalise a second unit. The community around the old Yaesu portables is surprisingly active.
Taking It Outside!
The FT-290R started as my living room toy, but it's already been outside too, and that was a blast. This year I'm taking it out again: SOTA activations or simply operating from the balcony in the sunshine. Under two kilos with batteries, all-mode, rugged. This thing was literally built for it.
For better reception outdoors I plug a Slim Jim or portable half-wave antenna into the BNC. The difference is immediately audible. But even the telescopic whip gives you plenty of fun. And for logging QSOs on the go: Wavelog on the phone, done.
Video
I shot a few clips — battery swap, indoor tests, repeater operation. Here it is:
Want to learn more about the FT-290R? Heinrich (DO1HFS) from Funkfieber made a detailed video reviewing and measuring the radio. Definitely worth watching:
Addendum: Measurements and Repair Tips from Wolfgang DC0RB
After the article was published, Wolfgang DC0RB got in touch. He owns an FT-290R himself and has measured and repaired his unit. He documents both on his website.
Quick measurement: In his measurement report, the roughly 45-year-old radio delivers about 1.7 W output on battery power, and the first harmonic is attenuated by about 61 dB. Sensitivity was around −135 dBm for 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio, which Wolfgang says is at the limit of what he can measure. Spurious response rejection (about 79 dB at ±25 kHz) and far-off selectivity (about 112 to 116 dB at ±50 MHz) also turn out well. His verdict: the oldie can keep up with current handhelds from China, only its frequency stability under temperature changes is not its strong suit.
Fixing the frequency stability: That is exactly what Wolfgang struggled with, as his repair report shows. His unit drifted by a few hundred hertz during operation, and after two weeks of rest it was off by about 20 kHz according to the frequency counter. He suspected the electrolytic capacitor C(30)48 (4.7 µF, 25 V), which smooths the tuning voltage for the varactor diode in the oscillator. He replaced it, realigned the coil L(30)07, and since then the frequency has been quite stable. For all FT-290R owners this means: if the frequency wanders, check the electrolytic capacitors in the oscillator supply first. And be careful, the space between the shield plate and the coil is tight, the original capacitor is at most 4 mm in diameter, and because of the shield plates you need a powerful soldering iron to desolder it.
Thanks to Wolfgang DC0RB for the addition!
Bottom Line
The Yaesu FT-290R has no DSP filters, no GPS, no Bluetooth. But it has soul. It reminds you with every QSO why you got into ham radio in the first place. And it's perfect for learning to tinker and repair — what more could you want?
By the way, my FT-290R sits next to a Kenwood TS-700, my other nostalgia rig. But that's a different story, coming soon...
If you spot an FT-290R on eBay, at a ham fest or on your local classifieds: grab it. 80 to 150 euros for a piece of amateur radio history that doesn't gather dust but comes along for the ride. An awesome rig.
73 de Michi, OE8YML
