I own the FT-70DR and it’s a very capable radio for both analog and C4FM. I use a pi-Star hotspot to access the Wires-X rooms as there’s no repeater in my location with the capability. The room I’ve seen the most activity in is America Link, and there’s traffic there from around the world.
The one thing I don’t like about the FT-70 is that one needs to hold a button below the PTT and turn the dial on top to adjust the volume…making it near impossible for one handed operation. On the bright side, it makes it very difficult to have the volume go down (or up) by accident.
The greatest thing about this radio is that it’s a great entry level HT for digital, and it has a superhetrodyne receiver in it.
73 and keep the compliance testing coming.
Rob K, VE5RJK
I think the world of that radio. For me, the big selling point is the DC barrel jack on the side. That’s what eliminates the FT65 and FT4XR for me, namely the lack of field charging. I am not going to drag a desktop charger around with me and call that a field radio. The only thing the FT70DR misses in my mind is FM broadcast receive. If the apocalypse (major or minor) strikes, I’d like to hear whatever the CBC is saying at that moment.
I still think all HTs should have USB charging on the battery, but I’d settle for a 12v DC barrel jack on the side of the radio.