Also known as: FTM-300DR, FTM-300
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The Yaesu FTM-300DR is a 50-watt 2m/70cm mobile with analog FM and C4FM System Fusion, true dual receive with independent decode on both bands, built-in GPS with full APRS, and Bluetooth.1 Yaesu has quietly discontinued it — the model now lives on Yaesu’s “Legacy” page — but new-old-stock is still on dealer and Amazon shelves around $400, and at that price the community regards it as the best value in the Fusion mobile lineup.
Key takeaways The value Fusion mobile. 50 W on 2m/70cm, FM + C4FM with auto mode select, and — unlike the pricier FTM-500DR — true dual receive that decodes digital on both bands. GPS + APRS 1200/9600 standard, Bluetooth, detachable head, microSD cloning. Discontinued (Yaesu “Legacy”), but NOS remains — around $400 new, $300–380 used. No CHIRP. Small 1.8” non-touch display is the main compromise. Transmitting needs a ham license; listening doesn’t.
Overview
The FTM-300DR was the middle child of Yaesu’s Fusion mobile line and outlived that role: it packs nearly all of the flagship’s capability into a smaller, cheaper box. You get 50/25/5 W on both bands, a detachable front panel (separation kit approach), roughly 999 memories per band, a band scope, microSD backup and cloning, WiRES-X portable node capability, and ~13 A maximum draw. There is no cross-band repeat.
Its party trick is true dual receive — V+V, U+U, or V+U — with independent decode, so it can sit on two C4FM channels at once, something the FTM-500DR cannot do. RF is, in the community’s words, rock solid. The compromises are physical: a small 1.8-inch color TFT that is not a touchscreen, a speaker in the body rather than the head (remote-head installs want an external speaker), Yaesu menu conventions that take learning, and the usual Yaesu Bluetooth pairing quirks.
Production status, plainly: Yaesu’s own site files the FTM-300DR under Legacy, with production ending somewhere around 2024–2025 — no formal date was ever announced, so treat the year as approximate. New-old-stock is still listed at the major ham dealers and Amazon. NOS at ~$400 is a fair deal; used units run about $300–380 (a range estimated from listing spread, so check recent sold prices).
Modes & features
- Analog FM and C4FM System Fusion with AMS auto mode select — and independent digital decode on both receivers.
- Built-in GPS + APRS at 1200/9600 bps, standard.
- Bluetooth, band scope, microSD clone/backup, detachable front panel, WiRES-X portable digital node.
- The same honest network caveat as every Fusion radio: C4FM trails DMR and D-STAR in many regions — confirm your local repeaters actually run Fusion first.
Programming
No CHIRP support. Use the microSD card, Yaesu’s free ADMS-11 PC software, or the paid RT Systems package.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives only — it cannot transmit — so it doesn’t replace an FTM-300DR. What it does is tell you whether to buy one. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk monitors your local repeaters and digital traffic, so you can see whether Fusion, DMR, or D-STAR is what’s actually on the air in your area before spending $400 — and it records and logs every transmission, which no transceiver does. No license is needed to listen; transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum). Hardware picks are in best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy the FTM-300DR if you want Fusion, GPS/APRS, and genuine dual-band digital receive at the best price in the lineup — while NOS lasts. View on Amazon →
- Buy the FTM-500DR for the bigger display and the AESS speaker system if the ~$100 premium doesn’t sting.
- Skip both for the AnyTone AT-D578UVIII Plus in DMR country or the Icom ID-5100A for D-STAR.
- Full rankings: the 10 best mobile ham radios.
Amazon note. The FTM-300DR is discontinued, so the Amazon listing is remaining new-old-stock and third-party sellers — check the price against the big ham dealers before clicking buy.
Sources
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Yaesu FTM-300DR product page (Legacy category) — Yaesu, confirming the model’s move to Legacy status and documenting dual-receive C4FM, GPS/APRS, Bluetooth, and power specifications. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Yaesu FTM-300DR discontinued?
Yes. Yaesu’s own site now files the FTM-300DR under its Legacy category, with the end of production landing somewhere around 2024–2025 (Yaesu never announced a formal date). New-old-stock is still on dealer shelves and Amazon, and it remains a fully supported, current-feeling radio.
Is the FTM-300DR still worth buying in 2026?
Yes, at new-old-stock prices around $400 it is arguably the best value in the entire System Fusion lineup: true dual-band receive with independent C4FM decode, GPS and APRS standard, and rock-solid RF. Just don’t pay more than FTM-500DR money for it.
What's the difference between the FTM-300DR and FTM-500DR?
The 500DR adds the AESS dual-speaker audio system, a bigger 2.4-inch display with the funnel layout, and a head-mounted speaker. The 300DR counters with true independent dual receive (both bands can decode C4FM) at roughly $100 less. Audio and screen aside, they are close siblings.
Does the FTM-300DR work with CHIRP?
No — CHIRP does not support it. Program it via the microSD card, Yaesu’s free ADMS-11 software, or RT Systems.
Do I need a ham license for the FTM-300DR?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license (Technician class minimum, Part 97). Listening is license-free, and a $30 RTL-SDR with free GopherTrunk will let you hear the same repeaters before you buy anything.