TYT TH-9800 clicking noise on 2m transmit

[Wayfarer]

Hi all,
 

New member here.  Longtime ham but new to GMRS.

I just got a new TH-9800 and so far it's great.  Nice simple controls, easy to program, wideband coverage, seems to be well made. 

One oddity though.  On 2m, the radio emits an audible chirpy clicking noise when the PTT is pushed and then another chirp/click when the PTT is released.  The sound is not coming from the speaker, it's coming from some component inside the radio, likely a relay.  It's loud enough to be objectionable in the shack, where I plan to use this radio.  440 transmit is quiet, no chirping noise, it's just on 2m.  This happens on both my 2m/440 antenna and a dummy load, both under 1.2:1 SWR and at all TX power levels.

Is this normal for this radio and not something I should worry about?  In the back of my mind, I'm worried it might be a defective relay that will completely fail at some point.  But this is also my first experience with Chinese radios and so maybe this is normal.  I would think if this was normal relay noise, it'd be present on both 2m and 440.  I've never had this on any other VHF/UHF radio I've had, but those have been Kenwood and Icom, so maybe the Chinese radios are different.  The radio is brand new.  

Thanks,

Darren

WRMU706

[AdmiralCochrane]

It is hard to find a used Yeasu radio that is functionally junk. Same for the other Japanese makers.  If you only buy new, you are missing a lot of very good radios on the market.

[Wayfarer]

I would buy a Yaesu 8900 in a heartbeat of they were still offered new, or if I could find a used one that wasn't beat up or priced at $450++

However, your suggestion did lead me to a new radio Yaesu just released, the FTM-150RASP, an analog-only 2m/440 rig.  AT $379, that looks like a good option.  

[WRYZ926]

Just personal preference here. I would go with the Icom IC-2730A for $310 over the Yaesu FTM-150RASP for $379.

I'm disappointed in Yaesu's customer service and the fact that they want to charge people $900 to fix a bad USB port on some of their HF radios. The issue is that they know it is a bad design but refuse to fix it. Plus the parts required to fix the USB port are pretty cheap compared to Yaesu charging $900 to replace the entire main board.

[WRUU653]

I have the Icom IC-2730A as well and I’m very happy with it. I got mine from Ham Radio Outlet (they also do the MARS mod if you so wish). I picked up some of the mounting accessories from Amazon though because it was cheaper there.