My review of the VX-8R
I received the radio and optional Blue Tooth two weeks ago and been waiting for the GPS unit to arrive before I wrote this review.
This Radio is very pleasant to look at very similar to the vx-7 which I was not an owner of, it fits nicely into you pocket for taking out for walks even with the GPS unit on. It is about the size of a pack of cards and the buttons are very nicely placed so thy don’t seem to get pressed in you pocket even if you don’t have the lock on. There is some really nice features such as spectrum analyser you can change the S meter symbol and you can connect it to the internet don’t know how to do this yet but will be something to play with in the near future along with the optional Blue Tooth I have. altogether there is 111 options you have and also 24 options associated with APRS.
The RX seems to be nice and sensitive and doesn’t seem to miss to much on the RX on APRS even when moving around the house. I took it out mobile today in the car and it seemed to work well with a mini mag on top of the car. I haven’t had a chance yet to try this radio on all bands and try out my 6m antenna extension on the radio I don’t understand why thy have put HF RX on this hand held with no SSB. It will be interesting to do 6m APRS when out and about and see how well it proformes. I cant say to much about the TX due to only realy using APRS feture it does fire up repeaters very well with CTSS on and TX on APRS well what can I say it beacons it does the job. as a general hand held radio I would give it more than a 5 out of 5.
In comparison to the Kenwood TH-D7E it is nice to have GPS without wires every where and it is a nice all in one package and it has some easy use features with typing TXT is easy the Menu Band and Mode button just takes you through all the main futures. I have a couple of complaint when you receive a call sign or a TXT you cant just select the call sign to reply you have to go through the hole rigmarole of typing in the call sign then the message!!!! You wouldn’t get a TXT on your phone from someone then after composing the TXT have to type in the number manually so why do you have to do this on a radio that came out in the year 2008 just doesn’t make sense!!!!!! Come on Yaesu get a grip!!!!! Also the main screen doesn’t give you enough info when you receive a beacon or a TXT the radio just beeps at you it doest give you a call sign or an envelope like the TH-D7E or the TMD-700 so if you are expecting a TXT you have to keep the radio on APRS Message screen if you want to see want Stn are around you have to keep it on the Station List screen really annoying !!!!! So with all my little complaints I would give as an APRS Hand Held 4 out of 5.
Now down to the Price and if you were to pay the price thy are asking for the radio and you were to get either the Blue Tooth or the GPS unit and GPS adapter with the radio it would be reasonably priced. Now I am not going to mince my words here the fact is you don’t even get the GPS adapter either with the radio or the GPS unit its not overly expensive but it is the principle of the matter and also when you read the manual it says and I quote if you use the GPS unit mobile beaconing often we recommend you buy the bigger battery pack yea great more money!!!!!!! So for the price I would give it a 3 out of 5
So all round this is a really nice radio which I would give an 4 out of 5 if you buy one you will not be disappointed I haven’t been even with all my we complaints. I do hope Yaesu bring out a Mobile 50watt version!
I hope to upload some pics buy the end of the week.
Regards Garry ZC4GR 2M1DHG VP8DLB
;)
Hmmmmmmmmm are we talking about the same radio I haven’t really seen a bad review about this radio and I would say the build quality is one of its strong points. Look on eham at the moment it has a 4.3 out of 5 and the main reason for that is someone gave it a 0 because it wasn’t a good air band receiver but this isn’t an air band receiver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have just looked on e-bay and there isn’t any second hand and the one’s that are new are $50 more expensive than I paid for it and that’s without another $50 postage thy are asking for.
I can tell you I would have this radio over the Kenwood THD7E and the TMD700 so much so I am considering selling them. I don’t know about the 710 as I don’t have one.
This radio is a good all in one package and easy to use yes it is a bit expensive even for a Scotsman such as myself but no fafing around with wires to the GPS etc.
Cheers all Garry
p.s i got the vx8 on hols in the states
Hi Rob
Yea i know what you mean the UK seem to get the last of every thing but the things that are junk come into the UK first HI HI.
As i say i havent seen any second hand for sale on e-bay and so far i have been oferd alot more for my hand held if i would sale it on but its for keeps.
Hope thy come into the Uk soon so UK hams can have the same enjoyment as me.
Regards Garry
Radio with 6m extention on the ant
Radio next to 6m ant extention and Blue tooth board.
radio next to the box it comes in.
Radio next to the old Kenwood THD7E to give you a good idea of its size of radio and the GPS fitted.
Yea 5kc steps just double checked the instructions! A bit of a shame thy dont do it with 1Kc steps. I was trying to work into ISS last night on my 847 but no luck, probibly all the Europens using 40000000 watts into it! LOL
You will be surprised you dont even notice the GPS it only seems to get in the way when you want to put an external ant on and its hard to get at the plug. It also has a nice metal bracket at the back of the GPS unit to hold it in nice and secure, it looks a bit frigile sticking up but with the bracket on the back you could use it to kill fish!
I have had a few e-mails from your freind Dave Aitch G1OCN.
Regards Garry
Hi Terry. Did you spot my note about whether it would do full duplex or not? You did mention satellite working with it.
Worth checking. Cheers, Dave.
