|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Yaesu VX-7R.
|
MAJMOJO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 8, 2010 23:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great little radio!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
To the last poster: I've been running this HT with a Mirage DB-35 for over a year now with no problems at all.
|
|
KO3U
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Jan 27, 2010 08:03
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Could be much better
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I've had this radio for about a month now. I followed the advice of someone on this review thread and used the software and it was easy as pie to program. At first, I thought I was stuck in memory mode, but as it turned out, in the series of buttons I was pressing, one of them I pressed for a second too long. The thing that really drives me nuts about it is that I keep getting bursts of garbage RF coming through, even when I have the squelch turned up to full. The little cheaper Yaesu radios work much better as far as squelch and also power. This radio was advertized as 5 W on all bands but 1.25 M. Well, it's actually only 5 W on 2 M and lower on all the other bands. One other thing that drives me crazy is that when I plug it into an amp, it won't stop broadcasting on UHF until I broadcast on VHF, when it finally unlatches itself. I've owned dozens of radios and I've got many cheapos that will work with this amp, but not this one. The techhie said "well, there's too much packed into that radio for it to work". Too much packed into it to work right? Why buy it then?
I need to clarify one thing about this radio, with respect to my previous review just below. Because of this review, I was contacted by another ham, who was having a problem of compatibility between the VX-7R and his amp (Mirage BD-35). It just so happened we were having the same problem. But I have tried my Alinco DJ-G7 with the amp and have had the same problem. So this particular problem is NOT a problem with the Yaesu VX-7R, but rather with the amp.
|
|
SCRUFFYONIONS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 12, 2009 13:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent handy. 4.5/5. Read the manual.
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This is my 1st handy, so have no experience of OWNING others, though have used plenty over the years.
Programming this little thing isnt half as difficult as others have made it out to be.
OK, its not logical, but then, ones mans logic is another mans chaos!
If you are used to (as we all are) of setting a particular thing in a menu, then you will have no issues at all.
An hour with the manual on my knee and a few button presses where all it took to get the hang of it.
Fair enough, a couple of mistakes were made, but after half an hour of setting things up the way you like them, you find yourself not having to revert back to the manual as you did at the start and get into a little routine of navigating the menu's and making the necessary changes.
It no doubt could of been a little easier but it certainly should scare you off from buying one.
You have so many functions and settings within a tiny package, theres bound to be a bit of button pressing.
Speaking of buttons, these things are not by any means hard to press, normal pressure is all thats needed and you hear/feel a positive "click"
I would rather them be like that, than a floppy piece of rubber under finger.
Battery life is very good depending on obviously, how you set it up in the 1st place.
If you tend to have long winded overs on full power, have the display on a lot, have the strobe light coming on for every function then yes, it is going to drain quicker than normal.
I have the strobe only to come on for 2 functions.
1. To show the battery is fully charged.
2. To show TX mode.
I have no issues with muffled audio or it being quiet, from what has been stated in the past,
it seems this issue was common with early models.
All I can assume is that its been sorted now,
be it the membrane modified or wether or not that was the issue in the 1st place.
Mine is a 2008 serial, so a lot down the line.
The supplied rubber duck is OK, nothing more really
I didnt expect an amazing amount from it before I used it, given the size.
I can hit repeaters 45+ miles away on 5w from the 1st floor of my house and I live in a very built up area.
Everyones situation is different I suppose, heights and being blocked in.
As soon as I get round to it, I will download the commander software and use the lead to program it.
Not that its a huge workload to do it from the keypad but once you're talking a huge load of memories/tones etc and tags to do,
a lot quicker and easier from the PC.
SW operation is OK, not amazing, not really poor,
it works and serves a purpose. Just, well..ermm.. OK.
Mine is used as 50% scanner. 50% 2/70 HT.
Using a 3rd party antenna (Watson super-gainer) improves a hell of a lot in RX'd signals
though what sort of 0.5-1ghz coverage where you expecting from a small rubber duck?
My belt clip is still in the plastic wrapping and from what I've heard, can stay there.
It's either on my desk or in my coat pocket so havnt felt the need for it so far.
The front end on this is not as tight as its battery case, nor did I really expect it to be.
But by no means wide enough to make we want to get shut of it or cause me problems.
Please dont review this as a VHF/UHF contest rig!
Its a HT the size of a cigarette packet.
Putting this on an outside antenna 50ft from the ground is bound to overload it, its not what it was designed for.
For what it was designed for it does very well.
If you bought it... and that goes for everything on here and it broke within 5 seconds of turning it on then surely,
common sense says thats not a fair review to give it a zero.
It was obviously faulty from when it left the factory, when you're churning things out in there 1000's you're bound to get a lemon.
Wait till it gets replaced and works before writing a review.
All in all, nothings' perfect and every bit of kit can be improved on, but for what it was designed for and as they say "bang for buck"
this little thing is a beauty.
Oh.. and its built like a tank!
|
|
NF8V
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 11, 2009 08:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Own 2 happy with both
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Nice cross of goodies to play with in menu and tough functionality (is that a word?).
Iv had one for more than a year and just bought another for my son after passing his tech.
I do program them with the computer and just dupe the two, much faster.
73
PS both have been emersed more than a time or two.
|
|
K2CLH
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 11, 2009 07:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
VX-7R
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I have owned this radio less than 3 months. The menu needs a little bit of help but over all I think it’s a really good radio. I would give it about a 4.7/5 rating if there was one.
I have tested the stock rubber duck and the SRH77CA. I was surprised that the stock antenna worked better that the aftermarket SRH77CA. I have tested the VX-7RB on stock rubber duck. I can hit a repeater about 7 miles away on L1 power setting or 50mw in an electrically noisy radio room.
|
|
N4UED
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Sep 10, 2009 10:49
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
OK IF YOU USE AN EXTERNAL SPEAKER MIC
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I HAVE HAD THE VX-7R FOR 3 YRS NOW.
I ONLY USE IT WITH AN EXTERNAL SPEAKER MIC THAT IS NOT WATER PROOF.
THE WATER PROOFING HAS CAUSED THE AUDIO TO BE MUFFLED.
I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF ITS ABILITY TO KEEP SCANNING AROUND COMPUTERS OR OTHER OBJECTS THAT MAY INTERFERE.
LET JUST SAY THAT IT WILL NOT.
THE ANTENNA IS A JOKE.
THEIR ARE NO 6M REPEATERS FOR ME TO CHECK IT OUT ON.
MY TRANSMIT AUDIO WITHOUT THE SPEAKER MIC WAS MUFFLED.
THE BELT CLIP PROVIDED CAN NOT BE COUNTED ON TO HOLD TO YOUR CLOTHING.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE VX-8R,HOWEVER I WONDER IF ITS AUDIO IS MUFFLED AS WELL.
OVERALL IT OK FOR HAMFEST WITH A SPEAKER MIC.
IT IS NICE THAT IT IS WATER PROOF.
THE RT SYSTEMS SOFTWARE WORKS WELL,HOWEVER THE COMMANDER SOFTWARE IS EASY TO USE ALSO.
I WOULD NOT BUY THIS TRANSCEIVER AGAIN.
THANKS CHUCK ,N4UED
|
|
M0GDU
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 10, 2009 10:24
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Built like a tank!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
It's built like a tank - I'm not sure I'd even know how to break it deliberately if I wanted to!
This one feels like it might outlast me.
The performance is very good, with the received sound quality being quite remarkable from such a tiny speaker.
I've received good reports of my transmitted audio too, clean and clear, of adequate volume, and not over-modulated.
I can use repeaters I couldn't even hear with my old rig, so the RF side of things works very well indeed... and of course that's the whole point of having the radio in the first place.
My only (small) reservation - it's an absolute pig to program using it's own keyboard if your eyesight is less than perfect, although to be fair to Yaesu on a rig this small there's no room to make the text on the keys any bigger and you can't have it both ways.
I've ordered a lead to load the memories from my PC, and I'd strongly recommend you do the same.
This one's a keeper.
73 Richard M0GDU
|
|
RAINS
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Sep 3, 2009 21:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
nice all in one radio
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
The good-very wide RX, doubles as a scanner
-water proof, I have majorly spilled on in with no ill effects.
-tough metal case that helps keep the insides cool. I have also majorly dropped the radio with no ill effects!
-easy to use most basic functions
The Bad-It takes some time to learn how to use.(no biggie)
-Now this is the big one! YAESU THE BELT CLIP STINKS! Get rid of it! It's a stupid clip swivel deal that comes flying off if you take it hiking or put a longer than stock antenna on it! The clip also makes holding the radio awkward. It's just horrible. Think I may try to macgyver it with epoxy or something.
It really is a great radio though. With a diamond SRH77CA long rubber duck I've gotten 70+ miles on 2.5w and 130+ miles on 5w. Great choice for the outdoors man.
|
|
KB9JIA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 30, 2009 23:38
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Man this radio does everything!
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
Well, I have owned mine for over a year now and am still impressed with all that it can do!
Essentially you can travel light and have a nearly complete scanner/VHF-UHF ham station.
It's silly to think you can really use this radio to its fullest potential without utilizing the computer programming software package. Just do yourself a favor and buy it with the radio, you'll thank me later!
You know, as I read a lot of these postings it astonishes me how many whiner and sissy wimp hams there are out there! I mean, if this radio is to complex for you, do yourself and my family a favor and toss your car keys on the roof. If it gets too hot while you rag chewing get a mobile rig, if the belt clip bothers you remove it and buy a pouch! Sheesh, pathetic! It's a radio, not a way of life! It can receive essentially light to water and talks in four bands, plus AM! The radio works as described by the manufacturer!
I have used mine in rain, at the beach, in extreme cold at 3am (literally) and also in normal conditions. It dosen't make me dinner, do my taxes or comfort me when my tummy hurts and that's just fine by me. Lets all cowboy-up just a little here.
73
KB9JIA
|
|
LAGERHEAD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 4, 2009 18:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent Radio
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Excellent choice...no regrets. Very thoughtfully designed radio. It feels great in my hand: solid & not too big. The rx audio is awesome--plenty loud and very clear. I talked in loud & clear on one of my first nets on a VHF repeater that is 30.5 miles from my house. The battery lasts about 3 days of just listening & little tx. Very impressive. Very usable, unique features in the radio. Highly recommend.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
