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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu VX-2R |
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Reviews: 130
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Average rating: 4.5/5
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MSRP: $229.00
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Description: The Yaesu VX-2R is a microminiature 2 meter/440 MHz handheld with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability. It is the worlds smallest HT with 1.5/1 watt output on 2M/440.
Its incredible size allows you to take it anywhere. Receive range is: 500 kHz to 999 MHz (less cellular). This means you can hear the AM, shortwave and FM broadcast bands, TV audio, aircraft and public service channels. CTCSS/DCS with split tone capability is built in. Over 1300 total memories are available including 900 regular memories, 11 home channels, and 50 pairs of band edge memories. You can scan just the memories, the entire operating band or a portion of that band. The aluminum diecast chassis is very rugged.
Power output is with the supplied 1 amp hour Lithium Ion battery 1.5 watts VHF and 1 watt UHF. With the optional E-DC-21 DC adapter output jumps to 3 watts and 2 watts! The VX-2R comes with the FNB-82LI lithium ion battery and NC-85B charger, SMA flexible antenna, belt clip, plus a wrist strap.
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More info: http://www.yaesu.com/amateur/handheld.html
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KI4VTN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 19, 2007 14:12
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VX-2R Bliss
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought a Yaesu VX-2R as my first HT after receiving my ham license a few weeks earlier. I bought this radio because it was the most inexpensive dual-bander I could find, which also happened to have the wide-band receive and not too mention the small size! This radio is indeed very small. I carry this radio around with me on a University campus, and on one odd occasion it was mistaken for a cell phone :)
Transmit power is low, but I realized this when I bought the radio. I will buy a more powerful HT later; for now the VX-2R is more than powerful enough for hitting the K4UCF repeater, especially when I'm usually less than 500' from the antenna at any given time when I'm on campus. As well I can reach several repeaters in the area, if not only listen. Living in a neighborhood with houses on all sides blocks quite a bit of signal. The Comet SMA24 helps immensely on 70cm and 2m, and with a 1/2 wave such as the Smiley 2M flex, I can actually hit the KT4AZ repeater from my bedroom (I'm in Oviedo).
I love this little radio. I've described it to people which such phrases as "a scanner with a built-in transmitter" and "an antenna with a radio on it." I have it programmed with several non-ham frequencies, such as the FRS frequencies, local broadcast FM and TV frequencies, the Seminole County Emergency Frequencies and so on. Even if I can't talk, there is always plenty to listen to. I only wish I could do SSB/CW.
I am giving this radio a 5 for great, because it really is. It would be the most awesome radio ever if it could do 5 watts, but the small size and fun factor more than makes up for it.
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KG4WRM
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Rating: 4/5
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May 2, 2007 16:17
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power-up problems
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Overall it is a good radio. I've had mine for about a month. Sometimes it will not power up at all. Removing the battery and reinserting corrects the problem.
The guy at HRO tells me to send it in for warranty service.
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WS8B
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 24, 2007 15:42
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Great features in a small package.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was an owner of a VX1r, but I lost it after 8 years. The "2" is a great improvement. Ease of programming, more features. I would have liked CW/SSB as a feature.
Batteries are easy to find in most big-box stores in the cell-phone or camera area. I found an exact replacement for $19.
This a great rig to take with you for fun. I would not use it for emergency operations. This is a job for an FT150 or the like.....
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W6RQ
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 17, 2007 20:45
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nice little HT but intermittent problem
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I like the VX-2R very much, but one annoying intermittent problem is that sometimes it just won't power up. If I remove and reinsert the battery it works fine but after a few on/off cycles this happens again. Tried doing full microprocessor reset but same symptoms. Not sure if I should send it back to the factory as this is an intermittent problem and may be hard to reproduce. Any suggestions? It's new and still under warrantee.
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N6BIZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 18, 2007 10:48
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love mine
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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got 5 a6 but my 2 is by far the best keep it on all day and still have some bat life left
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N2OIO
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Rating: 3/5
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Mar 18, 2007 10:38
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Undecided
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Well, I wanted this radio since it first came out..
I had a Vx-1r and I liked it for what it was.
The Vx-2r is really what the 1r should have been. It has nice scanning and memory options, speaker sounds better than the 1r.
Heres my gripe...I could hit more repeaters with my stock 1r than I can with my 2r which is supposed to have more power.
Also, I get much more noise than I did with the 1r.
Lastly, many people give great reports on battery life, well my 2r only gives me a good 4 hours of scanning before the battery is low...
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KC0MX
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 4, 2007 13:45
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Just a great little radio!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got this little gem about 2 months ago. I have not had a handi talkie for about 15 years. I found it easy to program. I had to set it back to factory default a couple of times but after that it was easy. Also plenty of batteries on ebay. I also got the Comet SMA-24 antenna. It works better on the other bands.
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N4XCB
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 14, 2007 10:41
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Nice little HT
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I picked up the VX-2R to use when I head to Walt Disney World with the family. It's perfect for everything I intend to use it for, and the size makes it that much more enjoyable. What's cool about it to me is that I can receive the same bands as on my VX-7R - no need to lug that HT around while in the parks. Using the VX-2R Commander software, programming is a breeze. The only thing I did notice, and something that another reviewer mentioned, is that the HT is a bit deaf on the WX band. Other than that, it's a great little radio to have. If you're looking for something small to carry around, don't need alot of power, and enjoy listening in on non-ham bands, this is the rig for you.
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M5AEO
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2007 07:44
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Excellent!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have only had my VX2 for a week, and had put- off programming the memories until yesterday- but I was pleasently surprised; it was much easier to programme than previous Yaesu products that I have owned. It's not worth buying the optional software unless you will be programming and re-programming hundreds of memories. I put in 70 frequencies and the whole process took less than an hour. I am using my VX2 mainly for Airband listening: it is as sensitive as my old Alinco, but is slightly noisier. It is worth getting a higher gain rubber antenna: I got one from Moonraker and it gives a 3dB advantage on receive. I haven't actually had any QSOs yet, but seem to be able to access my local repeater (GB3EL) with the LOW power setting (100mW) from inside my flat. This transceiver is the best Yaesu one that I have owned so far: the operating system is much more intuitive, and I think after a while I won't need to carry the instruction booklet.
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KU4MY
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 7, 2007 19:30
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WOW!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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As the former owner of a VX1R, I am very impressed and pleased. I was pleasantly surprised to see this one is really a transceiver and not a receiver that tries to be a transceiver. Don't get me wrong, for what it was, the VX1R was pretty neat, great for crossbanding in and around the house, but not what you would consider practical to use for anything really. I was able to hit one 2m and two 70cm machines with some modest success with the VX1R, but the VX2R hits many more machines and is still a great little 'wireless mic' for crossbanding. My initial concerns with the slow to straighten out display on power up and the need to remove the battery after on-board recharging have fallen by the wayside now that I have seen that this is 'normal' for late model VX2Rs. I was worried that the battery would be very pricey, but as plenty of PB-60 batteries are available everywhere including eBay for as little as $8 for TWO..... shipped!!! I am no longer worried about that like I was with the 1R. In a nut shell, I love it and as this one can really perform and be useful unlike the VX1R, I will be very happy indeed.
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