|
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
|
| Reviews Summary for Yaesu VX-3R |
|
Reviews: 86
|
Average rating: 4.3/5
|
MSRP: $199
|
|
Description: A micro-sized dual band entry from vertex/standard...With 1.5 watts output
on 2 meters, and 1 watt on 440... With 13.8 vdc power jumps to 3 watts on
144, and 2 on 440...Has wide band rx, and NEW ferrite bar antenna for AM
broadcasts... 1000 ma/1 amp lithium -ion battery
|
|
More info: http://www.yaesu.com
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the Yaesu VX-3R.
|
CHARLA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 3, 2009 09:50
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Excellent
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
As per other reviews the VX3 is really Excellent "I won't reiterate what everyone else has said. It is an amazing radio and worth much more than it's price" don't say that they will increase the price! only joking
|
|
AB5N
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 3, 2009 07:34
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Super radio with one flaw
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I won't reiterate what everyone else has said. It is an amazing radio and worth much more than it's price. I wanted to ask the group this question:
The programming flaw is that you can "mask" set menu items, but you cannot then un-mask them. They are gone forever unless you do a complete reset and loose all your programming. The manual is wrong in it's procedure for this. It does not un-mask them. I cannot set my tone anymore!
So, any ideas out there? Thanks - Bob-AB5N
|
|
NC2F
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Jun 26, 2009 04:50
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Fine sub-compact radio that I give a 4.5 out of 5
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I like convenience, and small radios like the VX-1R, VX-2R and now the VX-3R (all of which I have owned at one time or another) offer ease of carry (in a pant or short pocket) while being a compromise only when comparing it to it's 5W counterparts.
For newcomers, the VX-3R takes a little getting used to just like it's predecessors. Many functions are menu controlled that require a few extra steps to access and then change.
I won't rehash alot of what was already pointed out in prior reviews, but I will add or reiterate the following that are standouts to me:
- The back cover is indeed not a snug fit. I hope Yaesu pays attention to the many complaints about it here and elsewhere. Yes, it can be remedied by slicing a thin layer of insulating foam to fill the gap, but I feel the solution should come from Yaesu, not the consumer. Especially since a foam doesn't remove the visible gap. While the loose fitting back cover is annoying, it's not a show stopper.
- The lift and turn control knob is one of those features I like as it prevents accidental turning when it's in the pressed down/locked position.
- The side mounted PTT, Moni/T-Call and Power buttons are large and well placed. They have a larger HT feel which is most welcomed.
- The optional programming software w/cable. Unless you like repetitive/tedious tasks, buy the optional programming software w/cable. My only complain is that the cable should have been a USB cable, not optional for another $10 or so. I do understand many still do prefer the stability of serial port connections, but USB for the most part is quite reliably and very much a standard these days. The serial cable should have been the optional choice in my opinion.
- Display area: Large and Easy to read. Icons are the typical well-thought out and useful that Yaesu employs. Nice easy to read fonts and I appreciate that in a sub-compact HT. Same goes for the charging status and top mounted color indicating LED.
- While compact is the name of the game, unless you are a walkabout in a areas with close-proximity repeaters, I would suggest replacing the stock antenna. Yes, I know the compact antenna is part of the compact look and feel, but if you are expereincing situation where your signal is mostal noise after getting into the repeater, a more effience antanna will certainly help the lower power signal along.
- Tx & Rx Audio: The quality is excellent and what I have come to expect from Yaesu.
Summary:
I give the VX-3R a 4.5 out of 5. 5 has to be absolutely perfect, and there is slight room for improvement here, but not much is needed for me to give it a 5. But all-in-all, the 3R is a worthy addition even if you have an HT that has a higher output and not too bulky. The VX-3R is alot of radio packed into a very small space while not comprising much, or anything at all depending on your planned usage for it.
|
|
KB1OBG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 25, 2009 05:48
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great little radio!
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
For what this radio was designed to do, I believe it does it well. Even with the stock rubber duck I can work all the local 2 meter repeaters with ease. I've tried to bring up a couple 440 machines in nearby towns with it, but 1 watt just doesn't seen to have enough power to do it. Maybe a better antenna would help.
I have no issues with listening to FM stations here in the area as they come in clear and strong. I can't comment on AM radio as I have not tried it. The sub-receive feature is nice as I can listen to the repeater and police at the same time. Also, for such a tiny radio, the speaker volume output is quite loud and actually surprised me. Battery life is quite adequate for its size and power output.
My only minor gripe with the radio was the loose fitting battery cover, but a nice wide strip of foam tape to the back of the cover shored it up nicely. All in all I love this little radio and it provides a lot of fun that can be easily carried around in a shirt or pants pocket.
|
|
KO4MH
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Jun 6, 2009 11:52
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Transmitter failed
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
This was a good little radio, as other reviews have mentioned. In my case, "was" is the operative word. Now I have no output.
I looked at it on one of my spectrum analyzers and the signal is there, fully modulated, but it is about 50 dB lower than it should be. My best guess as to the failure is that the final output transister has died.
I thought about replacing the final myself. I was able to find the full service manual on the web (Kudos to Yaesu for that).
Unfortunately, while I have been able to successfully disassemble the radio far enough to see the final transistor, I stopped at that point, as I cannot find any vendor who sells the RQA0003DNS mosfet device. Hence there is no reason to start unsoldering the densely packed boards from one another - assuming I could do that without damaging things.
Perhaps I'll send it to Yaesu if I can figure out if it is still under warranty. Otherwise, it'll become a nice little RX and scanner ;-)
|
|
NP3WH
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 10, 2009 07:03
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
PROBLEM MAY BE SOLVE !!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I just pick up my second VX-3R,and there seems to be an inprovement on the Rx between 76 Mhz to 108 Mhz,I compared it to my VX-2R and the VX-3R did much better.So for those of you that want a radio to take anyware the VX-3R is the perfect choice !!! S#-8K241754 PRICE 149.95 PLUS S&H...
|
|
YU2SRB
|
Rating: 4/5
|
May 6, 2009 09:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
City rig !
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I purchase this little thing 2 months ago. It have so many things packed inside. I just couldn't believe it what everything have, transmit is OK, but it needs to be much more sensitive than it is, the guy bellow who said that Sony Walkman pick up FM signals better was right about it.
Perfect rig for the city crowd and it looks very cool too, even girls like it very much and everyone of them wanna to touch it.
Incredible RX improvement when I install Diamond SRH 536 antenna, which is about 40 cm long..
Reccomended as a backup rig only.
73
YU2SRB
Marko
|
|
W2EJG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 27, 2009 06:39
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Neat little rig
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
Won the VX-3 at Club party. Replaced my trusty Icom W-21. Bought spare battery off E-Bay for
$5.50: what a bargain. Dual band antenna left over from the ICOM, BNC adaptor from a ham in NJ. Interconnect cable and programing software from chaps in G-land. Wow! Can zip in frequencies and power changes in seconds.
Lots of fun in my shirt pocket.
|
|
K1WJ
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Mar 27, 2009 04:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Decent Low Pwr. HT
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Had HT a few days.
Back battery cover does not seem to fit just right, slightly moves & a noticable gap. I am going to look at closer, to see if I'm not doing something right.
Real nice Audio with Mic gain at 5 (factoty default). May try other setting soon.
Sub-RX feature is really neat, listen to FM music station & monitor repeater, nice....
Stock antenna works ok, just ordered Smiley 270A SMA antenna - should improve upon stock duck.
Did hear one SW AM station on 40m, HF receive & AM receive are poor - antenna main cause I would assume.
Hit one repeater in Lowell MI from 40 miles away on 1.5w - repeater gets most of the credit.
Overall not too bad - menu has lots of cool features - other than back battery cover fit & HF/AM receive limits. Nice, fun little HT.
73 K1WJ
|
|
KV4BL
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 21, 2009 11:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great LIttle Radio
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I have had mine for about 6 months, now. Ordered it from Burghardt and it is a great way to have ham communications and V/UHF monitoring in a small size that fits in your shirt pocket with room to spare.
As others have noted, the battery cover on the back of the radio IS kind of flimsy but if you handle the radio with a degree of caution and care, you should do just fine. One solution that might be made for this is to make a larger battery that would better fill out the back of the radio and give higher capacity. If they do this, it would be great if the battery pack came with a sturdy belt clip attached. That is one thing this radio could really stand. Yeah, I have the leather case, but it adds much bulk to the package and just isn't the same.
Also, why not add external charging contacts (as on the larger, sturdier battery idea, and sell a drop-in charger or do like Alinco did with one of their micro-talkies and make a "snap-in" wall wart charger that holds the whole radio. These changes would make this little radio perfection incarnate!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
