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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu VX-8DR |
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Reviews: 6
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Average rating: 4.2/5
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MSRP: $540.00
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Description: VX-8DR – A Devoted APRS Users Version of the VX-8R Series
The VX-8DR APRS®/GPS/Bluetooth® Handheld Transceiver is an additional version of the VX-8R that includes not only its solid features and specifications but also new expanded APRS® capabilities to meet the needs of even the most active APRS® user. The VX-8DR has the same appearance as the VX-8R and uses the very same accessories
The Yaesu VX-8R HT provides a full 5 watts FM on 50/144/430 MHz plus 1.5 watts on 222 MHz. It supports Bluetooth® hands-free operation with the optional BU-1 and BH-1 or BH-2 accessories. There is also an optional GPS unit and antenna with loads of features. This radio supports APRS 1200/9600 bps data communication (B band only). Like the VX7R, the VX8R is submersible and meets IPX57 specifications (3 feet for minimum of 30 minutes).
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yaesu_VX-8R/
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AC0SV
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 20, 2012 13:59
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Outstanding!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I wanted a handheld that had 4 bands on it and this one fit the bill. I also purchased every accessory sold for it. After a year of use and comparing it to other units I am very glad I bought it. Buy the larger battery, especially if you use the GPS option. The factory battery lasts fine for short trips but the large one is a nice addition. The GPS unit works well. The features are extensive. All I can say is at least Yeasu gives you the option of setting just about everything! If you don't want to spend time learning the manual, purchase the cable and software and it will help you program the radio quickly. I learned the book first, then bought the software and cable so that I can save different settings depending on what I am doing and where I am traveling. The Bluetooth is great! Be careful not to set the mic. volume too high as I did, the radio is sensitive both with the internal and external mics. People tell me the quality of my audio is really nice. I find that the radio is very sensitive on all 4 bands. The receiver is much better than the Kenwood handhelds I have used. It does a better job than my Kenwood mobile as well. The features are so extensive that I couldn't possibly comment on them all in this short report. I'll just say that I have used everything it comes with and all the options available for it in the past year and I am very happy. Nothing about this radio disappoints me.
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KB0C
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 2, 2011 14:28
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EXCELLENT - MORE radio that I can handle
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The first review on this radio demonstrates someone who wants a simple radio. This is not a simple radio. It is a menu driven HT, with 111 menu items and many sub-menus under many of these. And that does not include the APRS menu items! It is complex. And not all the controls are documented. So some experimentation is needed occasionally. For example, to light up the screen, the LED key, when assigned to the bottom left key, needs to be held down for one second. When using bluetooth, pairing is accomplished in the bluetooth code menu by pressing the V/M key. These are not documented. There are probably a few more that I will discover as I get to know this radio. The learning curve is long and steep, as with any menu driven radio. But once you have mastered the controls you will normally use, you will love this one! As with any HT, you can't reach 20 miles out to a repeater in a congested city. But I can hit all the repeaters within a few miles of my house. And for ARES work, the GPS unit accessory that attaches is invaluable. I can be instantly spotted on the map by the control operator with the APRS software in the radio. I don't have to explain to anyone where I am. They can see me on their map! It has a ton of features, such as emergency beacon, repeater operation, that I have yet to learn. There is something about an internet connection I have not yet learned how to run. I have the AA battery pack for the radio as well - handy for emergency work with a pocket full of charged NM Hydride batteries in my pocket. I can't think of anything not to love here! This is my 4th HT and the best of the lot. Only one problem so far. One day the LCD screen suddenly failed. I sent it in for repair, figuring I would not see it for 6 months. It came back in three weeks! Very good turn-around.
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WA4FOM
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Rating: 0/5
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Apr 5, 2011 05:04
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The last Yaesu handheld I will ever need to buy!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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And I don't mean to say that as if it were a
good thing. I normally give rave reviews
when the product deserves it, but I just can't
this time. You would think for that kind of
money this radio would beat the pants off a
Kenwood TH-F6A. Well, it doesn't, at least
not where it counts.
PROS:
- Looks and feels good in the hand (nicer
than the Kenwood)
- Tons of features. Most are handy, some
frivolous, a few are just plainly a waste
of firmware space
- Even the keys are backlit -- very nice
- You can submerge it as I have been tempted
to do (permanently in the Hudson River, but
have not in hopes of selling it)
CONS:
- The aforementioned "tons of features" are
*VERY* cumbersome to access. Fully
explaining this would take years and cost
countless lives. This seems to be common
to most all Yaesu handhelds. Fortunately,
their mobiles and base stations are better,
otherwise these guys would have gone out of
business years ago
- Receiver vastly inferior to the Kenwood in
terms of sensitivity, intermod rejection,
and audio quality
- Low quality flex antenna; mine has a slight
but permanent bend in it right out of the
box
- LCD display is very hard to read without
the backlight on
- No software from Yaesu to backup and manage
the 1000+ memories in the thing.
Page 47 of the manual even advises
you to write down the contents of
each memory. Right. Thankfully
someone markets a solution, software plus
cable. (www.rtsystemsinc.com)
I bought the handheld and the CSC-93 soft case a
few weeks ago and haven't even sent in the
warranty card. If anyone wants this thing, send
me a check for $400.00 (not negotiable) and
they're yours! My address in the "Call Search"
is good. Check the feedback record for
the eBay user "wa4fom" if you have any doubts
as to my integrity. Otherwise, this thing goes
back in the box until it again becomes worth $400
on eBay, probably in about 25 years when I'm
retired and can use the cash.
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KE6GII
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 25, 2010 08:06
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Enjoyable and Effective
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased the radio as I recently renewed my interest in ham radio. I have been a ham nearly 20 years and was active in the SoCal uhf/vhf repeater community. Prior HT favorite was KW TH78a (still great). I was interested in exploring the GPS-APRS features after viewing a demonstration at a ham gathering. Access to 220 and 6m bands also a great addition.
My experience has been enjoyable.
GPS APRS is very useful and I can be copied and rebroadcasted by the repeater reliably.
UHF/VHF works very well. 220 into the California linked repeater system is excellent (Condor). 6m contacts on repeaters have been possible.
Build quality is excellent - no issues after 3 months of frequent use.
Lots of memory storage. I purchased the after market programming software and cable for the radio. This been such a wonderful convenience. It is so much easier to manage the database and tailor the memories and banks for different occasions. I would strongly recommend this RT Systems product.
Features I would enjoy having. 1) when in dual band receive mode use the speaker mic and ht speaker simultaneously one for each band. 2) Cross band repeat.
I intend to add the bluetooth mic and will report on this next time.
Thats all for now. More as new experiences and time permit. I would be happy to respond to your questions. I will monitor this thread for same.
73
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KE6GII
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 25, 2010 07:37
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Enjoyable and Effective
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased the radio as I recently renewed my interest in ham radio. I have been a ham nearly 20 years and was active in the SoCal uhf/vhf repeater community. Prior HT favorite was KW TH78a (still great). I was interested in exploring the GPS-APRS features after viewing a demonstration at a ham gathering. Access to 220 and 6m bands also a great addition.
My experience has been enjoyable.
GPS ASPRS is very useful and I can be copied and rebroadcasted by the repeater reliably.
UHF/VHF works very well. 220 into the California linked repeater system is excellent (Condor). 6m contacts on repeaters have been possible.
Build quality is excellent - no issues after 3 months of frequent use.
Lots of memory storage. I purchased the after market programming software and cable for the radio. This been such a wonderful convenience. It is so much easier to manage the database and tailor the memories and banks for different occasions. I would strongly recommend this RT Systems product.
Features I would enjoy having. 1) when in dual band receive mode use the speaker mic and ht speaker simultaneously one for each band. 2) Cross band repeat.
I intend to add the bluetooth mic and will report on this next time.
Thats all for now. More as new experiences and time permit. I would be happy to respond to your questions. I will monitor this thread for same.
73
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JA1ML
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 5, 2010 14:21
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Very Nice
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Excellent hand held radio. Does everything but walk the dog. AM / FM broadcast, 2m, 440, 220 with 1.5w, SWL broadcast and more, unbelievable.
Yoshi
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