Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Yaesu FT-60r or VX-5r  (Read 16678 times)

KC2NFF

  • Member
  • Posts: 9
Yaesu FT-60r or VX-5r
« on: February 10, 2005, 06:28:44 PM »

I am trying to decide wether to buy the Yaesu FT-60r(dualband) or the VX-5r(triband) but cannot decide. If anybody has any comments or owns any of these radios please post your commentsor reviews about either one of these radios. I will much appreciate it. Thanks!
Logged

AB0UK

  • Member
  • Posts: 74
Yaesu FT-60r or VX-5r
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2005, 06:41:33 PM »

Hi,

I own both radios.  I've had the VX-5R for about two years and the FT-60R for just over a month.  The former is smaller than the later and it does 6 meters.  Never done much with 6 meters on it.  I've heard it is next to worthless on 6 meters.

The FT-60R is a bit easier to use (program) than the VX-5R and that is the main reason I purchased it.  it has a seperate squelch control.  The squelch control on the VX-5R is menu controlled.  That really became a severe problem for me on foxhunts.  Probably the main reason I finally decided to find a simplier radio.

There are a few (how many???) FT-60R's that the display darkens almost to the point of not being able to read it when the temperature goes below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.  I experienced that problem on my first one.  The second has it to a much lessor degree.  The FT-60R gives no indication when the battery is charging or is completely charged.  When you turn it on it does give the battery voltage.  The VX-5R tells when charging and when complete.  Audio on both is about perfect in my estimation.

Recently I've found on the FT-60R that a plug in ear/mike piece will work it's way out of the socket a bit and cause the radio to transmit until you realize what is happening and push it back in.  The radio gets awfully warm after a few minutes and of course people don't like the QRM.

The price on the FT-60R at HRO has recently been dropped to $194 and the VX-5R to $199.  If you live near a dealer buy one and try it a few days and if you don't like it swap it for the other.  Basically, for me on a day to day basis the FT-60R is easier to get along with than the other in spite of it's own short comings.

Good Luck with your decision.

Jim, AB0UK

Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up