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Reviews For: Yaesu VX-2R

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Yaesu VX-2R
Reviews: 136MSRP: 229.00
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.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/amateur/handheld.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001364.5
KB7OEB Rating: 2003-07-05
I love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I played with this at HRO and fell in love with it. I was able to work a 70cm repeater using low power (0.1 watt) but I had to use high power (1.5 watts) to use a 2m repeater on the same hill. Got good signal reports on both.

The radio has 9 DTMF auto dialers so you can still use an auto patch, there is also a manual DTMF mode where you turn the knob to the number you want to send and press button to generate the tone.

The shortwave mode was a cool bonus. Using the stock antenna I couldn't even hear local AM broadcasts. I connected the radio to a large CB antenna and was able to hear a SW broadcast from Sweden! The radio comes with 89 labeled SW broadcast channels, 282 Marine channels and 10 weather channels.

There are 999 memories that can be organized into 20 memory banks.

Like most Yaesu radios it supports ARTS, its a fun feature and its cool to hear my call sign in morse code every ten minutes.
KB5TBB Rating: 2003-07-01
Great if you like gadgets. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While I would never recommend the VX-2R as someone's first HT or a "primary/daily driver" HT, it makes a useful addition to anyone's existing collection. I have purchased a few Yaesu HT's as soon as they came out and have never been more pleased with a "first run" radio as this one. The VX-7R was a dissapointment but the VX-2R made up for it in many ways.

The power output, size, and weight make it a nice "pocket" radio. It is great for carrying around town when in good repeater coverage or mountain-topping when you know 5 watts won't be necessary. I use mine mostly for listening (for which it performs great) but when I want to transmit, I feel confident in its 1.5 watts, more so than using the VX-1R which only puts out .5 watts.

The ruggedness of the Yaesu's is another favorite feature of mine. The VX-2R seems to be a little more stout than its predecessor.

There are a few cons, but none that would discourage me from recommending this to a friend. I have NO trouble with the PTT, though it is a little stiff. The stock antenna is pretty lousy but is easily replaced. After all, HT antennas are often a compromise and Yaesu went for size rather than performance.

If you are an existing Yaesu VX1/VX5 owner, you will be pleased to know that your existing programming cable works fine with the FREE VX-2 Commander software (not Yaesu).

PS: I purchased mine at Dayton for $164.99. See what a difference catching "the show price" makes!

HT's owned: P2AT, 02AT, 2AT, DJ-280, DJ-V5T,
FT-51R, VX-1R, VX-2R,VX-5R, VX-7R, TH-F6A,
TH-D7A, TH-31AT, TH-315
N4BRJ Rating: 2003-07-01
Puts the handy back in talkie Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The VX-2 is everything I liked about the VX-1 and none of the things I didn't like.

Added power aside, the system software is what the VX-1 SHOULD have had all along. Finally no more "s-meter" tuning on MW, and the ability to scan both my 2 and 440 memories together.

The VX-2 operates like you'd expect a dualband HT to work. NO you're not going to work simplex or repeaters 100 miles away but that not what it's designed for is it.

Battery life has been excellent, even with the more "realistic" 1.5W output. I'm in a major metropolitan area and am able to work any of the local repeaters.

The ability to receive shortwave etc is icing on the cake... keeping in mind the limitations of the stock antenna (even Yaesu suggests using another antenna for these bands).

Although I haven't had the opportunity to need it yet, the WX alert option is a nice touch.

Finally, if you have the programming cable from your VX-5, it will work just fine with the VX-2 and the excellent "VX-2 COMMANDER" software by KC8UNJ which is located at http://www.qsl.net/kc8unj/VX2R.html
W1SCB Rating: 2003-06-26
Does what it should Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
So far so good, yes I wish it was a 5watt, and yes I wish it had direct keypad input. But it would suck down the battery faster which would have to be larger, and the keypad would be too small or again the unit would have to be larger. So that said I am very happy, while the features and accessing them I find a little cryptic, I'm getting used to them. As for the previous comments of a hard PTT, mine is fine as was the other at the store, and another I tried at another shop,maybe the factory already resolved the issue. Yes I wish the volume was a little louder and the accessories ($40 for a car charger!) were a little cheaper, but it goes with me everywhere and brings me radio at times when I otherwise wouldn't have access with a larger HT. So for what I use it for it's perfect. All in all I really am impressed by it's broad features, apparent quality in look and feel, and ability to increase my ability to practice my hobby. Thank you Yaesu.
KG6KJT Rating: 2003-05-28
Poor selectivity on RX Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When receiving FM, I have observed selectivity as poor as +- 2.5MHz! For example, when listening to the FRS and GMRS frequencies (462.55 - 467.725MHz), I will typically hear the same neighboring signal across the entire frequency range! (However, my $20 FRS radio properly filters out the neighboring signal, so I hear the channel correctly.)

I observe similiar artifacts for certain 2m/440 frequencies as well. Enabling attenuation did not solve the problem.

Do I have a defective HT, or is the design flawed? I ordered a second unit and will know for sure in another week or so. If the second HT has the same problem, then I'll have to return them and hope that Yaesu eventually fixes their design.

(PS: I have not observed this problem with the VX-1R, FT-857, TH-F6A, or IC-706mkIIg... or with my $20 FRS handheld.)
VA3KES Rating: 2003-05-25
Had to return it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I must say that I was really looking forward to this radio - I own a VX-1R and love it. I was waiting for a radio with more power and the VX-2R was it. It had 1.5 Watts on VHF and was actually a bit thinner than the VX-1R. Tons of memory, much wider receive (as compared to the VX-1R) and a better backlight among other things.

Unfortunately, I had to return it the next day, and it was all due to one 'flaw'. The PTT button is INCREDIBLY difficult to depress. I mean, if it were any harder I'd have to use two hands, (and I'm a 23 year old who works out 3 times a week!)
I couldn't use the HT in the car and would not be able to use it for more than a few minutes, it would leave huge dents in my finger. Talking on an HT should not be a struggle each time, and it definately is with this one.
I thought at first that I had a lemon, but its apparently the same with all of them. I don't know what Yaesu was thinking here - this one flaw make what is othewise an incredible radio, practically useless for me. I'm going to have to wait until they fix this to get another one.

I'm sure that some people would find a stiff PTT an advantage, granted, and there is a fix floating around on the VX-2R group on yahoo, but I don't buy equipment knowing I will have to fix something the engineers thought was fine myself.
Too bad, but it's otherwise such a nice HT...

Definately try this radio out at the store (especially the PTT!) before buying.

VA3KES