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Reviews For: Yaesu VX-3R

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu VX-3R
Reviews: 139MSRP: 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
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001394.3
AA2LD Rating: 2007-07-19
Excellent and fun Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am very impressed with the size and ability of this radio. Audio reports have been 'great sound', 'clear and crisp', all with one watt!!

I'm a little worried about the battery door, which doesn't secure well at the top end. This is moved slightly everytime the PTT switch is used.
PU2TYB Rating: 2007-07-17
Amazing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I never really liked tiny radios like this, but I am impressed by the VX-3! Yaesu did a great job. The only thing I don't like is NO BELT CLIP! I hope the soft case has one? Also I am looking for the modification for this radio. Someone that has the export version of this radio, please email me how many jumpers you have soldered on the back and what is your TX/RX. 73s
KE7IZE Rating: 2007-07-13
A Great Successor for the VX-2R Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Everything prior holds for me too. From my experience, the 3R has better RX than my 2R and 6R. I bought a second battery (Ultralast UL-NP60 1200 mAH). The Sub-RX feature works real well, not like Dual Scan which periodically switches Freqs to scan the primary station. Also, you can monitor all bands through the stereo audio jack. There is an interesting Text Message feature that I won't be able to test until I find someone with another 3R or the new FT-10R. The only downside is that the battery cover is not a tight fit (top end shifts side to side).
K5XS Rating: 2007-07-13
Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Not much to say that hasn't been said. This thing is amazing. Yaesu seems to get better with each generation of "micro" HTs (VX-1, VX-2, and now VX-3). It's terrific to have an alkaline battery shell, and the AM-FM broadcast improvements are noticable. If you want a great radio that (literally) fits in your shirt pocket, this thing is that and more. It's a nice scanner, too!
N8CIA Rating: 2007-07-13
Excellent Little HT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered this radio the other day from HRO for $189. Also ordered a larger antenna (SMA-24) longer range use and a smaller one (SMA-501) when I want the unit to be a bit more concealed.

Programming, at first, was a little confusing getting all the PL settings and so on, but after a few times doing it, it became second nature.

Being in a rural area, I was a little hesitant about getting a low powered HT, but I have been impressed so far.

My first tests were on the local 2m machine that serves my county (146.88 in Somerset, KY), it brought up the machine from 18.5 miles away with only 1.5 watts, but I was not able to steadily hold it or get a clear transmission. Regardless, that is pretty good considering the distance and semi mountainous terrain of this part of KY.

Once I got home, I tried the 440 machine located at the same location as the 2m and was able to get into it full quieting from 12.8 miles away, on only 1 watt. Haven't tried the 2m side from this location.

Most of my out of ham-band listening has been on UHF Police/Fire/EMS frequencies locally and reception has been excellent, even with the stubby SMA-501 antenna in my basement, which is almost fully underground.

Overall, the design is excellent and feels much more sturdy than the old VX-1 I had. The locking knob is a nice feature, the buttons have good tactile feedback.

The only thing that I really noticed, which isn't really a negative, is that when talking, the raised pattern on the PTT button imprints itself on your PTT finger. A slightly larger smooth PTT with a non-raised pattern would have been nice.

Pros:
- Small Size
- Sturdy feel
- Charging Status
- Regular sized stereo headphone jack
- Same if not more features than larger HTs
- Decent Price (for a new release)
- Dualband with Wideband receive

Cons:
- No beltclip of any kind
KV4AN Rating: 2007-07-13
Small with many features Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got the VX-3R yesterday. It is very small (which is why I bought it) and has many more features than the advertisements led to believe--more in some cases than my VX-7R. It is amazing.

The receiver seems very sensitive, the transmit audio sounds great, and it does a good job scanning. It is easy to use, though somewhat cumbersome to go back-and-forth between the menu choices to program a lot of memory channels to set PL tones and memory names and so forth.

A problem! Mine has locked up three times when I press the sub-band radio button. It will lock up for a minute or so and you can't even power it off. Pressing a bunch of keys and waiting seems to bring it back. Not sure what the results of this is going to be.
KF4NRM Rating: 2007-07-12
Great things come in small packages... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased this radio and I cannot say enough about it. It's small, light, and robust. I was hesitant about purchasing a radio without a standard keypad but the radio is so easy to program, it turned out to be an non-issue. The wide-rx is great to have. The speaker is excellent for the size. I love the sturdy locking dial. I am really trying to find faults with the radio but it's been very hard. It's small and light enough to take anywhere. I had a VX-150 and many times I didn't take it places because of the size and weight. This is not an issue with the VX-3R. Great radio Yaesu! A few things to note:

Pros:
1. Lightweight and peppy
2. Excellent bright display
3. Long-life battery
4. Feels nice and solid
5. I like the new design
6. Grippy PTT button
7. Shows charging status
8. Standard headphone jack

Cons:

1. No belt clip included
2. AM/SW receive - not great with standard antenna
3. 1.5W out
4. Not waterproof
5. Digital volume control/squelch (no knobs)
VR2UCC Rating: 2007-07-09
Better Then 2R, new feel of small handheld Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Long time no see new yaesu small rig after 2R, so got it when hear it arrive HONG KONG.
Better RX selective and long battery life ( battery case is very good idea and suitable let 3R for any place )
Stereo headphone support is great idea !! suitable in any suitation ( Radio / TV / HAM band)
The voice of solid rock look is half and half, someone say 2R have better look. Work hard la ~ thanks for great small machine ~
KC0NNT Rating: 2007-07-06
New VX-3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got it today at HRO for $189.00 I have also have / have had a VX5 and VX7. Needless to say I like Yaesu radios. The RX on the VX3 is better than the 7 and the batt life seems as good. As I am familiar w/ the Yaesu programming structure I had the thing transmitting within the first 5 mins. out of the box. Lots of features for programming and setting up scan banks, each with up to 100 channels per bank and the same channel can be stored in multiple banks. The stock ant is ok for UHF/VHF another (better) ant is recommeded for much better RX. The AM ant is so so. I almost gave it a 4 for the poor AM RX. But overall it is great little and I mean little rig. Time will surely tell. 73