| K9AT |
Rating:      |
2020-09-11 | |
| Great HT For Life |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I suppose I should thin the heard and sell some of my too many HT's, but I haven't. So yesterday I broke out my old VX-5R and started playing with it again and fell in love with in all over again like the day I bought it. Lately I've been enticed by color, touch screen and the digital modes but going back to old school with this HT that I bought 20+ years ago is really fun. I thought I would be the only one with a review in the past 5 years but I was wrong as I think it might have a new cult following like my teenager that just discovered how cool Metallica is even today.
So why do I like this thing so much? It's built like a brick with its all die cast chassis so it fits in your hand like a well worn glove. Speaking of gloves since the case is the heatsink it can get hot on higher power transmissions so a glove might be necessary. I actually like that as a hand warmer on fall walks with it. What makes it appealing to me today it its use on low power as an HT to my crossband radio. With a stubby antenna it fits great in my pocket. The transmit audio output was a little quiet for my soft voice so I found the deviation pots on the back of the HT behind the battery under the plastic flap and gave them a tweak and now I sound great. The audio for an HT is amazingly clear and crisp too, something hard to find in today's HT's.
I'm so glad I kept this little bugger. In fact I ordered a back up battery (the original still worked) and a drop in charger on Amazon that I never owned before.
If you still have one of these you're lucky, so keep it. If you don't, find a used one and you'll be happy too.
Best 73,
K9AT |
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| W1DIO |
Rating:      |
2020-06-23 | |
| Excellent Robust Little Handheld |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've owned one of these for over 20 years. I bought it new from HRO. Finally sold it last year and immediately missed it. The radio never skipped a beat. I could program anything into it and it worked FB. I finally bought another one recently, here on the web. Yes, it takes a little getting use to, but all function become second nature once you're learn the menus. As for out of band capabilities, you can access solder pad jumpers. I did this on my first VX5R. But even better now, is the capability of accessing out of band operation using the EVE Software. Even though I had the software, I never tried it. Virtual jumpers are available through the software, so you never have to take a soldering iron to this little jewel. The EVE Software worked great! Though these VX5Rs are still a little pricey, I think they are worth the little extra for this fine little handheld.
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| 5B4AJG |
Rating:      |
2017-05-08 | |
| Superb.... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Well, not sure what to say really, had mine for seventeen years....it has just started to cause a problem when switching on, I had to push the on/off button from the left side of the button for it to eventually power up, never a problem to power off though. Well after 17 years of faultless operation I decided to open it up to see what was causing this power up issue, nothing obvious was found but I decided to clean the surface where the buttons are on the circuit board behind the rubber pads. I just used a cotton bud and some switch cleaner. I refitted the ten screws and switched it on....Perfect and back to normal, maybe I'll have to do the same again in another 17 years!!! Great bit of kit, thanks to Yaesu.
73, Richard de 5B4AJG |
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| KC7JNJ |
Rating:     |
2017-03-04 | |
| Good tough radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Audio is not great. But the radio does a bunch and it is tough. I have the AA pack for it, and I use the radio as my daily emergency radio. The radio is the radio that is carried in my man purse. I keep my batteries out of the radio in a battery holder. I can easily see if they leak. The radios coverage is perfect for emergencies. The size and all metal construction makes it able to survive everyday life in my backpack. I have had the radio over ten years. |
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| KC0PUZ |
Rating:     |
2016-07-22 | |
| Served it's purpose well |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I used this radio and did enjoy it. Replaced the battery once, and never had an issue with the radio after that. Definitely a good choice for someone just starting out in the hobby. |
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| WA0ZZG |
Rating:      |
2015-07-11 | |
| Not Bad for an old dog |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Got one from an estate sale very inexpensively. Was marked 'dead' in a sandwich bag with a battery, antenna, and manual. Yep, dead alright. Plugged in my Vertex 12V charger and vola! The display shows 'Charging'. At least the CPU is still alive. Didn't make any difference, still won't power up. After some playing around, I got it to boot, but with garbage on the display. Took it apart and cleaned a lot of dirt off all the connectors and from the keypad matrix. It now power up and after three resets, operates normally. Now it won't transmit. I laughed when I found out why. The rubber pin is broken off the bladder on the side of the case. I tool the bladder, turned it around, did some trimming, and now use the monitor button to key the radio. Not real loud, but good audio. Keys up local V/UHF repeaters on low power. Haven't hooked it up to the test gear yet. The internal LED's work but there's no light. I think it's because they're too dirty and I don't want to take it apart again. Ribbon cables are too brittle. Has amazing broadcast band and short wave reception. I'll keep an eye out for a shop that has a PTT bladder and gasket set. |
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| KF6VTA |
Rating:      |
2013-11-04 | |
| Still great.Still there!!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I remember my first two VX-5R handhelds when i was living in Seattle. I used to have lots of fun, both black, both great handhelds. Fairly good rejecting Intermod, very sensitive, fast scanning of memories or VFos...Tons of features, but overall...great aluminum case, resistant!!!!
I sold both of those radios and went out of the hobby. I came back a year ago and the first radio i bought was a VX-5r,, this time silver. If you come across a good unit on Ebay or anywhere else...Get it!!! These radios are built to last. Mine was one of the last to be produced...Yes!, they are slow opening CTCSS, but DCS is included and works great. Full tested 5watts of power on both bands, not too loud audio, but obviously they needed the space to include of the features possible inside. My volume knob is always half the way...and no more. I don't like distorted sound. Using the AA pack volume is even lower and has to be adusted a little below the middle of the way. Power is restricted on that mode. Li-Ion battery is shared with VX-6R and VX-7R and some other models, including the Vertex Airband portables. I've got the CD-15A rapid charger...Good to go. I had many radios...many...I always come back to my trusty VX-5r...I will say what other people mentioned...If you come across a good unit...Get it! You won't regret it!
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Earlier 1-star review posted by KF6VTA on 2003-02-01
Yes!, this is the fourth radio i received in less than a year. All of them came with the same problem and i don't understand why nobody talks about it.
The problem is mechanic, in one of the units antenna connector was loose. Return to Yaesu.
In another one, ptt button was defective and created a lot of noises in the band. Returned to Yaesu.The other had the same problem and the whole body of the radio got hot pretty fast and dropped signal sometimes. Power was going down eventually. Internal malfunction, unsoldered plates. Returned to Yaesu.
This last one is even worse. Has the Ptt and the Antenna conector in bad condition. Returned to Yaesu yesterday.
Now tell me. All of them were separated in time and serial numbers. The first was not even Vertex yet. Why these problems?, Why if we pay certain amount of money for the radio can have it in brand new condition with no problems at all.
I agreed with the intermod problems, as soon as you are close to tower systems , pagers, etc, the signal will be full and if your lucky...you will hear the distant station at the other side...
Too bad, no Wonder they just ask around $ 200 at this time.
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| KE5EDV |
Rating:      |
2012-12-18 | |
| Completely satisfied. Good first Tri-Band Radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this HT when I first got my license. When I first received it, I was surprised at how small it was. I've owned it for 7 years and have never had any problems and am still using the original battery.
I would say programming was a little much. But, not having had anything before to compare it to, I didn't know. Now, it's second nature. I really like the radio. I just hope that the new radio I just purchased works as well and last as long as this one has. |
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| KA3RCS |
Rating:      |
2012-12-10 | |
| Excellent turn of the century radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought my VX-5 new around 2001, and it still looks good and works flawlessly. The all-metal construction and small size blew away everything else available at the time. The expanded frequency coverage over previous radios was a big plus as well. It was also my first computer programmable HT, which conveniently worked with the same cable which I already had for the VR-500 and free software.
The only reason why the VX-5 ceased to be my primary HT was the introduction of the VX-7, which is still the best HT ever made (and I've used a lot of them). The 7 builds on all of the strengths of the 5, and adds even more. The only area where the 5 has a bit of an edge is that it is slightly smaller. However, it is not fair to rate the 5 based on a later model. For what it is, the 5 absolutely gets a 5! |
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| KT4F |
Rating:      |
2012-11-18 | |
| Energizer Bunny |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Bought this unit back in 2000 new. Like the Energizer Bunny it just keeps on working... with no problems. Don't know how long it will keep working but I have certainly got my money's worth out of it. I love the metal case and size, when you hold it, it doesn't feel like a cheap plastic box. The rec and tx audio is good. My only regret is that I didn't purchase a second new one when they were still available. The only other radio I have bought that has lasted longer with no problems is my Icom 2AT, and yes it is still working though it is in retirement and only operated occasionally. |
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