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Reviews For: Yaesu VX-5R

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu VX-5R
Reviews: 257MSRP: 249 (AES and HRO)
Description:
The VX-5R is a miniature tri band FM transceiver
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=nFLhjiVz8z8%3D&DivisionID=65&isArchived=1
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
002574.2
LNXAUTHOR Rating: 2003-09-24
Dead Unit Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
- unit died after a lengthy QSO; out of warranty (it was a used unit, so even if purchased in new condition from someone else in the first 12 months, one is out of luck on warranty repair because of the prevailing warranty policies from all amateur radio manufacturers)

- these HTs get *HOT* during extended use and should not be used at 5W during warm weather (you're asking for trouble)

- the LiIon battery does not last long enough for real work, and using the (2)AA adapter doesn't provide enough 'oomph' for transmit

- kind of a nice toy, but quite frankly not worth the money...

- one would be better off spending half the retail on a simpler, more sturdy HT sporting better battery life with fewer features

- i don't think these HTs will last 5+ years in daily use

- they are truly 'disposable,' as the cost to repair equals the cost of a new unit...

- oh well, live and learn...
KB1FZA Rating: 2003-09-24
fine HT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using mine for good 3 years, without any problems!
For a package that small is one pretty good HT! I've been working UO-14 satellite, local repeaters, using it as a scanner to monitor public services all night long (almost every day)- police, firefighters, local airports, emergency crews in the area, etc.
Droped it few times and its still running good - nothing broken.
I've been out in the rain with it, camping on the ocean (salt water splashes, sand) - no problems at all - it takes a wipe with a lightlty wet towel and its good to go!
The selectivity in the SW bands is not that great (and of course requires external antenna)but on the ham bands it's a very descent performer.
I replaced the stock antenna with Diamons SRH-519 (and sometime i am using Maldol MH-510) and i am very happy with it.
This HT has every possiblle feature i'll ever need plus more.
Great battery life - I am still using the original battery and after 3 years no signs of wear.
Programing with EVE is a snap!
I have no plans to replace the VX-5R with VX-7 in the near future.
KA1EEC Rating: 2003-09-24
Fairweather radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
purchased the radio about four years ago. Worked fine as long as I babied it. Took it with me on a cold weather hike (Geocaching). Left on for the entire hike as I was talking with a friend periodically. After I got home and the radio warmed up, it ceased to operate properly. Sent it to a local authorized repair shop and it was deemed un repairable.

Since I've been rather dissatisfied with the user interface and cryptic programming capabilities, I decided to trash the radio and look for a new one.
W6NR Rating: 2003-09-24
Disposable HT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used to rave about this HT until it stopped working on the 2 meter band and Yaesu wanted $229 to repair it...... This radio was pampered and never dropped.

The also offered to sell me a refurb for the same price! (Gigaparts is selling new ones for $249) In addition, they charged me $35 just for this estimate and I had to call them twice in 2 weeks just to get it returned to me unrepaired.


This is not acceptable. A Yaesu supporter is now using his Kenwood TH-F6A.
KB1IKD Rating: 2003-09-04
VX-5R Survives Fire Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Recently, my shack was gutted by a house fire. My IC-735 and K2 showed heat distortion on their cases and knobs, were completedly blackened by soot, and were soaked by fire hoses. While inspecting this sorry mess, I observed my blackened leather cased VX-5R sitting on some sodden debris, picked it up, and returned to my car.

I removed the leather cover and cleaned soot off the metal casing and knobs. To my suprise, the display came alive on pressing the power button. TX/RX on 2 meters and 440 MHz seemed normal, but key selectable functions were not all working.

I reset the memory and amazingly, all functions appear to now be normal and ready for reprogramming.

I previously criticized this radio for its intermod sensitivity compared to my VX-150 2 M monobander and for poor broadcast and shortwave AM reception. FM broadcast band reception was only tolerable, but FM ham band TX/RX worked very well away from very high intermod environments.

While I stand by my previous finding on performance, this must be one tough radio to have survived the fire. Credit has been given, Yaesu, where credit is due!
K9OU Rating: 2003-08-07
fine radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I'm a bit puzzled by the stock antenna. Before reading the manual my first instinct was that you need to attach the top load to use the radio on 6m. But the manual says the base antenna is "used for operation above 50Mhz", and the extension is "used for monitoring of frequencies below 50Mhz." So the base antenna alone is supposed to work on all three bands, and the extension is just for SWLing? I don't believe it. Has anyone ever analyzed the antenna?
K1UC Rating: 2003-08-02
Outstanding Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my VX-5R used at HRO 3 years ago, and have carried it with me day and night since then. I dropped it on a tile floor once without an antenna on it and bunged up the SMA--still worked, though. The power jack gave up last year but the drop in charger works FB for charging.

I decided to fix it up myself and put a new rear case half on it, antenna jack, and power jack (I don't recommend replacing the power jack for the weak of heart). I also got a new window and keypad, in case I ever needed those. The whole mess of parts was only $40 from Yaesu. The entire keypad was only $2.20!

So, $40 for three years of heavy use is pretty good in my book. I recommend this radio to anyone who wants a rugged dual-band handheld. 73, Jay



W5BDY Rating: 2003-07-22
deaf outside of Ham bands Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine is nearly useless on the AM band.
I get 2 S units from a 50KW station
only 10 miles away !
SWL is almost as useless also due to poor
sensitivity.
It does well on the Ham bands but
is nearly deaf as a rock otherwise.
WA1ADK Rating: 2003-07-15
mine failed quickly Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with most of the reviews here: the vx5r is a good preformer with a lot of great features, but my vx5r failed after about 2 years. It gradually got harder and harder to turn on, until it would no longer turn on at all. Once it had turned on, it worked fine and would always turn off easily. Yaesu wanted about $150 to repair it. IMHO this is unacceptable; are radios now designed to last only until their warranty expires???
KF4URJ Rating: 2003-07-09
Good little radio... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have had mine for a couple weeks, and here in East TN it does all right, as most of our repeaters are on top of mountains. I can even get into a couple of 6m machines, one easily, one from selected spots, and I can even get into the Mt Mitchell NC repeater when 6 is open. Does very well on 2, and you would be well advised to turn the Tx Save mode on. The Maldol MH510 antenna is very nice, as well.

Gripes follow:

1) 440 is not widely used in this area, and a 6/2/220 HT would be something I would have got instead.

2) The radio heats up considerably as you talk on it.

3) The programming is Byzantine to be polite. the ADMS-1E is a MUST for this radio.

With those things said, the '5R is a nice little radio, and would be a great little rig if it had better battery life and easier programming.