[K3PZN-List] A Pretty Darned Good Little Radio

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 16:05:22 -0500

As a licensed ham since 1978, I have been primarily buying Yaesu the entire
time.  I currently own 5 different Yaesu radios and have had dozens over the
years.  I have not had one problem with the exception of a USED piece of
gear I got from a hamfest.  I have always been able to get parts quickly.
Actually I found their parts department to be one of the best.  So I have
generally never experienced the quality control problems that Al is speaking
of.  Quite frankly, I think the current build quality of a Yaesu appears to
be more robust than current Kenwood models.  But most all have their good
points and bad regardless of the brand. While Kenwood definitely had some
great radios a while back, their current focus (unlike Yaesu and Icom) is
NOT on the amateur radio market, it is on the general consumer electronics
market. And it is clear to me that both Yaesu and Icom are competing to be
the number one amateur radio brand.

John, AK3Z

----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Krichinsky" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 1:57 PM
Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] A Pretty Darned Good Little Radio

> Eric,KB3HKG, and I each have VX-5R's.  Both worked flawlessly right out of
> the box.  The only two 'un-good' things we noticed were the difficulty in
> programming the radio from the keypad, and the absence of SSB.  We
purchased
> the software wich makes life a whole lot easier.  And, we are able to live
> without the SSB for now.  We paid $249.00 for each unit.
>
> We have since purchased flexible whip antennas for increased gain on 2m
and
> on 440.
>
> Although we are relatively new to the hobby, we found it to be a well
built
> and very flexible HT.  I'd reccomend it.
>
> I also own a Yeasu 1500M I use in the car.  It's good, compact and, at 50
> watts, powerful.   The biggist drawback is the lack of a manual squelch
> control knob.  Squelch and RF squelch must be independently set by soft
key
> programming.  Even so, at $129.00, its a great first mobile rig.
>
>
>
> Keith Krichinsky, KB3HHK
>
>
>
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Al Bisasky" <[email protected]>
> Reply-To: [email protected]
> To: "CCARC" <[email protected]>
> Subject: [K3PZN-List] A Pretty Darned Good Little Radio
> Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 12:37:51 -0500
>
> Those of you who know me, know that I am not a big fan of Yaesu.  I have
> owned two Yaesu radios, neither of which I was particularly fond of nor
> satisfied with.  The FT-727 HT that I owned was one of the first examples
of
> a dual-band HT.  Over a period of two years, the radio was sent back to
> Yaesu four times for repair.  Twice, the radio had to be sent back because
> even though the original problem was fixed, the unit was returned to me
with
> yet another trouble.  Fix one, break two more.  I finally just gave up on
> the thing and bought a Kenwood.  The FT-757 HF rig that I bought on a
> dealers "special" (I may have the model number incorrect) was DOA and
> promptly sent back to the dealer.
>
> The turn around time for repairs was terrible.  The last time that I send
in
> the HT, it took over four months to get it back.  Telephone calls to the
> service center were fruitless.  I found the Yaesu personnel to be rude and
> technically incompetent.  After that, I didn't have a warm and fuzzy
feeling
> about Yaesu.  I have heard the war stories from various and sundry hams
> about the DOA's, lack of quality control, flawed designs, and problems
with
> service.  I swore that I wouldn't have another Yaesu radio if someone gave
> it to me.
>
> As luck would have it (or not), I won the door prize at our hamfest this
> past October.  It was a Yaesu VX-5R Tri-band HT, although I'm not so sure
> that it was a "lucky win" in view of all the teasing and harrassment that
> I've had to put up with because of it.  I was not initially impressed with
> the unit, especially since it had no RF output on two meters.  Brand new
and
> I had to send it back for repair!  So much for Yaesu quality (or lack
> thereof) control.  I expected to get in back in no less than 3 - 6 months.
> I sent it back by priority mail.  Much to my surprise, a mere 12 days
later,
> I received the radio back from Yaesu.  The repair ticket stated that they
> had replaced a diode at a labor cost of $70.00.  There was no actual
charge
> for the repairs under warranty.
>
> Am I pleased?  Have I softened my stance on Yaesu?  Yes and no.  The
> incident is proof positive that Yaesu still hasn't gotten their quality
> control act together, but it is reassuring to see that their customer
> service has improved.  I must admit that after the two times that I have
> operated WX3B's Yaesu FT-1000MP, I'm mightly impressed with this rig as a
> true top-of-the-line DX/contest machine.
>
> What do I think of the VX-5 now that it works properly?  I have to admit
> that I am more than a little impressed.  It is very compact and full
> featured.  The construction is robust.  It's receiver is "hot" for an HT.
> The Lithium-Ion battery delivers a long operating period and recharges in
a
> few hours.  The unit allows for both receive and transmit power saver
> options.  I do like the fact that the antenna (with SMA connector, no
less)
> can be shortened from 6m-2m-70cm to just 2m and 70cm. There is a plethora
of
> our little features/options that increase the radios versitility.
>
> The quality of the audio output is surprising good for an HT; even at high
> volume levels there is very little distortion. Once you get the hang of
the
> thing, programming is relatively easy. I find it to me easier to set up
than
> my Kenwood TH-79A.  The manual for the rig is better than average and on
par
> with the manuals from Icom, although in my opinion, fall short of those
from
> Kenwood.  I would suggest that even tyros take the time to read the manual
> in detail.  The radio is PC programmable, if you are willing to spend $40+
> for the software and cable.
>
> I have found that the mic gain is a little too hot for my preference and
you
> have to be careful of how you "talk" the thing.  The Li-Ion battery is a
big
> improvement over Ni-Cads and NiMH units, although it does make the radio a
> bit heavy for its size.  A spare 7.2V, 1100ma Li-Ion battery will cost you
> $80.00 and no after market third party units are available as yet.
>
> Overall, I'd give it a "7" on a scale of "10".  It seems to be a darned
good
> little radio.  Had I actually been in the market for an HT and chosen a
> Yaesu, it would have been the VX-5R's big brother, the VX-7R.  My opinion
of
> Yaesu has changed, although not with regard to their quality control.
>
> I would like to hear other thoughts/opinions of other Yaesu owners in
> general and VX-5R or VX-7R owners in particular.  Or, you could just send
me
> e-mail harrassing me about winning the thing at the hamfest.
>
> 73,
>
> Al, K3ZE
>
>
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> Next meeting is the CCARC Holiday Dinner Sunday, December 8, 5-8 PM at
> Boulevard & Beyond (Wilhelm's.)
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> Next meeting is the CCARC Holiday Dinner Sunday, December 8, 5-8 PM at
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