[Yaesu] VX-7R Questions (long reply)
John Maxwell
[email protected]
Wed, 26 Nov 2003 16:40:01 -0500
John,
I purchased a VX-7R around Memorial Day (May) and have been happy
with the rig. Being a new ham, I did not know what to get and I
naturally wanted the most "bang-for-the-buck." It does 0.05, 0.3, 2 and
5 Watts (individually selectable and memorizable per channel) except for
222 which is 0.05 and 0.3 only. It even does AM 6m at 1 watt - haven't
been any activity in my area (Western NY) :-(
As far as internal microphone - I have made several contacts without
the external PTT mic I purchased and have had no complaints about the
audio. I did not punch the hole in the membrane - not because I expect
to use it in a deluge, but because I didn't find that it needed it. I
believe that most punch the membrane without opening the case, just
right through the front mic hole.
I find the receiver to be good for all bands. It does 0.5 - 999MHz
(cell-blocked, of course) and I use it with the antenna extender (needed
below 2m) and receive the powerhouse SWL stations (BBC, R. Netherlands,
etc.) with no problems - it does drop out every so often due to
propagation effects, but is usable. On my slanted dipole, it receives
quite well without overloading. Will not do SSB, only AM in HF bands.
It is true dual-band receive V/V V/U U/U and have used it to monitor
2m-440 repeater links and also stumbled on a ham close-by on 2m with his
input freq on the sub-band and the repeater output on the main-band VFOs
- it was interesting. Sub-band VFO only receives the 4 ham bands (ie.
6m, 2m, 222, 440) You can select which band to TX on using two buttons
on the front case, the larger numbers on the display indicate which band
you will TX on.
I haven't done it yet, but this unit will do low-Earth-orbit FM
satellite comm, too. I hear some activity on one of our local 440
repeaters, but haven't set up the rig to jump in, yet.
It has 280-channel marine (denoted Sea on the display) as well as
10-channel WX. Some 80+ (probably dated) SWL memories built-in. I want
to say that it has 450 programmable channels but am not sure - I've only
gotten around to programming about 65 local freqs here so far and that's
been good enough. Each can store the PL tones (or none) for each memory
as well as a 8-character alpha-numberic tag for each freq. I program the
repeater's call sign for each channel as well as a local simplex freq. I
expect to program more once I build the programming interface, haven't
had the time but hope to rectify that problem. Does DTMF to operate
repeater codes/autopatch. The rig will scan for correct PL tone on
receive if you don't know the correct tone.
There is a known problem with it, though - on the sub-band VFO in the
222 receive region, it picks up local police QSOs, but it only happens
on the sub-band VFO - have not noticed this problem on the main VFO.
It comes with a "quick-draw" swivel belt-clip that is quite workable.
Has lots of customizable stuff and some "eye-candy" features, like
custom-color for front LED indications - not just a couple of colors,
but RGB selectable with 255 combinations, (not that you can really tell
the difference of +/- 1 bit in any of the R, G or B values, but it's
neat.) customizable S-meter and display icons, just to name a few.
There are a lot more features that I won't go into, since I seem to
have run off at the keyboard (again! :-).
Overall, I've been extremely happy with the HT. I did wish it had a
bit more punch (like 10W) but I'm dreaming! A few people did say that I
was just over the noise floor if I use the rubber antenna. If I use the
roof-mounted discone - it's a great performer! Out-of-doors it would
probably do better, I use it in the truck with a roof mag-mount and it
does quite well there too.
I would recommend the following accessories when you buy it -
(.) the external mic connector (CT-91) - easy computer programming
interface for a free-ware Windows app, but needs this adapter. If you're
handy with discrete-component circuit-building, it's easy to build. Use
the CT-91 to interface to a TNC, too.
(.) external PTT mic (MH-57) {not the waterproof unit (CMP460A) - unless
you need it - is bulkier}
(.) cigarette lighter power adapter (E-DC-5B) - has a 2A constant
voltage circuit in it and worth it, IMHO. Charges Li-ion battery in auto
and is able to transmit using it. Not able to transmit with the supplied
0.5A AC adapter - but good for recvive/charge at home. I have worked a
schematic and plan to put a home-built permanent unit in the truck and
use the cig. adap. in the wife's car. Probably build another for base
use on the discone, too. 2 Tx, 1 R, 5Cs and a heat-sink - pretty
straight-forward.
(.) SMA to BNC adapter (CN-3) if you need BNC - handy to have and I got
mine for $3.00.
(.) For hands-free operation the earpiece/microphone (VC-27) - the VX-7R
can feed back your speech into the earpiece and has VOX capability using
this. I didn't get this accessory, myself, but it could be useful to
some.
I am in no way affiliated with Vertex Standard/Yaesu or any dealer,
just a happy customer. If you have any other questions, just ask.
Best of luck,
-John 73 de KC2LKE
John Geiger wrote:
>
> I am looking into getting a Yaesu VX-R since I have
> sold some other pieces of equipment, but have a couple
> of questions about this HT.
>
> 1. many of the comments on eham.net said that the
> transmit audio was low because of the waterproofing.
> They recommended a mod by punching a hole in the
> membrane over the mic. Does this work? Do I have to
> open the case to do this? I get uneasy at the thought
> of opening a case to a radio that small and to
> starting punching around in there with a pin.
>
> 2. How is the receive on this radio. I had a VX5R
> which had a great receiver in it, especially for stuff
> outside of the ham bands like FM and TV broadcasts. Is
> the receiver on the VX7R as good? DOes it get
> intermod? I also had a T90 and the receiver sucked.
> Got clobbered by intermod and was deaf outside of the
> ham bands.
>
> 3. Any other good or bad comments about this HT that I
> should know about? I really like the dual receive
> capabilities of the VX7, and the 222 transmit. I
> would definitely get a VX5R if it did dual receive.
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
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