VX-7R

[KI4REX]

A Brief review
Pros:
Quad band transmit
Durable
Weatherproof (with stock accessories)
Decent Scanning
Wideband receive
Programming with Software extremely easy
More than enough memory locations.

Cons:
Programming w/out software not intuitive
Software not included in purchase price.
Not using stock accessories decreases the Weatherproofness.
Would like SSB on 6M.
SMA connector limits antenna selection somewhat if you do not want to use an adapter.

I will update this as I go along.  IS there anyone else that owns this powerful little HT?

[wb7sgl]

I have the VX-6R and it shares most of the pros and cons from the VX-7R. The internal speaker and microphone do not offer the best audio quality given that they're engineered to be water proof. The Yaesu remote speaker/mic is a great and necessary add-on. The programming software is practically a requirement. The manual is so full of information and non intuitive key sequence charts that one tries to put off reading it as long as possible.

The radio does perform very well. I regularly listen to a particular 2M repeater here in the Denver area and on my way to work, the radio suffers tremendously from intermod, despite the digital tone squelch setting, on a specific 6 block stretch of road.

The receiver is not the best compared to a larger mobile or base, but it performs incredibly well given the amount they've packed into such a small form factor.  The radio does get very warm when pushing a full 5 watts for very long but the battery keeps on going just the same.

I love this radio. It is my first. I am contemplating a dual bander mobile for the truck so I can free up the HT but haven't decided on one yet.

73,
WB7SGL
Rob

[WB0ROD]

I had the VX-5R and was pretty disappointed with it.  The reception was poor.  The menus were impossible.  In fact, some of the items did not work as described in the manual.  Plenty frustrating.  It had the potential to be a great little radio, but had so many bugs that it drove me nuts.   A friend bought it from me as he had a need for a radio with some of the features on the VX-5R.   He's happy to have it and I'm happy to not have it.  It all works out in the end.

Right now I don't even own an HT.  I keep hoping that after all these years, something will come along that I really "need," but it hasn't happened yet.

Marc

[k0nod]

I am very happy with my VX-7.  You can find free (and very powerful) software to program it at http://www.kc8unj.com/

[KØSEP]

 
I have had a VX-5R for about 5 years now and have come to really appreciate it.  The first thing anyone needs to do is get rid of the original Yaesu duck antenna.  I use one of those 19-inch flex whips - a bit long and awkward for an HT, but it makes the radio come alive.  I use it daily on 2-meters and 420, listening to SW, the NOAA weather, and regular AM broadcast.  My wife even asks me if I brought the radio along when we're out on trips.  I've worn out the original battery and now have one made by WW & Associates and it has far better life than the original.  I generally get excellent reports on the audio (of course the VX-5R isn't rated for being water proof).

My only negative comment is that I've worn the text off the little buttons - and this is a problem at times.  I have the software and it works OK, but I rarely use it since I've picked up on the programming.

Paul  KØSEP

[VK4DOG]

I recently sold my VX-7R. I found battery life poor and kept on going back to my Icom HT that has a manual rotary sql control which I much prefer! Sold it because I was not excited about using it.

Marty - VK4DOG

[AF6KF]

I see this is an old topic, but I have and love my VX7. It is small and I can listen to two frequencies or bands at the same time. This really helps if you have two nets you have to monitor.