Yaesu Vx-7R Owners

[Hulk]

Just got back from HRO. Bought a SRH320A Diamond Anmt and one of those external mikes. Eager to try it out.

Whaddaya think of the external mike? Did you get the CMP460 from Yaesu?

 

[Hulk]

This one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170194147270&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=007

Bought it last Saturday and should be getting it today

This cable working well for you, Ken? Looks to be a straight shot from radio to computer, without the mess of adapters that you get if you order the Yaesu setup.

Looks like they offer a cable for the 7800/8800 as well: link.

 

[Romer]

Cable worked great. Had to do the tricks I listed above for Vista.

Not sure if thats the same Mic, I bought it at HRO and they told me that was the correct one.

 

[Hulk]

There are 2 versions: one is submersible and more $$$ (pictured).

So, is it worth the money for an external mic? Are you glad you have it, or would the radio work just as well using the built-in mic?

 

[Hulk]

If you guys are thinking about the VX-7R and are thinking about buying a new one, I would seriously consider the VX-6 or VX-3 instead.

The main difference between the -7 and -6 is that the VX-7 can do 6m, which in a HT is not a major thing (I've used 6m on my HT maybe 2 times and that was just to see if it worked). The problem with 6m on an HT is the antenna length, it's either REALLY long or REALLY inefficient. The stock antenna is mostly loading coil on 6m and works OK in town, but it's not gonna win any DX awards. As it is the 'good' antenna I use is designed for 2m/440MHz (it works OK on 220MHz, but it's no good on 6m) and is about 15" long. It's a Diamond SRH77CA, not a super heavy duty whip and it flops over with the radio at an angle, not to mention it looks pretty out of place on the small radio. An OK 6m HT antenna like the MH-510 is about two feet long and has a coil at the top, it is really unbalanced to the point that the radio won't stand up with the antenna on. If you have the radio on your belt, the MH-510 will smack you in the back of the neck, it's really awkward.

The VX-6 does 1.5W on 220MHz, while the VX-7R does 300mW (1/5th the power). When I bought my VX-7R Yaesu wasn't even calling it a quad band, but a tri-band 6m/2m/70cm, didn't even advertise it being able to do 220MHz.

The VX-3 is 2m and 70cm only, but has a better broadcast AM and FM receiver. That might be nice for hiking. It's supposed to have the best receiver of the Yaesu HTs. The only downside to the VX-3 is that it does not have a DTMF keypad (you could do DTMF with an external mic). But for me the reason I have a HT is for taking in the backpack and it's nice knowing the radio has the ability to do LiTZ without carrying the extra stuff.

Seriously, I would look around and see how much cheaper the VX-3 and VX-6 are before committing to the VX-7. IMO the VX-6 is the way to go. Just my $0.02.

Dave posted this in a different thread, but I thought I would move the discussion over here, since it is specific to the VX-7.

My main question would be: is your awesome programming file going to work with any of the VX series? Honestly, if not, I will buy the VX-7 just to work with your file, unless it is easy to convert.

The lack of a keypad on the VX-3 seems like a deal killer to me.

I'll probably mainly use this for 144MHz. It seems like getting 440MHz as well *might* be a good idea, since the majority of us in the club have dual band radios, and we might start using the 70cm band sometime in the future.

220MHz really isn't a consideration for me with either radio. Should it be? I mean, yeah, 1.5W is better than 300mW, but I'd probably be perfectly happy with 0 watts.

Both the VX-6 and the VX-7 are submersible. Then again, so is the VX-170, which is 144MHz only, has a nice keypad, and it's only $117. It probably lacks a little of the cool factor of the VX-7, since it is 120mm tall instead of 90mm tall. And it has only 200 Standard memory channels rather than 900.

The VX-7 seems like it has the most kick-ass display ever, though:

VX-7:

VX-6

 

[corsair23]

Matt,

Could tell from the descriptions whether the VX-7 has a backlit keypad? Romer, UB, or Chris??

From the pics it appears obvious that the VX-6 does but it is not so obvious whether the VX-7 does.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Another consideration for HT's that have 440MHZ capabilities is if you want to ever have access to Cross Band repeat to your mobile or someone elses moble that has it activated. You will be using 440 MHZ minimal power on the HT while the mobile will CBR to 144MHZ. In other words your little hand held will talk to the CBR mobile at a very minimal power setting and the mobile will repeat the communication at what ever power is needed (preset). The CBR repeats both ways so incoming transmissions on 144MHZ get CBR'ed to the preset low power 440MHZ the HT's are on. This is a very handy and powerful option!

 

[DaveInDenver]

Looked into this VX-6 situation a bit. Looks like Jim's software can import VX-7 files directly, so if someone wanted to get a VX-6, the programming file floating around should be usable as a basis for a new file. I can't test this directly because the software needs to talk to a radio before I can start a new file.

 

[Hulk]

I think I'm buying the VX-7. What do you think of these antennas?

Comet/Maldol MH-510 (20.5")
http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=374
This one has some good reviews online.

Maldol AS-30 (15")
http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=68

Comet HT-55 (8.75")
http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=1000

Comet SMA-24 (17")
http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=33

MFJ 1720S
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1720S
Good reviews for this one, too.



For the trail spotting, this one might be awesome:
Maldol MH-209SMA (3")
http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=70

 

[Shark Bait]

Matt, It comes with an antenna which has worked fine for me on the trail. When I'm home I use my $10 j-pole.

 

[Hulk]

Matt, It comes with an antenna which has worked fine for me on the trail. When I'm home I use my $10 j-pole.

I've been thinking about how I will likely use the radio. Most of the time, I'll be talking with you guys (or listening in) on Monday nights. Since that's my kid night, I'll probably be moving around the house getting the kids ready for bed. So I want an antenna that will allow me to talk to you guys from inside the house, without tying me down to one place. Hence the research into a bigger antenna for this purpose.

I have a Diamond SRH-77CA and a Maldol MH-209SMA, along with my stock Yaesu with its 6 meter extension....The MH-209 has less range than the stock, but it makes the radio much more manageable. This is the antenna I will use on the trail for sure. It's super flexible and lets the radio fit easier in my Tuffy.

Dave, thanks for this -- just the kind of information I was hoping for.

 

[Uncle Ben]

I've been thinking about how I will likely use the radio. Most of the time, I'll be talking with you guys (or listening in) on Monday nights. Since that's my kid night, I'll probably be moving around the house getting the kids ready for bed. So I want an antenna that will allow me to talk to you guys from inside the house, without tying me down to one place. Hence the research into a bigger antenna for this purpose.



Dave, thanks for this -- just the kind of information I was hoping for.

I went with this Diamond antenna after talking with Bruce Miller. It has a vast improvement over stock! Collapsed seems to be smiler performance to stock but extended seems to perk up performance quite a bit! I like and dislike the fold over base and made it mo betta by slipping an inch of poly tubing over the antenna so when it's over the hinge the antenna is more ridged but simply slide it up and the radio can lay flat with the antenna upright....works good! The J pole antenna seems like a good solution but if I really need a non mobile radio at the house I might as well get a cheap used mobile and set it up.

 

[Romer]

I have the Diamond SRH-320A, which looks like the one in Dave's photo but a bit shorter. It's 14" and I can do the monday night rag chew from my study and I am at the bottom of a hill in my hood.

 

[Hulk]

Ordered from Hamcity.com:

VX-7RB
A - Amateur Transceiver Handheld 50/144/440 SMA
$276.00

MH-209SMA
Antenna Handheld 144/440 SMA
$19.95

SRH789
Antenna Handheld 95~1100 SMA
$29.95

CMP460A
Microphone Speaker Handheld
$49.95

Shipping: $9.52
Order Total: $385.37

I was sorely tempted to order the Comet HT-224 rather than the SRH789, but in the end I went with the big mutha. Hants recommended the HT-224, and it seems like a great antenna for its size. I could see starting an antenna collection.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Very cool! Great little radio!

 

[Romer]

Nice Matt.

I got all the stuff to program that when you get it

 

[Uncle Ben]

I like the SRH-789. It definitely pulls in better than the stock antenna and collapsed it about the same hight. The hinge at the bottom bugged me but a 1" piece of plastic tubing made that mo betta. I just slide it up and the antenna can hinge and slid down the antenna isn't so floppy. The speaker mike makes the little radio more clumsy than the antenna. I like Romers antenna too but decided to try something different as thats the way to really see whats betta. I think any antenna that is longer than the rubber ducky is an improvement. Although the short stubby one seems to do almost the same as the RD. maybe it's not the bigger antennas are better more than the stock RD sucks!

 

[Uncle Ben]

I've heard a few people say that, but I've never found the stock VX-7R antenna to be that bad. With its 6m top coil, my original Yaesu antenna sits pretty much in the middle of the performance range of the four antennas I've tried (I also have a rubber ducky from a Radio Shack Pro-25 scanner). I wonder if your original antenna is broken? That's one of the downsides to the rubber duckies, the flexibility tends to make their lifespan shorter.

Thats a thought! Since I procured it used I have no idea of it's history.

 

[Hulk]

This one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170194147270&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=007

Bought it last Saturday and should be getting it today

Ken, I think I am going to buy the same cable. What software are you using? Did you buy his cable for the FT-7800 as well?

 

[Romer]

I actually have the commander SW and the ADM stuff Yaesu sells. I wanted to try both and the Commander SW is fine.

Your welcome to borrow my cable if you want