Yaesu VX-2R
- FM transmit on 2 Meters (1.5 watts) and 70 centimeters (1 watt) on battery power
- FM transmit on 2 Meters (3 watts) and 70 centimeters (2 watt) using external DC power
- Wide-band receive coverage, from 500 kHz through 999 MHz in AM, NFM and WFM modes
- Approximately 900 memory channels, with up to 20 banks
Battery
The standard battery will last about two days (single frequency receive) if not scanning. If scanning, the receive time falls to a few hours. At 1.5 Watts out, talk time is only about 20 minutes with a fully charged battery.
Replacement batteries are inexpensive, especially as they are based on the Fuji NP60 camera battery. The lower (100 mW) power setting is adequate for repeaters out to 20 miles or so, and allows longer talk time. This is a highly regarded HT based on its performance-to-size ratio. Modification
The VX-2 is not difficult to modify. Because the radio uses software-based jumpers, it is not necessary to open the radio up to perform most modification. A MARS/CAP modification can be performed, expanding transmit coverage outside of ham bands slightly; it is also possible to perform a "freeband" modification to the radio, enabling transmission outside the authorized amateur radio bands, without any hardware modifications. Although in most cases illegal based on Federal Communications Commission rules, the "freeband" modification opens transmit coverage significantly, allowing use on business band and FRS bands, along with several lesser-used frequency bands.
| Frequency Range Receive:
|
0.5 - 1.8 MHz (“BC BAND”) |
| 0
|
1.8 - 30 MHz (“SW BAND”) |
| 0
|
76 - 108 MHz (“FM”) |
| 0
|
108 - 137 MHz (“AIR”) |
| 0
|
137 - 174 MHz (“V-HAM”) |
| 0
|
174 - 222 MHz (“VHF TV”) |
| 0
|
222 - 420 MHz (“ACT 1” Action Band 1) |
| 0
|
420 - 470 MHz (“U-HAM”) |
| 0
|
470 - 800 MHz (“UHF-TV”) |
| 00
|
800 - 999 MHz (“ACT 2” Cellular Blocked) |
| Frequency Range Transmit:
|
144 - 148 MHz |
| 0
|
430 - 450 MHz</tbody> |
| RF Power Output:
|
1.5W (@ 3.7 V FNB-82LI 144 MHz) |
| 0
|
3.0W (@ 6 V EXT DC Input 144 MHz) |
| 0
|
1.0W (@ 3.7 V FNB-82LI 430 MHz) |
| 0
|
2.0W (@ 6 V EXT DC Input 430 MHz)</tbody> |
Programming
From PC
Cable needed: a four-pin TRRS connector and a TTL voltage converter in the 9-pin housing.
- Valley Enterprises FTDI Based Cable
- KAWA Mall : Works for VX-2,3,5,6,7R, ICOM IC-Q7A
- 409shop : 2-in-1 cable for these handhelds and FT-7/8xxx mobiles
CHIRP free, open-source tool for programming your amateur radio.
VX-2 Commander - Programming software for the Yaesu VX-2 and VX-2R.