Can I get some thoughts on the Yaesu VX-8DR?

[W5JER]

Hello everyone. I was looking for a good dependable handheld to do some 2 meter communications. I've always liked the Yaesu digital displays better than Icom however that doesnt mean it's a better radio. I have my sites set on this radio and I was wondering if any owners of this radio can drop some goods and bads about it.

I will be using it both in and outdoors but near a window. I have a base station setup but this will primarily be used for "living room" monitoring and answering calls.

I want to get the external mic and speaker to go along with it so any reviews on that part of the radio would be great aswell. Thanks and 73's from Texas!

[bearcat012]

Don't own the 8, but owned the 5, 6 and 7. The Yaesu's are nice radio's but for me, all the "bells and whistles" become a PITA. Found myself having to pull out the manual to remember how to lock out a freq or change a PL. If you need dual bands, APRS, GPS, man down alarms, multi colored LED flashing LED's, Waterproof, etc. Go for it.........If you just want a reliable, easy to use 2 M Handheld, Check out something like the Kenwood TH-K20A. Good Luck.

Originally Posted by KD8CHM

Hello everyone. I was looking for a good dependable handheld to do some 2 meter communications. I've always liked the Yaesu digital displays better than Icom however that doesnt mean it's a better radio. I have my sites set on this radio and I was wondering if any owners of this radio can drop some goods and bads about it.

I will be using it both in and outdoors but near a window. I have a base station setup but this will primarily be used for "living room" monitoring and answering calls.

I want to get the external mic and speaker to go along with it so any reviews on that part of the radio would be great aswell. Thanks and 73's from Texas!

[W8RMH]

Originally Posted by KD8CHM

Hello everyone. I was looking for a good dependable handheld to do some 2 meter communications. I've always liked the Yaesu digital displays better than Icom however that doesnt mean it's a better radio. I have my sites set on this radio and I was wondering if any owners of this radio can drop some goods and bads about it.

I will be using it both in and outdoors but near a window. I have a base station setup but this will primarily be used for "living room" monitoring and answering calls.

I want to get the external mic and speaker to go along with it so any reviews on that part of the radio would be great aswell. Thanks and 73's from Texas!

Yaesu VX-8DR Product Reviews
.

[KZ9G]

I have one. Honestly it is the cheapest built radio that I have ever owned that was a Yaesu. The plastic housing is asking to get broken and is flexible. I have a friend that had his fall off of a desk and it was trash at that point. Uneconomical to repair according to Yaseu repair. From a simple 3 foot drop. I have 3 FT-50's and 2 VX-5's and do not have a complaint about durability. If you want something durable that is in current production look at the VX-7R. Metal case and rated for being wet.

[W5JER]

Sounds good and thanks for the replies. I'll check out what eham says. Thanks!

[DaddyHam]

I have a Kenwood TH-F6A and like that one. It is a triband. It is my first radio so I have nothing to compare it to. I had two local hams recommend it. One had a Kenwood HF transceiver and one had a Yaseu HF transceiver and a Yaseu HT. He loved the HF transceiver and bout thought that the handheld was too complicated to use easily.

---
Eric
KK4MWM

[wa2chj]

Before you buy one, check out the way the volume control works. Worst system I've ever seen. The rest of the radio is pretty good, but I wish I'd never bought it.

[W5JER]

Well, I caved and bought it. I have it sitting next to me now and I must say I am impressed with this little HT. I have no problems hitting several repeaters in my surrounding area and have had several reports back at full quieting inside the house! That's not to say some people don't really know what full quieting is and could give false reports. But coming from a couple different people, it made me feel good about my purchase.

Granted, the HT is not for a beginner looking for an "easy-to-use" radio. That ofcourse didn't phase me because I love trying to figure a gadget out. The directions are great. I do agree with w2chj about the volume. It is a bit inconvenient that you have to press a button combo just to adjust the volume levels. I wouldn't let that change my mind about the HT though. I am still very impressed with the look, feel and overall performance of the radio.

Battery power is ok. I ran it for about 8 hours listening and transmitting a bit in between before it shut off on me mid transmission. You CAN transmit and receive while the unit is plugged in so that is a big plus for me.

The memory scan is awesome and I really love the dual monitoring. It is easy to switch from dual to single channel monitoring.

I would suggest getting the MH-74 microphone/speaker. It makes this HT even better. It also helps alleviate accidentally pressing other buttons by the PTT on the side.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with the HT. It outperforms my expectations and that is a rare thing I encounter, especially with electronic devices.

Thanks for all the replies. I was hoping to hear from more owners of the HT and less "I don't have this particular HT but you could try...." but anything is helpful if you have used the HT before.

[Spankymedic7]

I'm happy to hear that you went ahead with your gut and bought one. Personally, I like them, as I've owned one in the past. It performed well with APRS, and I had no complaints with regular FM voice operation. Yaesu usually produces a good, solid radio, and this one isn't any different. Granted, it doesn't have the IP-55 (I may have gotten the numbers wrong, but you know what I mean) that its predecessor has (VX-8R), but aside from that it's a well-built, rugged HT that I'd recommend to anyone.

Enjoy your new radio!

[Tommahawk]

Originally Posted by DaddyHam

I have a Kenwood TH-F6A and like that one. It is a triband. It is my first radio so I have nothing to compare it to. I had two local hams recommend it. One had a Kenwood HF transceiver and one had a Yaseu HF transceiver and a Yaseu HT. He loved the HF transceiver and bout thought that the handheld was too complicated to use easily.

---
Eric
KK4MWM

I have owned multiple handheld radios over the years. Since 2005(?) I have owned the Yaesu VX-7 and I have never had any problems with it.

That being said however I lean towards the Kenwood TH-F6A as a radio for a first time user. As someone else has said it is by far the easiest multiple band I have ever owned.

[W5JER]

One thing I am a little confused about is why you have to pay $60 extra for programming software when you already shell out nearly $450 for the HT. I mean it's already over priced but I love the radio. I just think the gouging on accessories and especially the software is a sly, mischievous thing to do when someone already paid an arm and a leg for the radio.

Still happy with my purchase but that pissed me off.

[gewecke]

After reading all the reviews and then the posts here, I can't help but wonder why the engineers at yaesu went backwards from all the successful radios in the past but then again it all revolves around that damned dollar!

73,
n9zas

[W5JER]

Originally Posted by gewecke

After reading all the reviews and then the posts here, I can't help but wonder why the engineers at yaesu went backwards from all the successful radios in the past but then again it all revolves around that damned dollar!

73,
n9zas

Well I once owned a few other Yaesu HT's and they didn't have nearly the functions today's HT's do. I think Yaesu is doing well

I think the only bad thing I can say about the 8DR is the way you have to turn the volume up and down. Pressing a button on the side while rotating the channel knob takes 2 hands. Not so convenient but I would never say that's a reason to not buy the radio.

But as for mobile units, I'm a die hard Icom fan.

[Fuzy_GSXR1000]

Good luck with your HT!!! Enjoy wish you were closer we could talk I have to find a nation wide repeater!!!

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by KD8CHM

Well I once owned a few other Yaesu HT's and they didn't have nearly the functions today's HT's do. I think Yaesu is doing well

I think the only bad thing I can say about the 8DR is the way you have to turn the volume up and down. Pressing a button on the side while rotating the channel knob takes 2 hands. Not so convenient but I would never say that's a reason to not buy the radio.

But as for mobile units, I'm a die hard Icom fan.

Going from a die cast metal case to plastic, and waterproof to not waterproof is going backwards, not to mention cheap!
Not wanting anything gps either, I'm glad I didn't spring for one.

73,
n9zas

[W5JER]

Honestly I think the metal ones look cheap and fake. That's just my opinion. Also it is waterproof and submersible.

Look very closely at the image.

[gewecke]

I'm glad it is, my mistake. The die cast design on the vx5, 6 ,7 make them tougher, hence a milspec rating but it doesn't need to be pretty!
Good luck with your vx8, Just don't drop it!

73,
n9zas

[W5JER]

Originally Posted by gewecke

I'm glad it is, my mistake. The die cast design on the vx5, 6 ,7 make them tougher, hence a milspec rating but it doesn't need to be pretty!
Good luck with your vx8, Just don't drop it!

73,
n9zas

No problem. Sometimes those things are overlooked. I dont buy an HT to go swimming with anyway It's just nice to know when I get caught in the rain with it that it wont die on me.

[W2NJS]

Originally Posted by Fuzy_GSXR1000

Good luck with your HT!!! Enjoy wish you were closer we could talk I have to find a nation wide repeater!!!

Actually, you don't have to find a nationwide repeater. All you have to do is to connect to IRLP or Echolink and you can speak with any ham in the country who is similarly connected.

[W5JER]

Yep. I do regularly listen to the WinSystem here in Houston. There are reflectors all over the US.

IRLP Summary Page