Yaesu Recommendation

[rescue69]

Just was looking for some thoughts, currently carry a 2m and a 70 cm radio, the FT 270 and FT 277, was looking at getting a dual band to go to one radio to lighten the load. I am torn which way to go for dual band radio FT 60, VX 6, VX 7, VX 8 model? I pretty much open just curious which is the best model all seem to have good and bad reviews as well as features. I have gotten lots of good advice on here in the past and figure some fellow ham radio operators would be the best to ask. So any thoughts insights would go along way in assisting me with this decision? Thanks

Rick

[mmckenna]

We have a few FT60's in the family, and they seem to do pretty well. They are usually less expensive than the other choices. Used to be you could get them for under $200.

Another thing to consider, and I'm not knowledgeable on all these models, is to see if one of them uses the same accessories as your existing radios. Having to purchase new accessories for a new radio can bump the price up quite a bit. Not sure if any of the models you are looking at use the same batteries, speaker mics, chargers, etc as the 270/277, but it might be worth checking.

[ShawnInPaso]

I had the same issue about two years ago. I reviewed all of the radios you listed (and a few more) and chose the VX6R. The VX7R had a few more negative reviews, the VX8's had more stuff than I needed and the FT60 doesn't have 220mhz . The rig has worked great and I'm still happy with my choice. They are all good radios, just have to dial in your specific needs I think.

[kf4uuz]

Another vote for the FT-60. Solid, tough dualbander. Relatively inexpensive.

[KC2OBW]

FT60 is a awesome little radio. I have one and I love it! The mono band 270 series are not bad either. The VX8gr or the 8dr is another good choice

[MarkWestin]

I have the VX-7R and I think that it is a very good radio. I don't consider it to be a true emergency radio due to the battery design. While everything will be just fine 99.99% of the time, in an emergency when there is no electricity available at all, the radio will only be as good as the existing already charged batteries that you have on hand. Yaesu makes a "AA Battery Holder" for these that holds two cells but it has a voltage multiplier circuit which limits amp draw and is really a receive only setup. My radio for emergencies is the FT-270 with six cell AA battery holder. I'm sure that Icom and Kenwood also make equivalent radios that can use six AA cells. The same speaker microphone will fit the VX-7R and FT-270. The VX-8 looks nice but doesn't appear to be very rugged compared to the others.

Mark

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by ShawnInPaso

I had the same issue about two years ago. I reviewed all of the radios you listed (and a few more) and chose the VX6R. The VX7R had a few more negative reviews, the VX8's had more stuff than I needed and the FT60 doesn't have 220mhz . The rig has worked great and I'm still happy with my choice. They are all good radios, just have to dial in your specific needs I think.

+1 for the vx6r also.
Option to have 4 bands and more if you want them, extremely wide receiving ability, waterproof, built tough, transmits well & sounds great, great battery life too as well as easy to manually program with display options.
Tough act to beat!

73,
n9zas

[W9BU]

Originally Posted by mmckenna

We have a few FT60's in the family, and they seem to do pretty well. They are usually less expensive than the other choices. Used to be you could get them for under $200.

Still can. I checked three on-line retailers and found prices in the $150-160 price range. I used to have an FT-60 and it was a good radio.

Originally Posted by ShawnInPaso

The VX7R had a few more negative reviews, the VX8's had more stuff than I needed and the FT60 doesn't have 220mhz.

I know a lot of folks tout the 220 MHz capability of the VX-7R, but 300 mW is hardly worth the effort. If you want a 2m/440MHz handheld radio that also does 5 watts on the 220 band, look at the Kenwood TH-F6A.

[MTS2000des]

I second the VX-6R, while it lacks the nicer dot matrix display of the VX-7 and simultaneous RX, it's also less expensive (Yaesu is doing a $50 MIR thru the end of the month, makes the radio around $220), it has 1.5W on 220 (6m on a portable is a joke anyway), and as others have said, it's a tough, well made portable.

Not to bulky, has great RX audio, and incredible battery life. The VX-6's are still made in JAPAN not CHINA like the FT-60. Build quality is excellent.

I also thing the VX-6 is a good looking radio. Not that it matters, but I carry mine regularly now, more so than my XTS2500's, because it's unobtrusive, has all bands (and allows me to RX on 2m and TX on 440 as a split- great for locked band operation with my TM-V71A), and being water tight no worries if it gets wet in the rain.

[rescue69]

So have narrowed it down to the FT 60 or the VX 6 how is the RX on both? also how about the speaker volume? Does one have a better receiver than the other? I appreciate the insights so far.

Rick

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by rescue69

So have narrowed it down to the FT 60 or the VX 6 how is the RX on both? also how about the speaker volume? Does one have a better receiver than the other? I appreciate the insights so far.

Rick

I would look at the technical specs on both and go from there.

73,
n9zas

[MOONBOOTS]

Originally Posted by rescue69

So have narrowed it down to the FT 60 or the VX 6 how is the RX on both? also how about the speaker volume? Does one have a better receiver than the other? I appreciate the insights so far.

Rick

Remember, your 270, & 277 are really 1st cousins to Vertex commercial radios, so the rx volume will be louder than the 6, or 60, which were designed to be ham radios.

[KC2OBW]

Originally Posted by MOONBOOTS

Remember, your 270, & 277 are really 1st cousins to Vertex commercial radios, so the rx volume will be louder than the 6, or 60, which were designed to be ham radios.

And they will also share the same batteries as the FT60 and some of the commercial vertex's like the XV180/160 420/427 and the 800's just not the lion packs though.

[perrybucsdad]

I love my little VX6R for listening. For talking though, it just doesn't have enough power. But, I'm considering getting and amp and making it my base station VHF/UHF rig (as I like it that much). Sure, I could get a mobile unit for 2M that would have the power and all out of the box, but I am comfortable with the VX6R, so why not use it. Stick antenna up, add an amp, and add a microphone, and bam, I have a decent base station.

I don't have any experience with the FT60, so I'm sorry if I'm a little biased. It looks like a great unit too, but it only does 2M and 440 where as the VX6R does the 220 as well.

[Rt169Radio]

I would get the VX-6R due to all the features and freq coverage it has.