Yaesu: VX-6R receiver front-end

[vwvwvw]

Hi- Has anyone got experience with the receiver performance of the Yaesu VX-6R in the 144MHz band in the presence of large interferers, say from an FM broadcast transmitter? Looking at the block diagrams in the technical docs, the VX-6R uses a single chain for the 60-300MHz band which might make it more susceptible to IMD versus the FT-60R which has a HPF to block <108MHz.

I'm considering a VX-6R but this receiver question is a sticking point.

 

[ko6jw_2]

Any receiver can overload in strong RF fields and no wideband receiver has adequate filtration to prevent that. I have used my VX-6R at mountain top repeater sites where there are dozens of transmitters on the air. It seems to perform well. There are no broadcast transmitters at this site by design. We have had to to install, in addition to the duplexer, a tuned cavity as a band pass filter on the receive side of our ICOM repeater.

The VX6-R has a number of features that the FT-60 does not have. Most important to me is the 220 capability. We have 5 or 6 220 repeaters in the area. Next it is submersible. It has a submersible speaker mic. There is excellent free programming software (VX-6 Commander).

If you are concerned with specs and performance compare the two radios as reviewed in QST. Neither are state of the art and are older designs. However, they re both still being sold. IMD tests are part of the standard reviews.

 

[vwvwvw]

Good to know your experience is good with it! And thanks for pointing me to the reviews. I hadn't known where to find IMD data as I'm new to the amateur radios. The FT-60R does beat the XV-6R's IMD by a huge margin: 4dB @ 20KHz and 5dB @ 10MHz. At 10MHz it wouldn't be due to front-end filtering. Maybe compression at the first mixer, but it's strange the XV would perform worse if so.

The FT-60R also beats the more modern TD-D74 at 10MHz. Image rejection numbers are all over the place though. It makes me wonder if the setups were correct.

Yes the XV-6R looks pretty interesting and I'll probably go with that. I also like that it's lighter and uses a Li-ion battery. Have you stuck with the stock antenna?

3rd-order dynamic range from QST-
XV-6R - 146MHz@ 20KHz/10MHz is 63/80dB
FT-60R - 146MHz @ 20KHz/10MHz is 67/85dB
FT-70DR - 146MHz @ 20KHz/10MHz is 63/71dB
TH-D74 - 146MHz @ 20KHz/10MHz is 67/79dB

 

[ko6jw_2]

None of the radios have bad test results. They seem to be about average for HT's and I don't think it will make a difference in the real world.

Both the VX-6R and the FT-60 are roughly 15 year old designs. Unfortunately, the VX-6R is the only 220 radio that Yaesu makes. I currently also own an FT-2 and an FT-70. We have a Fusion repeater so the digital capability is important to me.

As for antenna, the Diamond SRH-320A is the best 2m/1.25m/70cm antenna going. The stock antennas are not nearly as good.

 

[vwvwvw]

Yes I was first more interested in digital-capable radios like the FT-70. I decided to stick with analog for now, since I was surprised at the number of competing digital standards still at play. Maybe I'll pick up an FT-70 after becoming more familiar. It looks like we have good coverage of Fusion repeaters in the Portland area.

It's helpful to hear your input. Thanks!