Ham HT for Monitoring?

[Dave13]

I just bought a Yaesu VX-2R 2M/440 HT INSTEAD of a new HH Scanner for my Father's Day present to "ME"!
WHY?
Price and features!
I just tripped over the Dual Band pages of the AES Catalog, and the BROAD recieve ranges of this diminutive TX machiene caught my eye!
The recieve coverage is phenominal, comes with a LI Battery and Wall wart Carger, and if you are licensed, it's a pretty neat and VERY small HT!
Coverage is in many Modes, SW and the tiny rig has 1300 Memorys!
My only complaint is the Antenna connection, because it's a SMA, meaning that I will need yet MORE adapters...
Anyone else use a radio such as this (any Make) for their Monitoring?
Dave 13

 

[Voyager]

I just bought a Yaesu VX-2R 2M/440 HT INSTEAD of a new HH Scanner for my Father's Day present to "ME"!
WHY?
Price and features!
I just tripped over the Dual Band pages of the AES Catalog, and the BROAD recieve ranges of this diminutive TX machiene caught my eye!
The recieve coverage is phenominal, comes with a LI Battery and Wall wart Carger, and if you are licensed, it's a pretty neat and VERY small HT!
Coverage is in many Modes, SW and the tiny rig has 1300 Memorys!
My only complaint is the Antenna connection, because it's a SMA, meaning that I will need yet MORE adapters...
Anyone else use a radio such as this (any Make) for their Monitoring?
Dave 13

I would, but I need P25 trunking support. AFAIK, nobody supports P25 trunking yet in a Ham HT.

Joe M.

 

[K2KOH]

I used to have a Yaesu VX-1R, and it was great for listening to NYPD and FDNY while I was at work. I've been thinking about that VX-2, since I got rid of the VX-1. How is the VX-2 on UHF Aircraft?

 

[Dave13]

Good question?

Don't know yet?
I just ordered it today, will arrive this week...
I have high hopes, because I live in a relativelly flat area, with a lot of air traffic going overhead to SF , Oakland and Sacramento. Many Private A/C too!
The Central Valley here in Calif has great receptipn for many bands!
Dave 13

 

[csvff78]

I have a VX7R that I use the stock antenna on. It does a very good job on some bands and a good job on the others. If I'm going out and only 1 radio can go along the VX7R gets the job. Mostly due to the range, modes (am, fm, WFM), spetcrum analyzer, channel counter, dual VFO's and size. If I need digital or trunking I'll take something else. It has been a great addition to the lineup. It has been the top radio in sniffing out new freqs.

Frank K3FSS

 

[jhooten]

Order the ADMS program when you order the radio or it will take you forever to program the 1300 memories. I have a VX-2 and bought it because of the good service my other half has gotten from her VX-1.

The only P25 system around here is "mine" and I have the issued XTS if I want to listen to it off duty.

VHF air is as good as the PRO95, haven't heard much activity on UHF air since the local AFB was closed.

 

[Grog]

I use my Icom T2H 2mtr HT for monitoring VHF freqs. If I'm only needing to listen to a few, it works great. I'm not worried about treating it easily, and don't worry if I drop it as much as my scanners.

 

[SAR923]

The VX-2R is a nice radio and will work OK as a scanner. The issues that I've seen with mine have been:

1. The stock antenna is worthless except for the ham bands so you'll need a better antenna if you want to use if for scanning.

2. The receiver is only double conversion so expect to hear a fair amount of intermod if you're in an urban area. The receiver has very good sensitivity, almost too good for a double conversion receiver. I suspect the standard antenna is tuned for just the ham bands precisely because making it a broadband antenna would expose a ham to intermod problems if they were only using the VX2 as a ham handheld.

3. The only really big issue I have - the CTCSS delay. If you set up CTCSS or DCS on a channel, it takes the VX2 about two seconds to process the signal and open the squelch. Thus, you lose the first two seconds of any transmission that's picked up on a scan. It's not a problem if you're sitting on that frequency. Given that the VX2 is prone to overload and intermod, using CTCSS /DCS is almost mandatory if you're in a city and this delay is a real pain.

You are also going to have to carry a cheat sheet with you to remember what the different combinations of the few buttons do. Just locking out a channel is a chore compared to even a low end scanner.

Get the freeware VXCommander and a data cable to program it unless you really want to make yourself insane. Having 1300 channels is nice but I'd rather poke my eyeballs out with a fork than try to program all those channels by hand with a VX2. Oh, considering the power output, it does a great job as small handheld on the ham bands.

 

[K5MAR]

Yes, the VX2R is a neat little HT and makes a good scanner. As SAR2401 said, replace the antenna with a good aftermarket antenna. The Diamond SRH-519 would be a good choice, another would be the Comet SMA-503.

The CTCSS decode is slow, as reported. But I haven't had the intermod problems he reports. YMMV

Get the programming cable, and download the VX2R Commander software. It's the best stuff out there for the VX-2R. Here is the link:
http://www.kc8unj.com/

There is also a great pocket reference for the VX2R:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/books/3214.html

An extra battery and external charger is also handy to have, Search Ebay for the NP-60 battery, they can usually be had for less than $10 for the battery, much cheaper than the Yaesu battery.

You'll also want to get a good case for it. Do not trust the stock belt clip. Some people use a Motorola belt clip for this and other VX-series radios, but I know one guy who put a screw through the circuitboard of his VX5R, so I don't recommend it. I got my case from these people
http://www.westerncasecompany.com/html/radio_cases.html

Finally, there is a Yahoo Group for the VX2R, much useful information and knowledgeable people:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VX-2R/

Enjoy your VX2R!

73,
Mark S.

 

[Al42]

I used to have a Yaesu VX-1R, and it was great for listening to NYPD and FDNY while I was at work. I've been thinking about that VX-2, since I got rid of the VX-1. How is the VX-2 on UHF Aircraft?

If it's anything like the VX-5:

0.16 μV for 12 db SINAD (50-54 MHz/144-148 MHz, N-FM)
0.9 μV for 12 db SINAD (76-108 MHz/172-222 MHz, W-FM)
0.18 μV for 12 db SINAD (430-450 MHz, N-FM)
3 μV for 12 db SINAD (470-729 MHz except 540-630 MHz, W-FM)

even though the specs call for 174-420 MHz coverage (as part of what it covers). I don't have any of the local milair frequencies (I'm stuck in the northwest corner of Maryland at the moment) so I can't test it out.

 

[Dave13]

A GREAT help guys!!!

Thanks to you ALL!
SO glad I found you all and this site!
Yipee!
AES just sent "Tracking" info, and my VX-2R gets here tomorrow!
Always GREAT service from those guys!
I am studying for my N/C Tech ticket right now, and am VERY intrested in the 2M/70CM Bands! Especally that WinSystem.
Monitoring everything else was always a passion, and it seems I bought the perfect "StarterSet" here! He-He, I still use my 'ole "Grove Registered Monitor" numbers (KCA6ZK) elswhere...
My return to Radio was in preperation for some serious "down time", due to a combination of FOUR complex foot operations , covering the next 2 years, that I am facing from an old OTJ injury (Definatelly gonna hurt BAD for a long, long time too!).
The Radio work will try to replace my other love, See: http// www.network54/Hide/Forum/184474 (my Forum) which is Adult Airguns... I , and my Staff have worked with Dr. Beeman on re-writing his "Blue Book of Airgun Values" and it was a rewarding experience to help with THAT Hobby!
This fine (Expert quality, I might add!) radio information from you all ia a huge boon towards my re-education with this Hobby since my very recent return to it!
Since the Yaesu will need a better antenna, I will need to purchase one with compatabale fittings (mine are all converted to BNC). The suggestions you all gave lead right to the best units available too!
I am quite pleased by the references to the ruggedness of the VX-2R! I knew it would be a sturdy radio, but I NEVER want to drop any HH!
I have always copied the Owners Manuals of my HH's and kept them handy for reference (always a good idea!). That Quick Manual will be neat to get!
I just got a R/S Pro-83 and am constantlly looking back into it's manual. Fading Grey Matter I suppose? DUH!
Thank you all once more, and please continue to add to this thread! It is VERY intresting!
Be safe,
Dave13

 

[djeplett]

Re: A GREAT help guys!!!

please continue to add to this thread! It is VERY intresting!

Don't mind if I do...

Does anyone own a Kenwood TH-F6 and if so how is it for scanning? By the specs it looks like it could fill the role that my little shortwave portable does right now, plus it is a tribander. I'm getting really tempted...

Oh, and Dave13, I look forward to possibly meeting you on the bands someday. Don't stop until you get that ticket!

 

[SCPD]

i have a f6 and it works great on vhf and uhf including 800 mhz.
the built in ferrite bar for mw works just fine.

i havent tried shortwave, but with a good antenna, it seems to do just fine.
i also have a vx6r and it stinks on mw. otherwise, i love the radio.

bill simpson
n1jbs

 

[djeplett]

Thanks for replying, Bill. I have read a review that says it's a joke for shortwave. My guess is it was bad for the reviewer because he was using it with the factory duck antenna only.

I don't suppose you could tune around a bit for me and let me know if you hear anything? Like at least WWV?