NEW: Yaesu VX-8R

[K2QI]

Thank you guys for your comments. It's helping me understand these concepts better. Quick question now; how could I get the Yaesu VX-8R to tap into IRLP or Echolink? Would I need to connect the HT to a PC in order to do that?

Since I live in an apartment building in Manhattan, having a base HF station is out of the question. So, having a portable that can also be used to speak to individuals around the world (which is my primary interest in Ham) would be ideal. So far, it seems from what I've read that both the 92 and VX-8R are capable of doing this; one is digital using d-star repeaters and the other is via IRLP or Echolink.

I would however like to be able to do this without having to constantly be tied to a PC. This is one area where the Icom's D-star approach seems interesting. On the other hand, if there's a way to get the Yaesu to tap into Echolink or IRLP without having to be attached to a PC would be great... just don't know how to do it.

 

[Bill_White]

No PC needed..
Find an IRLP or EchoLink repeater near you.
Simply use the DTMF feature of your radio to “dial” your target IRLP or EchoLink node.
When finished, close the connection with ## on the DTMF pad.
I haven’t tried EchoLink yet but, that is how it works with IRLP.
Listen first, make sure the repeater is not busy.
Don’t forget to ID. Something like:
This is KC2PCF with tones.
<make call>
<disconnect>
## KC2PCF

Find node numbers and more help at:
http://www.irlp.net/
http://www.echolink.org/

 

[kadetklapp]

Thanks for the pics. Looking to get one of these this winter.

 

[K2QI]

No PC needed..
Find an IRLP or EchoLink repeater near you.
Simply use the DTMF feature of your radio to “dial” your target IRLP or EchoLink node.
When finished, close the connection with ## on the DTMF pad.
I haven’t tried EchoLink yet but, that is how it works with IRLP.
Listen first, make sure the repeater is not busy.
Don’t forget to ID. Something like:
This is KC2PCF with tones.
<make call>
<disconnect>
## KC2PCF

Find node numbers and more help at:
http://www.irlp.net/
http://www.echolink.org/

Thank you Bill! Just the information I was looking for. I was perusing the IRLP and Echolink websites earlier, and perhaps I missed it, but couldn't find a simplified response such as you gave me. Very much appreciated.

 

[khoward]

YAESU VX8-R External GPS Connection

I'm currently waiting for the release of the YAESU VX8-R, which I hope to be able to use with a Garmin 60C GPS to visually display contact locations. I recently downloaded the manual on-line and didn't see any information about using an external GPS. It described several adapter cords for use with a TNC, but no information is provided about connecting a GPS like the Garmin 60 to the internal TNC. Hopefully they designed the unit to communicate using NEMA. If anyone has experience or in-sight on the subject I'd be interested in learning your solutions, i.e parts/connections required and any special settings, or mods required.

 

[W2WP]

Don't be confused about D-Star--it is not P-25.....If you want P-25, you need to buy a commercial ht. As impressed with D-Star, you have a $200 option and buy the DV dongle. It hooks to your pc and with a headset, you talk on the repeaters via the internet. Much cheaper Take it from someone who's been hamming for over 23yrs.
Larry

Huh?
Are you saying you need a Dongle, PC, and headset to use D-Star?

 

[mancow]

You need the dongle if you don't have a D-Star radio and repeater nearby.

Huh?
Are you saying you need a Dongle, PC, and headset to use D-Star?

 

[N8IAA]

Huh?
Are you saying you need a Dongle, PC, and headset to use D-Star?

Yep. $200 for the dongle. Much cheaper than a P91A/D. Best way to try it out.
Larry

 

[hotdjdave]

MARS/Freeband Mod

Does anyone know if it will be capable of the MARS and/or Freeband modifications, like the VX-7R?

 

[W2WP]

On another note........... Looks like the VX-8R is delayed once again.

 

[KQ4KK]

I have one

HRO shipped them out early this week. I got mine on Monday. Got the GPS head, but no hand mic to hook it to.

It is everything a VX-7R is, plus the good parts of the APRS in the KENWOOD D7.

That AM/FM Stereo radio is a nice touch. You can listen to TWO Ham repeaters or other Public Service VHF/UHF and also listen to your AM/FM station, and when either of the A band or B band VHF/UHF stations breaks sq. it shifts to that freq.

 

[Cowthief]

VX-8R and mods.

Hello.

Yes, the VX-8R can be modded to do out of band, but there are some software issues so I would wait, bluetooth has a mating problem.
And, speaking of adaptors, blue or otherwise, the commercial variant of this radio uses the very same internal connector for the P-25 unit.
Software issues? the Amateur model has had 3 revisions prior to production with the very first sharing the daughterboard with the other model (non-US approved).
The daughterboard had 3 memory chips with another on the logic board proper, 4 total.
The current version has but one chip on the logic board, but the same capacity.
We have had success in replacing the one memory chip with one of 16 times the capacity and everything works fine once the firmware was loaded onto it, AND, everything is in C, so reprogramming will be an easy task.
Once the new firmware is out, Yaesu will fix the bluetooth bug, we will have another firmware to play with.
So, we have the firmware for a commercial model as well as the US Amateur model.
Expect about the same speed as the mods for the VX-3R, and speaking of that radio.
It is expected that the very same super out of band mods that the VX-3R has will be ported to the VX-8R as well as the mega-memory mod being applied to the VX-3R.
Figure on around March.
And, as always, the hacker bunch is around, as close as your local 2600 meeting.
http://www.2600.com/meetings/

 

[prcguy]

Have you actually had a VX-8R in your hands and replaced a memory chip, including loading new firmware?
Can you point us to a site that describes the memory upgrade for the VX-3R?
prcguy

Hello.

Yes, the VX-8R can be modded to do out of band, but there are some software issues so I would wait, bluetooth has a mating problem.
And, speaking of adaptors, blue or otherwise, the commercial variant of this radio uses the very same internal connector for the P-25 unit.
Software issues? the Amateur model has had 3 revisions prior to production with the very first sharing the daughterboard with the other model (non-US approved).
The daughterboard had 3 memory chips with another on the logic board proper, 4 total.
The current version has but one chip on the logic board, but the same capacity.
We have had success in replacing the one memory chip with one of 16 times the capacity and everything works fine once the firmware was loaded onto it, AND, everything is in C, so reprogramming will be an easy task.
Once the new firmware is out, Yaesu will fix the bluetooth bug, we will have another firmware to play with.
So, we have the firmware for a commercial model as well as the US Amateur model.
Expect about the same speed as the mods for the VX-3R, and speaking of that radio.
It is expected that the very same super out of band mods that the VX-3R has will be ported to the VX-8R as well as the mega-memory mod being applied to the VX-3R.
Figure on around March.
And, as always, the hacker bunch is around, as close as your local 2600 meeting.
http://www.2600.com/meetings/

 

[zuzu]

Yes, the VX-8R can be modded to do out of band, but there are some software issues so I would wait, bluetooth has a mating problem. And, speaking of adaptors, blue or otherwise, the commercial variant of this radio uses the very same internal connector for the P-25 unit. ... Once the new firmware is out, Yaesu will fix the bluetooth bug, we will have another firmware to play with. So, we have the firmware for a commercial model as well as the US Amateur model.

Wow! Typical Yaesu freebanding combined with modern Bluetooth A2DP / headset pairing sounds wonderful. Even more amazing would be to use the APCO Project 25 unit. (Arguably edging ahead of the Icom 91AD w/ D-STAR.) Does Yaesu / Vertex Standard simultaneously offer a commercial version of the VX-8R with the P25 unit installed? If so, what is its model number?

Update: Is it the VX-P820?

Are these really the same radio but with different PIC programming?

 

[N7XO]

Vx-8r

Have been waiting 4 years to buy a new HT and this is the first one since the Kenwood TH-7 I have really wanted to purchase. 900 programmable memories, only about an inch thick case, waterproof are all great but the main reason APRS and the ability to have a very small GPS device on the radio itself are nice for what I want in an HT. Yes it is rather pricey, but then luckily most hams are spoiled when it comes for features for the price in comparison to commercial radio gear. 73's all

 

[prcguy]

Its called vaporware.
prcguy

Wow! Typical Yaesu freebanding combined with modern Bluetooth A2DP / headset pairing sounds wonderful. Even more amazing would be to use the APCO Project 25 unit. (Arguably edging ahead of the Icom 91AD w/ D-STAR.) Does Yaesu / Vertex Standard simultaneously offer a commercial version of the VX-8R with the P25 unit installed? If so, what is its model number?

Update: Is it the VX-P820?

Are these really the same radio but with different PIC programming?

 

[va6dab]

Wow, some pretty strong opinions here.

I have a Yaesu VX-5 and a VX-7, as well as a Kenwood F6, a tiny Alinco dual band, and an ICOM 91A/D. I find they are all very nice radios. Yup, they all have their quirks, but they all work very well. And they are quite inexpensive, compared to the commercial radios I have purchased for the govt. in the past. We only got down to the amateur costs when we bought 1000 or more at a time. The above radios certainly do a lot more than any commercial radio I've ever tested.

The VX-8R is not vaporware. It has been delivered to some already, though I understand the speaker-mic is back ordered still.

To use APRS you will need the radio, the gps unit, and one of two adapters to connect it to the radio, either the hard connection device that mounts on the top of the radio or the speaker-mic. I haven't seen either or the radio yet, but it seems to me the speaker-mic would be the most practical method of connecting the gps to the radio. Mounting it on top of the radio looks rather cumbersome in the pictures. When mounted on the speaker-mic you can place it where it will "see" the satellites it needs to, while keeping the radio wherever you need it.
It seems Yaesu are still de-bugging the radio firmware. This is typical for a new product.

Anyway, thought I'd jump in and offer my comments. I'm looking to eventually buy one, just because I'm a tech and need to have toys to play with.

 

[Bill_White]

To use APRS you will need the radio, the gps unit, and one of two adapters to connect it to the radio, either the hard connection device that mounts on the top of the radio or the speaker-mic.

No…
All that will be needed for APRS is the VX-8.
The latitude & longitude can be manually entered.
APRS Operations, page 80 in the manual:
http://yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=Di...21AAA39980149EA8C6&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

I'll be getting one after beta testing. :roll:

 

[prcguy]

I know the VX-8R is out and I was able to play with a demo unit before they were released. My vaporware statement was aimed at someones posts about their VX-8R does P25 digital, continuous transmit from about 29MHz to over 500Mhz and other hard to swallow facts.

Wow, some pretty strong opinions here.

The VX-8R is not vaporware. It has been delivered to some already, though I understand the speaker-mic is back ordered still.

 

[N6RDC]

I've got the VX-8R and am happy with it, I sold my vx-7R (which I liked too) to help fund the VX-8R purchase. I've also got the Kenwood TH-F6A but I overall prefer the VX-8R. But I'd never part with the Kenwood....I had to have both!