NEW: Yaesu VX-8R

[N2JBO]

Well, I finally figured out how to get the APRS working properly, on the VX8R.
My problem now is with BLUETOOTH. I tried to get it working and items 11 - 18
on the menu list have disappeared.

How do I get them to return to the setup menu once again ?

You won't find this in the VX8R MANUAL.

 

[kckfire]

I'm assuming the stock antenna is 'ok' for what it is, but any recommendations on a good whip antenna to use? I'd like a flexible quad band 6m/2m/1.25m/70cm but I don't know that such an antenna exists for HT's as my google searches haven't found anything. Even 20" or so isn't a concern as long as it performs well.

If a tri-band (6m/2m/70cm) would work well and still allow transmission on 1.25m without extremely high SWR, that'd fit the bill too.

 

[unlisted]

Sorry for asking but can someone tell me what the actual expanded TX/RX is for this?

Also wondering if there is a way to freeband this... (hopefully with the same lower end as the vx-7r)
Thanks.

 

[dsviper22]

Well, I finally figured out how to get the APRS working properly, on the VX8R.
My problem now is with BLUETOOTH. I tried to get it working and items 11 - 18
on the menu list have disappeared.

How do I get them to return to the setup menu once again ?

You won't find this in the VX8R MANUAL.

Only way I know how to get those back is to reset the radio to factory settings.

 

[N2JBO]

I called Yaesu and spoke to a couple of TECHS... They said all I had done was MASK out the items on the menu, after the 3 of us fumbled around for 30 - 40 minutes or so we had them all back good as new.

 

[hotdjdave]

Yep.

Sorry for asking but can someone tell me what the actual expanded TX/RX is for this?

Also wondering if there is a way to freeband this... (hopefully with the same lower end as the vx-7r)
Thanks.

Ditto.

 

[Cowthief]

Mods.

Hello.

There are 3 levels of mods for the VX-8R, just like the VX-3R and VX-7R.
The first will not provide AM aircraft transmit on the VX-8R.
Only a firmware update does this, level 2.
Level 3 is a board level mod that will allow very limited high HF operation and other things at the expense of purity.
But, around 138 to 310ish to 560ish is what the jumper/softjump settings will do with low band of 40 to around 100ish.
Note that I am not counting where the thing will transmit, but where it will transmit with useful power.
Yaesu installed stronger filtering in the VX-8R for the aviation band, so it is like putting a FT-8x7 on the VHF aero band.
And, it was decided that changing the memory chips is not a "Home Improvement" type of project, the number of people who flat out wrecked radios and were upset makes it not worth while.
Remember, most people find adding memory to a computer to be a challange.
Unless you are equipped to do SMD board devices you will fail.
And, if you are equipped and trained on board level servicing you need no help, you already know how to identify the chip and select its successor and can extract the code and bitbang it.

 

[unlisted]

Hello.

There are 3 levels of mods for the VX-8R, just like the VX-3R and VX-7R.
The first will not provide AM aircraft transmit on the VX-8R.
Only a firmware update does this, level 2.
Level 3 is a board level mod that will allow very limited high HF operation and other things at the expense of purity.
But, around 138 to 310ish to 560ish is what the jumper/softjump settings will do with low band of 40 to around 100ish.
Note that I am not counting where the thing will transmit, but where it will transmit with useful power.
Yaesu installed stronger filtering in the VX-8R for the aviation band, so it is like putting a FT-8x7 on the VHF aero band.
And, it was decided that changing the memory chips is not a "Home Improvement" type of project, the number of people who flat out wrecked radios and were upset makes it not worth while.
Remember, most people find adding memory to a computer to be a challange.
Unless you are equipped to do SMD board devices you will fail.
And, if you are equipped and trained on board level servicing you need no help, you already know how to identify the chip and select its successor and can extract the code and bitbang it.

Have any links, more information on this? I'm really wanting to get my vx8r down to about 45 mhz... and would really like to know the actual process, etc.

 

[grem467]

gotta love cowthief...

i guess next he will have the VX-8 soldered to an iphone....

"hello.

you can now use shazam on your vx-8, it will ID the callsign of the station you are talking too. This was done so Obama can listen in to the North Koreans and ID them. For more information call HRO and ask for the dark star iphone mod"

<< SIGH >>

 

[stevolene]

6 meters on an HT is a waste I think, I agree that yaesu missed the boat with the 220 band, still the better HT in this range is the kenwood F6A, 5 watts on 2, 440, and 220, plus you get sideband recieve, this is the HT I want

 

[eorange]

Assuming this is all for real...what does this reference to softjump mean?

But, around 138 to 310ish to 560ish is what the jumper/softjump settings will do with low band of 40 to around 100ish.

Is this like the VX-1R, where a key sequence would open up locked-out bands? Or is this something totally different?

 

[djxman]

is the vx-8r digital?

 

[AK9R]

Digital in what way?

If you are asking does it receive/transmit D-Star or APCO P25 or some other digitized voice information, then the answer is no.

However, the VX-8 does transmit and receive AX.25 packet and it has APRS functions built in.

 

[magicjellybeans]

vx-8

I have a Yaesu vx-8 and its receive is great,the transmit is crap,even with the Diamond srh77ca.I checked it on an swr meter,it is putting out 5 watts.My Yaesu Ft-51R transmits wayyyy better.Its very confusing to work and the fact you have to be on band a for some features and band b for other features is just plain insane!

 

[prcguy]

I think your doing something wrong, the radio puts out the rated power and even the stock antenna is better than most.
prcguy

I have a Yaesu vx-8 and its receive is great,the transmit is crap,even with the Diamond srh77ca.I checked it on an swr meter,it is putting out 5 watts.My Yaesu Ft-51R transmits wayyyy better.Its very confusing to work and the fact you have to be on band a for some features and band b for other features is just plain insane!

 

[magicjellybeans]

Nope the thing is on high power and its inferior to the FT-51R,if I didnt have so much invested in it,I would get rid of it in favor of the ICOM 92AD (what I shoulda bought).

 

[eorange]

I use that same Diamond antenna with my VX-8R, and the transmit works great. Maybe you have a bad one.

Also, enabling Band B for APRS is not the most complex thing in the world. I've had many Yaesu HTs, and I think they made the UI on this one the most consistent.

 

[Underbyte]

To Cowtheif

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.
Welcome to Meetings!

Cowtheif,

Well, RadioReference.com doesn't have PM's enabled, so i guess i gotta put this in a reply.

How have you gotten the source code for the VX-8r? Could you help me with the process? i'm familiar with C, but i don't know enough about the 8r's inner secrets (just picked one up real recently) to dump the firmware.

Additionally, could you send me a copy of the firmware?

Also, What kind of cables do you need to do this? Do you do it through the serial interface? etc etc

Finally, do you have the technical supplement for the 8r? Just thought i would ask.
Honestly, i bought this radio *because* it was more or less software defined (as a comp sci. major, thats a BIG plus for me), and i feel like some really neat things might be heading to VX-8r owner's way.

Thanks,
-Jerrad

 

[Underbyte]

I have a Yaesu vx-8 and its receive is great,the transmit is crap,even with the Diamond srh77ca.I checked it on an swr meter,it is putting out 5 watts.My Yaesu Ft-51R transmits wayyyy better.Its very confusing to work and the fact you have to be on band a for some features and band b for other features is just plain insane!

Thats because the VX-8 is a 5 watt radio.

 

[prcguy]

The "thief" has made some really fantastic claims with his VX-8, everything from it being used by some government agencies to being able to work with P25 digital by slapping in a board to transmitting continuous from about 25 to 900MHz and so on.

Personally, I need to see these things in person before believing.
prcguy

Cowtheif,

Well, RadioReference.com doesn't have PM's enabled, so i guess i gotta put this in a reply.

How have you gotten the source code for the VX-8r? Could you help me with the process? i'm familiar with C, but i don't know enough about the 8r's inner secrets (just picked one up real recently) to dump the firmware.

Additionally, could you send me a copy of the firmware?

Also, What kind of cables do you need to do this? Do you do it through the serial interface? etc etc

Finally, do you have the technical supplement for the 8r? Just thought i would ask.
Honestly, i bought this radio *because* it was more or less software defined (as a comp sci. major, thats a BIG plus for me), and i feel like some really neat things might be heading to VX-8r owner's way.

Thanks,
-Jerrad