Yaesu Vx-8 & VX-8DR Mars Cap & Freeband Mods

[tlordon]

after doing alot of reading on the net I have become thourholy confused as to the Mars Cap & Freeband Mods
A what are the ways of doing it (software, hardware)
( i have heard the software kind is EU version is that so?)

and the outcome of either mod IE TX Freqs.

here is the info i have found.
Can someone help me get this info straight, and then i will edit this post to show the ways and outcomes.

these 2 below are from
KB2LJJ Radio Mods Database and Manuals

VX-8R TX Mod
120-173.995MHz 220-221.995MHz 400-469.995MHz 300-576MHz
option 1. software. (dont know if works on USA units or tx afterwords)
1 Power on
2 set MODE
3 # 21 CWID
4 CWID (on)
5 Push “MODE”
6 Turn DIAL to A, push “MODE”
7 Turn DIAL to H, push “MODE”
8 repeat 6-7, to type in “AH029M”
9 Push “SET” to get out of set mode
10 Power off
11 Push HM/RV + MENU power on
12 Turn Dial to choose MODE ***
13 Push Funtion/W
14 Power off
15 Power on

Hardware Mod
remove smd resistor

then i see this
http://www.worldwidedx.com/handitalkies/31811-review-new-yaesu-vx-8r-6.html#post127731

Yes, TX range after the mod is:
50-54
140-174
222-225
420-470

and then i see

http://www.worldwidedx.com/yaesu/31824-yaesu-vx-8r-mod-first-internet-3.html#post146535
RX
Frequency Note
0.5 - 1.8 MHz BC Band. AM Radio
1.8 - 30 MHz Shortwave Band.
30 - 78 MHz 6 Meter Ham
76 - 108 MHz FM Radio
108 - 137 MHz Air Band
137 - 174 MHz 144 MHz Ham. 2 Meter
174 - 222 MHz VHF-TV
222 - 225 MHz 222 MHz Ham
225 - 420 MHz General Band 1
420 - 470 MHz 440 MHz Ham. 70 cm.
470 - 800 MHz UHF-TV
800 - 999 MHz General Band 2 Cellular Blocked

TX
50 - 54 MHz
144 - 148 MHz
222 - 225 MHz USA version only
430 - 440 MHz

TX w/ mod
50 - 54 MHz
144 - 148 MHz
148 - 174 MHz MARS/CAP Mod only
222 - 225 MHz USA version only
430 - 440 MHz
440 - 470 MHz MARS/CAP Mod only. FRS/GMRS freq range


wich adds to the confusion.


and i do have another Q.
is there a way to do the mod, and then block certain frequency's or ranges IE Police (i like randomly hit buttons and DONT need to Key up on the sheriff, thinking im on vfo a and actully keying on b (if i have them on b or viseversa)

(i was kinda hoping i could program the Police freqs (and few others) into the memory and set the TX as No or Very Very Low. (if that doesnt exist how hard would it be to get software devs to make it)

 

[Moleculo]

From what other forum members have said, the software mod only works on the EU version. There may be a software mod for the US version, but it hasn't been discovered yet. The resistor mod works perfectly on the U.S. Version. The frequencies you have listed above under "Frequency Note" are just that...notes. They are not the transmit range after mod.

I am the person that published the original resistor mod on this site. Any other copies of that mod on other sites were taken from here. That's my radio in the pic.

If you want to prevent yourself from accidentally TX on a frequency you're not supposed to after the mod, the simplest way is to just turn on the lock feature when monitoring.

 

[scottjep]

performed the resister removal on my new vx-8dr so i could tune 154.195 worked fine on my old vx-8r but not the dr....any advise???

 

[Moleculo]

performed the resister removal on my new vx-8dr so i could tune 154.195 worked fine on my old vx-8r but not the dr....any advise???

Everyone I've read or talked to said that the mod worked the same on the VX-8DR. Did you do the reset? Also check to make sure there are no solder blobs bridging the pads where the resistor was?

 

[scottjep]

it did reset afterwards, now i think its just a setting, i did the mod on my friends today then went to 154.190 and it then worked, but after messing with his aprs i went back to vfo b and tried to punch in 154.190 again and it wont go to it..

 

[Moleculo]

it did reset afterwards, now i think its just a setting, i did the mod on my friends today then went to 154.190 and it then worked, but after messing with his aprs i went back to vfo b and tried to punch in 154.190 again and it wont go to it..

Make sure you're in VFO mode and not some memory mode?

 

[Orenl]

Hi, i need help,

My name is Oren and i am from Israel. I bought VX-8D in Japan and try to make modification and transmit for more then 144 - 146 mhz. I moved the resistor and after i made all steps from #1 - #8 and enter the "AH029M" i push SET, nothing append. Can some one help me?

Thanks & 73
Oren

 

[AE6ZW]

unfortunately, all of the Japanese HAM RADIO model are unmodifiable to transmit out side of Japanese HAM Band, 144-146 , 430-440 MHz. due to their version of FCC regulation. I believe that is true any radio sold in Japan after mid 1990. I have heard, over there too many people modified HAM RADIO and used outside of HAM BAND for business purpose without license. I understand only way to change to US model is to replace CPU.

 

[lukjoly]

VX8E after mods

Got a VX8e, I tried to apply the sw procedure but I was stuck with a B2 version that was not allowed to change. Then, I removed the resistor, applied again the AH029M procedure and chose the *** version.

Now :

RX
0.5-1.8 AM (RADIO MODE ONLY)
30-75 AM NFM
1.8- 30 AM WFM NFM
30 -76 AM WFM NFM
76 - 108 WFM (RADIO MODE ONLY)
108 -1GHz AM WFM NFM
137 - 174 AM WFM NFM
174 -221 AM WFM NFM


TX
120 - 174 (ALL MODE)
174 - 221 (all MODE)
221 - 225 (all mode)
300 - 420 (all mode)
420 - 470 ( all mode)
470 - 580 (all mode)

is this normal ?

 

[exorcist111123]

Got a VX8e, I tried to apply the sw procedure but I was stuck with a B2 version that was not allowed to change. Then, I removed the resistor, applied again the AH029M procedure and chose the *** version.

Now :

RX
0.5-1.8 AM (RADIO MODE ONLY)
30-75 AM NFM
1.8- 30 AM WFM NFM
30 -76 AM WFM NFM
76 - 108 WFM (RADIO MODE ONLY)
108 -1GHz AM WFM NFM
137 - 174 AM WFM NFM
174 -221 AM WFM NFM


TX
120 - 174 (ALL MODE)
174 - 221 (all MODE)
221 - 225 (all mode)
300 - 420 (all mode)
420 - 470 ( all mode)
470 - 580 (all mode)

is this normal ?

me too! I think it's normal..

 

[noattila]

Hi are you still active on the forum? I have a Yaesu VX8-DE. I have a strange problem. The radio won't recognise it's battery. Neither one (1100mA, 1800mA, FB-39). On DC it works normally, when I shut down the radio, it begins charging, after complete, I pull out DC cable, try to start, but does not work. This happened one more time left the radio turned off for one night, in the morning started on battery. But now it won't work.
Do you have any idea what could be the problem. The radio is new, I own it for 2 weeks and I have moded it using your technique. (resistor & soft) It worked flawlesly.
Thank you for reading my message!
Regards,

Attila

 

[dulax]

Hello friends, I have trying to do the mod, but stay lockout in point 11.

Push HM / RV + MENU to power on, and turn the VX-8DR normally.
They have some video of this procedure, I'm sure the other steps right.

my greetings

 

[Magic6]

Hi all,

I have the vx 8de model, have carried out this mod and other than the memory ressetting itself everything seemed to be working find other than I can't set the date or time. I've been through the manual and I'm inputting it correctly but as soon as I push the PTT button it just reverts back to factory setting.
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[Magic6]

Hi all,

I have the vx 8de model, have carried out this mod and other than the memory ressetting itself everything seemed to be working find other than I can't set the date or time. I've been through the manual and I'm inputting it correctly but as soon as I push the PTT button it just reverts back to factory setting.
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Problem solved using the V/M button after numerous attempts

 

[carl yaesu]

From what other forum members have said, the software mod only works on the EU version. There may be a software mod for the US version, but it hasn't been discovered yet. The resistor mod works perfectly on the U.S. Version. The frequencies you have listed above under "Frequency Note" are just that...notes. They are not the transmit range after mod.

I am the person that published the original resistor mod on this site. Any other copies of that mod on other sites were taken from here. That's my radio in the pic.

If you want to prevent yourself from accidentally TX on a frequency you're not supposed to after the mod, the simplest way is to just turn on the lock feature when monitoring. [How come my VX8DR will not operate on the new bands after I removed the resistor,,,thanks