WorldwideDX Amateur Radio Forums

Over the weekend, I decided to replace my Yaesu FT-60R with the Yaesu VX-8R. After messing with it for about a day, I have a few questions.

1) Can someone explain how the Smart Search feature works on the VX-8R? This was a handy feature on the FT-60R, but I'm having issues getting it to work on my new unit. I'm following the directions as indicated in the manual and nothing happens.

2) I have a Comet SMA-24 antenna which I used on my FT-60R and it worked great on the 70cm and 2m bands. Can this same antenna be used on my VX-8R and if so, will it work correctly on all of the bands (70cm, 2m, and 6m)?

it will not work for 6m.

i can only assume you missed something as this feature worked for me.

Thanks for the response, C2. Anyway, I'm obviously missing something. Per the manual :

1) Set radio in VFO mode in the Mono band mode.
-Done.

2) Rotate the DIAL knob, while pressing and holding the MODE key to select "Smart Search" mode.
-Done. After a second or so, I see "smart search" at the top. Turning the dial knob displays two options : "Smart Search" and "CH Counter". I select "Smart Search"

3) Release the MODE key to begin the Channel Counter.
-huh? Releasing the MODE key changes the display to show "SMS" and "CNT" in the upper left hand corner of the screen. I see no channel counter beginning.

4) As active channels are detected, you will observe the number of "loaded" channels increasing in the regular memory channel window.
-This doesn't happen. Again, the display shows "SMS" and "CNT", but no search occurs.

Steps 5 and 6 are skipped since no scanning occurs.

7) To return to normal operation, press the MODE key.
Done. I can do this to return to VFO mode, but no scan occurred.

OK, this is completely retarded-It only took me an hour to figure this out tonight, because the Yaesu manual is incomplete on this feature. I had the same exact problem as KC0ZPS, so don't feel bad. The only way I figured it out is by reading my VX-2 manual and emulating the steps, which are similar but slightly different.

Anyway, here's how you do it:

1) Set radio in VFO mode in the Mono band mode.
-Done.

2) Rotate the DIAL knob, while pressing and holding the MODE key to select "Smart Search" mode.

3) Release the MODE key to begin the Channel Counter.

3A) MISSING INSTRUCTIONS - PRESS AND HOLD THE BAND KEY UNTIL THE SCAN STARTS.

(...)

7) To return to normal operation, press the MODE key.

8) MORE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS - To retrieve the SMS memories, repeat steps 1-3 to enter SMS mode. After that, rotate the dial to choose the desired SMS Memory. To return to normal operation, press the MODE key

Like I said, don't feel bad because this step isn't in the instructions. It seems that C2's VX-8 doesn't behave this way. I'm starting to think that there are some newer firmware versions being delivered.

Yes it can be used on the VX-8r, but it should only be used to TX on 2m/440 bands. It will not work on 220 or 6m. I would recommend this antenna: Jetstream. It is EXACTLY the same as the Diamond Antenna (made by the same Chinese company) but is about 1/2 the price. I have used this antenna in the past and it works great on 2m/220/440. There isn't an HT antenna available that I'm aware of that also works on 6m, however.

moleculo, thank you! I followed your directions and they worked for me.

moleculo,

Thank you for the instructions! I was going nuts trying to figure out why this wouldn't work...

Do you think there will be anyway to do firmware updates?

Rob

Check out this antenna.

Diamond SRH-999 Amateur HT Antennas