Hello,
I have few questions i hope experts and experienced HAMs will be able to help me with regarding VX-8R in particular.
I am located in Queens NY.
KC2WIC
1. I own two VX-8Rs and for 4 years now have never been able to receive any good signal on 6m (50-54MHz)with either of the two receivers. I realize this requires better antenna, than my SRH999 quad band whip, but I expected to get something audiable sometimes at least. SRH999 does get me twice the signal in 6m range than the original whip but still only noise.
Similar story but with a lot more signal I have in 2m (144-148MHz) 99% of it is just two to five bars of solid noise mixed with squeeking sounds. Many of those strong noisy signals are between 145-146MHz
I don't understand what it means if i catch a solid 4-5 bars of noise within these amateur bands range and no audio no matter which mode i set the radio to receive. Also, many of them are constant signal so it is obviously not HAM radio conversation.
Can anyone recommend me frequencies in my area i can try to listen to on 6m, and 2m which i should definitely be able to catch. I would appreciate it.
2. I can't seem to be able to enter old emergency marine 2182Khz on my VX-8R. I tried different frequency steps, and closest i got is 2181.25khz Is this limitation of this radio, and if yes, why some other hand-helds can tune into this frequency, and such advanced radio like this can't? Curious...
3. This is probably a stupid question for many of you experts but I'm curious about public AM reception as well. I can catch and listen to 1.430MHz station im my car in my neighborhood, but not with My VX-8R. Neither one of the two. The best I got was a single bar coming in and out in my apartment, and mainly noise. In my car radio, the story is much different, and one can listen to conversation of the radio show clearly- no problem. VX-8R does not receive even a single bar on this frequency when i tried in my car. And I drove arround rhe block a few times. I selected bar internal antenna as well as external whip, but car radio still beats both of my VX-8Rs in this range by great amount. Is the usual car radio antenna much bigger?
4. When I set the radio to max Tx power setting, which should be 5W, and I'm powered by Li-Ion battery, Is the power output limited to 3W? I read in couple of places that other VX Yaesu HH models only output 5W if you connected to external DC PS. I could not find this info about VX-8R.
5. Does VX-8DR have any advantage in physical build, battery connection or in transmission or reception over the older VX-8R. I know of only improved firmware capability. Possibly some unadvertised improvements ?
...
I do realize this radio has a great range of capabilities and not all of them will match other more specialized radio receivers even of the much cheaper side. I am asking these questions so i can learn more specifically why each is happening.
Thanks in advance to any of the answers you may provide.
cheers.
I have few questions i hope experts and experienced HAMs will be able to help me with regarding VX-8R in particular.
I am located in Queens NY.
KC2WIC
1. I own two VX-8Rs and for 4 years now have never been able to receive any good signal on 6m (50-54MHz)with either of the two receivers. I realize this requires better antenna, than my SRH999 quad band whip, but I expected to get something audiable sometimes at least. SRH999 does get me twice the signal in 6m range than the original whip but still only noise.
Similar story but with a lot more signal I have in 2m (144-148MHz) 99% of it is just two to five bars of solid noise mixed with squeeking sounds. Many of those strong noisy signals are between 145-146MHz
I don't understand what it means if i catch a solid 4-5 bars of noise within these amateur bands range and no audio no matter which mode i set the radio to receive. Also, many of them are constant signal so it is obviously not HAM radio conversation.
Can anyone recommend me frequencies in my area i can try to listen to on 6m, and 2m which i should definitely be able to catch. I would appreciate it.
2. I can't seem to be able to enter old emergency marine 2182Khz on my VX-8R. I tried different frequency steps, and closest i got is 2181.25khz Is this limitation of this radio, and if yes, why some other hand-helds can tune into this frequency, and such advanced radio like this can't? Curious...
3. This is probably a stupid question for many of you experts but I'm curious about public AM reception as well. I can catch and listen to 1.430MHz station im my car in my neighborhood, but not with My VX-8R. Neither one of the two. The best I got was a single bar coming in and out in my apartment, and mainly noise. In my car radio, the story is much different, and one can listen to conversation of the radio show clearly- no problem. VX-8R does not receive even a single bar on this frequency when i tried in my car. And I drove arround rhe block a few times. I selected bar internal antenna as well as external whip, but car radio still beats both of my VX-8Rs in this range by great amount. Is the usual car radio antenna much bigger?
4. When I set the radio to max Tx power setting, which should be 5W, and I'm powered by Li-Ion battery, Is the power output limited to 3W? I read in couple of places that other VX Yaesu HH models only output 5W if you connected to external DC PS. I could not find this info about VX-8R.
5. Does VX-8DR have any advantage in physical build, battery connection or in transmission or reception over the older VX-8R. I know of only improved firmware capability. Possibly some unadvertised improvements ?
...
I do realize this radio has a great range of capabilities and not all of them will match other more specialized radio receivers even of the much cheaper side. I am asking these questions so i can learn more specifically why each is happening.
Thanks in advance to any of the answers you may provide.
cheers.
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