Yaesu VX-8R

Due to be launched in the UK during the autumn, Yaesu's new VX-8R is the first handheld transceiver to feature bluetooth hands free operation.
Like
the VX-7R it replaces, the VX-8R retains the triple band set up on 6m,
2m and 70cm, will deliver a full 5w power from the included battery
pack and continues to meet the IPX57 submersible specifications so it
can stay submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes and still be
operational. However, the new model moves the goal posts considerably
in terms of features and functionality - this is the ultimate handheld.
In
addition to the BU-1 and BH-1/BH-2 bluetooth accessories there will
also be an optional GPS unit and antenna with loads of features. For
data buffs, the transceiver will support 1200/9600 bps APRS data
communication and, the previously optional, barometric sensor is now
included. The general broadcast receiver has been attended to too - the
receive coverage is wider than it's predecessor and there is now an
independent AM/FM broadcast receiver circuit.
Further
specifications include a powerful 7.4 V 1100 mAh Lithium Ion battery
with the availability of an optional 3 x AA battery cell case. The unit
is thinner than VX-7R, measuring just 2.36 x 3.74 x 0.92 inches. It
supports simultaneous independent 2-signal dual receive function with
both V + V or U + U and you can even operate Amateur radio while
receiving FM broadcasts! The dot matrix LCD display provides Memory tag
up to a maximum of 16 characters and you get a high-resolution Spectrum
Analyzer with +/- 60 channels indication with wave monitoring of
received/modulated signal! DCS and CTCSS encode and decode are also
included.

If it's available from China for £50 I'm interested. It looks great.

The bluetooth works well on my Yaesu FTM-10E so I would imagine it will work just as good with this. It's great to see the option on the Yaesu range and hope they heep adding it.

i read the pdf radio world had on it, it looks like a awsome bit of kit think its going to be on my list to santa this year ,

the option for gps will be great will do aprs, i do alot of mounting biking and i can see this been great up in the hills, i might finaly be able to work a 6m reapeater

This radio was at the rally last weekend and I heard some great points people were saying on D-Star.
It would be on my Christmas list if I didn't have the IC-E92! But I can't have two handhelds or I would be sleeping in the dog house!

The GPS can either go in the radio itself or in the mic so you don't have to carry the mic everywhere! How easy or simple it would be to change is another matter and I would think once it's in the radio or mic it would pretty much stay there...

Shame there is another month delay.
Dave

yer i cant quite see why theres another months delay unless it shipping problems, i keep hearing different things about the price as well, im sitll confused of how much its going to cost

can you use the bluetooth and gps at the same time does anyone know

Will be here in Germany in mid November and also the rrp (retail price) seems to be fluid here too at the moment.

Sure looks like something interesting indeed.

I too wanted to see it and see more information. I was looking forward to someone having it at Llandudno Rally but no such luck.

I was speaking to Radio World about it last week and they don't expect any in as the import price is high and the exchange rate is low... We will have to wait and see...

I can't see any reason why the Bluetooth can't be used at the same time. The GPS antenna plugs strait into the top of the radio or speaker mic and the Bluetooth board goes into the back of the radio. Once it is fitted it's not something you will wanna remove when not in use!

Hope this is of some help.

Dave

We had someone from Yaesu in at the club tonight & Iwent along as they had been asked to bring the VX-8r with them...They did not !!!!!
So I came home & did a google. I think I now know why.


http://ke2yk.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/the-vx-8r-what-happened/

After much long awaited arrival of the much anticipated Yaesu VX-8R, it turns out (in our opinion) to be the biggest blunder of any radio yet that contains the Yaesu label. We used to have a saying about MFJ. “The quality goes out before that name goes on”. I am beginning to wonder if that applies to Yaesu-Vertex-Motorola or whoever is producing this gear these days. After we purchased the radio (it’s already been returned to our Ham store) we found some rather serious issues with it.

the Yahoo groups are rather steamed about the issues with the VX-8R and accessories. There were comments about the BU1 unit being recalled, messages about the APRS not working properly and how Yaesu sold a very expensive radio with a low powered 1100MAH battery. I guess they are trying to clear their warehouse of stale battery inventory simultaneously.

in our opinion this is one radio you should stay FAR away from.

you end up with a half baked product and Yaesu ends up with a rather tarnished reputation.

Don't think given the above I would want to show it in public either, just hope that the public buy's it off the internet or post & hope that we dump our stock before the word gets out.

Blimey! Not many people have them, infact I know of one man and his is now on ebay with not any bids at the moment