Nice compact radio
As a new ham radio guy, I looked at a number of handheld radios before selecting this one. There are 4 operating (RX/TX) bands (6m/2m/222 MHz/440MHz), plus AM/FM tuner, shortwave and weather stations. Plenty of programmable memory slots to store your favourite frequencies, APRS/GPS (with optional receiver) and just a ton of other features to play with. There's even a Morse code trainer in the radio.
All the features does mean that reading the manual is necessary in order to figure out what magic combination of buttons is required to access the various modes and features. Selecting modes and options is done with a combination of button presses and turning the dial. Except for a few things, the radio can be operated pretty easily with just one hand. Transmit power, with the exception of the 6m band (fixed at 1W), can be adjusted to one of 4 levels, up to 5W.
The speaker sounds pretty decent, but you can also plug in regular headphones with a standard 1/8"...
Great Seller, Great Product!
First of all I want to compliment the seller. They are truly a first class operation there at Advanced Specialties. My reason for saying that is I had ordered mt items at seperate time and different orders, I would have had to pay many shipping charges. I sent them an email and ask them to please consolidate my orders wich they did, saved me 30 extra dollars of shipping. The package arrived in record time and just as ordered. Great seller. Very Friendly, Proffesional people at this seller company.
Now about the VX 8DR, This is an excellent radio in a very compact package. The radio has such great features like, APRS Network, Global positioning Capabilities, Sensors built in, Altimeter, volt meter, tempurature, Barometer. Quad band Ham radio 50/144/222/440 bands WOW! Completely submersible, with the ability to establish internet connection through radio repeaters. Can monitor frequencies to 1000 Mhz. AM/FM broadcasts you name it. Truly a great HT to have and be mobile...
Few things it CAN'T do!
Let me put this on the table first- skeptical. That's what I was when I started doing the research behind this little hand-held. I'd say to myself, "there's NO-WAY that little thing could do all that." Well friends and neighbors, this radio does more!
I agree that the user manual is DEEP. Block out at least 3 or 4 hours of your day in order to get an inkling of how this little baby operates. I bought the programming cable with mine but have not had to use it yet. Know your favorite Freq? Type it in and away you go!
More goodies, are you a MARS operator? Don't know what that is? Do your homework and check out the MARS/CAP mod for this radio and extend its already amazing reach!
Not a HAM operator yet? No worries, just lock-out the transmit option and you can scan the waves for chatter all day! I HIGHLY recommend this radio to those can afford it. You will not be disappointed.
Click to Editorial Reviews
