Yaesu VX8-GR Handheld VHF Tranceiver with APRS

Just some background on me before I get into my recent purchase from the "Candy Store" which is what Amateur "Ham" Radio operators call the Ham Radio Outlet. I passed the General class FCC exam in Middle School in 1979 while a member of the Drexel Hill Junior High Amateur Radio Club.  I operated only HF then for DX (Long distance communications). I have good memories of Sam Stern WB3KTP and David Tatum WB3KTQ who were the leaders and instructors from whom I learned to enjoy Amateur Radio and the Morse code. I moved to California in 1988 and recently started operating again in 2009, that was a long time. THings have changed a lot and they haven't.  I am currently involved with ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services in Sunnyvale, CA. Currently I am operating only on 2m/70cm. I haven't done HF since middle school. I am interested in trying to work VHF satellites but haven't spent much time on it yet.

I have been operating again for 6 months now and have learned that for serious Emergency work that I needed to have a dual band 2m/70cm handheld tranceiver and that it was best to have one with dual receive which means that I can listen to 2 channels or frequencies at the same time. I have 2 other Yaesu radios and decided to stick with Yaesu and buy one new so I could enjoy the latest technology. I have also been interested in being able to beacon my location via APRS since that involves digital technology on the air which I have not tried out yet. In 1979 this didn't exist as far as I know. This radio has a built in GPS receiver and AX.25 based packet modem. The radio can beacon its current GPS location on one channel while the user talks on another. http://www.aprs.fi is a map showing the location that other hams beacon.


This radio works very well. The audio is good from what people I have had QSO's (conversations) with have told me and the setup was very easy. There are context sensitive menus and a lot of options but it was pretty well thought out. I was beaconing after about 30min and had my favorite repeaters programmed in after about 15 more.

This radio was the perfect trade off for me that its more expensive VX-8DR since it was just dual band, not quad band with band I don't need, and the GPS was built in instead of being an add on option.