[OZAPRS] Any experiences with a Standard Vertex VX8R ?

[Chris Lumsden]

Hello all.
 
Yes, I have a VX-8R. Have had it for a few months, & is a great little radio.
I have the speaker-mic & GPS module. Using a Diamond whip on it, as the standard duckie antenna does not perform too well, especially out in the country areas where I am.
 
The APRS mode works well. It is a pity, however, that a few extra features were not included in the radio, such as the ability to be able to filter stations better. I would love to be able to filter on the SSID suffix code, rather than just the broad position, object, WX stations, etc that it does. And also to be able to sort the station list according to distance would be great. 
 
The APRS messaging works well too. Typing a message on the radio is done like a SMS message on a mobile, but with no predictive text input....
 
I will probably not get the bluetooth module for it. I have mostly heard that the bluetooth range is not too good, typically less than that with a mobile phone.
Also, the bluetooth is only used for voice comms, not data. It would have been great to have the bluetooth module handle data to access the TNC, & for programming the radio. Why did they not do this ??
 
It will be interesting to see what the new Kenwood handheld is like when it comes out next year. 
 
My first long distance trip to Melbourne with the VX-8 will be done this Friday. Look forward to trying it out, & seeing how well I get tracked. I have a 25W amp in the car. 
 
Cheers, Chris Lumsden
VK3TYG,  VK3TYG-7
Shepparton, Vic.
 
 


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Access Yahoo!7 Mail on your mobile. Anytime. Anywhere.
Show me how: http://au.mobile.yahoo.com/mail
_______________________________________________
Ozaprs mailing list
Ozaprs at aprs.net.au
http://aprs.net.au/mailman/listinfo/ozaprs