Yaesu 'VX-2R'
 

VX-2R European settings
alignment for the deviation of these out-of-the-box rigs is FAR TOO HIGH for our European standard 3 kHz peak deviation system
  • Press FW - MD - 'internet' simultaneously while powering on.
  • Now you enter the menu settings for 440 MHz band. Rotate dial until you see 'DEV' in the left upper corner.
  • Press V/M and change setting to '49'
  • Press V/M to memorize
  • change band to 144 MHz
  • Rotate dial again until you see 'DEV'
  • Press V/M and change setting to '46'
  • Press V/M to memorize
  • exit by pressing 'HM'

And now you have a wonderful sounding radio.

73's Pedro ON7WP-AA9HX

'relevant' comments appreciated (No you cannot send SSB with this rig, no it can not receive 'beagle'...)

Incredible what one gets to read in these comment lines....

 

VX-2r bug in the VX-2 when setting the step size to 15KC in the 146.52 area.
With the step size on 20KC and the frequency at 145.32 (any frequency really), then change the frequency to 146.52 (or any close to there) and now change the step size to 15KC and move the dial ONE click clockwise. The frequency moves only 5 kc and goes to .525 instead of .530 , it is now off the standard frequency steps in that region.

This does not happen if you change to 15kc while near 147.51

A minor bug that I found while programming all the 2m memories.

My one BIG irritation on the VX-2 (I love it), is that they did not give us a 'quick step thru memory' mode. After programming hundreds of memory channels we have to use the dial to move thru EVERY channel!

The SIMPLE solution was to let us move in steps of 100 memories by pressing the F/W key and then moving the dial.... this would be like we do when programming the memory channels... So simple yet they did not do it.... very irritating to have to turn the dial thru hundreds of channels.

 

VX2-R total lockup
I recently came across a glitch on my VX2-R.

It would seem that you cannot operate the receiver in both preferential scan mode with the WX Alt switched on, it will cause the radio to lock up displaying 162.550 none of the buttons will do anything even the on/off button does not work.

If this happens to you the battery must be removed and replaced to get the radio to operate again. Then get out of preferential scan mode Immediately (before it locks up again) and enter setup mode to switch off WX ALT.

I have tried this multiple times with the same result. It does not happen in regular memory scan.

Larry Thompson
VE7LGT

 

Free software for VX-2r
Here you will find free programming software for various handheld radios.
 

     Basic cable setups for the different radios:

Remember, you can use a USB to TTL cable in place of the RS-232 to TTL cable. (see below)
 

 

VX-2R free band mod
 
  1. Remove battery cover and battery.

     
  2. Remove the sticker/cover seal it is silver in color. Use a very small tip or screw driver to lift sticker up. Becareful you will need to replace this sticker when done.

     
  3. There will be two rows of jumper pads. Each row has four jumper pads. One on top (towards the top of radio) the other below. On the top row going from left to right there is a solder jumper on the fourth pad.

     
  4. Remove this solder jumper. I used solder wick. (Caution: Use low watage solder iron.) Replace sticker, battery, and cover.

     
  5. Reset microprocessor. (Hold: Band, H/L, and VM keys while turning the radio on. Press the F/W key momentarily to reset).

Enjoy

TX Frequencies: 76-220Mhz, 300-555Mhz (VCO will unlock on transmit somewhere above 550Mhz.

Rick Jones

                                    

 

 

Other Information for the VX-R2

USB Interface
Alexander Meier (DG6RBP) has designed a USB interface for Yaesu Radios, which was published in the german ham radio magazine CQ-DL. He sent me an english translation, complete with description, schematic, board layout, parts list etc.    Download the PDF Here.
Big thanks to Alexander for his unique project!
 

Pinouts

Here is the pinout of the 4-conductor plug for the VX-2R, VX-5R, and VX-7R.

Here is the pinout of the 3-conductor plug for the VR-120 and the IC-R2.
 

                

 

                            

ATTENTION
The KB2LJJ takes no responsibility for any damage during the modification or for any wrong information made on this modification.