KB2LJJ                                                           
    Home                               Radio Mods Database and Manuals
 








 
                                             Modifications for the Yaesu VX-7R

 

 
MARS/CAP and FREEBAND MOD for VX-7R
 
     
Author: Rick Jones -


 
  1. Remove the battery pack.

     
  2. Remove the sticker/cover seal for the pressure sensing unit (SU-1), in the battery compartment. This is the black strip above cellular warning label and is where the SU-1 option goes.

     
  3. Locate row of eight jumpers. They are numbered.

     
  4. For Mars/Cap, remove solder jumper 5.

     
  5. For Freeband, remove solder jumper 4 and 5.

     
  6. Reset microprocessor. (Press and hold in the 4, band, and v/m keys while turning the radio on.

     
  7. ENJOY

TX Frequencies:
Freeband: 40-224.995Mhz and 300-579.995Mhz
Mars/Cap: 50Mhz-54Mhz, 140Mhz-174Mhz, 222Mhz-225Mhz, and 420Mhz-470Mhz.
 

 

                                      European Version

  yesterday I receive my new VX-7r europeen version
  there are jumper 2 and 3 solder
  I remove jumper 4 and 5 for Mars/Cap

  all seem OK after reset = [4] + [Band] + [V/M] keys while turning radio on



  BUT somebody remove only jumper 4, difference ??
  difference if you remove 4+5 or only 4 ?
 

                                      Users information
  This is to inform you about the European version VX-7R modification. I own the B1 European version (Label outside the box indicates DST:EXP / TYP:B1). Prior to any modifications the transceiver’s jumpers was soldered on positions 2,4,5,7 (factory setting) and the unit was capable of working on the following frequencies ONLY!
- 50-52MHz (RX ONLY, NO TX Possible!)
- 144-146MHz (RX/TX)
- 430-440MHz (RX/TX)
Reception was NOT possible anywhere outside these limits!

In order to modify it you should:
- Unsolder every jumper
- Reset the transceiver by holding down MON/F + HM/RV + Internet Key and power up the transceiver.
This will display the Vertex Standard logo instead of Yaesu. Bear in mind that resetting the transceiver by holding down 4 + BAND + V/M and powering up the transceiver WON’T work! It will just enter a curious set up:
- RX on all bands
- No WX Channels
- Menu Item Misc Setup 20: BEAT SQL (Instead of WX Alert)
- Menu Item Special Memory 6: JR (Instead of Marine)
- Menu Item Misc Setup 17: Japanese (Instead of English)
- Transmittion on 50-54MHz, 137-174MHz, 420-470MHz

After the aforementioned modification you will have continues RX coverage from 504KHz up to 999MHz (including analogue cellular frequencies - NO GAPS!)

Many thanks to Simeon Leriou, SV2GNM for his patience and his will.

73’s to all.

George Blekas, sv2bxj (gibl@intracom.gr)
 

 

 
VX-7R European Version Unlocked
 
     
Author: SV2GNM and sv2bxj


 

I own the B1 European version (Label outside the box indicates DST:EXP / TYP:B1). Prior to any modifications the transceiver’s jumpers was soldered on positions 2,4,5,7 (factory setting) and the unit was capable of working on the following frequencies ONLY!

50-52MHz (RX ONLY, NO TX Possible!)
144-146MHz (RX/TX)
430-440MHz (RX/TX) Reception was NOT possible anywhere outside these limits!

In order to modify it you should:

  • Unsolder every jumper

     
  • Reset the transceiver by holding down MON/F + HM/RV + Internet Key and power up the transceiver

This will display the Vertex Standard logo instead of Yaesu. Bear in mind that resetting the transceiver by holding down 4 + BAND + V/M and powering up the transceiver WON’T work! It will just enter a curious set up:

  • RX on all bands

     
  • No WX Channels

     
  • Menu Item Misc Setup 20: BEAT SQL (Instead of WX Alert)

     
  • Menu Item Special Memory 6: JR (Instead of Marine)

     
  • Menu Item Misc Setup 17: Japanese (Instead of English)

     
  • Transition on 50-54MHz, 137-174MHz, 420-470MHz

After the aforementioned modification you will have continues RX coverage from 504KHz up to 999MHz (including analogue cellular frequencies - NO GAPS!)

Many thanks to Simeon Leriou, SV2GNM for his patience and his will.

73’s to all.

George Blekas, sv2bxj (gibl@intracom.gr)
 

 
    VX-7R, info
 
Author: Chip Margelli, K7JA -

 

     Subject: RE: [Fwd: Re: FW: VX-7R info request]
        Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 15:53:25 -0700
        From: "Chip Margelli" <c.margelli@vxstdusa.com>
Organization: Vertex Standard
          To: "Ken" <n1kk@netzero.net>

By the way, with all the snipping and chatter on the VX-7R Yahoo group about "My Menu" not working, it isn't something that is "broken."

It turns out that the "My Menu" feature never made it to production. Instead, they put in a "toggle" on the configuration of the Internet key. In the default mode, it works with the WIRES protocol, as described. Now the fun starts.

If you turn the radio off, then press and hold in the Internet key while turning the radio on, you'll notice a "U" appearing along the left edge of the display while the big "VS" thing is displayed for a few seconds during switch on. In this case, the Internet key is configured for other Internet linking protocols, like IRLP. You program something into the DTMF Memory (TSQ/DCS/DTMF #8), then, during regular operation, you press the Internet key while you're talking. If, for example, your IRLP repeater requires you to send "#456" to link to node 456, you just program "#456" into a DTMF memory, then press the Internet key while you're pressing the PTT; basically, this is a "hot key" link to a DTMF Autodial Memory.

So the VX-7R really is a powerful Internet-access tool. . .more so than anybody thought.

Just thought you'd be interested.

73 de Chip Margelli, K7JA
 

 

 
VX-7R, Homebrew SMA to BNC adapter
 
     
Author: Ken, N1KK -


 

I made an adapter using the outside rubber sleeve of 2 different size heavy duty electrical cables. I needed 2 different sizes to get the right inner and outer diameters to cover the actual metal adapter.

The result is a wider diameter base to help support larger external BNC antennas.


 

 

 
VX-7R MAX Modulation
 
     
Author: -


 

If you hold down MONI/F key and Internet (wires) and Set(0) key, and power on you can use the frequency knob to go through a menu of different thing including MAX Modulation.

I put mine on 50 and got really good results. Press V/M key to be able to change the value with the frequency knob.

From: ka7ien
Subject: Re: VX-7R Max Modulation tweak

Advertisement

Turn the knob so you aren't on the "PLL REF" option, then you can press the BAND key. This is because the "PLL REF" option only shows up on the 440 band.

I don't know if this will format correctly but here is how my radio was set up from the factory: 

            52 145 222 435

            PLL REF 126
            HIS SQL 0 0 0 0
            THLD SQL 170 172 172 160
            TIGH SQL 108 138 138 78
            S1 LEVEL (NFM) 36 32 32 50
            S9 LEVEL (NFM) 72 68 68 84
            S1 LEVEL (WFM) 60 58 58 72
            S9 LEVEL (WFM) 82 80 80 94
            HI POWER 147 145 145 203
            L3 POWER 113 114 114 154
            L2 POWER 82 88 72 113
            L1 POWER 52 56 57 59
            MAX DEV 113 81 40 38
            TN 67.0 45 56 10 89
            TN 123.0 40
            TN 151.4 16 19
            TN 167.9 11
            TN 254.1 11 13 22 22
            DCS DEV 40 12 11 6
            LCD TC V 2 2 2 2
            LCD IREG 4 4 4 4

 

 
VX-7R TX and RX
 
     
Author: -
 
Model- EXP/B2 Europe
All jumpers open.
What you get
TX - 40~222 Fm and Air band- yes
     300~550
RX - As the manual says.

What you lose:

  • ARS on Ham bands
  • .Special Marine Memory-instead you get JR Memory and TV in Weather channels ( MONF+ 3 WX)

Thats all.
Have a good Time.
 

 

 
YAESU VX-7 free band (europe version)
 
     
Author: SV1EFO Hlias -

 

If you have a vx-7 europe version here is how to modify.

  • Remove the battery pack.

     
  • Remove the sticker/cover seal for the pressure sensing unit (SU-1), in the battery compartment. This is the black strip above cellular warning label and is where the SU-1 option goes.

     
  • Locate row of eight jumpers. They are numbered.

     
  • For Freeband, remove(Unsolder) all solder jumper exept 3

     
  • Reset the transceiver by holding down MON/F + HM/RV + Internet Key and power up the transceiver

This will display the Vertex Standard logo instead of Yaesu. Bear in mind that resetting the transceiver by holding down 4 + BAND + V/M and powering up the transceiver WON’T work!

TX Frequencies:
Freeband: 40-224.995Mhz and 300-579.995Mhz

Have fun
SV1EFO Hlias