Yaesu is a legendary company that has a solid reputation for making extraordinary products. The Yaesu VX-8DR is waterproof radio handheld transceiver with a well earned reputation. It is a great handheld receiver for an amateur radio user, and there are many features that make this product well worth a closer look.
Pros – Features
The VX-8DR is an excellent radio that comes in a very compact package. This radio comes with many excellent features, including built in sensors global positioning capabilities, barometer, temperature,four operating bands, AM/FM tuner, weather stations, etc. This radio also has the capability to establish a wireless network connection to the internet through radio repeaters. There are also many memory slots for you to store your favorite frequencies. The features this radio transceiver offers almost seems unlimited. There are very few things it can’t do.
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Pros – Damage Resistance
The VX-8DR holds up very well to environmental damage, such as rain. If is also very resistant to damage that may be caused by dropping the product. While many other products can result in long term damage of the product by being rained on or by being dropped, this product is a high quality product that is made to hold up against any kind of damage or force.
Cons – Expense
While the VX-8DR is a great product, a great product usually does come at a premium price. The Yaesu VX-8DR costs about $370 on Amazon. If bought somewhere other than Amazon, the product can cost up to $500. There are many other cheaper HT’s on the market that compete heavily with the VX series from Yaesu. Aside from the initial price, the price of the accessories is very expensive for what you are getting. If you plan on purchasing the extended battery, GPS receiver, external mic, Bluetooth and head set, etc., you can spend well over $800. That’s a lot for an HT that you have already paid $370 for.
Cons – Size
If you aren’t a fan of small products, you might not enjoy this product as much as you would enjoy another product that is of a larger size. The VX-8DR only weights 1.4 pounds. If you desire to have a lightweight product, this is an excellent product. If not, the small size could be the deal breaker.
Cons – Reception
One complaint about the VX-8DR is that in some places, it doesn’t get good reception. The clarity of sound also tends to be an issue, and it does sometimes seem to have poor gain for transmitting and receiving signals at times, based on reviews. Some reviews have even claimed that it doesn’t work more than five miles from their location. However, there are mixed reviews about this issue.
Overall, the Yaesu VX-8DR is a great radio transceiver that offers a ton of great features. While it does have its few minor issues, the VX-8DR is well worth the price. This product is top quality compared to its competitors on the market. It provides more accessories than you can probably imagine. Great things really do come in small packages, and this radio transceiver offers proof of that statement.