Guess what... they responded (they just earned brownie points for that kind of customer service). However bad news is they did not and will not provide any tips. But it is worth noting, that he said they "can not advise" on modifications. He didn't say it wasn't possible.
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Yaesu VX-8r mod - first on the internet!
- Thread starter Moleculo
- Start date
I just want to say that I did this mod on my (USA) VX-8DR last night and it worked. The reason for doing so is that in my mountain-bike group a few people use Talkabouts and I wanted to use my VX-8 to talk to them. I already took my radio to our rides, because it was the only one capable of reaching someone in case of an accident. Now it will play a double role.
Thanks, OP, for sharing the info: precise, accurate and valuable.
Now, regarding the use of the unlocked VX-8DR in the 462/467 range: CTCSS and DCS work flawlessly. I tested with several Motorola Talkabouts, in different channel+PL settings and everytime I was able to both hear and be heard by them.
The only thing that didn't work quite well was the channel counter: with one Motorola T5720 configured as Ch 1 PL 0 (f = 462.5625), the VX-8DR's channel counter id'd the frequency as 469.something. The radios where about 20cm from each other.
CTCSS scanning also worked and correctly identified the PL (CTCSS frequency) used by the walkie talkie. I was insantly able to hear the transmitting WT.
Thanks, OP, for sharing the info: precise, accurate and valuable.
Now, regarding the use of the unlocked VX-8DR in the 462/467 range: CTCSS and DCS work flawlessly. I tested with several Motorola Talkabouts, in different channel+PL settings and everytime I was able to both hear and be heard by them.
The only thing that didn't work quite well was the channel counter: with one Motorola T5720 configured as Ch 1 PL 0 (f = 462.5625), the VX-8DR's channel counter id'd the frequency as 469.something. The radios where about 20cm from each other.
CTCSS scanning also worked and correctly identified the PL (CTCSS frequency) used by the walkie talkie. I was insantly able to hear the transmitting WT.
VX-8R & VX-8DE Mod
hello everyone,
i know this is an old topic but thought id share my experience
so i own a VX-8R (from U.S) and a VX-8DE (purchased from the U.K) last night i decided to go ahead and do the Mars-Cap mod when i read on the forum here that there was a software mod too.
1) i can Confirm that the hardware mod works just fine with VX-8R. However, software mod does NOT work with the VX-8R both before and after hardware mod.
2) The VX-8DE hardware mod works fine, you can only do the the software mod for the VX-8DE after you do the hardware mode, otherwise you will just get a screen with "C2" and you wont be able to select " *** " .
here's a couple of pics i took
Cheers and good luck
hello everyone,
i know this is an old topic but thought id share my experience
so i own a VX-8R (from U.S) and a VX-8DE (purchased from the U.K) last night i decided to go ahead and do the Mars-Cap mod when i read on the forum here that there was a software mod too.
1) i can Confirm that the hardware mod works just fine with VX-8R. However, software mod does NOT work with the VX-8R both before and after hardware mod.
2) The VX-8DE hardware mod works fine, you can only do the the software mod for the VX-8DE after you do the hardware mode, otherwise you will just get a screen with "C2" and you wont be able to select " *** " .
here's a couple of pics i took
Cheers and good luck
Attachments
I had a VX-8DE delivered today and done exactly the same mod and can confirm what you have said exactly on the E units.
Out of interest, since doing the mod I cannot turn RPT ARS on which means I will have to manually programme repeater shifts. I guess this is something to do with the unit becoming non-locale specific (following hardware/software mod).
Can you confirm if you have the same thing going on?
I know this is a old thread. But i just got the VX-8DR European Model was only supposed to be a Tri-Band Model. Well i did the software mod on it and it opened up 222.000MHz for me. this is what i got.
1.800 | AM | no TX
50.000 |AM| TX
108.000 |AM| no TX
137.000 |NFM| TX
174.000 |WFM|TX
222.000 |WFM|TX
420.000 |NFM|TX
470.000 |WFM|TX
860.00 |NFM| No TX
1.800 | AM | no TX
50.000 |AM| TX
108.000 |AM| no TX
137.000 |NFM| TX
174.000 |WFM|TX
222.000 |WFM|TX
420.000 |NFM|TX
470.000 |WFM|TX
860.00 |NFM| No TX
I am thinking of buying the VX-8D and it looks like with this and the software mods in mind I will be better off buying the European model to have more options (though I live in US)...
Am I right, or am I missing smthng? Thanks very much for all the help.
Am I right, or am I missing smthng? Thanks very much for all the help.
I know this is an old thread but if anyone checks in I have a question. I got the VX-8DR and played around with it for a few days. Worked great. I decided to do the mod. Used a fine tip soldering iron and got the SMD resistor off. Did the microprocessor reset and powered on. Could TX on all the bands as expected on VFO A and VFO B.
However there was one issue. VFO A RX seems to have been messed up. I just get low static on just about any frequency. I have some bubble pack FRS/GMRS radios so I tuned both VFO A and VFO B to 462.5625 (FRS Ch1). I set the VX-8DR into mono mode with VFO A. I could TX and hear my test on the FRS. Same with VFO B. I then tested TX from the FRS radio and I could hear just fine my "test test" on VFO B, however when I switched to VFO A the green LED for RX was lit up but I couldn't hear my words just the low static I mentioned before.
I wanted to test in another band so I tried tuning both VFO's to 162.550 (my local NOAA WX station). I can hear the transmission perfectly with VFO B but it's just static in VFO A. Just as I test I tried changing the MODE and I was shocked when I could hear a faint transmission of the WX broadcast when the mode was AM not NFB as the band defaults too. Same issue when I try to use the "SP BNK" mode and listen to WX stations too.
I tried to solder the resistor back but it's so tiny I couldn't get it. Since it's a 0 ohm resistor I also tried to just make a solder bridge. Same issue. I fear I screwed something up. I can continue to use the radio but only with VFO B. I've tried some other menu changes but nothing seems to have worked. I've done the microprocessor and the mode reset to no avail.
Thoughts?
Don't really want to contact Yaesu just yet with that whole warranty issue.
However there was one issue. VFO A RX seems to have been messed up. I just get low static on just about any frequency. I have some bubble pack FRS/GMRS radios so I tuned both VFO A and VFO B to 462.5625 (FRS Ch1). I set the VX-8DR into mono mode with VFO A. I could TX and hear my test on the FRS. Same with VFO B. I then tested TX from the FRS radio and I could hear just fine my "test test" on VFO B, however when I switched to VFO A the green LED for RX was lit up but I couldn't hear my words just the low static I mentioned before.
I wanted to test in another band so I tried tuning both VFO's to 162.550 (my local NOAA WX station). I can hear the transmission perfectly with VFO B but it's just static in VFO A. Just as I test I tried changing the MODE and I was shocked when I could hear a faint transmission of the WX broadcast when the mode was AM not NFB as the band defaults too. Same issue when I try to use the "SP BNK" mode and listen to WX stations too.
I tried to solder the resistor back but it's so tiny I couldn't get it. Since it's a 0 ohm resistor I also tried to just make a solder bridge. Same issue. I fear I screwed something up. I can continue to use the radio but only with VFO B. I've tried some other menu changes but nothing seems to have worked. I've done the microprocessor and the mode reset to no avail.
Thoughts?
Don't really want to contact Yaesu just yet with that whole warranty issue.
- No one is chatting at the moment.
...runna pile-up on 6m SSB