Yaesu VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL
VHF/UHF
ULTRA-COMPACT DUAL-BAND TRANSCEIVER
WITH WIDE BAND COVERAGE
OPERATING MANUAL
VERTEX STANDARD CO., LTD.
4-8-8 Nakameguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 153-8644, Japan
VERTEX STANDARD
US Headquarters
10900 Walker Street, Cypress, CA 90630, U.S.A.
International Division
8350 N.W. 52nd Terrace, Suite 201, Miami, FL 33166, U.S.A.
YAESU EUROPE B.V.
P.O. Box 75525, 1118 ZN Schiphol, The Netherlands
YAESU UK LTD.
Unit 12, Sun Valley Business Park, Winnall Close
Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0LB, U.K.
VERTEX STANDARD HK LTD.
Unit 5, 20/F., Seaview Centre, 139-141 Hoi Bun Road,
Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Contents
General Description .......................................... 1
Controls & Connections ................................... 2
Keypad Functions............................................3
Display Icons & Indicators .............................3
Accessories & Options ...................................... 4
Installation of Accessories ................................5
Antenna Installation ........................................ 5
Installation of the Supplied Belt Clip ............. 5
Installation of FNB-82LI Battery Pack .......... 6
Interface of Packet TNCs ................................. 7
Operation............................................................ 8
Switching Power On and Off..........................8
Adjusting the Volume Level ........................... 8
Squelch Adjustment ........................................9
Selecting the Operating Band ....................... 10
Frequency Navigation ...................................11
Transmission .................................................12
Keyboard Locking ......................................... 13
Keypad/LCD Illumination ............................14
Disabling the Keypad Beeper ....................... 14
Advanced Operation .......................................15
Checking the Battery Voltage.......................15
Changing the Channel Steps.........................15
Changing the Receiving Mode .....................16
Display Dimmer ............................................16
RF Squelch ....................................................17
Repeater Operation .......................................18
CTCSS Operation..........................................21
DCS Operation ..............................................22
Tone Search Scanning...................................23
CTCSS/DCS Bell Operation.........................24
Split Tone Operation ..................................... 24
Tone Calling (1750 Hz) ................................25
ARTS
(Automatic Range Transponder System)
DTMF Operation ........................................... 29
Emergency Channel Operation.....................31
ATT (Front End Attenuator) ......................... 31
Receive Battery Saver Setup.........................32
TX Battery Saver ........................................... 32
Automatic Power-Off (APO) Feature...........33
Transmitter Time-Out Timer (TOT).............34
Busy Channel Lock-Out (BCLO) ................. 34
Changing the TX Deviation Level................35
.......26
Memory Mode ..................................................36
Regular Memory Operation .......................... 37
Memory Storage ........................................ 37
Storing Independent
Transmit Frequencies (“Odd Split”) ........ 37
Memory Recall .......................................... 38
HOME Channel Memory .........................38
Labeling Memories ................................... 39
Memory Offset Tuning .............................40
Masking Memories ................................... 41
Moving Memory Data to the VFO ...........41
Mem0ory Bank Operation ........................ 42
Memory Only Mode..................................43
Special Memory Channel Operation ............ 44
Weather Broadcast Channels .................... 44
VHF Marine Channels..............................45
Sort-wave Broadcast Station
Memory Channels ..................................... 46
Scanning ............................................................ 47
VFO Scanning ............................................... 48
How to skip (Omit) a Frequency
during VFO Scan ...................................... 49
Memory Scanning ......................................... 50
Temporary Memory Skip..........................50
How to Skip (Omit) a Channel
during Memory Scan Operation ............... 50
Preferential Memory Scan ........................51
Programmable (Band Limit) Memory Scan
(PMS) ............................................................. 52
“Priority Channel” Scanning
(Dual Watch) .................................................52
Automatic Lamp Illumination
on Scan Stop .................................................. 53
Band Edge Beeper .........................................53
Smart Search Operation.................................54
Channel Counter Operation ..........................56
Internet Connection Feature..........................58
Sensor Mode .....................................................68
Reset Procedures .............................................60
Cloning ..............................................................61
Set Mode ...........................................................62
Specifications....................................................74
“AUTO” Mode Preset Operating Parameters
....75
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The VX-2R is a micro-miniature multiband FM transceiver
with extensive receive frequency coverage, providing local-area two-way amateur communications along with unmatched monitoring capability.
The VX-2R’s incredibly small size allows you to take it
anywhere - hiking, skiing, or while walking around town and its operating flexibility brings the user many avenues
of operating enjoyment. Its incredibly tiny FNB-82LI
Lithium-Ion Battery Pack provides up to 1½ Watts of transmit power on VHF, and 1 Watt on UHF. Besides 144- and
430-MHz transceive operation, the VX-2R provides receive coverage of the AM (MF) and FM broadcast bands,
HF Shortwave Bands, VHF and UHF TV bands, the VHF
AM aircraft band, and a wide range of commercial and
public safety frequencies!
Additional features include a convenient access key for
Vertex Standard’s WIRESTM (Wide-Coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System), a transmit Time-Out Timer
(TOT), Automatic Power-Off (APO), Automatic Repeater
Shift (ARS), Yaesu’s exclusive ARTSTM (Auto-Range Transponder System) which “beeps” the user when you move
out of communications range with another ARTS
equipped station, plus provision for reduction of the TX
deviation in areas of high channel congestion. And an RF
squelch circuit allows the owner to set the squelch to open
at a programmable setting of the S-Meter, thus reducing
guesswork in setting the squelch threshold.
We appreciate your purchase of the VX-2R, and encourage you to read this manual thoroughly, so as to learn about
the many exciting features of your exciting new Yaesu
hand-held transceiver!
TM
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 1
CONTROL & CONNECTIONS
ANTENNA
Connect the supplied rubber flex antenna (or another
antenna presenting
a 50-Ohm impedance) here.
(
PTT
Push To Talk
Press this switch to
transmit, and release it (to receive)
after your transmission is completed.
MONI
Pressing this key
disables the noise
squelching action,
allowing you to hear
very weak signals
near the background noise level.
POWER
Press and hold in
this switch for one
second to toggle the
transceiver’s power
on and off.
KEYPAD
These seven keys
select many of most
important operating
features on the VX-
2R. The functions of
the keys are described in detail on
the pages to follow.
This four-conductor
miniature jack provides connection
points for microphone audio, earphone audio, PTT,
and ground.
)
MIC/SP
VOLUME
This control adjusts
the audio volume
level. Clockwise rotation increases the
volume level.
DIAL
The main tuning Dial
is used for setting
the operating frequency, and also is
used for menu selections and other
adjustments.
BUSY/TX
This indicator glows
green when the
squelch opens, and
turns red during
transmit. During
“Emergency” operation See page 31,
this indicator will
glow (or flash) white.
EXT DC
This coaxial DC jack
allows connection to
an external DC
power source (3.2-
7.0V DC). The center pin of this jack is
the Positive
nection.
The internal microphone is located
here.
The internal
speaker is located
here.
(+)
MIC
SPEAKER
con-
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL2
Key
[
BAND] Key
[
H/L] Key
[
V/M] Key
[
F/W] Key
[
HM/RV] Key
[ ]
Key
[MD]
Key
KEYPAD FUNCTIONS
Press Key
Moves operation to the
next-highest frequency
band.
Activates the “Memory
Bank” feature while in the
Memory Recall mode.
Switches the transmit
power output between
“HI” and “LOW.”
Switches frequency control between the VFO and
Memory Systems.
Activates the “Alternate”
key function.
Reverses the transmit
and receive frequencies
while working through a
repeater.
Activates the WIRES
(Internet Connection) feature.
Switches the operating
mode.
TM
CONTROL & CONNECTIONS
Press + [F/W] Key
Moves operation to the
next-lowest frequency
band.
Selects the synthesizer
steps to be used during
VFO operation.
Activates the “Memory
Tune” function while in
the Memory Recall mode.
Disables the “Alternate”
key function.
Switches operation to the
“Home” (favorite frequency) channel.
Recalls the “Weather
Broadcast” channels and
Short-wave broadcast
station channels.
Activates CTCSS or DCS
operation.
Press and Hold Key
Activates the Scanner.
Enters the Set (Menu)
Mode.
Activates the Dual Watch
feature.
Activates the “Memory
Write” mode (for memory
channel storage).
Activates the “Emergency” Function. See
page 31.
Activates the ARTS
feature.
Activates the Smart
SearchTM and Channel
Counter features.
TM
LCD DISPLAY
CTCSS/DCS Operation
Internet Connection Feature Active
Operating Frequency
Bell Alerm Active
Battery Indicator
S- & PO Meter
Key Lock Active
Automatic Power-Off Active
Operating Band Number or
Memory Channel Number
Skip Memory Channel or
Preferential Memory Channel
Priority Channel
Dual Watch Active
Alt. Keypad Active
Operating Mode
Low TX Power Selected
Repeater Shift Direction
Battery Saver Active
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 3
ACCESSORIES & OPTIONS
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
FNB-82LI 3.7 V, 1000 mAh Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Pack ..........1
NC-85B, C, or Uø2.5-Hour Charger ......................................................................1
Belt Clip .....................................................................................................................1
Antenna ......................................................................................................................1
Operating Manual........................................................................................................1
Warranty Card.............................................................................................................1
AV AILABLE OPTIONS
CSC-90 Soft Case
•
CN-3 BNC-to-SMA Adapter
‚
VC-25 VOX Headset
ƒ
MH-34B4B Speaker/Microphone
„
MH-37A4B Ear piece/Microphone
…
CT-27 Cloning Cable
†
CT-44 Microphone Adapter
‡
FNB-82LI 3.7 V, 1000 mAh Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Pack
ˆ
E-DC-21 DC Cable w/Cigarette-Lighter Adapter
‰
NC-85B, C, Uø2.5-Hour Charger
Š
:
“B” suffix is for use with 120 VAC, “C” suffix is for use with 230-240 VAC, and “U”
ø
suffix is for use with 230 VAC.
Availability of accessories may vary. Some accessories are supplied as standard per local
requirements, while others may be unavailable in some regions. Consult your Yaesu dealer
for details regarding these and any newly-available options Connection of any non-Yaesuapproved accessory, should it cause
damage, may void the Limited Warranty on this apparatus.
‚
ƒ „
…
†
‡
•
‰
Š
ˆ
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL4
INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES
ANTENNA INSTALLATION
The supplied antenna provides good results over the entire frequency range
of the transceiver. However, for enhanced base station medium-wave and
shortwave reception, you may wish to connect an external (outside) antenna, as the supplied antenna is very small and cannot be expected to
provide high performance at these frequencies.
To install the supplied antenna, hold the bottom end of the antenna, then
screw it onto the mating connector on the transceiver until it is snug. Do
not over-tighten by use of extreme force.
Notes:
¦ Never transmit without having an antenna connected.
¦ When installing the supplied antenna, never hold the upper part of the
antenna while screwing it onto the mating connector on the transceiver.
¦ If using an external antenna for transmission, ensure that the SWR
presented to the transceiver is 1.5:1 or lower, to avoid excessive feedline
loss.
INSTALLATION OF THE SUPPLIED BELT CLIP
1. Remove the dummy cover and its screw from the rear panel of the transceiver.
Keep the dummy cover and screw in case you need to replace them in the future.
2. Connect the supplied Belt Clip, along with its mounting screw, to the rear panel.
Do not use the Belt Clip screw to affix the dummy cover!
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 5
INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES
á
á
INSTALLATION OF FNB-82LI BATTERY PACK
The FNB-82LI is a high-performance Lithium-Ion battery providing high capacity in a
very compact package. Under normal use, the FNB-82LI may be used for approximately
300 charge cycles, after which operating time may be expected to decrease. If you have an
old battery pack which is displaying capacity which has become diminished, you should
replace the pack with a new one.
Installation of the battery is easy and quick:
r Slide the Battery Cover Latch to the
Unlock position, then slide the Battery
Cover toward the bottom to remove it.
r Install the FNB-82LI into the Battery
Compartment.
r Replace the Bat-
tery Cover, then
UNLOCK
slide the Battery
Cover Latch to
the Lock position.
If the battery has never been used, or its charge is depleted, it may be charged by connecting the NC-85
Battery Charger, as shown in the illustration, to the
EXT DC jack. If only 12 ~ 16 Volt DC power is available, the optional E-DC-21 DC Adapter (with its cigarette lighter plug) may also be used for charging the
battery.
LOCK
s
LOCK
While the battery is being charged, the display will
indicate “CHGING” and the BUSY/TX indicator will
glow red. The S-meter will deflect according
to the charging status. When charging is finished, the display will change to indicate
“CHGFUL” and the BUSY/TX indicator will
glow green.
Should you connect the NC-85 to the VX-2R without having the battery inside, the display
will indicate “FL/NBT” to notify you that you need to install the battery. Similarly, if you
connect the NC-85 to the VX-2R when the battery is fully charged, the display will indicate “CHGFUL,” the same display that you see at the end of the charge cycle.
The NC-85 is only designed for the charging of the VX-2R’s battery, and is not suitable for
other purposes. Please be advised that the NC-85 may contribute noise to TV and radio
reception in the immediate vicinity, so we do not recommend its use adjacent to such devices.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL6
INTERFACE OF PACKET TNCS
The VX-2R may be used for Packet operation, using the optional CT-91 microphone adapter
(available from your Yaesu dealer) for easy interconnection to commonly-available connectors wired to your TNC. You may also build your own cable, using a four-conductor
miniature phone plug, per the diagram below.
The audio level from the receiver to the TNC may be adjusted by using the VOLUME
knob, as with voice operation. The input level to the VX-2R from the TNC should be
adjusted at the TNC side; the optimum input voltage is approximately 5 mV at 2000 Ohms.
Be sure to turn the transceiver and TNC off before connecting the cables, so as to prevent
voltage spikes from possibly damaging your transceiver.
When you are operating on Packet, switch the Receive Battery Saver OFF, as the “sleep”
cycle may “collide” with the beginning of an incoming Packet transmission, causing
your TNC not to receive the full data burst. See page 32 for details regarding Battery
Saver setup.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 7
OPERATION
Hi! I’m R. F. Radio, and I’ll be helping you along as you learn the many
features of the VX-2R. I know you’re anxious to get on the air, but I encour-
age you to read the “Operation” section of this manual as thoroughly as
possible, so you’ll get the most out of this fantastic new transceiver. Now. . .let’s get
operating!
SWITCHING POWER ON AND OFF
1. Be sure the Battery Pack is installed, and that the battery is fully charged. Connect the
antenna to the top panel ANTENNA jack.
2. Press and hold in the POWER switch (on the left side of the transceiver) for one
second. Two beeps will be heard when the switch has
been held long enough, and the current DC supply voltage will indicated on the display for 2 seconds; if you
are using the FNB-82LI Battery Pack, the small “Lit”
icon at the top of the display confirms that the LithiumIon Battery Pack has been detected. After this 2-second interval, the display will resume its normal indication of the operating frequency.
3. To turn the VX-2R off, press and hold in the POWER switch again for one second.
1) If you don’t hear the two “Beep” tones when the radio comes on, the Beeper
may have been disabled via the Menu system. See page 14, which tells you
how to reactivate the Beeper.
2) You can change the Opening Message (DC supply voltage indication) to any desired
message (up to 6 characters) via Set Mode Item 30: OPNMSG; see page 68 for details.
ADJUSTING THE VOLUME LEVEL
Rotate the VOLUME control (inner knob) to set the desired audio level. Clockwise rotation increases the volume
level.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL8
OPERATION
SQUELCH ADJUSTMENT
The VX-2R’s Squelch system allows you to mute the background noise when no signal is
being received. Not only does the Squelch system make “standby” operation more pleasant, it also significantly reduces battery current consumption.
The Squelch system may be adjusted independently for the FM and Wide-FM (FM Broadcast) modes.
1. Press the [F/W] key, then press the MONI switch on the left side of the radio. This
provides a “Short-cut” to Set Mode Item 41: SQL.
2. Now, rotate the DIAL knob to set the Squelch so that the background noise is just
silenced (typically at a setting of about “1” or “2” for FM, and “2” or “3” for WideFM); this is point of maximum sensitivity to weak signals.
3. When you are satisfied with the Squelch threshold setting, press the PTT key momentarily to save the new setting and exit to normal operation.
1) A special “RF Squelch” feature is provided on the VX-2R. This feature
allows you to set the squelch so that only signals exceeding a certain S-meter
level will open the squelch. See page 17 for details.
2) If you’re operating in an area of high RF pollution, you may need to consider “Tone
Squelch” operation using the built-in CTCSS Decoder. This feature will keep your radio quiet until a call is received from a station sending a carrier which contains a matching
(subaudible) CTCSS tone. Or, if your friends have radios equipped with DCS (Digital
Coded Squelch) like your VX-2R has, try using that mode for silent monitoring of busy
channels.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 9
OPERATION
SELECTING THE OPERATING BAND
The VX-2R covers an incredibly
wide frequency range, over
which a number of different operating modes are used. Therefore, the VX-2R ’s frequency coverage has been divided into different operating bands, each of
which has its own pre-set channel steps and operating modes.
You can change the channel steps
and operating modes later, if you
BC Band
SW Band
50 MHz Ham Band[3
FM BC Band
Air Band
144 MHz Ham Band[6]137 - 174 MHz 137 - 174 MHz
VHF-TV Band
Action Band 1
430 MHz Ham Band[9]420 - 470 MHz 420 - 470 MHz
VHF-TV Band
Action Band 2
BAND
[
BAND NUMBER
like (see page 15).
To Change Operating Bands:
1. Press the [BAND] key repetitively. You will see the LCD indication move toward a
higher frequency band each time you press the [BAND
key.
2. If you wish to move the operating band selection downward (toward lower frequencies), press the [F/W] key
first, then press the [BAND] key.
3. Once you have selected the desired band, you may initiate manual tuning (or scanning) per the discussion in
the next chapter.
FREQUENCY RANGE
]
[1]
[2]
]
[4]
[5]
[7]
[8]
[A]
[b]
]
USA VERSION EXP VERSION
0.5 - 1.8 MHz 0.504 - 1.8 MHz
1.8 - 30 MHz 1.8 - 30 MHz
30 - 59 MHz 30 - 88 MHz
59 - 108 MHz 88 - 108 MHz
108 - 137 MHz 108 - 137 MHz
174 - 222 MHz 174 - 222 MHz
222 - 420 MHz 222 - 420 MHz
470 - 800 MHz 470 - 800 MHz
803 - 999 MHz 800 - 999 MHz
When receiving in the AM Broadcast or Shortwave bands (0.5-30 MHz), we
recommend that you connect an external antenna, for improved reception.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL10
OPERATION
FREQUENCY NAVIGATION
The VX-2R will initially be operating in the “VFO” mode, a channelized system which
allows free tuning throughout the currently-selected operating band.
Two basic frequency navigation methods are available on the VX-2R:
1) Tuning Dial (Outer ring of dual control on Top Panel
Rotation of the DIAL allows tuning in the pre-programmed steps established for the current
operating band. Clockwise rotation of the DIAL causes the
VX-2R to be tuned toward a higher frequency, while counterclockwise rotation will lower the operating frequency.
If you press the [F/W] key momentarily, then rotate the
DIAL, frequency steps of 1 MHz will be selected. This feature is extremely useful for making rapid frequency excursions over the wide tuning range of the VX-2R.
)
2) Scanning
From the VFO mode, press and hold in the [BAND] key for one second, and rotate the
DIAL knob while holding in the [BAND] key to select the
bandwidth for the VFO scanner, then release the [BAND
key to begin scanning toward a higher frequency. The scanner will stop when it receives a signal strong enough to break
through the Squelch threshold. The VX-2R will then hold
on that frequency according to the setting of the “RESUME”
mode (Set Mode Item 31: RESUME). See page 47 for details regarding Scan Operatin.
If you wish to reverse the direction of the scan (i.e. toward a lower frequency, instead of a
higher frequency), just rotate the DIAL one click in the counter-clockwise direction while
the VX-2R is scanning. The scanning direction will be reversed. To revert to scanning
toward a higher frequency once more, rotate the DIAL one click clockwise.
]
Press the PTT switch momentarily to cancel the scanning. This only stops the scan; it does
not cause transmission to occur.
Notice
The VX-2R may receive very strong signals on the Image frequency. If you experience interference that you suspect may be coming in via an “Image” path, you may
calculate the possible frequencies using the formulas below. This information may be
used in the design of effective countermeasures such as traps, etc.
¦ 3.579545 MHz x n ¦ 11.7 MHz x n (n is an integer: 1, 2, 3, …)
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 11
OPERATION
TRANSMISSION
Once you have set up an appropriate frequency inside one of the 144 MHz or 430 MHz
Amateur bands on which the VX-2R can transmit, you’re ready to go on the air! These are
the most basic steps; more advanced aspects of transmitter operation will be discussed
later.
1. To transmit, press the PTT switch, and speak into the front panel microphone (located
in the upper left-hand corner of the speaker grille) in a
normal voice level. The BUSY/TX indicator will glow
red during transmission.
2. To return to the receive mode, release the PTT switch.
3. During transmission, the relative power level will be
indicated on the bar graph at the bottom of the LCD;
full scale deflection confirms “High Power” operation,
while deflection of two bars indicates
“Low Power” operation. Additionally, the
“LOW” icon will appear at the bottom
of the display while operating on the
“Low Power” setting.
4. If you’re just talking to friends in the immediate area,
you’ll get much longer battery life by switching to Low
Power operation. To do this, press the [H/L] key so that
the “LOW” icon appears at the bottom of the display.
And don’t forget: always have an antenna connected
when you transmit.
Transmission is possible only on the 144 MHz and
430 MHz bands.
The VX-2R is smart! You can set up Low power on 144 MHz band, while
leaving 430 MHz on High power, and the radio will remember the different
settings on both bands. And when you
store memories, you can store High and Low
power settings separately in each memory, so you
don’t waste battery power when using very closein repeaters!
BAND
144 MHz HI: 1.5 W HI: 3.0 W
430 MHz HI: 1.0 W HI: 2.0 W
FNB-82LI EXT DC
(
) (
3.7 V
LOW: 0.1 W LOW: 0.3 W
LOW: 0.1 W LOW: 0.3 W
6.0 V
)
2) When you are operating on the Low power setting, you can press the [F/W] key, when
press the PTT switch, to cause the VX-2R to transmit (temporarily) on High power. After
one transmission, the power level will revert to the previously-selected (Low power) setting.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL12
OPERATION
KEYBOARD LOCKING
In order to prevent accidental frequency change or inadvertent transmission, various aspects of the VX-2R’s keys and switches may be locked out. The possible lockout combinations are:
KEY: Just the front panel keys are locked out
DIAL: Just the top panel DIAL is locked out
K+D: Both the DIAL and Keys are locked out
PTT: The PTT switch is locked (TX not possible)
K+P: Both the keys and PTT switch are locked out
D+P: Both the DIAL and PTT switch are locked out
ALL: All of the above are locked out
To lock out some or all of the keys:
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 25: LOCK.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to choose between one of the locking schemes as outlined above.
5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
To activate the locking feature, press the [F/W] key, then press and
hold in the [BAND] key for one second. The “ ” icon will appear
on the LCD. To cancel locking, repeat this process.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 13
OPERATION
KEYPAD/LCD ILLUMINATION
Your VX-2R includes a reddish illumination lamp which aids in nighttime operation. The
red illumination yields clear viewing of the display in a dark environment, with minimal
degradation of your night vision. Three options for activating the lamp are provided:
KEY Mode: Illuminates the Keypad/LCD for five seconds when any key pressed.
CONT Mode: Illuminates the Keypad/LCD continuously.
OFF Mode: Disables the Keypad/LCD lamp.
Here is the procedure for setting up the Lamp mode:
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 24: LAMP.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to select one of the three modes described above.
5. When you have made your choice, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
You may also adjust the Keypad/LCD illumination level and LCD contrast by
use of the Set Mode. See page 16 for details.
DISABLING THE KEYPAD BEEPER
If the keypad’s Beeper creates an inconvenience (particularly when operating in a quiet
room), it may easily be disabled.
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 7: BEEP.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to change the setting from ON to OFF.
5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
6. If you wish to re-enable the Beeper, just repeat the above procedure, rotating the DIAL
knob to select ON in step “4” above.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL14
-
Now that you’re mastered the basics of VX-2R operation, let’s learn more about some of
the really neat features.
CHECKING THE BATTERY VOLTAGE
The VX-2R’s microprocessor includes programming which will detect the battery type
and measure the current battery voltage.
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set
mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 13: DC VLT.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to display the battery type and
the current DC voltage being supplied.
Lit: FNB-82LI is in use.
Edc: An external DC source is in use.
4. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to return to
normal operation.
CHANGING THE CHANNEL STEPS
The VX-2R’s synthesizer provides the option of utilizing channel steps of 5/9/10/12.5/15/
20/25/50/100 kHz per step, as well as an automatic step selection based on the current
operating frequency (“AUTO”), any number of which may be important to your operating
requirements. The VX-2R is set up at the factory in the “AUTO” configulation, which
probably is satisfactory for most operation. However, if you need to change the channel
step increments, the procedure to do so is very easy.
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 43: STEP.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the new channel step size.
5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
1) 9 kHz steps are available only when receiving on the BC band.
2) While operating on the BC band, you may only select channel steps of 9
kHz or 10 kHz; the other step selections are disabled.
3) 5 kHz steps are not available for use on 250 - 300 MHz, nor above 530 MHz.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 15
ADVANCED OPERATION
CHANGING THE RECEIVING MODE
The VX-2R provides for automatic mode changing when the radio is tuned to different
operating frequencies. However, should an unusual receiving situation arise in which you
need to change other receiving mode, just press the [MD] key. The receiving modes available are:
AUTO: Automatic mode setting per default values for the selected frequency range.
N-FM: Narrow-bandwidth FM (used for voice communication)
W-FM: Wide-bandwidth FM (used for high-fidelity broadcasting)
AM: Amplitude Modulation
Unless you have a compelling reason to do so, leave the Automatic Mode
Selection feature on so as to save time and trouble when changing bands. If
you make a mode change for a particular channel or station, you can always
store that one channel into memory, as the mode setting will be memorized along with
the frequency information.
DISPLAY DIMMER
The LCD and keypad illumination level may be adjusted using the Set Mode.
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 16: DIMMER.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Set Mode Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to adjust the display illumination for a comfortable brightness
level. As you make the adjustment, you will be able to see the effects of your changes.
5. When you have completed the adjustment, press the PTT key to save the new setting
and exit to normal operation.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL16
ADVANCED OPERATION
RF SQUELCH
A special RF Squelch feature is provided on this radio. This feature allows you to set the
squelch so that only signals exceeding a certain S-meter level will open the squelch.
To set up the RF squelch circuit for operation, use the following procedure:
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 32: RF SQL.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the desired signal strength level for the squelch threshold (S1, S2 , S3, S4, S5, S6, S8, S9+, or OFF).
5. Press the PTT key to save the new setting and return to normal operation.
The receiver’s squelch will open based on the higher of the levels set by the two squelch
systems (Noise Squelch and RF Squelch).
For example:
1) If the Noise Squelch (SQL control) is set so that signals at a level of S-3 will open the
squelch, but the RF Squelch (Set Mode Item 32) is set to “S5,” the squelch will only
open on signals which are “S-5” or stronger on the S-meter.
2) If the RF Squelch is set to “S3,” but the Noise Squelch is set to a high level which will
only pass signals which are Full Scale on the S-meter, the squelch will only open on
signals which are Full Scale on the S-meter. In this case, the Noise Squelch overrides
the action of the RF Squelch.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 17
ADVANCED OPERATION
440.0
445.0
450.0
439.45
REPEATER OPERATION
Repeater stations, usually located on mountaintops or other high locations, provide a dramatic extension of the communication range for low-powered hand-held or mobile transceivers. The VX-2R includes a number of features which make repeater operation simple
and enjoyable.
Repeater Shifts
Your VX-2R has been configured, at the factory, for the repeater shifts customary in your
country. For the 144 MHz band shift will be 600 kHz; on the 430 MHz band, the shift may
be 1.6 MHz, 7.6 MHz, or 5 MHz (USA version).
Depending on the part of the band in which you are operating, the repeater shift may be
either downward ( ) or upward ( ), and one of these icons will appear at the top of the
LCD when repeater shifts have been enabled.
Automatic Repeater Shift (ARS)
The VX-2R provides a convenient Automatic Repeater Shift feature, which causes the
appropriate repeater shift to be applied automatically whenever you tune into the designated repeater sub-bands in your country. These sub-bands are shown below.
If the ARS feature does not appear to be working, you may have accidentally disabled it.
To re-enable ARS:
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 4: ARS .
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to select “ON” (to enable Automatic Repeater Shift).
5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
145.1 145.5
145.6 145.8
Version A
433.00 433.40
ARS-Repeater Subbands
2-m
Version A
146.0 146.4 147.0 147.6 148.0
146.6 147.4
European Version
70-cm
438.20
Euro Version 2
Euro Version 1
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL18
ADVANCED OPERATION
REPEATER OPERATION
Manual Repeater Shift Activation
If the ARS feature has been disabled, or if you need to set a repeater shift direction other
than that established by the ARS, you may set the direction of the repeater shift manually.
To do this:
1. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 33: RPT.
3. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
4. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the desired shift among “–RPT,” “+RPT,” and “SIMP.”
5. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
If you make a change in the shift direction, but still have Automatic Repeater
Shift still engaged (see previous section), when you change frequency (by
rotating the DIAL knob, for example) the ARS will over-ride your manual
setting of the shift direction. Turn ARS off if you do not wish this to happen.
Changing the Default Repeater Shifts
If you travel to a different region, you may need to change the default repeater shift so as to
ensure compatibility with local operating requirements.
To do this, follow the procedure below:
1. Set the VX-2R’s frequency to the band on which you wish to change the default repeater shift (144 MHz or 430 MHz Ham Band).
2. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
3. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 38: SHIFT.
4. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
5. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the new repeater shift magnitude.
6. When you have made your selection, press the PTT key to save the new setting and
return to normal operation.
If you just have one “odd” split that you need to program, don’t change the
“default” repeated shifts using this Set Mode Item! Enter the transmit and
receive frequencies separately, as shown on page 37.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 19
ADVANCED OPERATION
REPEATER OPERATION
Checking the Repeater Uplink (Input) Frequency
It often is helpful to be able to check the uplink (input) frequency of a repeater, to see if the
calling station is within direct (“Simplex”) range.
To do this, just press the [HM/RV] key. You’ll notice that the display has shifted to the
repeater uplink frequency. Press the [HM/RV] key again to cause operation to revert to
normal monitoring of the repeater downlink (output) frequency.
The configuration of this key may be set either to “RV” (for checking the
input frequency of a repeater), or “HM” (for instant switching to the “Home”
channel for the band you are operating on). To change the configuration of
this key, use Set Mode Item 22: HM/RV. See page 67.
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL20
ADVANCED OPERATION
CTCSS OPERATION
Many repeater systems require that a very-low-frequency audio tone be superimposed on
your FM carrier in order to activate the repeater. This helps prevent false activation of the
repeater by radar or spurious signals from other transmitters. This tone system, called
“CTCSS” (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System), is included in your VX-2R, and is
very easy to activate.
CTCSS setup involves two actions: setting the Tone Frequency and then setting of the
Tone Mode. These actions are set up by using the [MD] key or Set Mode Items 42:
SQLTYP and 44: TN FRQ.
1. Press the [F/W] key, then press the [MD] key. This provides a “Short-cut” to Set Mode
Item 42: SQLTYP.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob so that “TONE” appears on the display;
this activates the CTCSS Encoder, which allows repeater access.
3. Rotation of the DIAL knob one more “click” in step “2” above will cause the “T SQL”
notation to appear. When “T SQL” is displayed, this means that the Tone SQueLch
system is active, which mutes your VX-2R’s receiver until it receives a call from another radio sending out a matching CTCSS tone. This can help keep your radio quiet
until a specific call is received, which may be helpful while operating in congested.
1) You may notice an additional “DCS” icon appearing while you rotate
the DIAL knob in this step. We’ll discuss the Digital Code Squelch system
shortly.
2) You may notice “RV TN” indication on the display, this means that the Reverse
Tone Squelch system is active, which mutes your VX-2R’s receiver when it receives
a call from the radio sending a matched CTCSS tone. The “TSQ” icon will blink on
the display when the Reverse Tone Squelch system is activated.
4. When you have made your selection of the CTCSS tone mode, press the PTT key to
save the new setting.
5. Press and hold in the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set mode.
6. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode Item 44: TN FRQ.
7. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of the CTCSS frequency.
8. Rotate the DIAL
knob until the display indicates the
Tone Frequency
you need to be using (ask the repeater
owner/operator if you don’t know the tone
frequency).
CTCSS TONE FREQUENCY (Hz
67.0 69.3 71.9 74.4 77.0 79.7
82.5 85.4 88.5 91.5 94.8 97.4
100.0 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 118.8
123.0 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2
151.4 156.7 159.8 162.2 165.5 167.9
171.3 173.8 177.3 179.9 183.5 186.2
189.9 192.8 196.6 199.5 203.5 206.5
210.7 218.1 225.7 229.1 233.6 241.8
250.3 254.1 – – – –
)
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL 21
ADVANCED OPERATION
CTCSS OPERATION
9. When you have made your selection, press the [H/L] key momentarily, then press the
PTT switch, to save the new settings and exit to normal operation. This is different
than the usual method of restoring normal operation, and it applies only to the configuration of the CTCSS/DCS frequencies.
Your repeater may or may not re-transmit a CTCSS tone - some systems just
use CTCSS to control access to the repeater, but don’t pass it along when
transmitting. If the S-Meter deflects, but the VX-2R is not passing audio,
repeat steps “1” through “4” above, but rotate the DIAL so that “TSQ” disappears - this
will allow you to hear all traffic on the channel being received.
DCS OPERATION
Another form of tone access control is Digital Code Squelch, or DCS. It is a newer, more
advanced tone system which generally provides more immunity from false paging than
does CTCSS. The DCS Encoder/Decoder is built into your VX-2R, and operation is very
similar to that just described for CTCSS. Your repeater system may be configured for
DCS; if not, DCS is frequently quite useful in Simplex operation if your friend(s) use
transceivers equipped with this advanced feature.
Just as in CTCSS operation, DCS requires that you set the Tone Mode to DCS and that
you select a tone code.
1. Press the [F/W] key, then press the [MD] key. This provides a “Short-cut” to Set Mode
Item 42: SQLTYP.
2. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to enable adjustment of this Item.
3. Rotate the DIAL knob until “DCS” appears on the display; this
activates the DCS Encoder/Decoder.
4. Press the PTT key to save the new setting.
5. Press and hold the [H/L] key for one second to enter the Set
mode.
6. Rotate the DIAL knob to select Set Mode
Item 14: DCS CD.
7. Press the [H/L] key momentarily to en-
able the adjustment of the DCS code.
8. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the desired
DCS Code (a three-digit number). Ask the
repeater owner/operator if you don’t know
DCS Code; if you
are working simplex, just set up the
DCS Code to be
023 025 026 031 032 036 043 047 051 053
054 065 071 072 073 074 114 115 116 122
125 131 132 134 143 145 152 155 156 162
165 172 174 205 212 223 225 226 243 244
245 246 251 252 255 261 263 265 266 271
274 306 311 315 325 331 332 343 346 351
356 364 365 371 411 412 413 423 431 432
445 446 452 454 455 462 464 465 466 503
506 516 523 526 532 546 565 606 612 624
627 631 632 654 662 664 703 712 723 731
732 734 743 754 – – – – – –
DCS CODE
VX-2R OPERATING MANUAL22
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