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VE3CH (Greg)'s Blog

VE3CH (Greg)



VE3CH Posted about 1 year

So many menus, so little time

Modern pieces of amateur radio equipment really are marvels aren’t they? I’ve just acquired a previously enjoyed Yaesu VX6R HT. While it’s a major upgrade from my 2 meter only FT-23R, it does take some serious time with the manual to start to understand some of the many features. The depth of complexity is similar to my FT-897, which was my first experience with menu driven radios. These transceivers have more menus than a Denny’s during a Shriners convention. There is no possible way you could memorize all the various settings, or the order of keystrokes to get some of the whiz-bang doo-dads operating. Sure, the functions you use day-to-day will soon come second nature, but suddenly have to change a CTCSS tone or create a new bank of memories and it’s back to the manual.

This isn’t a complaint (I know it sounds like one) as I realize in order to fit the amount of features into such a small package, menus are the only option. If these radios had a dedicated knob or button for every feature, your HT would be the size of a filing cabinet. Mind you it does annoy me a tad that the previously simple action of adjusting the squelch is no longer a simple twist of a dial, at least on the VX6R (I’d have to look up the process).

These are pretty darn cool radios, but I do kind of miss dials and switches. I still have my first HF rig, which isn’t quite a dinosaur as it is solid state, but it was manufactured back in 1982. Every function has either a dial or a switch, not a single menu to be found. Now, it’s a lot larger and heavier too but, frankly its size and array of knobs and switches, I think, makes it look more impressive.

I see one of the 73 menu options is to have the green/red Receive/TX LED glow a bright white to act as a small flashlight. Now THAT will be handy on those late-night walks with the dog when I need a light to find where the dog, errr….you know. Mind you it takes three key strokes and the twist of a dial to turn it on. Simplicity, thy name is not ham radio. Now…back to the manual.

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Comments (4) |
N4PIX (Tim)
about 1 year ago

I programmed the P(DMR) button on my VX-6 to activate the little white light. I don’t even try to program my radios through the front, waaay too much work. Software for me!

Great blog.

Tim
N4PIX

N3PRO (Dave)
about 1 year ago

One of the biggest complaints I hear from the over 55 crowd is the menus. As a 30 year old I don’t mind them much except with yaesu. I have a FT8900, VX3R, VX8 – they all have the WIRES feature on demand (one or two keystrokes). How often is this used? I have accidentally turned this feature on several times, but never used it; yet I have to go into the menu to do things that I use more often.

One of the things I like, the PF or programmable function keys. I would like to see more of these. It’s a great way to make a one radio fits all. Features that I use often are not the same as someone else; the usage of the PF keys I can have the features I use on demand and someone else has theirs without the company making any a different radio.

As with many I like the looks of the older radios, more impressive, but I like the features and compactness of the new stuff. Good post.

AG1J (Liam)
about 1 year ago

i have a VX-6R and i love it. it does take some time to get used to but ctcss tone first you have to turn the tone on i need the radio in front of me but i have it right here tone on =Fw mode PTT key to save then to set 156.7HZ or whatever it is you want = Fw key +2key you will get use to it great radio thou.
AG1J
Liam

AG1J (Liam)
about 1 year ago

And programing from the radio isnt that bad get your tone and every thing set up on the freq you want to program in the hold the Fw key till you see a blinking number that is a free memory space and to erase a memory space turn the dial to the one you want to replace withe the new onethen hit the Fw key again and its programed in i have put in 18 more repeaters then what was programed in by the soft ware
Liam
AG1J

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