Yaesu VX-8R, sign of VHF handhelds to come?
I recently spoke with Standard Horizon VP Jason Kennedy, mostly about the HX850s cracked case issue which I commented on today (and which has become a Sailing Anarchy thread). But we also discussed the future of GPS/VHF handhelds, a future that’s especially rosy as the HX850s is selling well beyond Standard’s projections. When I asked what’s possible, Jason suggested that I check out the Yaesu VX-8R, a new amateur radio handheld which comes from a sister division. I did look at the brochures and manual available at that Yaesu site and, while the button labels above suggest what a complex beast this HAM set is, the obvious potential for a related marine VHF product is…wow…
The VX-8R is a tiny waterproof handheld that contains two wide band receivers and a 5W transmitter, as well as an integrated APRS data modem and temp/baro sensors. And, as shown below, it can be accessorized with a variety of Bluetooth headsets (including a stereo model that would be neat with the FM stereo reception possible) and a GPS receiver (labeled “1”) that can attach either directly to the case or to an optional wired mic. The basic unit has a street price of about $400. APRS, incidentally, is the Automatic Packet Reporting System that some boating HAMs use to make their vessel movements available to friends and family. I don’t know a lot about it, but figure that if Vertex Standard can fit that technology into the ultra-compact Yaesu VX-8R, then Standard Horizon can make an ultra-compact DSC VHF with all or most of the same features. If it thinks there’s a market (?).
I carry Yaesu's earlier VX-6R everywhere I go... it is definitely the rig of choice for the harsh environment of sailing/kayaking, and lives in my shoulder pack along with wallet and camera.
Integrated APRS is nice (and already available in a couple of Kenwood models, though not waterproof), and I am glad to see this product family growing. The tiny VX-2R is also waterproof and very easily pocketable... would be nice to see a marine VHF that size.
(I use the combination of VX-6R and VX-2R for the "back door" user interface to my boat's server, querying with DTMF and getting synthesized speech responses. The radios can maintain a link and let me know if they are out of range... cool stuff.)
But the holy grail is probably more a regulatory headache than anything. There is no good reason, technically, why marine VHF can't be integrated... the ham units already receive it (channelized), but transmitting there requires a hack that opens transmit to out-of-band (and potentially illegal) operation. It always bugs me to have to carry both this and the equally excellent Icom M72, when their functions are nearly equivalent. But the potential for abuse is probably too high for this to ever happen.
Cheers and 73,
Steve
N4RVE