Short review:

• I really like this radio,
• I've had it sense 2001.
• I do not like the VX-7r
• User interface totally different, from the VX-5r, nothing is the same.
• Really bad sounding TX audio...
• Has Alpha tag,
• Computer programmability,
• Water tight (swimming with this, would not be good;=) Even the battery case has an O-ring around it!!!
• Cotision: Some of the aftermarket (None Yeasu) batteries, do not have the o-ring. The radio would become, not water restance, if you use that battery!!!
• LiOn battery (7.2 V, 1100 mA), Vary good battery life!
• The Vx-7r's batteries are compatable and are higher capasity, Use CD-15a, Charger
• The Vx-5r's charger (CD-15) is not compatable, with the higher cap battery,

Gripes:

• Key pad laid out nonstandard (#, 0, *, is not at the bottom, instead it's on the fare right side,
• Brakes in, HF/L-VHF band, frequency coverage, 16 to 48 MHz is missing (I'd like to monitor CHP, Red Cross, etc.),
• Radio forgets most resent VFO settings.  If powered by the, sigeret lighter, 12v power plug, and it is switched off durring engine start, or ignition power off. When used in a car..
• If you set in a new repeater frequency, etc, and the radio is powered by the DC in, and the power is removed them the radio (or if you remove the battery), it forgets the VFO settings?
• Onece you have decided you want to keep this new frequence, turn off the power via the orenge power on/off butten. Now it will remenber...
• Symbols panted on to the case (next to the buttons) is a little hard to read (not fully back lit).
• Speaker mike can falls out of the plug, it's a 4 contact single mini plug, I've even had it go into transmit, unknowingly :=(
• Antennas (Rubber Duck) brakes, I've gone through three (one a year).
• Brakes about 3 inches up from the SMA,
• PL decode, too slow (It been in for this trree times, they cant fix)
• Dry cell pack, only holds 2 AA (I would prefer, an extra fat dry cell pack, that holds 4 AA (6V) or better 5 AA's (or more),
• I rap my mic cord around the belt clip, this ussaly works...
• Software, its self is ok, but data transfer can be problematic...
• SMA can brake too, thay need to use the more expencive type...
• Mystry display problem (happend once):
• Display blank, or allmost,
• Disply contrast set corectly,
• Battery removed for 8 hours,
• Radio sounds like its working fine?
• Full Reset, dos not, fix problem,
• I opend the radio, problem went away???

As, time allows, I'll add more...

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