FT-8800 or VX-7R

[Brentbba]

Discussion please.

I've got an 8800 in the Landcruiser. I drive a Miata as a daily commuter car and wish I had a ham radio in it as well.

$$ for only one more radio right now so the doesn't get pissed off!

8800 would provide much more range than the VX-7 and be a little more user friendly operating while driving a stick.

VX-7 provides more mobility. Usable in the Miata. Able to take out of the car and use as designed while camping, hiking, etc. as a handheld. Also able to set up cross band with the 8800 in the LC out on hikes, etc with the scouts extending the range of the HH. Extra margin of saftey communications where there's no cell service, etc.

Debates like this, much like the debates on what mods are best for our beloved trucks all comes down to my intended use and I'm leaning toward the VX-7, but my mind is not made up.

Cost is about the same. $275 for the VX-7 vs $320 for the 8800. I already own two antennas and they are easily swappable, so no cost there. Trunk mount for the Miata would be add'l as would a headset mic for the VX-7 making it more usable driving a stick. Comparable costs on those.

Really interested in feedback from those that already use handhelds.

 

[Kofoed]

For mobile use the hand held sucks. You will quickly be adding a cig-lighter power cord, and likely a speaker mic/external mic to hear anything. More $$$ Even then you won't be able to hit all those repeaters you can with the 8800.

My first purchase was an FT50 HT for the one or your reasons. I quickly went to a mobile unit for the vehicle. Go with the VX if you have a desire to work 220 or 50 mhz.....

 

[hntashdjian]

Brent,

I have both radios, but I havnt installed the 8800 yet. Ive used my buddies in his FJ. Like you, I will not be installing the 8800 in my DD.

The VX-7 is a great unit. The best thing about it is the dual receive mode, which is awesome. BUT it does not compare to any mobile set up with an antenna when it comes to reception.

The VX-7 is ok for the inside of the car, but not the best. The reason I bought it is to use it when Im away from the car while im hiking, backpacking or hunting. Ill set up my 8800 to cross band repeat and take the handheld into the field.

By the way, with the VX-7 I can easilly get all our groups repeaters with less than 5 watts, so you can easily communicate with it, if thats what your worried about.



Harry

 

[Cabrito]

Go for the HT

I have both of the radios in question and love them both. Like an earlier comment said, you will probably want an actual mobile in the car for performance reasons unless you just use the Miata for around the town use and anticipate being able to hit all the local repeaters of your area with a HT. I can do this in my area no problem if I wanted to. Just add an external antenna and you are in even better shape. In the SF bay area I think an HT with the rubber duck would work fine because we have so many good repeaters in the area.

The other thing you could do is get a cheap separation kit from ebay and just swap the 8800 between the cars. I picked up a kit for $15 including shipping on ebay. I have my 8800 installed in a way that I can yank it out of the Saab in just a few seconds so this works very well for me. I am always moving it between the Saab, Cruiser, and the house to use as a base station. My partner has a Miata and although it is tight in there I think you could easily find a location to put the remote head of the 8800. She would never let me set it up in her Miata though.

I say get the HT because it is so nice to have something on the trail when hiking. Very versatile.

-m

 

[KLF]

I have the 8800 in my pickup, I really like it. I also bought a HH as a second radio (older FT-60) and I'm really glad I did. We lost power for 5 days last month and it was my only link to the outside world while at home.

I have a trunklip-mount base in my car and can swap the mast from my pickup antenna over, with an adapter on the end of the coax so it will connect to the HH. Speaker/mic attached, and it acts just like a real radio.

 

[Brentbba]

Insightful input - especially the HH usage. Thanks!

I do spend A LOT more time in the commuter that hiking etc. and would probably get more use and be happier with the better mobile than HH in that car - especially summer usage tops down! HH can wait for the YE bonus I guess.

Suggestion for the quick transport between the two vehicles is a good one, but where I currently have the 8800 base unit would make it a huge PITA to move.

 

[FJ40_owner]

I run a 2m mobile radio in all my cars, my boat and FJ40. I use at a minimum a half wave outside antenna. There is nothing more annoying than listening to some mobile on a HH, garbling his way to work.

We have A LOT of new KI6 xyz hams up here who do exactly this. It is as annoying as finger nails on a chalk board.

Get a mobile radio and a good outside antenna.

de N6KML

 

[Brentbba]

LOL!

Reading my own comments and that of others...I spend 1 1/2 hours every day in the commuter vs one weekend each month camping etc.

Based on that usage, I think I'd get much more use from the mobile 8800 than the HT. Quality of transmission, etc with the HT in the convertible is an issue IMHO. HT may have to wait.

The tall Comet SBB-7 is going to look real funny on the Miata tho!

 

[nakman]

Little late, but Brent I also have both radios and would have to agree with most of the above- get a solid little mobile 2m rig for the Miata, and leave the VX-7 for portable use. The HT's are always the scratchy ones on the repeater, and you don't want to be that guy... nor do you want a 12v charger, hand mike, remote antenna cable, etc. clogging up your already cramped quarters. Can you find a spot to mount a 1802 or 2800?

 

[Brentbba]

Little late, but Brent I also have both radios and would have to agree with most of the above- get a solid little mobile 2m rig for the Miata, and leave the VX-7 for portable use. The HT's are always the scratchy ones on the repeater, and you don't want to be that guy... nor do you want a 12v charger, hand mike, remote antenna cable, etc. clogging up your already cramped quarters. Can you find a spot to mount a 1802 or 2800?

Thanks Nak!

I've pretty much decided to put the 8800 in the Miata before getting an HT for a lot of the reasons you mention.

There's a guy on a miata board with great instructions installing one. Removable face plate fits very nicely right in front of the stick shift w/o interference shifting. You only cover up the front air bag on/off key slot and indicator. No biggie. There are a couple of tunnels on PS/DS side running back to the trunk where you put the main unit. Small external speaker can be mounted right above the center console between the seats w/o interfering with the console compartment. Since the battery is in the trunk, it's about a 2 foot run for the power. Just need a decent trunk lip mount for the antenna. I can swap the SBB-1 and SBB-7 antennas I already ownbetween the Miata and the LC easiely. SBB-7, as tall as it is will probably look very silly on the Miata, but the range of that antenna is great.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

Little late, but Brent I also have both radios and would have to agree with most of the above- get a solid little mobile 2m rig for the Miata, and leave the VX-7 for portable use. The HT's are always the scratchy ones on the repeater, and you don't want to be that guy... nor do you want a 12v charger, hand mike, remote antenna cable, etc. clogging up your already cramped quarters. Can you find a spot to mount a 1802 or 2800?

Brent,
X2 Great minds think alike on your overall use plan for both the HT and the mobile except I have the VX7 and will eventually get the 8900. I did the opposite got the HT first and now am on the hunt for the mobile. Sounds like in your situation you'd better go mobile first.
Good luck,
John