Yaesu/Vertex and Icom

I agree with Jim re whether one can ever contact a ground station anymore using
the split frequency...nobody at home??

With respect to the handhelds, you have received some good information, the
external antenna being by far the best. When using an external antenna, it
seems the radio was never told that it should shun horizontally oriented
signals and works just fine on both com and nav. The distances it will receive
and send are amazing.

Jim just had a string about the little box or antenna bypass.

Ask again about the nav function on the Yaesu/Vertex. A friend purchased a
unit 3? months ago and all works well, great features, nice lighting, but the
nav has yet to work. The unit has been more in the shop at the main
Yaesu/Vertex plant in LA than in his hands.

A couple nights ago, after he got it back the third? time, we did a comparison
against an Icom 21 and a Narco 830 (no Narco is recommended for anything...I
have the 830) and both of them performed better than the Yaesu/Vertex.

He has had to chase the radio, with no feedback by Yaesu/Vertex and they must
be goaded for each transaction/followup. That was not always true,and one
wonders if it is because of the Vertex change.

External antenna, however it is done

Plug-in for 12 V power so as to not deplete the battery. (What Icom never
tells you...some of their portables WILL NOT work when plugged into 12V, just
the opposite of what one wants in time of need..ask the question and test each
one that way)

The headset adapter which includes provisons for a pust to talk switch or a
switch itself.

Good luck and come back and tell us what you decide. It helps others.

Neal