Re: A couple of general questions about the VR-500

Ok, got the VR-500 yesterday.

More questions -- how long should the rechargable pack be charged?  I charged it for about 3 hours. More? Less?? Haven't tried the receiver on an auxilliary power supply, like my Samlex or a gel cell.

The NAM mode is a decided improvement!

The supplied antenna sucks. Convenient for carrying, and use in strong signal areas.

Tried a regular Diamond scanner antenna I use on my FT-817ND and FT-60R. Works Ok, but a 1/4 wave (19") "wire" on a BNC whip I have seems to be the best bet.

Tested it on the usual repeaters, police/fire and UNICOM frequencies I have on the FT-60R. The Diamond scanner antenna works best on the FT-60R, while the plain whip is best of the VR-500.

Stereo headphones work without an adapter (sound in both sides).

What is that "User Port" menu item all about?? I assume that activates/deactivates the "ring" used for programming?

Put on the BNC to banana plug adapter and a 16' piece of wire. Inside, at least, I was picking up quite a bit of EMI/RFI from the stuff in the house. Haven't tried my outside antenna (long wire) yet that I use with my MFJ-8100. Would my MFJ-16010 random wire antenna tuner be of help?

Otherwise, FB all around. The spectrum scan feature is pretty cool! Tuning to 7030 on CW and just looked for signals of interest. 

73 /paul W3FIS