CANNER EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR MONITORING POST Bob Parnass, AJ9S parnass@megsinet.com http://www.megsinet.com/parnass
Yaesu VR-120 Portable Scanner
he Yaesu VR-120 is a palm-size wide coverage scanner. Its size, frequency coverage, and $200 price place it in direct competition with the ICOM IC-R2 (April 1999 MT). Two simple AA batteries power each model. The IC-R2 is furnished with two NiCd cells and a charger, but none are supplied with the VR-120. Neither radio has a charging jack so batteries must be removed for recharging.

General Features

The VR-120 is made in Japan. It tunes the spectrum from 100 kHz to almost 1300 MHz, but the US version has several undocumented frequency gaps which permit it to pass muster with the FCCs rules on rejection of cellular telephone signals (See table below). ICOM intro- Scanning and duced its IC-R2 before the FCC crackdown and Searching has gaps only at the cell input and output freThe VR-120 can scan combinations of quencies. memory banks, in contrast to the IC-R2s single Users may choose AM, NFM, and WFM bank arrangement. You can scan all channels in reception modes and 11 selectable tuning step the designated banks or only those channels you sizes, ranging from 5 to 100 kHz. The IC-R2 mark as preferential. The upscale VR-500 uses provides CTCSS decoding and CTCSS search, the same arrangement. Yaesus Preferential Scan but the VR-120 does not. is merely an alternative to the more familiar apBattery life can be extended when not scan- proach of locking out channels in other brand ning or searching by enabling the scanners and both schemes acpower saver. A sleep timer function complish the same mission. VR-120 Frequency Gaps is configurable to turn the radio off There are three choices for after 30, 60, or 90 minutes. when to continue scanning (or 542 - 549 Both the VR-120 and IC-R- 340 searching) in the presence of a 558 - 572 use a detent control knob for tun- 351 - 352 signal: Busy, Pause, and Hold. A 605 - 615 ing and navigating through menus 372 - 373 global rescan delay waits for the 384 - - 630 of options. The VR-120 is fitted 396 - 397 signal to drop and is set to 2 sec784 - 798 with conventional volume and 482 - 483 onds. 807 - 820 squelch knobs that are easier to 496 - 497 Instead of a rescan delay, 824 - 849 adjust than the IC-R2. Pushbutton 504 - 505 you can choose to pause the scan 869 - 894 keys control the IC-R2s volume 511 - 512 for 1 to 12 seconds and restart the and its squelch is set using a knob scan after that interval and button in tandem. even if the station is still transmitting. A 1/8" side mounted jack is used for ear- The Hold setting halts the scan the first phone or cloning connection. When not in use, time the VR-120 detects a signal. the jack is protected from dust by a captive rubThe VR-120 provides eight limit ber plug. search ranges and the IC-R2 provides 25 pairs of search limits. The VR-120 can skip up to 64 frequencies during Memory and VFOs Both the VR-120 and IC-R2 have one VFO, limit and VFO searches. Special but different memory channel arrangements. The memory channels are used to store the VR-120 sports 640 channels organized into 10 locked out frequencies, and you can banks. The IC-R2 has 400 channels spread inspect or restore them. The VR-120 includes a Smart among eight banks. Neither radio has a numeric keypad. The Search (a.k.a. auto memory write), antwo models are programmed using a similar tech- other advantage over the IC-R2. You nique. Frequencies are entered into the VFO can program upper and lower freusing a combination of the Band key and the quency limits and a starting frequency. After commencing Smart Search, the top mounted tuning knob. 84
MONITORING TIMES July 2001
To program a memory channel, you first tune the VFO to the right frequency and use menus to select other parameters. Both radios can store the information in the next empty memory channel or you can choose a specific channel instead. Mode and tuning step size can be programmed for each memory channel. Several of the VR-120s memory channels are factory programmed to shortwave broadcast frequencies, but may be overwritten. The VR-120 permits you to program an 8-character label for each channel, an advantage over the IC-R2.
VR-120 will look for signals in that range and store active frequencies in a special 21-channel memory bank. Too bad that the Smart Search capabilities are so limited. The VR-120, like the VR-500, will make only one sweep through the search range before stopping. You get one chance to inspect the search results because you cannot look at them after exiting the Smart Search mode. There are 10 pairs of Dual Watch frequencies. These behave like 10 miniature, non-linkable memory banks of 2 channels each.

Other Features

The VR-120 contains an internal bar antenna for AM broadcast band listening. A menu item lets you select this bar or an external antenna. Another menu item permits an optional earphone to serve as an antenna for stealthy VHF/UHF monitoring, an innovation also found in the Alinco DJ-X2T (December 2000 MT). The VR-120s Channel Counter feature permits the radio to act as a simple frequency counter. The antenna is disabled while using the counter mode, so you must be located near the transmitter. By default, the counter is limited to a 50 MHz wide frequency range centered on the display frequency, though you can narrow it 5 MHz or widen it to 100 MHz. The results are delayed, sometimes for several seconds; we find our DJ-X2000T Flash Tunes search results are faster and more repeatable. The memory and operating parameters of a VR-120 may be cloned from another VR-120
by using the optional CT-35 cable. The user manual does not document the interface protocol nor mention cloning by personal computer. Yaesu should make the interface public and let the marketplace provide a variety of computer cloning programs. The IC-R2 is more attractive in this regard because you can obtain both free and low-cost computer software for it.
rubberized antenna is a fair performer on VHF/ UHF, though not as good as a wire-thin Pryme RD-9. Our VR-500s antenna has a performance notch near 159 MHz but the VR-120s antenna does not. The stock antenna excels, believe it or not, in shortwave reception. We can receive dozens of foreign shortwave broadcast stations using the stock antenna while sitting in the basement at night.

Performance

After using the VR-120 at home and on a dozen trips, we concluded that the VR-120 and IC-R2 are about evenly matched. Both radios perform comparably, though the IC-R2s sensitivity is more consistent. The VR-120s display is much easier to read and its classic squelch and volume knobs are better suited than the ICR2s pushbutton arrangement. This VR-120s audio and intermod immunity are superior to our VR-500. The IC-R2s audio is a bit crisper and the CTCSS squelch keeps more unwanted signals out. We prefer the VR-120s BNC antenna connector to the IC-R2s SMA style. The VR-120s

Wrap-up

If you require a tiny scanner with good performance, the VR-120 and IC-R2 should be tops on your list. They are loud enough to hear comfortably and can be powered by ordinary AA
batteries. Both scan memory at about the same speed. The IC-R2 provides CTCSS squelch and there are several free and low cost computer programs available for loading frequencies. Its duplex facility lets you monitor repeater inputs with a simple key press. The VR-120s larger display and conventional knobs make it easier to use. It draws less battery current, which implies longer battery life. The alpha labels and multibank scanning are advantages. The internal bar antenna affords better AM BCB reception than our IC-R2. Check the table of frequency gaps to make sure the VR-120 covers the frequencies you want to monitor.

Measurements

Yaesu VR-120 Scanner S/N 1C040130 List price $249 Yaesu USA, 17210 Edwards Rd., Cerritos, CA 90703 Frequency coverage (MHz): 0.1 - 1299.995 except gaps (see table) Frequency steps (kHz): 5, 6.25, 9, 10, 12.5 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 100 Sensitivity: see graphs RF attenuator: 29 dB @ 10 MHz 28 dB @ 40 MHz 15 dB @ 155 MHz 10 dB @ 460 MHz 14 dB @ 860 MHz FM modulation acceptance: 10 kHz Intermediate Frequencies: (MHz) 248.45, 15.0, 0.450 Image rejection due to 1st IF: 54 dB @ 40 MHz 51 dB @ 155 MHz 33 dB @ 460 MHz 58 dB @ 860 MHz A udio output power at earphone jack: 40 mW @ 10% distortion into 8 ohms Practical memory scan speed: 11 ch/sec. Current consumption at 3.0 VDC: off - 0.17 mA manual - 27 mA avg (w/battery saver) scan - 60 mA full volume - 132 mA lamps - 30 mA additional Battery saver: after 5 sec. in Manual Low battery warning: 2.24 VDC Shutdown: 2.08 VDC July 2001 MONITORING TIMES

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VR-120 Receiver

1. Quick Selection of a frequency.
1. Move in 1MHz steps Hold FUNC key whilst rotating the Dial knob. 2. Move in Channel steps Rotate the Dial Knob
2. Select a Mode of operation.
1. The VR-120 automatically selects the mode appropriate for the current frequency it is
tuned to. Press the Mode button to cycle through the available modes. FM -> WFM -> AM -> AUTO -> FM 3. Change the Channel Steps

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Hold FUNC and press SCAN key to select the Set Menu function. Release the FUNC button. Rotate the Dial Knob to select MENU 100 Hold FUNC and rotate Dial Knob to select the desired Frequency Step in KHz. (5 - 6.25 -9-10- 12.5 -15-20-25-30-50 -100 - AUTO) Release FUNC when required Freq step is displayed. Press FUNC and SCAN key to store new frequency step and revert to normal operation.
4. Store a Frequency in Memory Radio has a total of 640 standard memory channels organised in 10 groups of up to 64 memory channels per group. Numbering is from 000 to 963. 1st number is the GROUP number and goes from 0 to 9. The 2nd and 3rd numbers, are the channel numbers and go from 00 to 63, a total of 64 channels per GROUP. Each Memory channel can store Frequency, Mode, AlphaTag of up to 8 characters. There are two forms of Memory storage. 'SIMPLE' As it name implies simply stored freq etc data into the next free memory channel. 'DESIGNATED' Allows you to store frequency data to a particular memory channel. SIMPLE Storage.
1. Select Frequency and mode required as shown above. 2. Hold FUNC and press and release V/M momentarily. Next memory channel is

displayed

3. Upper Left Hand side of display will show the memory channel data was stored into in 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
channel numbers, eg 432 for Group 4 channel 32. Display will show MWNAM for Memory Write. To skip storing an alpha tag to the channel jump to step 13 below, Otherwise to store an alpha tag to the channel Hold FUNC and press and release SCAN. Release FUNC. Display shows blinking space in char position 1. Rotate DIAL knob to select character. Hold FUNC and rotate DIAL to next character position. Release FUNC. Display shows blinking space in next char position. Repeat steps 8 - 10 until alpha tag is completed. Hold FUNC and press and release V/M momentarily to store Alphatag to memory channel. Still holding FUNC press and release V/M again momentarily to store the Frequency & Mode to the channel. To store another frequency simply repeat steps 1-13 as above.
DESIGNATED Storage: Process is identical as above except after Step 2 insert the following: 2a. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the desired memory channel and group. To rapidly change the GROUP number, press and hold the FUNC key whilst rotating to DIAL
http://www.yaesu.co.uk/amateur/receivers/vr120/vr120tech.htm

19.03.2003

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knob. 5. Recall a memory.
1. Press V/M to enter Memory mode if not already in memory mode. This is a toggle
button between VFO and Memory mode.
2. Rotate the DIAL knob to select the required memory channel. 3. Hold FUNC and rotate DIAL to change the GROUP number quickly.
6: Memory Channel Scanning Simple Memory scanning:
1. Select Memory mode by pressing V/M. 2. Press the SCAN button. Radio will scan all channels in the memory and stop on any 3.
one that has activity. It will resume scanning depending upon the RESUME setting ( See User Guide Page 12) Press V/M to cancel scanning and revert to VFO mode.
Preferential Memory Scanning.
1. Scanning can be limited to specific channels only by designating them as Preferential
Channels and starting a Preferential Channel scan as follows:
2. Select Memory mode by pressing V/M. 3. Select specific memory channel by rotating DIAL as required. 4. Press and Hold SCAN button for 2 seconds. The PS icon will appear next to the
channel number. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for other channels as required. 6. To start PMS Scanning press SCAN for 2 seconds to initiate Preferential scanning. 7. Press V/M to cancel scanning and revert to VFO mode. Paul Bigwood - Yaesu UK May 2001