Hi Mark, the vr500, aor 1000, R10, and djx10 are all fully keyboard 
programmable. Not sure about the Icom R1, an earlier handheld receiver, 
although I think they have a full keypad also.  These keypads are all 
configured a little differently. and there is no cw freq read out etc.  You 
can actually hear stuff/ssb&orCW on 80 and all bands, best using a small 
whip of some kind, and or a 23foot or so piece of wire.  They're no DRAKE 
8b, they're not even a radioshack dx402, they're _not  as good on a 
particular portion of the spectram as is a radio designed for that portion 
of the spectram, but they do give a useable little handy way to keep up with 
a bunch of stuff.
Call if you wish and we'll talk,Danny.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: vr500


> Hi
>     are these receivers keypad programmable? Would I be able to listen =
> to my 75 meter nets ETC?
>
> God bless,
> Mark
> -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon =
> Overcast, Light Rain 42.1=B0F Wind:N-350=B0 at 7m=20
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "Danny Dyer" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 6:09 PM
> Subject: Re: vr500
>
>
> Hi BB,  and all, I'm sorry but I don't have the answer to your question, =
>
> although I would think it would indeed tune any mode which was manually=20
> selected on any of it's receivable frequencies, but what do I know? =
> Danny.
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "Butch Bussen" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 2:03 PM
> Subject: Re: vr500
>
>
>> Do any of these receivers receive wide band fm above 900?  I have a
>> couple wireless speaker transmitters I use but the last I looked, I
>> couldn't find a receiver that received wide band fm above 900.  I use
>> the f6 which works except it isn't sensative at all.  I'd like to hve
>> something that if I wanted I could use for this as well as listening =
> to
>> other stuff.  Also, curious, ball park, how expensive are these?
>> 73
>> Butch Bussen
>> wa0vjr
>> open Node 3148
>> Las Vegas
>>
>>
>> On Sat,
>> 25 Apr 2009, Danny Dyer wrote:
>>
>>> The full text of my VX0-8r message failed to make it for some reason, =
> so=20
>>> =3D
>>> I'll try to do this again.
>>> In terms of wideband handheld all band all mode strictly receivers, =
> Ive =3D
>>> had and used,
>>> 3Icom R10s, 3or4Yaesu VR500s, and an aor1000.
>>> All work on all bands, but there's a good bit of difference between =
> =3D
>>> them, and each individual vr500, and each r10, acted very similarly, =
> =3D
>>> although I didn't have all of them at the same time, but did use them =
> =3D
>>> under similar circumstances in much the same area /same house, with =
> much=20
>>> =3D
>>> the same antennae.
>>>
>>> All three have full keyboards,  They're configured differently, but =
> all =3D
>>> can be programmed for speciffic freqs, modes, mems, etc.
>>>
>>> Not sure if the aor1000 can be programmed via computer, but The Icom =
> and=20
>>> =3D
>>> The Yaesu have software and cables, and I've used the Yaesu, which =
> =3D
>>> worked but was not very screne reader friendly.
>>> .
>>> My favorite of the batch is the vr500.
>>> It runs on only 2 A Acells, or 5-14VDC, and has _Much better battery =
> =3D
>>> life than the Icom, and somewhat better battery life than the AOR, =
> both =3D
>>> of which use 4 A As, or 5-14VDC.
>>> The r10's a __________Battery ____________Hog!
>>> Icom has best/fullest sound, the radio and speaker are a _good bit =
> =3D
>>> bigger,  and the aor1000's size and sound characteristics are =
> similar.
>>> but the yaesu's, sound though a little tinnier is certainly adequate, =
> =3D
>>> and because the radio is so much smaller, it's much more portable and =
> =3D
>>> less visible than the other two, which are somewhat like the "brick =
> type=20
>>> =3D
>>> HTS.
>>>
>>> I've never used the Icom R5, which  was compared very favorably to =
> the =3D
>>> VR500 in a recent Eham Review, but in my oppinion, of the widebanders =
> =3D
>>> I've used, the vr500 has a good attenuater and a very good narrow =3D
>>> keyboard setting which really helps with AM, SSB, and CW, adjacent =
> =3D
>>> station interference.
>>> Overloading can certanly be a problem with any of them in a strong =
> =3D
>>> signal situation, but I think the reviewer may have had an =
> oversensitive=20
>>> =3D
>>> radio, or one with another problem of some kind.
>>> All Of the receivers need a different ant for US WX broadcasts,
>>> An Icom Stubby Marine Band Duc  10-15$s Seemed Best.
>>> a 20-50 inch telescopic antenna works well for AM/SW broadcasts,
>>> and a 23foot or so piece of wire soldered to the center pin of a bnc =
> =3D
>>> connecter connected to the radio will do nicely.
>>> Any of these radios need a softcase,
>>> OEM, or something else/camera/cellphone/something, to protect them =
> from =3D
>>> hard floor hits.  The Yaesu's case is the most robust, the AOR, the =
> =3D
>>> least.
>>> Finally, None Of These Radios Will Do as well over a particular =
> portion =3D
>>> of the broadcast spectram, as will as a radio or scanner particularly =
> =3D
>>> designed for that portion of the spectram.
>>> A portable fm-mw-lw-sw receiver will do much better for those =
> particular=20
>>> =3D
>>> freqs than will any of these,
>>> and a basic scanner will do better on particular public service =
> bands.
>>> But these little guys give a portable all band, all mode, and pretty =
> =3D
>>> simple way to check up on activity over the "DCToDark radio spectram, =
> =3D
>>> and if that's what you want, and your expectations are keyed to their =
> =3D
>>> reality/so you're not expecting a Sony 2010 performance on SW,  you =
> may =3D
>>> find them to fill a useful nitch for you.
>>> I don't have any for sale or swap, and I'm not connected with any =3D
>>> manufacturer or seller, just trying to be of help.  Sincere thanks =
> for =3D
>>> both the list, and the bandwidth.
>>> Danny Dyer, Wb4idu.
>>>
>>>