Hi Guys, the VR500 is a fine radio, if ones' expectations are geared
to what it actually is!/I've had several, and liked them very much,
hope to have another one in time.  *For over all portability,/(fits in
a shirt pocket, has a wrist strap, and belt clip, it's about the size
of an IC-t90,) and versatility, they're hard to beat!  They're more
along the lines of an all purpose scanner than a Real SWL receiver
though!  They use a rubber duck antenna with a BNC connecter, will
take an external ant, but can be overloaded signal wise to where you
may need to use the attenuater. And even with the duck, the radio will
receive pretty well./I've gotten Gander and or New York Radio
WX/3.485, 6.604, 10.051, 13.270,SSB, here in GA, quite often, and CW
and SSB nets and qsos are doable.
The thousand mems are non volatile, the wide-narrow filtering works
nicely/has to be set up in the menu, which though not blind friendly,
can be accomplished with sighted hellp, and maybe blindly with
software and screen reader, although I never had that option.  For a
DC to Dark so to speak radio, they're pretty neat, and I'd love to
have another one some time.  But if you're looking for a unit that
specializes in Basic lw-through short wave with FM, that majors on
consistantly pulling DX signals out of the mud, especially if you're
used to table top or portable SW radios, the VR500 may not live up
your expectations.
I've had, used, owned
Sony 2001, 7600G, GR, A, D, and European,
SW100S,/my favorite of the sonys,
Grundig YB400s,
RadioShack
DX390, 392, 398, 440, 505, SW100, and their Sangean equivalents, as
well as a couple whose nomenclature escapes me,
A Uniden RX whose nomenclature escapes me,
Kaito KA1102,
AOR 1000,
Yaesu VR500,Hallicrafters S38/several different models,
s120, S40, SkyBuddy,
Several of the National table tops, and some other receivers I can't
remember nomenclature of right now, not to mention transceivers I've
played with. HTH, Danny


On 10/2/12, Anthony Vece <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks & 73 de Anthony w2ajv
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon iPhone!
>
> On Oct 2, 2012, at 4:40 PM, Jim Gammon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Yes, the VR500 can receive Am, Fm wide and narrow, and USB LSB.
>> Jim WA6EKS
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Anthony Vece <[log in to unmask]
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Date sent: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 14:27:49 -0400
>> Subject: Re: swl radio with keypad entry
>>
>> Jim;
>>
>> Will the vr500 decode sideband?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Anthony
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon iPhone!
>>
>> On Oct 2, 2012, at 12:38 PM, Jim Gammon <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Russ, how much is the Grundig G3? Sounds like a great radio.
>> The
>> Vr500 will fit in your shirt pocket and runs on 2 double a
>> batteries or uses the same wall wart as the Yaesu Ht's Vx5r and
>> such.  Jim
>