That's cool Eric.  Just curious how much you had to pay for the 
radio? I didn't think they were made any longer and have no idea 
how much they are or if anything better replaced them, though I 
think not.  I got one of these radios back around 1991 maybe, 
when they were pretty new.  I still love it but don't use it too 
much.  One hint I will tell you right off, if you don't plan to 
use it regularly, take out the batteries.  It's not for the 
regular reason that batteries leak and screw up the contacts, 
it's because the case of the radio is not very strong and will 
crack if you leave the batteries installed.  I have replaced the 
back case twice since I bought my VR500 and have no idea if they 
can even be obtained anymore but it would be sad not to be able 
to use your little radio because of a stupid cracked case.  
Anyway, below is a file I created that helps me remember how to 
do some of the stuff with this little radio.  73, Jim
Date: 05 30 05.
Yaesu customer service number is 714 827-7600, For parts x 6800 
If sending radio, ship to Vertex Standard USA

Attention Amateur Repair

10900 Walker St.

Cypress, CA.  90630

Parts Luise

On Friday 02 10 06 I bought a back case replacement for my VR 500 
for $13.42.

On Monday January 4, 2010 i ordered another back case replacement 
for the VR 500 for $13.42
Regarding military air, The only Narrow Band Fm you get in the 
225-400MHz band is from 380MHz to 400MHz, There is also some 
satellite NFM in the band.

here are the steps to do a search on the vr-500

Hit the v f o key, the third one down from the power button.

Next enter a lower frequency then hit the lower right or enter 
key

Next hold the function key which is the same as the (push to 
talk), if it was an HT,  and the 3 key until you hear a long 
beep.

Now enter the upper frequency and Press the enter key again.

Hold the function key and 3 again until you hear another long 
beep.

Finally, hold down the function key and tap the 3 key.  This will 
initiate scanning of the search window you have specified.

Pressing the function key and tapping the 3 key, you will hear 2 
high beeps then a low beep.  If you leave it on low beep the 
search function will hold on a frequency for 5 seconds before 
scanning resumes.

Leaving the Set mode is as easy as pressing CLR.

To set a memory enter a frequency or pause on a desired 
frequency.  press the function key and tap the 2 key.  Then while 
still pressing the function key press 2 again.

To delete a memory get on the memory you wish to delete.  Press 
the function key, tap the 2 key then while still holding the 
function key press the 2 key again.

To scan memories, hit function then 1, then function key and tap 
the 3 key.



Each menu setting is represented by a number between 1 and 32 as 
well as an identifying title.  Here's a table which lists the 
available settings as they appear on the LCD:

Number.  Title Description

1 Receive Mode Auto or manual

2 Lock Mode Keypad and or rotary

3 Key Lamp Illumination on off

4 Lamp Mode Auto or toggle

5 Save Battery saver

6 OFF Timer Power off timer

7 ON Timer Power on timer

8 Scan Resume Resume condition

9 Contrast Contrast adjust

10 Key Beep Key beep on off

11 LANGUAGE Display language

12 Search Mode v f o or limit search

13 SRCH Memory Search limits

14 Monitor Squelch tail adjust

15 Find Name Find memorychannel

16 Mode Scan Mode scan selection

17 Bank Scan Single bank scanning

18 Bank Link Scan bank linking

19 RF Squelch RF squelch level

20 Smart Search # of Smart Search memories

21 SSRCH Mode Smart Search mode

22 Flex Step Ties step to receive mode

23 Opening Bell Turn opening beep on off

24 Opening Msg Select opening message

25 Msg Edit Edit opening message

26 Clear Bank Erase bank contents

27 Copy Bank Copy bank contents

28 Swap Banks Swap bank contents

29 Vacant MemoryDisplay # of empty channels

30 Copy Channel Copy memory channel

31 Swap ChannelsSwap memory channels

32 Meter Symbol Select S-meter symbols





Keypad numbers with functions.

1 memo

2 Mw/MC

3 sch/scn

4 S.Wdd/S.C.

5 s Sch/Pms

6 PW

7 DW

8 A.TddT

9 Lamp

0 mode



Memories in radio.

000 5 Mhz WWV

001 10 MHZ WWV

002 15 MHZ WWV

003 20 MHZ Wwv

004 6.0650 Sweden

005 9.9125

006 6.6040 Aviation weather

007 10.0572 Usb

008 7.240 Usb Ham swap net.

009 11.175 Usb Longrange military

010 5.547,

011 5.574,

012 162.4 Weather, S.F.  Bay Area

013 162.425 Weather, Mount Diablo

014 145.49

015 440.625

016 224.78 w 6 Cx 220 repeater

017 145.8 for Space Station ham downlink.

018 5.980 BBC

019 8.764 Usb Coast Guard audomated weather

020 197.15 My Nady Wireless Mic.  frequency.  Nady Wireless Mic 
model 351Wlt on channel n 197.15 right below channel 10 TV audio, 
Nady Service 652-2411

021 6.5011 USB

022 461.425



End of memories.

15.590 Ktbn religious shortwave station Salt Lake City.  web site 
Iiworg.



Frequencies heard during World Series military fly by on 10 24 02 
are: 307.2, 135.1, and 122.875,



Central East Pacific 1/3: 3.413, 3.452, 5.574, 6.673, 8.843, 
10.057 and 13.354



Central East Pacific 2 2.869, 5.547, 11.282 and 13.288





Honolulu:

4.666,

6.532,

8.903,

10.048,

11.384,

11.342,

13.273,

13.300,

17.904,

17.965,

17.925



Australia Time signals VNG.

8.637,

12.985,

16 MHZ



5.5474

5.6162

9.4812



1285.3 and 1285.55 Berkeley ham repeaters.



FEMA 14.3965 Usb also 10.493 Usb and Awax on 9.023 Usb



Some Shortwave military frequencies:

8.983, 8.992, 11.125, 11.175, and 11.225.



Some bay approach frequencies

310.8, 290.25, 270.35, and 239.25



Some NASA frequencies heard around L.A.  during the plane launch 
of a satellite.  237.0 primary mission coordination, 280.7 
control, 260.9 bravo,



Some military frequencies heard during the attack on the World 
Trade Center:

138.875

141.125



Some military air frequencies heard in the bayarea

349.4 Travis command post

349.49, 349.41



Some high altitude military air frequencies.

124.25

138.4 am.

Coast Guard 237.9, 282.8, 326.15 Air to ground primary, 345.0 Am 
Coast guard Helo's San Fran Air, and refeuling, 379.05 air to 
ground 2, 381.7, 383.9.

coast Guard c-130 287.8 and 381.8

#296.7, High altitude

300.125

#348.7,

* 369.9 possible U.  2 heard on 05 27 01.



NORAD west coast frequencies.  Discretes

(stars by busiest)

BIGFOOT North (but used South now also)

228.6

234.7 BIGFOOT South

* * 235.9

* 238.5

228.9

239.7

234.6

251.0

* 281.6

* * 252.0 Am Big Foot

252.525

* 254.2

254.8

* 274.4

* * * 265.4

336.6

* 271.0 sometimes encrypted Referred to as Blue 15I

* 282.6 Am coordinating CAP Big foot, Amber 17

* 320.9 Arkadsas secondary

* 322.0 Atc frequ?

* 345.0 Boom frequ.

* 300.325 Am white 101

309.40 Am

320.90 Am tanker refeuling?

328.450 Am Beaver?

346.2

* 364.20 Am Bigfoot Blue WADS western Area Defense system

282.5

* 309.4 USAF NAVY Dogfights

287.7

398.0 encrypted

288.4

238.4

293.6

* * * 260.8 Dogfights

264.50 Am white 2

302.4

341.8

* 320.6 (north and south lists)

377.0

324.0 (same)

* * 387.8 Customs USCG NORAD common?

328.0

270.2

359.8

316.3

* 374.0

327.9

* * * 364.2 AICC

* 267.0 dogfights

* 148.125 AICC Victor

142.5 air-air Victor DISCRETES

* 386.0

390.2

* 390.25

270.8 AWACS

132.05 AWACS Victor

303.1 AWACS

288.2 AWACS

376.2 AWACS (used with Groom Lake Ops)

391.8 AWACS (same)

278.4

279.4

287.7

293.8

296.7 Amber 4

299.0

299.5

300.6

303.0

321.0

333.3



333.35

333.55

335.55

345.6

351.0

394.2

397.8

379.9 listed as old Skunk-works freq- unusual high Alt AstC heard 
air-air

392.1 SENIOR SMART.



Step size for Military Air band 25 KHZ in A.M.  mode.  But lmr 
Land Mobile Radio is 12.5 Khz N.F.M.  between 380 to 399.9 MHZ.



Travis refueling frequencies are: 281.4, 283.9 289.7, 319.5, 
328.45, 352.6, 366cc, 290.5, 349.4.

Travis MacDill link 262.275 Fm

Travis AFB 321.0

Boeing 463.3 vandenberg Airforce base

End of file.