This is the basic VX-IR mod. Itve taken what I've found on the net, and
expanded on it slightly, after perfomning the mod to my radio. Note that after
perfonning the mod, ARS (Autumatic Repeater Offset) will nut functiun (whether
it's turned on or not), and you will lose any stored memuries and preferences.
The mod is very simple. First, put the piece of protective plastic back on the
display, or take a 3M Post-It Note (tm), and stick
it to the display. Work on top of a piece of 8 I/Z XI 1 paper (good contrast,
will also keep from marring the radio). Open the radio by removing the 3
screws. Taking a smallflat screwdriver, release the tab on the left, inside
the battery compartment (assume radio is facing down, antenna away from you).
Release the 2nd ~ tab and tht's about halfway up the inside of the battery
compartment Being very careful, separate the 2 halves the
radio. Yuu'll need to apply a kind of rotation along with the separation. Note
that the battery compartment lid and hinge pin will fall out. Keep track of
these l the left uf the to the edge of the case, you'll see two pads, (closer
to the top) O). They look like a gold circle with a line down the middle. You
won't move the battery to see these. Each of these pads need to be bridged
with a solder blod. Use a small iron, and work careful, or you'll burn the
case. After brindgin the pads snap the radio back together. 1 had a slight
amount of difficulty getting the right side of the case aligned, so you may
have to work at it sligtly. Before you acWly perfonn the
"snapll, put the hinge pin through the battery comparfrnent lid, and
reinstalled the lid.
Replace the 3 screws. Add battery, antenna back to radio. Holding the M/V key
and AR, apply power (this is the hard reset to the radio). When the menu that
sasy "INI? F" appears, press the F/W key to reset the radio. You should now
have the expanded mod.
You will lose all the memories and preferences, su either record them, or do
the mod before you save lots of frequencies. My tests show that you can also
now transmit ftom 108 to 137 (AIR), 137 to 170 (V-HAM) , 170 to 222 (V-TV),
420 to 470 (U-HAM) , and 470 to 580 (part of UHF-TV). 1 haven't measured power
output, but am simply going on the fact of the TX LED lighting or not, and
whether it made the speakers next to my PC buzz or not. Remember, it's not
nice or legal to fransmit out of band, or outside your license class. When
tuning around, be sure to check the receive mode. The processor puts the radio
into AM in places where it doesn't make any sense, so don't trust the RX-MODE
option being in AUTO. I keep mine disabled.
|
