The Radio Information Board

Recently came across some dude selling conversion instructions on eBay for $10 that explain how to enable field programming on the VX-10 portable.

I have a pair of VX-10 (4X) portables, I'd like to be able to field program them (for amateur use).

Anyone have this information that would share it without charging for it?

Thanks!

I second that request.
I called Vertex and they were tight lipped about it, first denying it, then I called back and selected amateur support and talked to a guy who was VERY knowlegeable about the VX-10's and said he knew it existed, but he feared consequences if he logged into LMR's system and emailed them to me. From what he said, it involved removing a solder pad on the logic board (similar to the mars/cap mod on the amateur version of the radio, the FT10/40). He also told me you lose some memory channels or some other functions but couldn't recall which ones.

I have a UHF VX-10 and would like to make it field programmable for use on the 440 band. It is a heck of a radio.

I'd wager that a firmware flash can be sent to it to make it an FT-50R or whatever UHF equivalent.... Too much similarity...

If anyone finds out the secret or wants to become a $10 eBay guinea pig for this info, let me know.

If you join the radio programming yahoogroup there is a place in the files section that has the instructions. If I remember, it requires jumpering across two pads under the ni-cad warning label on the back of the radio. Then you have a sequence of key pushes to program the radio.

There should be not mods you jusy need firmware 4x or better if I am correct. Check or e-mail someone at http://www.rfwiz.com he is been doing vertex stuff for years and is always willing to help. I think i press the channel know down and the PTT and turn the power on and it goes into Field Program mode.

egrams is correct. There is a scanned copy of the Vertex technical bulletin
uploaded to the files section of the radio-programming group at Yahoo
that describes the exact procedure using a factory "contact plate". This
contact plate is secured using screws that hold the keypad to the radio.
There are tabs on the contact plate that will short two pads to the chassis
(ground). The instructions that I have seen being sold on eBay (as I had
purchased them last year) are actually the same Vertex bulletin and
simply tell you to solder a wire onto each pad and wrap the end around
the screws.

While you can get to MOST of the channel programming with the field
programming mode enabled, there are still SOME functions that cannot be
changed unless you use the CE14 programming software. To me the most
important item that you cannot alter with the field programming is the
GROUP setup. If your radio has been limited to 5 channels in only one
group, that's all you are going to be able to use unless you have the CE14
program to re-assign the groups.

While there are some programmable memories inside the radio (EEPROM)
I do not believe that there is any way to "flash" the radio's firmware. To
enable the field programming mode DOES NOT require any software or
firmware mods; simply two small wires, a soldering iron and a steady
hand will do.

Ray

I forgot about the jumper. From RfWiz.com it's part
R0152390 Programming Jumper $1.05

I loved mine till it got stolen in a bad trade.