I think you would want to put more information on your requirements. Power requirements and ease of functions. I tried out a Yeasu FT60 and am seriously thinking about purchasing one soon unless I go cheap and go with a Chinese model.

Good luck,

73's

N9ZQZ

I have a Kenwood TH22 AT and it has been a very simple HT to use. Kenwood no longer makes em but you can find them. I have had mine since 94 and they are easy to repair as well.

For a mobile I have tried Yeasu (FT 2800M) and my current mobile Kenwood (Tm-281) and I found the Kenwood a little easier to program and get around. I also get compliments on the sound of the Kenwood. My base ICOM IC-2350 I always have to get out the book to program the tone and memories.

Good luck!!

Jamie
N9ZQZ

I ordered my new 2 meter mobile from them. The best price I could find. I got it shipped fast. I will order from them again without hesitation.

UPDATE:

I made some brackets out of aluminum and mounted the radio under the factory stereo. There is alot of room back there. Made a make shift trim ring to go around the radio. Now that the antenna is tuned it is working very well on low power. On my first test in the car i was talking 2 counties away on 25 watts!!! The front fire speaker sounds really good. Love the microphone as well. As soon as I figure out where to host the pictures I will put them up. Does look almost factory.

I have used Ubuntu for a few years and recently like the rest hate unity. I found zorin os. It is based on ubuntu but the interface is more like windows. I run it in Virtual as well as natively on a desktop and a netbook. It runs awesome. You can download 32 and 64 bit versions. The dvd can boot a live version so you can be sure all your hardware work and if you like it go ahead and install it.

Never thought of using a piece of wood to secure the bracket on base operation!! Will have to look into it. I stopped by a local stereo install shop with the radio and showed the tech what I was attempting to do. After the quote I went back and measured the opening and the radio and am going to attempt to make some custom brackets out of aluminum and a custom trim plate to take up any opening. Should be pretty straight forward.

On the radio I guess you could say the heat sink was warm but I was like you and didn't want to leave my fingers there long enough to get any skin irritation. I am thinking about trading in the Icom and getting a Kenwood dual bander for the base operation. I like the menus and the audio reports from local hams on the repeaters.

73's

Just unboxed the radio yesterday and put it on my base PS and antenna. Setup the memory channels and made sure everything is working. Ran it on high power for several QSO's and didn't get warm to the touch. I guess I was worried about nothing. I plan on finding some single din brackets and put it below the factory stereo removing the door covered bay below it. Lots of room back there so should be good and easily accessed. Hopefully a local audio install shop will have something I can use. Also waiting on the correct mount for my Browning br-150. Going NMO mount on the trunk (previous owner had an antenna there). I think it will take longer to get the power to the battery, put on the heat resistant tubing around the cables and tie them down so they don't get into any hot areas on the motor or into any moving parts. I will see about posting some pics of the process afterwards. Thanks for the reply. The information on these forums is very good.

73's
N9ZQZ

Has anyone seen a mod to add a fan to the radio? I have seen some for the Yeasu radios and the ICOM but nothing for this one. I have some ideas about mounting under the factory radio and adding a cooling fan and put a switch on it so I can run it when the radio is operating. I will put some pictures up to help others who may be considering an install in this type/model of a car.

Hello All,

First post here. I am a returning to the hobby ham and purchased the kenwood tm-281a. It will be here in a week from what I am getting. With the Optima there isn't much in terms of locations to mount the thing. I was looking at possibly putting in the empty din slot under the radio but from what I have read the heat might get too much. I might mount it on the console on the passenger side of the car or possibly take out the cubby section (to be returned if I sell the car) and mounting it in there. I looked at the mounting pictures in the forums and got some ideas. I couldn't afford a removable head unit and have a dual band on the base (Icom IC2350) but want to keep that base side. The optima is a 2005. Similar to the Hyundai 2004 Sonata. The previous owner must have had either a ham or cd nmo mount as there is a plugged hole in the center of the trunk. I purchased an nmo mount to go back in there. If anyone has installed a radio similar to that and can give me any ideas that would be great. Learning alot on the forums and enjoying reading the information on here.

73's

Jamie N9ZQZ