Extension Kit Compatibility - Old TMV7A vs. TMV71A & TMD710A

[KF6CNP]

Hey all,

So I am in the process of trying to decide between the TMV71A and the TMD710A...   I am stuck between really liking the lood of the 710, but do not anticipate ever using APRS, etc...   so I am basically looking at $200 for a nicer looking display, but I digress...

So, I am replacing an old TMV-7A, and I already have the separation kit installed with the head on my dash.  My questions surround the cables used for extension...

If I buy the TMV71A and the DFK-3D (head only extension kit), wuold I be able to use the same mic extension cable already installed (I don't know if the cable changed)?  Or, shoulud I just bite the bullet and pick up the PG5-F kit that has the mic kit, etc?

My thought is that if I buy the radio at $380 and the PG5-F kit for $70, that $450 total puts me just about $100 from the 710 anyway.

Now if I just buy the 710,  It already ships with a head separation kit, and so if the old TMV7A mic extension would work, it would appear that I would be all set to go.

Does this cable situation sound right?    If so, like I said, I would be essentially at $100 difference between the two.  With the nicer display and the features that I don't anticipate using (but who knows about the future?), it seems like it would be worth putting a little extra scratch aside to get the 710 and get myself back on the air.

(Heck, after my last queries, I drilled my roof and have the  NMO Larsen ready to go after all...   )

The TMV7A will then become a base until it finishes dying...

Thanks for the input help!

Bill

[VA3WXM]

You can probably reuse the mic extension cable but the head control cable on the V7A is entirely different from the V71A/D710: one is proprietary Kenwood and the other is RJ45.

One thing to keep in mind with the mic extension cable, the audio is analog and can be susceptible to external noise interference.  The Kenwood extension cable has shielding around the audio line.  Some people have had no issues using regular Cat5 but others have experienced a "helicopter" sound on their transmitted audio that went away when the used the shielded cable.  Your mileage may vary.

When I got my V71A I bit the bullet and bought the PG-5F kit too.  Only complaint is that the cables are disappointingly short (about 13').   I mounted the radio body in the trunk of my 4-door full-sized sedan and the extension cable was barely long enough to reach the control head mounted in the dash.  Come on Kenwood, don't be so cheap and give us at least 15' of cable!