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Author Topic: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?  (Read 248 times)

KE2SJ

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I am on a limited budget but looking for a dual bander.  I have offers for a Kenwood TM-G707, Icom IC-2730A, and Yaesu FT-7800, FT-8800, 208H and FT-8900.  All around the same price.  A new 2730A would be $60 more, as would a FTM-6000.  I'd like a rig that puts out full power (ideally 50w on 70cm, but I know that's rare) and has great audio, receiver sensitivity, and is not a nightmare to use.  Cross-band repeat and APRS would be nice but I can live without them.  Which radio would you choose, and why, assuming all are in good working order?  It will be not be used mobile.
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KB7TT

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2021, 03:53:41 PM »

Just bought a Yaesu FTm 6000 and I love it... The 2730A is OK but Icom makes you buy the plate to mount the front panel for $50.00 and a mobile bracket too.  What a rip-off.
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AF5CC

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2021, 04:16:30 PM »

Do you want dual receive, or only 1 band at a time receive?  The Icom 2730, FT8800, and FT8900 do dual receive. The others only do 1 band at a time, including thh FTM6000, from what I can tell.  The FT8900 will also do 10m and 6m FM, which is fun. 

The Icom 2730 and Icom 208 do 50 watts on 70cm, the others don't.  Both of those also have great sensitivity, based on the QST reviews. 

Good luck in your choice.

73 John AF5CC
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K1KIM

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2021, 04:39:26 PM »

Good deals around on the ID-5100A.
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So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

WA9AFM

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2021, 07:34:27 PM »

Although not on your list, take a look at the Kenwood TM-V71A.
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K9DEG

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2021, 10:09:06 PM »

I bought the IC-2730 because being farsighted I never drive with glasses, and it has the largest display font. Great transmit and receive too.
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2021, 04:11:18 AM »

Without hesitation the Kenwood TM-V71A.
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K8PJM

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2021, 04:43:05 AM »

For the money you can't go wrong with the Kenwood V71A
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K3XR

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2021, 05:24:34 AM »

My choice would be between Kenwood and Yaesu I have both brands in my vehicles and in the shack.  I would not consider Icom based on the problems I've had with Icom gear over the years. 
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K9IKE

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2021, 05:55:32 AM »

By all means go with the Yaesu 8900. 4 bands for the "same" price. What a deal. But if you don't mind receiving one band at a time, the Icom 208 is just about immune to intermod.
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K5LXP

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2021, 06:48:27 AM »

Agree with the 2730 readable display.  I am a fan of the 8800/8900 feature list but it does require a Nifty manual in the  glovebox at times to navigate the menus.  Once set up though the hypermemories are a worthy feature.  Not a fan of the 5100's touch screen.  It looks "cloudy" to me and I don't like touch screens in cars (including the ones in the car).  TX power is not a critical feature, 25W on any band is more than enough with a nominally efficient antenna.  True dual band is a critical feature in my opinion, especially V+V and U+U.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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N9ZI

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2021, 08:33:07 AM »

Hello,

I have FT-8900 in shack, and a FT-7900 in the car, both have been perfect, also had a FT-8800 in the past which also was perfect.

Good Luck,

Terry N9ZI 
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W2JUV

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2021, 09:53:49 AM »

I've owned the Kenwood TM-G707 for 21 years and it has been and continues to be a reliable radio. Still puts out almost full power. Some DTMF mic buttons are now flaky, but hey, it is 21 years old. Also owned an IC-208 since 2004. Was mobile for many years and prone to front end overload. Also buttons on the DTMF are quite small. I vote for the G707.
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KE2SJ

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2021, 11:17:21 AM »

I would go with the V71A but it's outside of my budget.  Is the 8800 really that hard to program and navigate its menus?  I like the extra bands on the 8900 but it has no memory banks.  I'm still agonizing over which to go with.  Are older radios like the 707 and 208H too risky to buy used?  Responses have been very helpful.  More are always appreciated!
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K6CPO

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Re: Survey: Which dual-bander would you buy? TM-G707, IC-2730A, FT8800, etc.?
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2021, 01:35:56 PM »

I am on a limited budget but looking for a dual bander.  I have offers for a Kenwood TM-G707, Icom IC-2730A, and Yaesu FT-7800, FT-8800, 208H and FT-8900.  All around the same price.  A new 2730A would be $60 more, as would a FTM-6000.  I'd like a rig that puts out full power (ideally 50w on 70cm, but I know that's rare) and has great audio, receiver sensitivity, and is not a nightmare to use.  Cross-band repeat and APRS would be nice but I can live without them.  Which radio would you choose, and why, assuming all are in good working order?  It will be not be used mobile.

As someone who owns both the Yaesu FT-7900 and FT-8900 and has some experience with the FT-8800, I can say any of those three would be an excellent choice. The major differences between them are how they receive.  Although they are all multi-band (2 meter and 70 centimeter in the case of the 7900 and 8800 and 10M, 6M, 2M and 70CM in the case of the 8900) they all receive a little bit differently.  The FT-7900 has a single VFO and can only receive one frequency at a time. Both the 8800 and 8900 have two VFOs and are dual simultaneous receive.  One drawback is that all are FM only.  As an Advanced license holder, you aren't restricted to just 6, 2 and 70 as a Technician licensee would be.  You have the full selection of 10M frequencies at your disposal, although I don't hear much FM traffic on 10. Even 6M is not heavily used. (I bought the 8900 to be able to have access to a couple more frequencies during ARES participation in state-mandated hospital drills.)
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