| KC2IGY |
Rating:      |
2001-08-04 | |
| Like it so much, I just bought a second! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I love this radio. I just bought a second one for my car to go along with the one I use in my house. Audio is a little bit low in the car, but acceptable. I'll probably get an external speaker. The expanded RX bands seem to surprisingly receive very well, even 800 MHz. Excellent radio for the $$$.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC2IGY on 2001-07-20
I use this radio as a base and it works great even with a mediocre antenna. For $299, it was a great deal. Lacks some of the features of the more expensive rigs, but everything it can, it does well. Very nice display and easy to use too. |
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| N1KZC |
Rating:  |
2001-08-04 | |
| Terrible Quality Assurance |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I give this radio a 0 rating because I have owned THREE TM-G707A's. YES,THREE.
ALL 3 RADIOS have had unstable oscillators in them that when jarred, would slightly change frequency while monitoring the signal.
Also, ALL THREE exhibited "bad rf-like" connection eminating sounds while monitoring the signal as well.
And lastly, the rigs would FM like crazy.
Operate simplex as I do and you too could be the proud owner of one of these rigs.
These symptoms were and are more prominent while driving. Traveling over even just the slightest bump (jarring) would make the radio produce these symptoms in the medium to high power settings.
It is unfortunate that in the year 2001, the 21st century, that Kenwood can not make a stable enough oscillator and jar proof radio. But, you get what you pay for. I DID.
I set the radios up at the fixed station position and on a supply, monitored the signal with my fine working Icom 2350, slightly jarring the 707A presto....the symptoms produced themselves at the fixed station on a dummy load and an antenna as well.
Kenwood service has replied to me of these problems,"Your(my)complaints really don't make sense to me." DUH! WHAT A SHOCKER!
KENWOOD....CHANGE YOUR NAME TO DEADWOOD.
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| W6PMR |
Rating:      |
2001-08-03 | |
| Great radio for the $$$ |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
After having many problems with other brands lower price range dual banders the Kenwood was recommended by another ham so I tried it.
I picked up mine used from the internet for $250.00 and quite frankly I was not expecting much. Well I was suprised and delighted with this radio! The display is the best I have ever used,
bright and glare free with large easy to read digits. It is a joy to use and program, easy, easy, easy.
Afer trying to use my FT100 as a VHF/UHF mobile this radio is heaven. I have had no problems with intermod. the RX is as good as any I have used.
It does not have a million functions and can only do one band at a time but I do not find that a problem. I now own two, one in each of my trucks.
You can't go wrong for the money, good performance and a joy to operate.
The only complaint is the mike, it is a strnge shape, is larger that it has to be and the PPT button is poorly designed.
A small price to pay for a great radio.
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| K3DLB |
Rating:      |
2001-07-15 | |
| Perfect !! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I am very pleased with the TM-G707A and recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably priced, good quality, dual band radio.
The TM-G707A is easy to program and operate. And, what a great display !!! It replaced my Yaesu FT-90R which I was very unhappy with. The display on the FT-90R was unreadable in the car during the day. The display on the TM-G707A is always readable, even in the bright Florida sunlight.
I've had very good signal and audio reports on both bands. I've had the radio for 5 months and it has performed flawlessly. The FT-90R had to be sent back to the factory twice within the first month of ownership.
Kenwood did a fine job with the TM-G707A. |
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| PP8DA |
Rating:     |
2001-07-01 | |
| Aprs question |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
A nice piece of radio, one negative point is the
speaker with poor audio quality. I use the radio
in mobile service, easily to controll and handle
via the mic, excellent panel read out.
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|
| NO6B |
Rating:  |
2001-06-30 | |
| Disappointing, defective |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Since I purchased this radio brand-new, I've found several problems. First, the CTCSS decoder is defective, as it will false on noisy signals. Sure, you can turn the squelch up so that noisy signals don't get through, but why should I have to do that? CTCSS decoders simply aren't supposed to decode AT ALL unless the proper tone is received, & certainly should NOT decode falsely on pure white noise. Second, the IMD performance is poor as well. I measured the spur-free dynamic range of my G707 as 70 dB with AIP on. That's OK, but my Yaesu FT-8500 is 2 dB better than this & it doesn't even have AIP. I sent the G707 back to Kenwood as soon as I discovered these problems & they said it meets specs.
Bottom line: the CTCSS decoder is defective, & Kenwood's "superior IMD rejection" claims are overblown. Fortunately, I was able to fix the former problem myself by slightly modifying the CTCSS decoder circuitry. It decodes rather slowly now, but at least it doesn't false on noise anymore. |
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| WA5JUX |
Rating:      |
2001-06-22 | |
| Best Rig Out There |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is an incredible rig. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who needs a dual band for the car. The display is perfect (amber in low light; black on clear in sunlight) and has HUGE digits/alpha tags that make viewing easy on the go.
I purchased extension kit and mounted the transceiver under my seat and the diplay head in the center console. I drive a 2001 Honda, and if you've been in one, you would agree that there is NO place for a radio. The separation kit takes care of the problem. The only improvement that I would make is to include a mic extender with the short separation kit. The mic extension is available with the 13' (trunk mount) extension kit, but not the in car 9' like I bought.
My HT is a Kenwood TH-79A(D) and I really like the dual receive, but I mostly use it to monitor public service. I expected to miss this with the single receive of the 707, but I dont at all. I purchased a micro external speaker from radio shack for $12 and attached it to the rig and the sound is perfect. I cant say for sure how it is with the onboard speaker as I have never used it.
I was considering the FT-90R when I bought this and I am SO glad that I didnt buy it after playing with it at the Nashville Hamfest. It is TOO small. You will be very happy with this radio. It is unbelievable. Dont buy the TM-V7A...save your money. Buy this one. |
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| W8KQE |
Rating:    |
2001-06-04 | |
| Intermod rejection is not that good. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Aesthetically, design wise, feature wise, etc., this radio is a giant killer, considering it can be had for $300 and under ($250 at Dayton!). The display is simply stellar, as is the alphanumeric display. However, here in the Cleveland area, I am situated near the airport, and about 3 blocks from a huge apartment building that has about 25 antennas on it (presumably for hospital, airport, taxi, government use, etc.). The intermod recieved by just monitoring 146.52 is unbearable! I get all kinds of hash and wierd signals and noises pegging my meter!!! It's not as if I am right next to the apartment complex either. I know I shouldn't expect much more for 3 bills, but Kenwood touts this one as having great intermod rejection. It does not. |
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| W4BVD |
Rating:      |
2001-04-26 | |
| None Better for the money! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I mounted the display in the actual instrument cluster of my pickup. The large display is easy to read and with the auto-dim function it is not a distraction from driving. NO alternator whine or RF problems (unlike my Yaesu 8100!). For less than $300, you can't go wrong. My 8100 is now being repaired, after which it will be sold! Kenwood has a winner! |
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| KC7KST |
Rating:      |
2001-03-20 | |
| Best of the |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Ok, I've owned and used most VHF/UHF radios and this one is a keeper. Kenwood really did a great job.
I really like;
1. Display
2. The SIMPLE way to view the alhpa tags
3. The buttons for functions are well layed out and they are lit on the display.
4. NO intermod
5. Real Squelch knob instead of menu item
6. Excellent cost / performance
7. Lots of memory channels (180)
8. CTCSS decode/encode built in
9. Detachable face
10. Programable from a PC and cost is VERY resonable.
11. Provides easy operation mode for folks who want a basic radio.
12. Very quiet cooling fan
Ah, Things I'd change or wish list;
1. Cooling fan you can set to turn on when it really needs it. (I'm wondering how long of a life the fan has and how much it will cost to replace)
2. When you check the reverse (input freq or while on simplex), drop the squelch please (like Icom radios)
3. Add a few programmable buttons on the mic
I'm impressed and would buy another in a sec. Good job Kenwood! |
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