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Reviews For: Kenwood TM-G707A

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TM-G707A
Reviews: 114MSRP: 350
Description:
Dual-band 2-meter and 450 mHz FM mobile transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.kenwood.net/indexKenwood.cfm?do=ProductDetails&ProdID=5012&Group=5
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001144.5
WA2A Rating: 2002-08-29
Good radio but lacking features Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently installed a G707a in my car and I found the it to be easy to install. It is a good radio and I especially like the big display right in front of me.
I bought the DFK 4c front panel kit to mount it under my seat and found that 13 ft. of cable is a bit much but it is the least you could buy with a mike connector.
The audio is great and I get very good reports on my signal. At first I did not like the mid power at 10 watts, but it is just right for me and reaches most of the repeaters that I use.
The PC program is free but the cable costs just as much as other companies charge for the program and cable. The program is lacking in that it does not provide the ability to program the power and other functions as does the Yaesu program.
Scanning functions are limited. There are no scan groups as with my other two radios whereby I can put several repeaters from a specific area in one cluster of frequencies and just scan them.
This is a good radio for anyone who is not looking for a lot of bells and whistles. I find it does the job and is easy to use right out of the package.
W6ERO Rating: 2002-05-18
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great rig! I've had one in the shack for over three years, and it has been a great performer. Previous experience with Kenwood rigs made the initial set up a snap.

I've waited for some indication of PTT problems, (ala the TM-7VA) but none have surfaced. I believe these two rigs use the same Mic; there was an article in an edition of QST magazine that came out last year and addresses this problem nicely. I performed this little mod on a TM-V7A. It is not difficult, and completely cured the sporadic cut out during transmission. If you experience any such symtoms, check out the QST article.

Kenwood has made a loyal customer of me. Great Radio.
N6BRI Rating: 2002-05-18
Best Buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When I set out to get my first mobile, I didn't think the road would lead to this radio. My only experiece previously was with my Yaesu VX5R and I was pretty impressed with it. When the bank account started looking like I could afford a mobile, I naturally expected to continue with the Yaesu line since I was familiar with their set up. After much research including product reviews at ARRL I stumbled upon the eham.net website. Here is where I got my eyes opened up--reading what the users had to say about their rigs. It was here that I got a glimpse of the quality control issues that some manufacturers had (yeah, Yaesu was one of them) and it was here that I found out about the Kenwood dual bander. It is one of the most reviewed dual banders on the site, and still it held the highest rating. Once zeroed in on this rig, I found lots of collaborating information elsewhere to cinch the selection.
There are two available mods, one for extended receive and one for MARS/CAP, neither one I have tried, but they are well documented on the internet. For me, I am happy with the extended receive as it is for monitoring public service freq's when needed. It also has the aircraft band.
What I really like is the detachable panel. With this feature I am able to mount the radio behind my truck seat and place the panel on the steering column with some velcro for easy viewing while mobile. The mike has all the controls you need to work the radio and they are all on the same side you talk in to, which keeps me from accidently fingering the buttons when talking.
Anyway, it has a lot of nice features that usually cost lots of extra bucks, yet it is modestly priced.
The only down side might be the memory scanning speed for those that use that feature--it's a little bit slow. However, the band scan is much faster and can be set for continuous scanning within a selected range.
KD4ZOY Rating: 2002-05-09
Great Value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was originally planning to purchase a Yeasu 7100, but after reading the review on that radio and then seeing the reviews on the 707 – I purchased the 707. I am not disappointed.

I was looking for a radio that would both function as a scanner and my ham rig. After looking at all the choices, this radio was the only one in the price range ($300) that met that need.

Things I like:

-Alpha Tags
-Alpha Menus
-Small Size
-Intermod Rejection
-Ability to control almost any functions from mic keypad
-Expanded RX/TX range
-Good sounding internal speaker
-Kenwood puts software and manuals online for free
-Will scan channels in all bands during memory scan
-Programmable memory is a very nice feature (Save 4 sets of menu settings)
-Good implementation of the Tone Scan feature.

Things I dislike:

-Priority Scan does not work as expected. If it is scanning memory channels and stops on a station, the priority does not work. It only works in non-scan mode between 2 channels.
-Slow Scan Speed
-Locking out a channel from the scan list requires many steps
-Sensitivity is reduced with RX/TX mod
-Mic hanging bracket
-Software does not allow you to program radio settings, just channels

Overall I am very pleased with the performance of this radio and feel I received a good value.

KD5IBG Rating: 2002-04-30
3 Years Later - Still Kicks Tail Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a follow up on the TM-G707A review I posted a long time ago on here. Have had my 707 for nearly 3 years now, and it has NEVER ever given me any problems whatsoever. I rated it a 4 then.

I'll have to switch that to a 5 now. Outside of the slow scan and the PTT button being sort of difficult to hold down - this is one great dual bander.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KD5IBG on 2000-01-26

The big bright easy to read display and the fact that I didn't need to monitor two frequencies at one time are the reasons I bought the 707A over the V7A. Never have had any problems with this radio whatsoever, and I consistantly get good audio reports. This radio's reception is fairly good when scanning outside of the 2m and 70cm bands. I have used several different antennas with it and all have worked fine with no problems. Even though one can't monitor two frequencies at once, you can transmit on one band and receive on the other (useful for links). 180 memory slots for storing frequencies is kind of overkill, but it's always better to have too many than not enough, especially when the radio remembers everything you save, including wierd offsets and CTCSS tones. Despite what some folks may think about Kenwood manuals, I have found the 707A's manual to be very helpful when I've had a problem figuring something out.

A couple of minor negatives: The 707A's cooling fan is loud - probably not an issue in a moving vehicle, but I use mine as a base and it's somewhat annoying, especially when trying to listen to weaker stations. The scan speed is also a little slow for my tastes, but it's tolerable.

The bottom line: The features and performance are great, and the price is right. I'm really happy with my Kenwood.
N0XAS Rating: 2002-04-30
Very nice rig. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm very happy with my TM-G707A. While not 100% perfect, it's a fine mobile radio and I'm glad I bought it. Receive audio is very good from the top-firing speaker; I mounted mine under the rear package shelf in my Mustang and don't need a remote speaker. Everything works as advertised. Good intermod rejection, especially with the S-meter squelch, which is a real plus! Have worked several simplex stations around town (and repeaters of course, but you can do that with a piece of wood) and made several satellite contacts.

Software is a little limited but is free, which is good. Data cable isn't free, but pinouts are in the manual - which is also downloadable in PDF form. Kenwood is miles ahead of Yaesu for support in this respect! My only gripes: Remote kit is EXPEN$IVE, and they used an oddball proprietery connector to make sure you buy the kit. Otherwise I'd have bought a VS-3 - maybe they saved me from myself there! ;) And while you can store an odd split n a memory location, it can't be a crossband split - makes setting up for a UO-14 or SO-41 pass a little more complicated than twisting the knob, though not by much.

Aside from that, I have NO complaints about this rig. After a few yeas of nursing an old, rickety DR-510T from one repair to the next, it's nice to have a good, solid radio again. I'd love to buy another for the shack!

KC2IGS Rating: 2002-04-25
I LOVE IT! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hi all,

Unlike quite few reviews here I wont say I got this rig after I returned my Yaesu FT-7100.
Just the opposite! I am writing this review after I have had my TM-G707A for about 3 months and then I wanted simultaneous receive and went out to buy Yaesu FT-7100.

Well, after a week of fighting for clear audio and intermod with FT-7100 in the mobile mode in
NYC it is returned.

So, here it goes I LOVE working mobile with G707A rig! All around great performance!

P.S. Of course I still want simultaneous receive so I will go for TM-V7A and use G707A at the base :-)
WD5DPW Rating: 2002-04-21
Even dropped Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reading all the reviews, I had to add mine. there is a procedure for adjusting the mic gain. search the web for this radio model and you will find them. (shorting the tnc port, pins 2 and 6 but dont quote me, from my memory here! ) as far as the frequency shifting as in one report, I even dropped this unit from the table and did not experience this.(not on purpose!) and the unit still works fine with no shift according to the Freq counter and Oscilliscope. this radio is very new. ( about 3 weeks ) the audio output is good. the mic audio from all the reports state the radio sounds great. very legible and good volume reports that where unsolicited. (you ask and they will tell you great most of the time when its not!) I would buy another one, in fact, I will very soon. only Complaint? they say there are no extra display heads for these units, which I think Kenwood missed out on a few $$, I would buy 3. hmm maybe they just want you to buy another radio? bet so.. Marketing dept.. The channel scan is slow. but I only use it for a few freq's anyway. also the dual receive is no biggie to me. and as advertised, Intermod is very low, my Icom shows its intermod and the 707 right next to it is very happy.
AB9GO Rating: 2002-04-10
p.s. on earlier review Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
p.s. I own several Kenwood products and all have performed to my expectations and beyond. I will buy from Kenwoood in the future. I just feel that making certain repair parts unavailable on a brand new radio is wrong.

73
Randy KB8ASO.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KB8ASO on 2002-04-10

I just received this radio that was won at the Columbus Indiana Hamfest ( Thanks guys! ). I have NO problems with the radio. Works very well. The gripe I have is with Kenwood.

#1 Where is the schematic? It would have been nice to have. I understand that there will be little I can repair on my own with all the sub micro SMT components in there, but I still would have liked to have one.

#2 This one really bugs me. There is an insert that states if you need a replacement head, ( The radio is remote mountable. ) none will be available from Kenwood?! This is insane. Geez I drop the display head while sticking it in my pocket to keep it from being stolen or worse some one steals the head. Now all I have got a great door stop! Come on Kenwood. This policy sux.

Randy KB8ASO
KC9AXZ Rating: 2002-03-20
I'll take another. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This radio is doing me well. I can't really complain about it. I'd buy another one any day. My wish list to make this a 5/5 review is below.

Add one more Alpha Character
Supply the programing cable free
Make the radio the same height as the face