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Reviews For: Kenwood TM-V7A

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TM-V7A
Reviews: 111MSRP: 719.95
Description:
The dual band mobile with the cool blue display.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.kenwood.net/products/index.cfm?AMA=open&ama_mob=open
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001113.8
K4VBX Rating: 2022-01-24
Long-time owner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm a long-time owner of the TM-V7a, since 2004. The blue face display is the Achilles heal and the weakest feature of the rig, but its performance is otherwise solid. The radio has been in a mobile environment for most of the last 17 years, and it still is as of today. The display dims over time. Replacement LED are available to rejuvenate the display, purchased as individual components or as a kit (which I bought on Ebay). The audio reports are better than newer Kenwood rigs that carry a timing signal over the mic cable for the DTMF. As those mics age, the cables lose their noise-cancelling construction, which unnecessarily hurts mic audio. The V7A has no such problem. Last time I checked, I get full-rated 50W on VHF high power, and about 28W on UHF high power.

The data function worked great when I had it in the shack for a short time. I had replaced it with a V71A in the truck, but that rig is better suited for me in the shack with the data functionality (i.e. with TNC head upgrade and computer configuration). Again, blue face isn't so great in the mobile environment, but the transceiver is simply a solid mobile rig.

I recommend this as a base FM dual-band radio. Crossband repeat, PC-audio port, and simple features are just enough to make this radio extremely useful. With a good base antenna to give you an extra 2-3dB, the rated power on UHF performs adequately, even though the contemporary standard is around 50W. The display is actually very nice indoors. Likely to be an excellent value on the used market.
NC6R Rating: 2020-12-17
Works ok, but..... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As a mobile radio it's not great, but OK. The visual display on the radio leaves a lot to desired, even when run in reverse video mode. The rig becomes a little more useful when the voice announcement option is installed as this provides you an audible announcement as to your channel & VFO selection.
HOWEVER, the frontend selectivity on this radio is horrible! In urban & Downtown areas where there's a higher level of RF the receiver just goes away. It's not a rig for those who venture near communication sites or spend the majority of their time mobile in large metropolitan areas.
I suspect if used a base station in most residential areas it would perform just fine. Steve / NC6R
KK6WOW Rating: 2016-08-31
Great Radio But Mic Problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought 2 of these radios used and love them. No problems with the screens and lines showing up as others have commented. Although I was aware of the problem with the display because I read up on the radio before purchasing - I made sure that the sellers specifically said no display problems. That being said, the radio works great in all functions...except the Mic.
Not too many people have commented on the microphone, but the microphone is very attenuated and does not have the high end crispiness as other Kenwood radios (like the Tm-281 or tm-v71)
If you research the microphone you will see that there is a known problem with the mics being "muffled" and low volume. Doing a quick mic switch and A/B comparison with another mic in your shack will confirm this for you. I have no idea what it is or why just these particular mics exhibit this characteristic, but it is there. I currently use this radio with replacement mics that I purchased on Amazon. It is wired for Kenwood RJ45 8-pin and sound much brighter and louder than the stock mic that comes with the radio. Only problem is, the wiring is a little off and you cannot use the DTMF with the replacement mics. But I am happy to use manual and computer programming and just have a loud clear mic to talk while using this radio. I use the radio indoors as my shack dual band FM rig. It is completely useless outdoors in the sun or any amount of sunlight because of the screen. The cool blue display looks great indoors, and thats the only place I can use it. So if you buy this rig for your go-box, don't expect to see the screen well. Other than that, the only other comment is that it is solid, puts out the stated watts and looks great in my shack.
KJ4FGI Rating: 2015-03-28
Great radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have not had a problem with this radio at all, I owned the Yaesu FT-8800, it stated vhf 50w and 35 uhf, it didin't. the TM-V7a is a true 50/35.
I don't know about these other reviews, it would be nice for more reviews with hams that did not have a problem.

Works great and great audio reports. Kenwood still has free programming software available for download.
W7BNW Rating: 2012-08-21
Great Find!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased a Kenwood TM-V7A at the Williams HamFest this past year. Owner told me that it had some issues and told me to just take it home and play with it. The unit would not save frequencies when turned off and the screen contrast would not hold the setting. I did a complete "Transceiver Reset". Unit works great now! Now I guess I have to pay for it.
KC0VOE Rating: 2012-04-25
FAIL Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When will I learn to stay away from everything Kenwood? Every Kenwood radio I have ever had has fallen apart. I must like torture because now I got a TS-590, which I hate. My V7A quit working after about a year. Solder joints in the head unit came apart and that was the end of that. Do not buy this radio.
VE3XNB Rating: 2011-12-27
Beginning to suck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned mine for @ 8 years now. It has gotten progressively worse. The lines in the display make it difficult to use. Radio World in Toronto On. had the voice unit on clearout so I bought one. Makes it easier to use. But the programing has become difficult. Will be replacing the unit as soon as I can afford to. Will likely go with something from Yaesu. Have several Yaesu products and am generally happy with them all. My wife VA3BLM is also happier with the Yaesu stuff she owns. I also have an
R-5000 that I have had to have repaired several times now. It too worked great at first but has gotten worse with "the out of lock problem."
Kenwood seems to be sliding down hill quickly.
N2PLI Rating: 2011-09-01
Just ok Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi I had one of these radios about 6 years ago very very hard to program I was never able to figure out how to use the .Display was not to bad a had a later model.It hold ok Intermod rejection.I should have dished out the extra 300 and bought the standard 5900 when it was available..5 years later I found a 5900 in near mint condition.
AD5KL Rating: 2011-04-29
Had 2 of them Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First one is great, TX audio was strong. Only problem was the display problem after a few years.

Second one has had no issues with display but the TX audio was weak. After reading a bunch of different fixes, I chose the low tech approach. I disassembled the mic so I wouldn't harm the element. I drilled out the hole in front of the element & put it back together again. Worked like a charm.
W0IW Rating: 2009-12-02
Solid Radio /Worst display in History! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
THERE IS A FIX FOR TM-V7A's HAZY BLUE DIMMING DISPLAYS!!!

I got sick of the display problem with them and I developed a modification to that radios head which allows the display to be clear and bright even in bright sunshine (( Check it out )) ...

I own 3 TM-V7A's..

I have used one of them for almost 7 years now in a cross-banding mode in the house it has worked flawlessly for me (( A +++ )) Except the display on all of them have grown more and more fuzzy and almost impossible to read.... The Others TM-V7A's are in my truck and in my shack.. All have been modded with my TM-V7A's fix, and now I enjoy them even in bright sunlight...

Joe Leto
WØIW
http://www.hamkitt.com
w0iw.com