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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
K1JBP Rating: 2003-10-11
Great Radio! Mike & Display Terrible! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I share the same opinions as the rest of the reviews. I have had the mysterious turning off/on, the band-aid in the mike button. Even replaced the mike with a commercial one, and it worked. However, no mike control because it was not made with touchtones. I bought the radio in October 1999, and this year the display is so bad, I have to guess what it is telling me.

I found out this year that the display is a common defect, and from reading the reviews, know it is. But when I wrote Kenwood, they answered "If you are the original owner of the TM-V7A, please send your radio in for evaluation along with a copy of your original sales invoice. In some cases if the situation is in the display and your radio is less than 2 years old. It may be repaired at no cost, or it may have a minimal cost for repair." I'm not willing to pay $267 for repair, when I can get a good used radio off Ebay for that price. They should be fixing it free. Not a minimal cost! And I don't quailfy because I don't know where the invoice is, and I've had it more than 2 years.

I would not reccommend the purchase of this radio. I have others here from Yaesu, and ADI that still work the way they should. Because I can't see the display, means I can't use the radio. It is only three years old, now off to hunt for a replacement, after wasting over $400.
WV2NY Rating: 2003-10-02
Still Happy With it !!!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine for over a year now. I wrote a review of it once after only having had it a few months giving it a 5 then, I still stand by that review. I've found that the radio is easy to use without the manual; even after your personal hard drive memory has faded a bit. The display is still nice and it's still working 100%. As I don't have mine mounted on the top of my dash, rather under it, I don't have the visibility problem that afflict others who top dash mount it. All in all it's been a great worker and I'm glad I purchased it.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WV2NY on 2001-09-10

The TM-V7A that I recently purchased and put into my car must be defective. It doesn't have any of the Bad qualities that have been described here, so far that is. No overload, button couldn't be any easier to push (no I don't work out, just as flabby as the rest of you), flip the display from blue to white and you can see it in the sun just fine. I found the manual easy to understand and was able to easily find all the functions of the radio. I had read these reviews before purchasing the radio and was a little weary but went ahead and bought one anyway. I'm firing off a strong letter to Kenwood telling them of my lack of problems and demanding they accept my Thank You for a fine radio.

73' WV2NY JOE
N7OGM Rating: 2003-08-29
9600 Baud Packet Operation Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased my VM7A 6 or 7 months ago. I am using it as a base station, and have been trying to use it for 70 CM packet operation. My results were poor. I invested in a beam antenna, high quality coax, and time in setting the xmitlvl and working on equalization. Results: marginal connects with no good results. I switched to an Icom and got immediate connections with the stations I had been working with trying the VM7A. The Icom heard the packets from the other stations easily when I was getting no results with the VM7A. Did I get a bum radio or is this a problem with all the VM7As.
By the way one of the other stations is using a different model Kenwood with good results.
WP3UQ Rating: 2003-07-21
Display PROBLEMS!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a problem whit my TM-V7A after about an hour now and all but one of the lines has disappeared. Other than
that it works fine. I have talked to several people on it in the last hour on both 2meters and 440 and works great. I do not think the display is broken. Can anywone know what can happend? Please reply to bonkerspr@hotmail.com
The radio is GOOD but i dont like the display and the radio dont recive in 800.00 mhz and 900.00
W2PSK Rating: 2003-07-09
Good rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Overall, it's a good rig. Look at the specs and features on Kenwood's website and see if they meet your requirements. As far as performance goes, I didn't have any complaints about it from anyone on the air and I didn't notice any problems short of not having the remote mount cable screwed in tightly. I bought it because I needed something with a remote head and since I don't think there's any 2 meter radio with a remote head (why is that?), I had to settle for a dualbander. I bought it used on the internet for a fair price with the remote mount kit. I've never been a fan of dual receive radios and I frequently found myself turning down the UHF side of the radio most of the time, since I mainly work 2m from the mobile and I find it annoying to hear the other band while talking or even when just listening to someone on 2m.

I will complain about the display as others have. Because of the limitations on mounting locations (in addition to not wanting to drill any holes), the head ended up on my dash, just above my AM/FM radio. In direct sunlight, the display was almost unreadable, no matter how I changed the display settings. My TM-G707A I had never had this problem.

In summary, I would say if you need a radio with the advanced features that this radio has, go for it. I'd recommend mounting the head/radio in a place that is usually shaded so you can actually read the display. Personally, if you don't need all the advanced features of this radio but want a dual bander, get the TM-G707A. I had one a while ago and was looking for another when I decided to give the TM-V7A a try. Would I buy another TM-V7A? I doubt it.
KC8MJX Rating: 2003-06-19
Excellent Dual Band Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been the proud owner of mine for over a year now. This radio is simple to program and performs excellent. With this rig you get what you pay for. If you can swing the price it is definetly worth it. I have several Kenwood transceivers and they all perform great. I'm currently using my TM-V7A in the house as a base unit and I'm very pleased with it.

73 Chad (KC8MJX)
K8BBC Rating: 2003-05-12
Display problem? What problem?? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ok, now, for all of you cry baby's about the display. There are 3 different ways to help this problem.


#1 - Blue or White Background - mine is ALWAYS blue

#2 - Contrast - I set my memories with 4 different settings for different types of conditions.

#3 - Buy remote kit and put head out the the way of the sun. I havee the remote kit for mine and took mirror glue and glued it in the upper LEFT corner of my windshield. It works AWESOME there. And yes you can get the head of the holder if you glue it right. Something else, people will not see it becuase if you put it in the titnted part of the upper windshield you can't see it from the outside very well. Makes it easier to see and change things while driving. It doesn't get in the way of the visor at all either. Yes I still might get a little sun wash but NOT really that bad. Also, makes it easier to see then if on my dash or console or whatever.

I drive am Intrepid and that was the BEST place to put it. Try buying the remote kit and putting it there before you start complaining about the display.

Just simple things like that can make a world of difference. Think before you give up and speak about something that can easily be fixed.

73
KC5SOU Rating: 2003-04-07
WONDERFUL!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the TMV7A in 2-2000 shortly after my Yaesu 8100 was stolen. Like it a whole lot better than the 8100, just wished it had the wide band rx. Like the tone Encode/Decode standard rather than buying a decoder for another $60 bucks. And the programing software is free instead of having to buy.

I have had no problems with lines in the display, or speakers blowing and it runs around 20hrs a day. Also have not had a problem with the mike like some people have. Has taken lots of vibration abuse being mounted in an 18-wheeler and my 4x4.

Only regret is that I dont have another one for the house.

KC5QXY Rating: 2003-03-14
junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mic no good little sponge that depresses the ptt switch had to replace with pencil eraser 440 side off frequency had to get manual and realign only puts out 30 watts on 2 meter display has vertical lines cant see it in daylight anyway I bought an icom 2350 a little before I bought the tm v7a have had no problems with it. Do yourself a favor avoid the kenwood get an icom
KB2JZP Rating: 2003-03-05
i think it is a good radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
i just got the radio a couple of weeks ago found
it very easy to program an can do alot with it great talking radio to have not had any problems with the diplay yet but know of a couple of early one,s that had that problem an were taking care of by kenwood , i had my eye,s ion this for a long time an just decided to buy it at a good price so for now there has,nt been any thing wrong with it rite now but will keep you updated on it