| KG4SRW |
Rating:  |
2010-03-22 | |
| DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS RIG |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| THIS RIG IS ONE OF THE WORST RIGS OUT THERE. I HAVE A TM-D700 AND THAT RADIO WORKES FINE. THIS RADIO I HAVE HAD TO EXCHANGE ALREADY ONCE WITH HRO DUE TO MISSING PARTS AND FUNCTIONS ON RADIO NOT WORKING. THE SECOND ONE THE DATA FOR THE GPS WILL NOT WORK. THE MANUALS ARE WORTHLESS AND THE NEWLY DESIGNED MIC IS NOT MUCH EITHER I WILL BE SENDING THIS RADIO BACK TODAY AND I WILL NEVER BUY A KENWOOD JUNK RADIO AGAIN!!!!!!. I WILL MOSTLIKELY RIPOUT AND SELL MY 700 AS WELL SO THAT I DONT HAVE TO LOOK AT A KENWOOD. BEWARE |
|
| KT9B |
Rating:    |
2010-03-15 | |
| Feature Rich in Class |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I bought the D710A specifically for APRS and Packet capability with the intention of adding a AVMAP-G5 to it for mobile use. 4 days into ownership, the mic appears to have failed. I'm thinking at this point that it is the modular socket, but I'm not sure.
That aside, while it was working, the unit is easily programed for repeater/APRS use. Display is large and clear with a minumum of hidden function keys to get the required information into the radio.
The programming software is free from Kenwood's web site as are firmware upgrades but the data cables are priced dearly; arounf $60 for programming and data/audio for packet use.
Something worth noting is that this radio has a TNC so it can be used for packet which is something I haven't seen in other brands. That's a winner to me since I'm involved in EComm.
What annoys me is that the unit is designed for remote radio mounting but the speaker is on the main radio housing, not the control head so when mounted hearing it without optional speakers will be iffy. This just makes mounting things that much more difficult.
Secondly the mic cord which also mounts to the radio body is too short unless you mount the radio on the hump or under the dash. It is iffy when mounted under the front passenger seat in my SUV.
A speaker on the control head, longer mic cord and better quality control and this radio so far would get a 4 or 5 from me. As is, it needs a few tweeks to get top marks.
Rick-KT9B
|
|
| KP4IP |
Rating:      |
2010-01-08 | |
| Very Happy Recomended! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I purchase (4) TM-D710A in different dealers. I recommend this radio with close eyes. Very good rig. APRS excellent this rig has all function that you need to operate APRS. Field Firmware upgradable in my opinion its excellent feature. After upgrade with the last firmware the radio improvement 100% and the new features are the best.
If you think purchase a radio for APRS, I recommend this rig.
|
|
| IW2CZG |
Rating:   |
2010-01-08 | |
| Not so happy about this radio |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
First all all, this is not my first mobile rig in my 20 years and more of HAM activity.
After one year that I'm dealing with this Kenwood, I appreciate some good points like APRS, software upgrades, hi-power output, free programming software, but what I don’t like is as follows:
1. No dedicated controls for each side of the radio. If I want to change frequency or memory, I have to switch to that side to make the adjustments.
2. Messy microphone. Too big and old-fashioned, the keypad doesn't help in programming/handling all the functions. It doesn't attach to the LCD panel and the cable it's too short !
3. Audio seems too rich of bass tones.
4. Busy display. Many information, but if APRS is activated it's too much invasive.
5. Intermod. Receiver it's too much sensitive to intermod; sometimes it gets hard to continue the QSO. My other radios (like FT-817) are receiving much better.
6. Manual. Incomplete and on CD-ROM only. This radio deserves a much better PRINTED one.
7. USB port. Simply missing.
8. Cabling. After made all connection, the main unit looks like a spider ! This doesn't help in installing it in a clean way.
And now, the most important one:
9. Design error. After one year of working the SUB VFO become deaf ! Talking with other TM-D710 users, I've discovered that this is a common problem. Looks like that - by design, a FET is too weak, and when it fails you'll simply loose one half of the radio.
My TM-D710E now it's on the way to the service.
I miss my FT-8900 ...
|
|
| WX4GPS |
Rating:     |
2010-01-02 | |
| Lots of fun to have in vehicle |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Easy to program without a computer or with, but the cable needed for computer interface is a little pricey. But I got it anyhow and use it to program the radio and also use it to a laptop to track high altitude balloons. The radio makes tracking stations or objects real easy, updating your bearing and distance automatically. Like I can lock it on a weather station or High Altitude weather balloon, and it updates as the positions come across. its time consuming to do messaging with the microphone, but its not bad, I would have preferred some type of keyboard option, weather it was a bluetooth or a mini keyboard that plugged in. I don't get on the radio and talk much but I keep the radio on a frequency or simplex and i have it set up to transmit my position along with the frequency, I've had people just pop up on frequency calling me, kinda neat. I have a weather station on APRS so now from the car if im within 60 miles of home, I can see the weather back at the house, OH! and if you want a weather radio in the car, this monitors that in the background, and alerts you of the 1050 hertz tone, and does it well. Now my personal wish list... have certain memories that will auto change if you are within so many miles of a certain coordinate. so if you move out of range of one machine it will auto change, that would be cool feature. my Uniden scanner has this. Also you do have to go in and change the weather channel you are monitoring for 1050 hz tone if you move into other coverage area's. kinda think option to tune to strongest signal would be nice, I commute 60 miles and change frequencies when weather is bad. Uhm when a station appears on the display as a new position I wish it showed distance and direction on this page, as you have to go in to details to see it, no reason why it could not show it as they pop up. :-( thats my biggest feature I don't know why that was left out. and using a extension kit the audio is degraded like transmit gets back into itself. but I have been living with it as I do need the extension kit. I've been using this radio daily, and love it. people post nets and hamfest information so as you drive you can learn there is a net on to check into, and one touch tune to that frequency is nice. oh another thing missing is to add objects. Sometimes I would like to post an object like an accident or something, and there is no way to add this, you can do it as a bulletin in messaging only to alert others. |
|
| VA7LLB |
Rating:      |
2009-11-20 | |
| Very useful in off-road environment |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I have had my TM-D710A for almost a year. I purchased it because another member of my 4x4 club had one and I liked the idea of APRS. Since then, 2 other members of our club have acquired them with more intending to do so in the near future.
I have found that the radio works very well on VHF simplex (our most commonly used mode) and that my signal reports are all good. Because of my mounting location, the audio would probably be helped with an external speaker, but for 90% of what I do, the internal speaker works fine.
I have my radio linked with a Garmin GPSMap60Cx. The APRS system has worked flawlessly from day 1. On several occasions off-road, we have found that we are outside the range for simplex FM communication and no repeaters are available, but we can hit a digipeater and communicate via APRS text messages. This is particularly useful in the event of an emergency or, as in our case, a need to find parts to get a broken down vehicle home.
I have also been able to use one of the other club member's APRS beacon to guide them to a particular location, at night, far from civilization. No other radio (other than the TM-D700) can do this. Having used this feature on several occasions has no doubt been responsible for the popularity of this radio in our club.
On a side note, out of approximatly 50 members in our 4x4 club, over half are now licensed hams. Our goal is to get to 100%. |
|
| KF5DEY |
Rating:      |
2009-10-15 | |
| I like it! APRS with Nuvi 350 |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Ok, I will start off with the bad...as was previously mentioned...the mic cord is about a foot too short...but you have about 6 feet of cable to connect the control unit to the radio.
-I didn't realize the rest of the manual was on the CD until I noticed it on the front cover...
-I have it mounted under the center console, use an external speaker...volume seems a bit low, I probably need a different speaker.
Other than that...it is all positive.
-I like the VGS-1 because I don't have to look at the control head to use it.
-The display is nice and easy to see and use.
-I use the GTRANS cable and a Garmin Nuvi 350 for APRS info...that works great!
-Detachable control head and mount are sturdy and simple to use.
-I think it is hilarious to drive down the road and have APRS popups...the list shows them and you can select them to see all the data again.
I haven't played with many features yet, but so far I am pleased with my investment. |
|
| M3VXJ |
Rating:      |
2009-09-08 | |
| Cracking little radio |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I bought one with an AVMAP satnav which plots APRS information on the satnav display. The radio also has built in echolink support. Fantastic! You can set up a number of different profiles as well which it's easy to toggle between, so you can share the unit with others each having their own settings.
Recommended |
|
| KK7JL |
Rating:     |
2009-08-29 | |
| Good radio but could be better. |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Darned good little radio once I got one that worked. The first one I got had a bad mike. As soon as I turned it on, the radio started scanning and would not stop. I tried a mike from a friend with the same radio and the problem went away.
Ok, so now I have returned and received a new mike and the radio works--but the TNC in the control head of the radio doesn’t work. So now no APRS data displayed or sent. Tried the friend’s control head and viola, it works! So now I have to return the control head and wait.
Fortunately HRO was very supportive and sent me a whole new radio and now everything works and works well. By the way, HRO said this was very unusual and had not had this type of problem with any other Kenwood radios.
What I like:
1.Feature rich radio at a fairly competitive price.
2.Software free and available for download. I only wish they included the computer interface cable since that is a very important addition. That would make the radio totally complete.
3.Nothing else to buy (except for the interface cable), separation kit is included. And the the mounting bracket is common to other Kenwood radios (nice).
4.Compatible with Travel Plus for Repeaters. Not super straight forward but you can download all of the repeater information into your radio before you take your next road trip.
What I don’t like
1.No dedicated controls for each side of the radio. I like separate volume, squelch, and tuning knobs for each side of the radio like you find on Yaesu and Icom. If I want to change something, I have to switch to that side to make the adjustments. It is really unhandy if you are scanning UHF on one side of the radio and VHF on the other side. For example: you want to turn the volume down on the other side of the radio because some intermod just started blasting through your speaker. You have to switch sides and turn to adjust volume/squelch. Sorry if you disagree, I am just a little spoiled in that regard.
2.Clunky microphone. Large and old-fashioned looking, and the keypad looks like a telephone keypad. Hardly any functions can be performed using the mike. Even the up/down buttons are not clearly marked with up/down arrows and are not near each other on the keypad. Also holding the up/down buttons do not put the radio in scan mode. They must be held down. You can scan the band but you have to use the control head (oh and again, and switch it to the side you want to start scanning due to not having dedicated controls for each side of the radio).
3.Audio doesn’t seem as good as other radios. I was using a cheap speaker, I’ll admit, but it worked ok with other radios. Not with the Kenwood. I had to buy a better speaker for the audio to work well. The audio is generally kind of bass sounding and it sometimes meshes with the road noise to make it hard to understand. Not a big deal. Just thought I would mention it.
4.Busy display. Wow, so much data. Pretty cool actually—except pretty useless while driving.
|
|
| K7TYE |
Rating:     |
2009-08-09 | |
| Glad I got it! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I received this last Christmas and it replaced my TM-D700 in my truck. I must say I have been very pleased. the APRS features are very nice. The proportional pathing is a nice feature that I use exclusively now. I run APRS whenever mobile and have had no problems. Nice to be able to do firmware updates as Kenwood comes out with them. I have had NO problems with intermod and I frequently traverse and area that other radios I have owned got lots of intermod.
If you are upgrading from a D700 the menu system is fairly similar. I like the button setup on the face and the ability to switch between two sets of buttons easily. Microphone is solid and I have always received great audio reports.
The ONLY thing I miss from my D700 is the microphone control that was available. The D710 unfortunately only has four control buttons on the mic besides the up and down frequency buttons.
Would I recommend? Oh yes! I am very please with my TM-D710A. |
|