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I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.?
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped?
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a?kenwood D710?or similar for ~ $400?
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you??What do you run??
Thanks for your time. 73
?
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toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 4:40?PM Patricia KI7IEE < cosmicfire@...> wrote: I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.?
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped?
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a?kenwood D710?or similar for ~ $400?
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you??What do you run??
Thanks for your time. 73
?
-- Anthony Luscre
K8ZT Ohio Section Section Youth Coordinator & Education Outreach ARRL - The National Association For Amateur Radio? ?
K8ZT Radio Website-
Amateur Radio Resources for Students/Youth -
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For used look at the Kenwood D700, D719 and V71. The first two have aprs built in and the configuration of the data port on the V71 works much better for APRS than the FT8800/8900. The 8800/8900 data port always transmits on the active side of the radio which means you can't really put APRS on one side and use Voice on the other. V71 can lock the data port to either side of the radio so that the other side can be used for voice. The V71 can also be configured to do single direction Crossband as well as full cross band and has built in IDing.
I like my Yaesu HT and HF radios but kenwood has the mobile radio better dialed in IMO. Just which Kenwood release a new mobile as D700/D710/V71 are all out of production.
Leonard K. Pennock
AD7AS
Those who walk bravely through life, unafraid of loss or failure,
find that they very rarely lose or fail.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 3/12/24 1:39 PM, Patricia KI7IEE wrote: I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a kenwood D710?or similar for ~ $400
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you? What do you run?
Thanks for your time. 73
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Thank you Anthony, I'll browse those pages, but I definitely want a mobile rig and would prefer basic digital mode support.?
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Thanks Leonard for the specific suggestions. I was eyeing Kenwoods as well, and I am open to going that route. Helpful to know they do APRS better than the 8800.?The only negative I've heard is that some of the Kenwood screens are a bit hard to see. I'll look out for those models.
?
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On 2024.03.12 15:17, Leonard K. Pennock wrote: For used look at the Kenwood D700, D719 and V71. The first two have aprs built in and the configuration of the data port on the V71 works much better for APRS than the FT8800/8900. The 8800/8900 data port always transmits on the active side of the radio which means you can't really put APRS on one side and use Voice on the other. V71 can lock the data port to either side of the radio so that the other side can be used for voice. The V71 can also be configured to do single direction Crossband as well as full cross band and has built in IDing.
I like my Yaesu HT and HF radios but kenwood has the mobile radio better dialed in IMO. Just which Kenwood release a new mobile as D700/D710/V71 are all out of production.
Leonard K. Pennock
AD7AS I was about to write much that is similar. Leonard put it very well and completely. I have and have used my D700A to good effect. I use an older, serial communication GPS RX with it - Garmin GPS 36. I also use various portable GPS RX units. I've not recently checked for any Century Roll-over issues. For APRS, clarity of integral two-radios in one operation, there is an interface elegance, of a "just works" nature, with a number of the Kenwood mobile radios. One is pretty much assured that data in/out is available, both in direction of data flow, not switching RF decks in the radio, etc. Other radios may work well, with external bits of course, and perhaps a bit more human control or supervision of present configuration. Cheers, John - still looking for a MS Surface Go 2 or, if necessary, a 3 <g> PS the D700 has cross-band repeat functions as well. Locked or as per which deck RX the signal. -- John D Erskine VE7MHI VA7OTC CN88hk VA7RCN Victoria, B.C.
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I have had an 8800 and 8900. I currently use a FTM-400. The 8800 was a great rig though. Big display easy to use.?
73
Jeremy
KD4KZZ
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My mobile setup is a ft891 and ft8900.
On Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 17:17, Anthony Luscre <k8zt73@...> wrote:
On Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 4:40?PM Patricia KI7IEE < cosmicfire@...> wrote: I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.?
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped?
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a?kenwood D710?or similar for ~ $400?
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you??What do you run??
Thanks for your time. 73
?
-- Anthony Luscre
K8ZT Ohio Section Section Youth Coordinator & Education Outreach ARRL - The National Association For Amateur Radio? ?
K8ZT Radio Website-
Amateur Radio Resources for Students/Youth -
|
Patricia,
I used Kenwood '710s for some years, but when I got another car the head was too big for where I wanted to put it (top cubby on the dashboard of a Subaru Forester), and I got a Yaesu 300, whose head fits nicely, it does everything the 710 did plus it has Fusion, should I ever want to use that. Display is excellent (OLED, perhaps? The 710's is LCD and not easy to see in sunlight) although the arrangement of menus to get to various settings takes quite a bit of learning!
The only problem with pretty-much all of these is that the microphone connects to the base, not the head. I wish they wouldn't do that!
I believe you won't be disappointed if you go for the Yaesu 300.
73,
Howard G1BYY
Training Coordinator, Mid-Herts RAYNET
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:39:58 -0700 Patricia KI7IEE wrote:
I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other
ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily
enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and
a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a kenwood D710 or similar for ~ $400
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you? What do you run?
Thanks for your time. 73
--
This email was Anti Virus checked by Astaro Security Gateway.
|
Nothing beats Yaesu's Hyper memory buttons for their quick ability to completely re-configure the radio memories available (FT8800, Ft 7900) and the channel memory banks.
I tried the Kenwood TMD710 and couldn't stand the way it worked and the menus, etc.
It seems now Yaesu has abandoned the memory banks all together which is sad.
I'd go old school Yaesu if you can find one. Ft8800 or FT7900
73
Dm
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You would think after all these years and horrible reviews that the manufacturers would pay a lot more attention to the user interface of their products.
Nothing beats Yaesu's Hyper memory buttons for their quick ability to completely re-configure the radio memories available (FT8800, Ft 7900) and the channel memory banks.
I tried the Kenwood TMD710 and couldn't stand the way it worked and the menus, etc.
It seems now Yaesu has abandoned the memory banks all together which is sad.
I'd go old school Yaesu if you can find one. Ft8800 or FT7900
73
Dm
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I didn't find much difference between the operation of hyper memories in my FT8800s and the Programmable Memories that my V71 and D700 provide. I don't use memory banks so really can't comment on the differences between either.
I do agree that the hierarchical menus Kenwood uses can take some getting use to.
Leonard K. Pennock
AD7AS
Those who walk bravely through life, unafraid of loss or failure,
find that they very rarely lose or fail.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 3/14/24 6:01 AM, rifkum via groups.io wrote: Nothing beats Yaesu's Hyper memory buttons for their quick ability to completely re-configure the radio memories available (FT8800, Ft 7900) and the channel memory banks.
I tried the Kenwood TMD710 and couldn't stand the way it worked and the menus, etc.
It seems now Yaesu has abandoned the memory banks all together which is sad.
I'd go old school Yaesu if you can find one. Ft8800 or FT7900
73
Dm
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SO TRUE - apparently not. Ham software too
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Thank you for sharing your perspectives, this is very helpful. Still deliberating, will decide soon.?
Whichever one I pick, ?if I don't like it I can resell and buy something else. Sort of like paying for a rental.?
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On 2024.03.14 06:01, rifkum via groups.io wrote: Nothing beats Yaesu's Hyper memory buttons for their quick ability to
completely re-configure the radio memories available (FT8800, Ft 7900)
and the channel memory banks.
I tried the Kenwood TMD710 and couldn't stand the way it worked and
the menus, etc.
It seems now Yaesu has abandoned the memory banks all together which
is sad.
I'd go old school Yaesu if you can find one. Ft8800 or FT7900
73
Dm Interesting DM / rifkum, Thank you for the perspective. I regularly ran the TM-D700A in the ol' Trooper. I had little difficulty setting up three "profiles" for typical use. One was live, mobile - APRS TX/Beaconing I think at 10 min intervals (yeah, Smart Beaconing is better), both RF decks in play, Tone Alert active. Another was, one RF Deck, APRS only, TA off (CTCSS TX & RX changed from 100 Hz which silenced the speaker without touching the AF Gain setting), 30 minute beaconing rate, and lower RF power out. I forget what my third choice was. I'd punch the choice in, throw a patch of fleece cloth over the display, and dismount. QED. Likely the Yaesu design had more going for it, however one had/has a functional path to configure and use such in the D700A. Cheers, John -- John D Erskine VE7MHI VA7OTC CN88hk VA7RCN
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I started with the idea of the 817 as you described. Since I used it in my go kit, I ended up getting a used?FTM-400DR/XDR because I wanted APRS, GPS, digital, and Yaesu Fusion.?
Good luck
Carlos
N3RDR
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Howard,
I'm curious how you mounted the rig in the Forester. Same car here and also looking for dual band for it. Mounting in modern cars is a real challenge. I have an 857 and it's having problems so looking for at least a VHF/UHF to keep something mobile. An aside - I have an FT-891 that I hope somehow to get mounted in the Suby.
73, Doug -- K0DXV
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Show quoted text
On 3/13/2024 7:31 AM, Howard Winter wrote: Patricia,
I used Kenwood '710s for some years, but when I got another car the head was too big for where I wanted to put it (top cubby on the dashboard of a Subaru Forester), and I got a Yaesu 300, whose head fits nicely, it does everything the 710 did plus it has Fusion, should I ever want to use that. Display is excellent (OLED, perhaps? The 710's is LCD and not easy to see in sunlight) although the arrangement of menus to get to various settings takes quite a bit of learning!
The only problem with pretty-much all of these is that the microphone connects to the base, not the head. I wish they wouldn't do that!
I believe you won't be disappointed if you go for the Yaesu 300.
73,
Howard G1BYY
Training Coordinator, Mid-Herts RAYNET
On Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:39:58 -0700 Patricia KI7IEE wrote:
I know I'm skewing a bit off topic, but I'd appreciate input from my few fellow Yaesu fans.
I want a simple dual band mobile radio for the car. I'd prefer to stick with Yaesu to minimize learning curve, but open to other
ideas. Budget is limited. Sub 500 max, preferably sub 400. I'd prefer a true dual band, compatible with APRS / GPS or easily
enabled with add ons, compact size, readable screen. Cross band repeat = bonus.
I currently have a Yaesu 857 (shack, go kit) and 817 (as backup). I have a Surface Go tablet that could be mounted in car, and
a Digirig, and my cable would work with FT8800/8900.
New radios
- FT300 (does it all, dual band, GPS TxRx, BT, crossband) ~$475 shipped
- FT200 (not truly dual band, no GPS Tx w/o dongle?) ~$375 shipped - price is the only appeal here
Used radios
- FT8800 (enable digital modes via Digirig + tablet) ~ $300-400 - I like the clear and simple display and positive reviews
- Another 817 or 857 (+Digirig+tablet) - getting hard to find either for <$650-750, but I could keep looking for a deal
- Jump ship and look for a kenwood D710 or similar for ~ $400
- Just use my 817 as mobile and rig it so it can be easily removed from the car
What appeals to you? What do you run?
Thanks for your time. 73
|
That would be especially true of the FTdx101D. Had it for a month
and couldn't stand the menu system. Nice receiver but the menu
drove me mad.
73, Doug -- K0DXV
On 3/14/2024 7:44 AM, Juan Jim¨¦nez
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
You would think after all these years and horrible
reviews that the manufacturers would pay a lot more attention to
the user interface of their products.
Nothing beats Yaesu's Hyper memory buttons for their quick
ability to completely re-configure the radio memories
available (FT8800, Ft 7900) and the channel memory banks.
I tried the Kenwood TMD710 and couldn't stand the way it
worked and the menus, etc.
It seems now Yaesu has abandoned the memory banks all
together which is sad.
I'd go old school Yaesu if you can find one. Ft8800 or
FT7900
73
Dm
|
Patricia KI7IEE
Anthony Luscre
John D Erskine VE7MHI VA7OTC
Juan Jim¨¦nez