FTM-350AR vs. TM-D710A

[Fury853]

Hello RR community!
Im currently working on doing an APRS mobile set up in my 2000 Montero Sport! But I have hit a hard place! I cannot figure out which rig to go with. Im looking at the Yaesu FTM-350AR and the Kenwood TM-D710A. Which radio do you use? How much do you like it? What are your high points about the radio? Whats are your low points about the radio? How did you pick that radios? Pics?
Thanks RR!

[kayn1n32008]

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Something to think about, the Kenwood allows you to use the TNC from an external device, where as the Yaesu does not. The 350m was yaesu's first kick at an APRS capable mobile, Kenwood has a lot more experience, and is very responsive to user input/feature requests, something that yaesu has not been, as well the Kenwood firmware can be updated by the user, the Yaesu can not. For these reasons, I would recomend the D710, although I use an OpenTracker/Nuvi350/VX-170 Portable for my APRS. I cannot justify buying a Dualband radio and having half dedicated to APRS, so essentially it becomes a 'one band at a time' With my current setup I have my FT-8800 that I can listen to 2 signals, with my APRS being a complete seperate setup. I suppose I could get an RD710 and have the D710 functionality for APRS, but I am very pleased with the OT3m/Nuvi350 for APRS.

[mmckenna]

TM-D710 here also, and quite happy with it. Easy to use and I personally think that Kenwood mobile radios come with much more durable microphones.

[kayn1n32008]

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Originally Posted by mmckenna

TM-D710 here also, and quite happy with it. Easy to use and I personally think that Kenwood mobile radios come with much more durable microphones.

I second the mic opinion, it is a 'real' mic, that has a metal hang-up button, not the crap Icom and Yaesu use on their respective ham gear. The D710 mic works on my commercial radio, and will also send DTMF when used on my commercial radio. At some point I am replacing my TK-760 mic with the version that the TM281/D710 uses.

[n9mxq]

I run a 710, but would hesitate to offer any advice without having played with the 350AR.

I really like the 710 and it's feature set.. Even though I can't program without the laptop and cable...I'm sure I can figure it out, but why worry..hehe

Didn't like the fact you have to run cables for the Mic, speaker, and head unit from wherever you mount the main body of the radio. The GPS has to plug into the head unit for tracking.. Had I done more research I probably would have been prepared for this (I had everything I needed anyways), but it wouldn't have been as much of a shock, and that's what you get for a "Ohhhh shiny!" purchase hehe

If you go with the 350 I'd like to hear your take on it.. Good, bad, or ugly..

[canav844]

I've used both briefly in ARES functions, I'm more familiar with Yaesu and Icoms, so when using the Kenwood, there was the detriment of not having learned how their menus think and what their abbreviations mean. That's about the extent of my bias on the matter.

The big difference, is the Kenwoods can digipeat and the Yaesu will not. And when you're trying to get some weak handheld signals to an igate from remote areas, that can be a very big deal.

The Kenwood also plays a little nicer when working with the AvMAP Geosats being able to display all the APRS icons if you're looking to go that route (I'm not 100% sure on the 350 with the AvMap, but I know with my v-8 it's only supposed to display dots not the common aprs symbols)

If you're familiar with Yaesus, the menus while similar are not the same as the other models, so there is something of a learning curve to be had there, I couldn't just tackle it without the manual as was expected.

I know people that have the 710 and they're very happy but want for a 700; and people that own and a very happy with the 350, and want only for the digipeater. As I have an APRS HT, the Digipeater part is key for me; so I'd probably get a kenwood, program it up and have it be APRS only in the mobile or as a full igate as a base, and use other radios for voice, because of the menus, and I'm actually not all that much of a fan of the Kenwood mic (and for those not liking that of a yaesu because they aren't professional, take a look at the Vertex Mics; at which point I probably could have done things cheaper with an OT2 and carefully selected monoband radio (and I've got a whole setup for my ft-270 (OT USB cables GPS etc), and I'll be honest it's so touchy that it's usually not used). If I wanted to becon my location and talk on one radio and didn't care about the digipeating, I'd go with the 350. But also balance what is fact about capability and what is opinion about interface. So I'd suggest if possible getting into an HRO, AES or similar....or at least watching youtube videos of the radio to get a better idea of how they work.

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by kayn1n32008

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Something to think about, the Kenwood allows you to use the TNC from an external device, where as the Yaesu does not. The 350m was yaesu's first kick at an APRS capable mobile, Kenwood has a lot more experience, and is very responsive to user input/feature requests, something that yaesu has not been, as well the Kenwood firmware can be updated by the user, the Yaesu can not. For these reasons, I would recomend the D710, although I use an OpenTracker/Nuvi350/VX-170 Portable for my APRS. I cannot justify buying a Dualband radio and having half dedicated to APRS, so essentially it becomes a 'one band at a time' With my current setup I have my FT-8800 that I can listen to 2 signals, with my APRS being a complete seperate setup. I suppose I could get an RD710 and have the D710 functionality for APRS, but I am very pleased with the OT3m/Nuvi350 for APRS.

This is a good summary. I have been very happy with my 710.

[Fury853]

Well thank you all very much! I have just made a purchase or a Kenwood TM-D710A. After being a kenwood programmer I figured it was time that I started using Kenwood Ham gear! I will let you know how I feel about this rig once I hook it up and install in the Montero. Keep posted to the "pictures of shacks" forum, I plan to post pics after I get this set up in.

[phillmobile]

Surely the ONLY answer for aprs in a vehicle is a tracker 2 (3) and a nuvi 350 with a vhf rig in the boot (sorry trunk) then your dual band rig does not spend its entire life with one side(half your money) doing 1 thing

[kayn1n32008]

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Originally Posted by phillmobile

Surely the ONLY answer for aprs in a vehicle is a tracker 2 (3) and a nuvi 350 with a vhf rig in the boot (sorry trunk) then your dual band rig does not spend its entire life with one side(half your money) doing 1 thing

+1 for that. As well if you use a splitter to use the dual serial ports on the OT3m you can still add a tablet/laptop for data logging/RF monitoring as well, or even do it via the USB port on the OT3m

[ve3zo]

I own a D710 and have played with the 350. I found my 710 to be an easier radio to use than my
friend's 350. I find the menus much easier to navigate than the yaesu.

[kayn1n32008]

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Originally Posted by ve3zo

I own a D710 and have played with the 350. I found my 710 to be an easier radio to use than my
friend's 350. I find the menus much easier to navigate than the yaesu.

I had the chance to play with a friends FTm-350 as well, and like you (I'm a yeasu user) I did not like menus, or memory (lack there of) management. Seriously considering the RD-710 to interface to my VX-170( our network in Northern Alberta is designed for 5w 1/4 trackers) to replace the OT3m, I have had the chance to play with a D710, and REALLY like the APRS interface, but do not want to have only one 'voice' channel at a time.

[w2xad]

One advantage the Ftm 350 ar has that is better is a receiver that does not get the intermod that the Kenwood does. The receiver of the Kenwood was repaired to spec by Kenwood. The Kenwood is a good radio but the I find intermod annoying.