OK, I'm in California, too…
The TK-8189 likely won't have FCC Part 90 certification. That might not be an issue if you are going to just use it for amateur radio use.
The DTMF microphone won't allow front panel programming.
I believe you CAN do what a 8189 does with a 8180 and a dtmf mic, but don't hold me 100% on that.
To have FPP on any X180 series radio you'll have to purchase the optional firmware and then enable it in FPU. (That's the "Tactical Features Set" in the model select menu). Dealers cannot get their hands on the firmware, radio requires a trip to Kenwood.
So with any of the *180 models you cannot field program no matter what so this really isn't a good radio for ham, i'm sorry for all the dumb questions i'm new to this and i'm working on getting my tech.
If you are getting your ham license, then get a dedicated amateur radio, it'll be much easier to use.
Using commercial radios on Ham is perfectly legal and fine, but they just are not really designed in such a way to make them easy to use for what -most- hams want to do.
Like I said earlier, I have the NX-700 set up with some amateur frequencies and it works just fine since I don't need a frequency agile radio for what I do. When I do need to change programming, it isn't a big deal to plug in the laptop and make the changes I need.
If I was doing a lot of traveling, I'd be more likely to get a dedicated amateur radio with a VFO function. That will allow making changes on the fly much easier.
I have a few Kenwoods that have FPP on them, and it's useful for making a few changes in the field, but you can't do everything with it. You can't change the alpha/numeric channel names, you have to use the software to do that.
Also, the TK-8189 likely won't have Part 90 or Part 95 certification, so it won't do you any good (legally) on commercial LMR, public safety or GMRS channels.
The other big benefit to purchasing a dedicated amateur radio is that you are much more likely to be able to get local help. For someone new to the hobby, it's pretty handy to have someone with some more experience help you out with your radio. The chances of finding someone local that knows how to program a European spec commercial radio are going to be pretty low.
If you -really- want to go the LMR radio route, then go with the TK-8180 and get yourself the software and cable to program it. It'll make life easier.
I understand, i have been using a 7180 for over a year as a scanner, and i have a 2180 that i use when I'm down at the fire station. This would be a base station set up so i really don't know how much ill need to be changing the frequencies. What would you recommend as a average to more then average base radio?
Thank you for all the info, as I said I'm just getting started in ham. I already have a 7180 both base and mobile that I'm using for public safety. I also just got a 8180 mobile, the 450 version. I'm looking for ham frequencies to monitor while I study for my test, I'm not really having much luck. Do you know where I can find more frequencies? I'm located in central califorina, and I sure hope there's more then what I've found or else this won't be much fun.
That's where having a VFO comes in handy.
And that's why as much as I hate to say it because the overwhelming majority of my radios are commercial LMR radios, but if you're wanting to see what's out there, you need a ham radio. A x180 series mobile is a good radio but if it's your only radio, you're going to miss out on active frequencies that aren't in some repeater directory. You won't be able to scan for tones with it either.
I have a couple of x180 series PORTABLES and they have 512 channels. That's more than enough to program the entire ham band (every standard repeater pair plus all the standard simplex frequencies) plus have channels left to program the entire business band. I'd know. I've done it. So it's sort of like having a VFO. And that's where having OST (described a couple replies up) comes in handy. If I find an active frequency or repeater, I can change the pl tone from the keypad, no special firmware required. But then again, you have to know the tone. Most ham radios will scan for that as well as let you scan the band. A lot will let you scan the air band in AM too (the 281 mentioned earlier won't though). the x180's are great radios but if it's your only radio as a ham, that will be a pain in the butt.