darg
Member
Hi Guys,
I'm planing on buying a mobile radio and since I'm doing a lot of off-roading I'm looking into a possibility to track my steps but also to as an emergency backup use the HAM as emergency communication tools and I think APRS is a good possibility to let my people know where I'm at. My first radio is the VX-8DR but I'm afraid the 5W power output will be not enough to bridge APRS into the receiver stations somewhere in the desert like Death Valley or in Moab so I was looking around for a mobile with at least 50W power and the possibility to have APRS with GPS in one device. Yaesus FTM-350R and IComs IC-2820H have dual VFOs and the possibility to upgrade it with GPS/APRS. Kenwood has only an add-on unit to normal radios which still needs a GPS so I think something like this is not what I want.
Further more it's important to have the radio somewhere under the seat and just the control unit mounted on a floor stand or so in the Jeep.
The FTM is pretty new and I have read about some issues with the first series of radios. I'm also not sure if there is a possibility to connect a seperate microphone to it since I'm not a fan of built in mics.
I'm still checking the ICom but I think it's similar to the Yaesu in regard to the features.
How is your experience with these two radios?
Are there any other units out which do the same, have dual VFO and VHF/UHF and maybe also 6m and 10m in?
Thanks
Axel
I'm planing on buying a mobile radio and since I'm doing a lot of off-roading I'm looking into a possibility to track my steps but also to as an emergency backup use the HAM as emergency communication tools and I think APRS is a good possibility to let my people know where I'm at. My first radio is the VX-8DR but I'm afraid the 5W power output will be not enough to bridge APRS into the receiver stations somewhere in the desert like Death Valley or in Moab so I was looking around for a mobile with at least 50W power and the possibility to have APRS with GPS in one device. Yaesus FTM-350R and IComs IC-2820H have dual VFOs and the possibility to upgrade it with GPS/APRS. Kenwood has only an add-on unit to normal radios which still needs a GPS so I think something like this is not what I want.
Further more it's important to have the radio somewhere under the seat and just the control unit mounted on a floor stand or so in the Jeep.
The FTM is pretty new and I have read about some issues with the first series of radios. I'm also not sure if there is a possibility to connect a seperate microphone to it since I'm not a fan of built in mics.
I'm still checking the ICom but I think it's similar to the Yaesu in regard to the features.
How is your experience with these two radios?
Are there any other units out which do the same, have dual VFO and VHF/UHF and maybe also 6m and 10m in?
Thanks
Axel