Kenwood: New Kenwood TH-D75

[vagrant]

Even more so on the HF gear, as there are mfg. power limited models of the same radio based on the Japanese amateur license.

No word on D75A FCC approval yet. The flood gates will open after that. I will be loaned one for testing/comparing, but I doubt much difference to the D74A. I will mainly compare the wide band RX against my Icom R30. Yes, the R30 should be better and it is, but to what degree. The D74A enjoys some inline filters to mitigate strong broadcast RFI. An inline BNC preselector is a good thing to have as well. I use an old Miracle Whip IL for that. (Good luck finding one as I am looking for a second one as well)

 

[AF1UD]

Even more so on the HF gear, as there are mfg. power limited models of the same radio based on the Japanese amateur license.

No word on D75A FCC approval yet. The flood gates will open after that. I will be loaned one for testing/comparing, but I doubt much difference to the D74A. I will mainly compare the wide band RX against my Icom R30. Yes, the R30 should be better and it is, but to what degree. The D74A enjoys some inline filters to mitigate strong broadcast RFI. An inline BNC preselector is a good thing to have as well. I use an old Miracle Whip IL for that. (Good luck finding one as I am looking for a second one as well)

I hope the Battery life is improved or someone (maybe not KW) comes out with bigger batteries!

 

[palmerjrusa]

Even more so on the HF gear, as there are mfg. power limited models of the same radio based on the Japanese amateur license.

No word on D75A FCC approval yet. The flood gates will open after that. I will be loaned one for testing/comparing, but I doubt much difference to the D74A. I will mainly compare the wide band RX against my Icom R30. Yes, the R30 should be better and it is, but to what degree. The D74A enjoys some inline filters to mitigate strong broadcast RFI. An inline BNC preselector is a good thing to have as well. I use an old Miracle Whip IL for that. (Good luck finding one as I am looking for a second one as well)

Own both radios.

Curious what deficiencies you think the IC-R30 has compared to the TH-D74 re performance?

 

[palmerjrusa]

I hope the Battery life is improved or someone (maybe not KW) comes out with bigger batteries!

Agree, battery life re the TH-D74 is not great.

 

[AK9R]

Anyone know of a release date for the good old USA yet?

When it gets here.

Dealers are telling customers early- to mid-February. Until it has an FCC ID, I think that's speculation.

Folks are conjuring up all kinds of rumors. Rumors that they are already in stores in Japan (which might be true). Rumors that they are still on a boat from Malaysia (including questions wanting to know what boat its on so they can track them). Rumors that Phil Parton has stacks of them in his office.

 

[mmckenna]

Double down on this comment. JDM ham gear is usually hard locked to their band limits and CANNOT be modified unlike US and general market versions.

Awww, come on, it's fun to listen to them complain that they can't hack it to work above 146!

 

[kayn1n32008]

I hope the Battery life is improved or someone (maybe not KW) comes out with bigger batteries!

Depending on the model, they may be using g the same batteries as their LMR radios. The D74 used the same batteries as the NX-x00 LMR radios.

 

[vagrant]

Own both radios.

Curious what deficiencies you think the IC-R30 has compared to the TH-D74 re performance?

Re-read - The R30 is better

Awww, come on, it's fun to listen to them complain that they can't hack it to work above 146!

That and TX/RX on 1.25 meters.

 

[palmerjrusa]

When it gets here.

Dealers are telling customers early- to mid-February. Until it has an FCC ID, I think that's speculation.

Folks are conjuring up all kinds of rumors. Rumors that they are already in stores in Japan (which might be true). Rumors that they are still on a boat from Malaysia (including questions wanting to know what boat its on so they can track them). Rumors that Phil Parton has stacks of them in his office.

DXEngineering has shipment of TH-D75 pre-orders = Feb 7:

Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers - Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99 at DX Engineering

Find Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers and get Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99 at DX Engineering! Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers take a significant leap forward with cutting-edge features designed to...

www.dxengineering.com

 

[eorange]

DXE is close enough to me where I could drive down and experience what a gold bar feels like.

 

[tweiss3]

DXE is close enough to me where I could drive down and experience what a gold bar feels like.

It's underwhelming if you expect it to be like Universal Radio was, as its a little corner of Summit Racing. It is, however, extremely nice to be able to order anything online and be able to pick it up for the cost of a 20 minute drive.

 

[eorange]

Yep, I gotta make it down there one of these days. Ordered a few things from them but just had it shipped.

 

[palmerjrusa]

DXEngineering has shipment of TH-D75 pre-orders = Feb 7:

Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers - Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99 at DX Engineering

Find Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers and get Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99 at DX Engineering! Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers take a significant leap forward with cutting-edge features designed to...

www.dxengineering.com

Now see DXEngineering is giving a date of Feb 20 (previous date = Feb 7) for shipping of the TH-D75A.

Kenwood TH-D75A Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - Kenwood TH-D75A Tri-Band 144/220/430 MHz D-Star/APRS Handheld Transceivers with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Handheld Transceivers at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

Looks like pre-orders re the first shipment have already been accounted for...

 

[palmerjrusa]

TH-D75A now in stock (just) at HRO:

KENWOOD TH-D75A

144/220/430 MHz Digital Triband Handheld Transceiver

www.hamradio.com

 

[jazzboypro]

Expensive but then, there is no competition to that radio.

 

[AF1UD]

Expensive but then, there is no competition to that radio.

EFJ's VP8000 blows that thing out of the water. There is no reason for Kenwood to release this product with the same bad battery life as it's predecessor and only 1 digital mode.

 

[tweiss3]

EFJ's VP8000 blows that thing out of the water. There is no reason for Kenwood to release this product with the same bad battery life as it's predecessor and only 1 digital mode.

To be fair, the D74/D75 batteries are either 1100mAh or 1800mAh, where as the VP8000/NX5K batteries go up to 3900mAh. As for the 1 vs multiple modes, I still think they held back the NX5k, should be able to have all 3 digital modes at the same time.

 

[vagrant]

EFJ's VP8000 blows that thing out of the water.

Is that VP8000 $750? If so I will take one. Finally, an apple at orange pricing.

 

[jazzboypro]

EFJ's VP8000 blows that thing out of the water. There is no reason for Kenwood to release this product with the same bad battery life as it's predecessor and only 1 digital mode.

Hummm the VP8000 is a commercial grade radio worth a lot more than the D75. I don't how you came to compare the 2 radios. Not the same features, not the same market and definitely not the same price range.

 

[eorange]

If you take away 220 and D-Star (who cares) then my FT5DR is plenty of competition. If I ever needed 220 again then I'd just pick up a VX-6R because who doesn't love more radios?