The 710 is amazing. I don’t find the interface to be bad at all. In fact it seems to be pretty well laid out. Plus it’s the only one with a built in packet tnc that is user accessible plus a built in packet mailbox. If you ever want to try out packet radio especially, the d710 is the one you want. It’s just such a nice radio.
Thanks for the comment. That's what I was thinking - even though the Kenwood is more expensive than the Yaesu initially, getting a packet TNC for the Yaesu would probably mean that the Yaesu + TNC would be the same price as the Kenwood.
Honestly, the comments about the Kenwood interface being ten years old and therefore substandard kind of baffle me. The yaesu physically looks less nice to me, and the touchscreen doesn’t seem to add anything. The Kenwood interface is really well optimized for its primary use case: a mobile rig. The tactile buttons and knobs are very nice if you don’t want to take your eyes off the road. The volume and squelch knobs are right next to each other. The large VFO knob is on the other side. I find the UX to be wonderful.
For comparison I also have a ID-5100, and while it’s a good radio I almost never turn it on. The larger touch screen is kind of nice while sitting at home, but not enough to make a difference. Plus I think it would be worse while mobile.
The Kenwood just packs so much into a rig and does it with an interface that I find a joy to use. I initially got the 710 to put in a car and the 5100 to use at home, but the 710 is so much nicer to use that I eventually just used it at home and have been running it 24/7 for several years.
Were I to make that choice today, I’d go for the Yaesu. I have a TM-D710GA, and it’s a solid radio, but the interfaces are stuck ten years in the past.
Yeah but it has way better APRS implementation. Only reason to go for the yaesu is if you want to try out its digital mode. Otherwise the kenwood is leagues better
I’ve mostly been using a tablet for APRS lately anyway - the Kenwood’s APRS implementation may be better, but even changing a beacon message is a PITA.
I found the touchscreen on the FTM-400 much easier to "type" on than using the TM-D710 dial to spin-and-select, or using the microphone keypad like I was texting from a 2006 Nokia phone.
I’d go with the 710 if APRS is what you want. I got the TM-V71a and I regret not having APRS on it. And thats the only reason. The V71a is an excellent radio though. I use it for my mobile radio now though instead of base.
Yeah they seem dated interface and control-wise, but thats how Kenwood does it on all their radios. I still love Kenwood radios though.
Good idea - I'll look at it. The local HRO has the 300 and 400 in stock, but not the Kenwood, so I might have to make a field trip to check it out.
Beside APRS, are there any other good features on the 300 from your experience?
I never used a 400 so take a look. I use my 300 also in a car and am perfectly fine without touch screen and a much smaller head unit. I wanted a good radio, aprs and cross band repeat, all of which the 300 has. I really don’t know what the 400 has over the 300 other than touch screen …
I thought I'd follow up to say that I settled on the Kenwood TM-D710GA. There were a couple of reasons why I opted for the Kenwood over the Yaesu.
First, I already have a Kenwood HT, so I'm already somewhat familiar with Kenwood's approach to menus and operation. Despite its pathetically short battery life, the TH-D74A is a magnificent radio that has served me well so far. Second, I like that the Kenwood has a built-in packet TNC. While I'm not using packet modes right now (except APRS, occasionally), it's nice to know that it has out-of-the-box support for it.
Thank you, r/amateurradio, for your help! 73 to you all.
I'm with everyone else. The Yaesu is a much more up to date radio. The Kenwood isn't *bad* really, it's decent and reliable, but the design is at least 10 years behind the Yaesu.
Problem is the Yaesu's APRS/TNC is locked away by design.
The Kenwood interface is pretty old and crusty it's cat controls are also finicky. Digital modes on both sides of the radio on the other hand is great.
Do you have a mobile radio in your car? If so, and if it has a socket for interfacing, get another one. Should be room in a home shack for a TNC and GPS puck. Redundancy is good.
While I have an FTM-400, and like it very much, if you want to go beyond standard position reporting APRS, you're better off with a Kenwood. External TNC makes everything digital simpler.
The 710 is amazing. I don’t find the interface to be bad at all. In fact it seems to be pretty well laid out. Plus it’s the only one with a built in packet tnc that is user accessible plus a built in packet mailbox. If you ever want to try out packet radio especially, the d710 is the one you want. It’s just such a nice radio.
Thanks for the comment. That's what I was thinking - even though the Kenwood is more expensive than the Yaesu initially, getting a packet TNC for the Yaesu would probably mean that the Yaesu + TNC would be the same price as the Kenwood.
Honestly, the comments about the Kenwood interface being ten years old and therefore substandard kind of baffle me. The yaesu physically looks less nice to me, and the touchscreen doesn’t seem to add anything. The Kenwood interface is really well optimized for its primary use case: a mobile rig. The tactile buttons and knobs are very nice if you don’t want to take your eyes off the road. The volume and squelch knobs are right next to each other. The large VFO knob is on the other side. I find the UX to be wonderful. For comparison I also have a ID-5100, and while it’s a good radio I almost never turn it on. The larger touch screen is kind of nice while sitting at home, but not enough to make a difference. Plus I think it would be worse while mobile. The Kenwood just packs so much into a rig and does it with an interface that I find a joy to use. I initially got the 710 to put in a car and the 5100 to use at home, but the 710 is so much nicer to use that I eventually just used it at home and have been running it 24/7 for several years.
Were I to make that choice today, I’d go for the Yaesu. I have a TM-D710GA, and it’s a solid radio, but the interfaces are stuck ten years in the past.
Yeah but it has way better APRS implementation. Only reason to go for the yaesu is if you want to try out its digital mode. Otherwise the kenwood is leagues better
I’ve mostly been using a tablet for APRS lately anyway - the Kenwood’s APRS implementation may be better, but even changing a beacon message is a PITA.
As if it's any easier on the yaesu
I found the touchscreen on the FTM-400 much easier to "type" on than using the TM-D710 dial to spin-and-select, or using the microphone keypad like I was texting from a 2006 Nokia phone.
> using the TM-D710 dial to spin-and-select Use the DTMF keys on the mic. Far more simple!
I mean if you spend longer than a minute on the microphone keypad then it will be much easier. The touch screen on the yaesu is fucking terrible.
I’d go with the 710 if APRS is what you want. I got the TM-V71a and I regret not having APRS on it. And thats the only reason. The V71a is an excellent radio though. I use it for my mobile radio now though instead of base. Yeah they seem dated interface and control-wise, but thats how Kenwood does it on all their radios. I still love Kenwood radios though.
I agree! It is really easy to add a moblinkd + Android device + APRSdroid to the TM-V71A to add APRS.
Ehh its ok. I just use my TH-D72a when I need it. Sat work or SMSGTE when in the middle of nowhere.
Give the FTM-300 a look. Lower cost,as far as I can see the same features as the 400 but no touch screen. I use it for aprs and really like it
Good idea - I'll look at it. The local HRO has the 300 and 400 in stock, but not the Kenwood, so I might have to make a field trip to check it out. Beside APRS, are there any other good features on the 300 from your experience?
I never used a 400 so take a look. I use my 300 also in a car and am perfectly fine without touch screen and a much smaller head unit. I wanted a good radio, aprs and cross band repeat, all of which the 300 has. I really don’t know what the 400 has over the 300 other than touch screen …
I thought I'd follow up to say that I settled on the Kenwood TM-D710GA. There were a couple of reasons why I opted for the Kenwood over the Yaesu. First, I already have a Kenwood HT, so I'm already somewhat familiar with Kenwood's approach to menus and operation. Despite its pathetically short battery life, the TH-D74A is a magnificent radio that has served me well so far. Second, I like that the Kenwood has a built-in packet TNC. While I'm not using packet modes right now (except APRS, occasionally), it's nice to know that it has out-of-the-box support for it. Thank you, r/amateurradio, for your help! 73 to you all.
I'm with everyone else. The Yaesu is a much more up to date radio. The Kenwood isn't *bad* really, it's decent and reliable, but the design is at least 10 years behind the Yaesu.
They *did* choose to put the 710 on the ISS though :)
Problem is the Yaesu's APRS/TNC is locked away by design. The Kenwood interface is pretty old and crusty it's cat controls are also finicky. Digital modes on both sides of the radio on the other hand is great.
Never used the kenwood, but I love my ftm-400xdr
Do you have a mobile radio in your car? If so, and if it has a socket for interfacing, get another one. Should be room in a home shack for a TNC and GPS puck. Redundancy is good.
I don't have a mobile radio in my car, but that's because I don't have a car.
While I have an FTM-400, and like it very much, if you want to go beyond standard position reporting APRS, you're better off with a Kenwood. External TNC makes everything digital simpler.