Kenwood TH-D72a Review Pt.1

[@jimlombardozzi2621]

Hi, Jim KB1QIF here. Thanks for your Kenwood videos I enjoy them and a great help. I'm picking up the TH-D72a tomorrow and i'm glad I found your videos about it. I hope I can Pick your brain in the near future about this radio and others i have if you don't mind. Thanks 73, Jim

[@Supercazzola]

Nice video and nice Glock mat...

[@LeeG7953]

Can you use the radio in the car with a power cord plugged in?

[@alphonsorivera1111]

Great Video.....

[@synonyx]

Thanks, Yes it is. It is a Lithium Ion if I remember right, lasts a long time.

[@HugDeeznueces]

are those key illuminated?

[@synonyx]

They can if I remember right.

[@Old_Foxy_Grandpa]

Rory, good video, however . . . There are some of us out there who have been active for 60+ years and are basically HF operators. You need to have a series of videos for us vacuum tube types and assume we know nothing about these new radios. Where is the on-off button would be a good start. Us tube types often come equipped with 10 left thumbs that are larger than the whole radio. Seriously, I did find and install the programming software and that made it easier to program a few channels. So we'll see how it works. APRS will have to come later. 73 Paul

[@stephenbrett4216]

Love get one

[@smokejumper0110]

My OCD kicking in, I like the Glock mat in the background, I use the same thing for a mouse pad.

[@ny1t]

It looks like the video could be used to describe the TH-D7A(G). What is different between them?

[@solarfly_]

The 72 has built-in GPS and that works directly with the APRS without needing an external TNC cable. The D7A (which I own) needs a special cable with a mini-jack for the TNC and external GPS interface to get APRS working. Also, APRS back when I got the TH-D7A was in its infancy, whereas the newer models are configured with the right data to begin with. Mine has all sorts of protocol settings that aren't used anymore as default. The display on the 72 also shows position, altitude, etc. The case on the 72 is more rugged and the battery capacity is like, double what I've got on the 7A, even with an aftermarket replacement battery. All round both are great radios.

[@ny1t]

Thanks for the reply. I was looking to buy the TH-D72 but I couldn't justify the cost since I have the TH-D7A and TH-D7A(G) I don't use much. The TH-d7 does have the TNC built in. It doesn't need an external TNC. Press the number 2 button once for Packet and a second time for APRS (or the other way around). Same as yours. But you are correct. It doesn't have the GPS. After I fired my TH-d7a up and put my position in manually and it beaconed. I remembered I had built the 2.5 mm to DB9 adapter to use a Magellan GPS for the TH-D7 and TM-D700. I think you can find my call with a -7 and -9. one the TH and the other the TM both positions entered manually and sent with internal TNC. The TH-D7A(G) was probably a firmware upgrade before the TH-D71 and TH-D72. I remember it having an enhanced menu options over the TH-D7A. Which TH D7A do you have? The G has a label on the chassis behind the battery "TH-D7A(G). I was looking for a gps on the boat and all I found was the Garmin gps18x USB. I opened it to look for NMEA 183. I found where I think the rs232 chip would go since they sell it with the 9 pin D connector. It is hard to find a stand alone RS232 GPS. Nice choice of work pad.

[@trukisaud]

Does it support VHF channels?

[@fit42174]

trukisaud Well both....144 is VHF and 440 is UHF..you know you have to have a license to use this right

[@fit42174]

trukisaud Do you know what Mhz stands for??????

[@trukisaud]

This is the answer that I was looking for! .. thx Smith, you're rock!

[@shawnb5812]

When using the software to program, does it automatically separate UHF from VHF when programing. I have seen other videos on the TH-74 where they just start putting in both on the same list. I hope this question makes sense.

[@ronblack2404]

Rory, do I need to do a (full reset) to program the APRS. does that mean putting it back to original settings , I have some sat frequencies programmed but glad to loose those can put back later.

[@synonyx]

Hi Ron, you shouldn't need to do a full reset.

[@HyperCadaver]

Watching this video makes me want Vienna sausages for some reason.

[@savanah2237]

talks way too fast