Using APRS on a Kenwood TH D74A

NOTE: Menu settings are at the end of this narrative.
If you have not gotten your head wrapped into APRS please take time to watch this 20 minute on how to setup and use APRS on the Kenwood TH-D74. I also show some of the features that make APRS the superior exchange of digital information. Below are the menu settings
#400-ON, #404-OFF, #500- ENTER YOUR CALL, #506-B BAND, #510- MANUAL BCN (USE 6 BUTTON TO MANUALLY TX),#515-ON,#515-ON,#520-522 ON ..#575-ON, #582-ON,...If in a car mobile moving in TX control set Smartbeaconing (use defaults) #510 to Smartbeaconing.

[@rameeti]

A tip: It appears that you are using the Enter button after each desired character when entering your Call Sign. The radio will recognize that you are done with a particular character when you move to a new key. The 'Enter' is then presumed. This works most anywhere that you are entering a series of characters such as in a message.

[@robertliddell2333]

Thank You Don for being such a Great Teacher! You explanations on programming the D74/D75 is the BEST!! Thanks Again!!!!

[@billvet6]

Thanks so much for your videos Don. I have 6 other radios with APRS but was still stumbling around setting up the D74. What a cool radio!

[@MyTube4Utoo]

I just received my TH-D74A on Monday. The last HT I owned when was I got my license in (1989). This one is just a wee bit more advanced. *lol*

[@09keller]

Well, I am embarrassed, I did set band B, but was on Band A display. Works now. Thanks again for the very fine videos! You are a natural for these!

[@CrittendenIV]

Thank you for making this video! I recently passed my Tech and did my research; just bought that radio. I really appreciate your assistance with getting it set up (before it arrives). Lol. Have a great day and thanks again! :)

[@kk0dj]

A lot more to learn, but I am ready to be beaconing my way to Xenia this week. Thank you Don... really good information. 73 KK0DJ

[@lexmedic157]

Thanks for the video, de W4DHW-1, etc

[@e.d.m5722]

APRS works fairly well on the 74. Only unfortunate thing, however, is that it doesn’t receive APRS Bulletins. If you are hopping to get bulletins (Weather, road conditions, announcement about next net, etc), you won’t. You can send Bullletins though, it’s just sending a regular APRS message but to Bulletin. No bulletin receive was a MAJOR oversight by Kenwood. Another thing you can do is send SMS to cell phones via SMSGTE. This is all trivial stuff. I run an iGate/digipeter, but honestly 99% of the time just use my iPhone.

[@codebx]

E.D. M thank you for commenting on the bulletin functionality. I had no idea you could send bulletins. I’m also surprised either the receive bulletin functionality apparently doesn’t exist despite there being bulletin code options within the APRS configuration.

[@creativeillumination]

Don - I just got the D74A HT and I’ve watched a lot of your videos on the, you’re doing a great service. I’ve learned a lot from you. Thank you. At 17:48 of this video you show sending an email. I can’t figure out how to get to that screen on my D74A. On the APRS screen I see a place to reply to msgs but not a screen that you show. I’m new to VHF/ UHF so my learning curve has been huge. I’ve successfully set up APRS and beaconed out. I’ve also registered and set up D- Star and listened to conversations but haven’t transmitted yet I imagine I’ll do that in the next day or so. I’m also trying to wrap my head around when I need repeaters/reflectors and where my signal might go on D- Star. I’m listening to some stations worldwide. So cool. I can’t wait to get past this learning curve. Any answers guidance or resources for these issues you can help me with are greatly appreciated. Thanks Jay. AJ6AZ

[@w6gps]

you have to access the message menu hit F then (4) NEW MSG key it will open up the msg input box. put EMAIL then message text first entry is the email address then a space then your message

[@creativeillumination]

Don Arnold success, I got the email. I imagine it only a one way email. Is that correct? I don’t know how I missed that. Do you have a video on the basics of repeaters and reflectors.

[@markdoyle8713]

Great job thank you

[@TheThorns]

Can anyone point me in the right direction. Looking for an all in one solution like this. a hand held capable of APRS. The cheaper the better, as long as it works most of the time. Need for emergency communication kit at work for text and E-mail.

[@guszavos2839]

Thanks for your videos - I recently purchased the Kenwood and your videos are a great way to learn how to use it. One question I have - is there a way to change the GPS indicator? It's kinda reversed: blinks when on instead of blinks when searching. Do you know of a way to change that? Thanks again for the videos - they are all very helpful.

[@rlmartin58]

Have only had my D74 for 3 days my openspot2 should be here today have set up aprs and am receiving lots of hits but don't seem to be getting my beacons out shouldn't they be showing up on aprs fi if they are getting anywhere

[@tonyr3352]

Thanks, Don. One question on the QSY Function. If you look at the Kenwood manual, Section 14-16, the paragraph on QSY information states that the voice band frequency data will be sent automatically and the people receiving the message can 'Tune' to it. This works as advertised. The second part of that section of the manual implies if you put the Tune information in Status Text 1-4, following for correct format, this will set the 'Tune' to that data and the user can converse with you on that channel. I find the status text never changes channel A to the data specified according to the formatted data (it does show up a status text, however), the 'Tune' data is always set to whatever you have channel A set to. Am I missing something? Tony - KJ7SEO

[@lucaclary8436]

Hi Don.....which settings to be used for ISS APRS? Thanks

[@W6MDE]

I’m tossed between the Kenwood 72 and the Yaesu ft2d or 3. Is it true that if your not near a digipeater the 72 or 74 is its own digipeater? And your beacon will still get out. I don’t think the Yaesu can do that. How is the battery life? I’m an avid outdoorsman and would have 2 batteries with me and run it every few hours to check with Wilderness Protocol or send my signal 73 Kn6mat Matt

[@ryantoomey611]

Won't setting the back-light display to always on kill your battery life?

[@vmartinez2334]

Do the majority of the features only work in digital mode? What works if we go dark?

[@rameeti]

If you are not getting a GPS fix, make sure that you have already set the time zone (Menu 950). I don't know why this is not automatically set but alas, it is often the fix.

[@robins7152]

Firstly, may I say a big Thank You Don for your videos. It took a couple of run through, but I'm up and running through my local digipeater/igate now. I have one simple (silly🥴) question; is it just me or is anyone else unable to bring up the Clear All option in the APRS message list. I'm having to delete them one at a time, or just leave the max's out 100 in the list, which is a pain. 73 de G8VVY ... Robin.

[@Borednerds]

In my call-sign APRS there is no SSID ? Cause I am confused if it's needed at all. You should have W6GPS-9 or something like that.

[@w6gps]

not needed imo but most use

[@ligafebi]

Hello I wanted to ask a question, does TH-D74A broadcast on airband? I am interested to be used RPAS, thanks.

[@rah1420usa]

Luis Garcia I do not believe it does.

[@SoCalFreelance]

I wonder if you can sync a Bluetooth keyboard or your smart phone for faster text entry?

[@w6gps]

nope tried this on day one

[@davidm1635]

no aprsdroid vis bt either i assume (what's the PC output on the aprs setup menu?)

[@rah1420usa]

It’s like an old style text entry on a dumb phone. If your next character is on another button you don’t need to navigate with the arrows. So “AD” can be the numeric 2 until you get to “a” and then you can hit the numeric 3 until you hit “d”. Saves some keystrokes. :)

[@ManuelPinner]

I just got My D75,

[@ext1jdh]

How do you get the list? Mine just says “No Data” even though I uploaded the latest tsv file for the d74 to the radio, and I have a gps fix. Are there just none near me?

[@w6gps]

TSV has nothing to do with APRS. TSV is the DSTAR repeater list.email me directly at [e-mail]. I will be glad to give you a ring.

[@09keller]

Don thanks for the great video on ARPS. I have one problem in the set up, after I have set band B. When I tap the f key and then list, APRS does not show up on screen. Any ideas?

[@w6gps]

make sure you have both bands active..use F and toggle with A/B

[@lanceriffle4841]

I have watched this twice. When I do function List I get nothing.

[@JoeCity]

Thanks Don. Kd2qql

[@andyblake65]

Don do you know how to edit the APRS Position Comment Customs? "CUSTOM0-CUSTOM6"

[@w6gps]

these are not editable thay are just used if you want to call a group custom 1 2 or 3 I made the same assumption but now know thay are not editable

[@andyblake65]

Don Arnold Thanks so much!!

[@cwjolly69]

I’m sorry but I don’t see the point of that anybody her text messages

[@RobertDozor]

Very discouraging due to complexity. There are videos which are much more transparent than this one,