Using Winlink (RMS Express) with the Kenwood TH-D74 Radio

I created this video since there wasn't much info out there, except a few messages on the Winlink board. Hoping that It's useful to others!

[@PacTel54321]

Thank You. I signed up for a mobile Winlink exercise tomorrow and thought it would be easier to take the handheld but didn't know where to start and then found your great instructions. To turn on the KISS 12, I pressed F > 5 a few times and it showed up.

[@ag7jj22]

Perfect! Thank you, Travis.

[@kevinwesolowski6794]

Travis - thanks for your time in creating this video for sharing your experiences. I use my D72A for this stuff with a USB cable. I have a friend coming over with his D74. The actions shown here will help me in my endeavors even though I won't use the bluetooth option. I don't think he has a winlink account, so I thought I would try winlink for me and then setup outpost for him. Again, thanks! To: Alan James; Yes it does have a TNC! The KISS setting is the TNC doing its job. TNC = terminal Node Controller. The radio is dumb!

[@kennethraysealsphotography3513]

Thank you Travis! This was very helpful. I had trouble at first with the PC recognizing the D74 on BT. Turns out I accidentally had two BT adapters in the PC. I disabled the BT on the motherboard and then the connection went fine according to the Kenwood instructions. 73 de Ken - K6KT

[@ultral1ght]

Thank for this video, Travis! "'Update Table from Internet" was the one step that I had missed.

[@scwall]

Great video! Thanks for making it, Travis. It really explained things well.

[@Bilixicoast]

Awesome, thanks

[@marcwbrown]

great video, Thanks for making it, I have a Kenwood THD74A, I've been wanting to try this and now I will because of this video'

[@johnspady2180]

Nice recap Travis! Thanks for documenting this setup for Winlink. Please consider having your next video about how to use the TH-D74 to transmit and receive using the NBEMS/FLDigi program. THAT would be a wonderful contribution too -- just like this one about Winlink! Regards, John WA7UAR, Seattle

[@genemcphee8053]

A GREAT Help!!!!!

[@bruehlt]

Glad it helped!

[@jmoschella]

Great video - everything works! Got me on Winlink VHF in 10 minutes.

[@alanmorris1609]

You can also update table via radio if internet is unavailable. 73!

[@RegNatarajan]

Really useful video.

[@stevecook7279]

it worked, thanks! had to change from aprs to kiss, and then change back, so it's not as easy to switch as I would've liked, but it did work.

[@terrykift2613]

I have not been able to get this to work using Bluetooth, I have read that there is an issue with Winlink accessing the transmit feature on the radio.

[@alanjames4526]

Hi, Don. I just got my TH-D74A and am getting a little confused on using the D-74A with Winlink Express. I have a couple of questions: 1) I thought the D-74A had a built-in TNC but apparently it doesn't. But it seems I can still hook it up to use Winlink, right? 2) I have a windows pro 7 but it does not have Bluetooth. Do I have to get a Bluetooth dongle or what do I need to do? 3) Would it be easier for me to return the D-74A and get a D-72 which has a built-in TNC? I really don't want to do that but just wondered. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks Alan KZ6B

[@bjk534]

There is a kiss tnc in the d74

[@alanjames4526]

Thanks and I finally figured that out but took me a while. I am not a read the manual first type guy but maybe should be.

[@flashover52]

Has anyone had success getting the TH-D74 to work with VARA FM?

[@bruehlt]

It will work but you need an external soundcard such as a Signalink. You can't use bluetooth, as that is specifically linked to the internal TNC of the radio.

[@dennisjorgensen344]

With a Digirig it works

[@shank0]

Radio wouldn't transmit till after I power cycled it for some reason. Just fyi.

[@bruehlt]

Not sure why - I never had any problems. Were you able to get it working after that?

[@shank0]

@@bruehlt it is transmitting. Have made a connection yet, but haven't tried where I expect to either. I did this for also to connect to aprsdroid, and same thing. Seems like if I turn it to Bluetooth I have to power cycle radio before it will transmit. The Bluetooth does connect though.

[@dewdude]

This was of little help. The moment you went in to the Windows 10 control panel...apparently my Bluetooth drivers are totally different and none of that helped. Radio pairs, bluetooth icon doesn't turn blue on the radio...nothing ever connects.

[@surfcrs]

Yes, the bluetooth icon does not come on for me either. looks like it is paired but no blue icon that I usually get, just grayed out.