FTM-350R vs TM-D710A: Which Should I Get?

I just went through the same decision-making process. Ended up with the Kenwood. Here's why I decided it was best for me. Your mileage may vary:

1) The TM-D710A has built-in digipeater capability - can function as a fill-in digipeater out here in the middle of Nowhere, Texas. I tried it, and it works.

2) Display is not that much smaller than the FTM-350. Control head appears to be equally functional between the two. RF power output is rated the same, for all practical purposes.

3) Stereo input - already have that in the truck, standard equipment. Plus the factory stereo has much better sound reproduction.

4) Add-on Green Light Labs GPS for the Kenwood is a few more $$ than the Yaesu, but doesn't add much more bulk to the head unit. The Kenwood will also work with the GPS I use with my TH-D7A HT, even uses the same cable. Bonus!

5) Programming cable on eBay for the Kenwood was $20, programming software from Kenwood is free. Did the complete configuration using the free software - memories, APRS, and all.

6) The TNC in the Kenwood is actually usable as a regular TNC, can't do that with the Yaesu (as far as I know). Not that there's any real pbbs traffic anymore, but the option is there.

7) As you said, firmware is user-upgradable on the Kenwood, and they have actually released a few versions with bug fixes and tweaks.

8) Price - got a good deal from an online vendor - they had a special last weekend, so I saved $40-50 or so over the cost of the Yaesu.

The unit will live in the house for now. I have an Ft-7800r for the truck, a TS-2000 (and TS-690sat) for HF at home (and an FT-897d for eventual mobile use), so I'm not partial to one or the other brand. Even have a couple of Alinco HT's, and other misc. stuff, so I'm pretty much "brand-neutral".

Hope this helps.

73/w5bnc

I have a TM-D700 Kenwood that I have owned for almost 9 years and just bought the FTM-350 with GPS.

The Kenwood has worked since day one with no issues, I have it in the house and run UI-View on it, something you cant do with the 350.

I love the display on the 350, hands down it is much better than the Kenwood.

For me the 350 is much easier to program on the head unit.

If the radio is going to be mobile most of the time I would recommend the 350, if its going to stay in a fixed location more, get the Kenwood.

Just my opinion ....

Here's what I've been reading on the key differences (not verified to be accurate...waiting for someone with more knowledge):

Kenwood TM-D710A
+Digirepeater
?Sub-Band APRS
+AVMAP
+User firmware upgrade

Yaesu FTM-350AR
-Digirepeater
+NAVI
+Sub-Band APRS
-User firmware upgrade

Looks like it comes down to digirepeater vs. NAVI and sub-band APRS.

Jake

I think it comes down to user preference, or it did for me. I just don't like/understand Yaesu's programming scheme, doesn't make sense to me. Kenwood's scheme/method is more 'intuitive'(?), at least for me.
Newer software/technology? Hows that, I don't see where there's any particular benefits either way. Don't know about anyone else, but I haven't had a need to use all the features available on the Kenwood...yet. (I'm a Kenwood fan if you couldn't tell.)
I also find that the control heads for them are interchangeable. Want the TNC in the 710's head for use on the '700, '708 or the '71A? Swap them out. Just takes the '710's cable, different sized connector on the radio end. (I also understand that it's usable on the TS-2000?)
You will find 'qwerks' with all radios, not just one brand. Pick the one you can live with the easiest. I did and can't complain yet (I like complaining! Sort of disappointed with the '710 in that regard.).
- 'Doc

Absolute best thing you could do is get your hands on each and 'play' with them before buying. Unfortunately, that's also the hardest thing to do.

W1MSG said:

I have a TM-D700 Kenwood that I have owned for almost 9 years and just bought the FTM-350 with GPS.

The Kenwood has worked since day one with no issues, I have it in the house and run UI-View on it, something you cant do with the 350.

...

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I have a FTM-350 as well and it does work with Ui-view. You just need the cable and it works. I have used many times in the van. Here is the link to the thread.

http://www.worldwidedx.com/vhf-uhf-bands-vhf-uhf-rigs/81441-ftm-350-communications-ui-view.html

snakyjake said:

Here's what I've been reading on the key differences (not verified to be accurate...waiting for someone with more knowledge):

Kenwood TM-D710A
+Digirepeater
?Sub-Band APRS
+AVMAP
+User firmware upgrade

Yaesu FTM-350AR
-Digirepeater
+NAVI
+Sub-Band APRS
-User firmware upgrade

Looks like it comes down to digirepeater vs. NAVI and sub-band APRS.

Jake

Click to expand...

The Kenwood can also use the TNC for more than just APRS. With the Yaesu, you still need an external TNC if you want to do packet or something like that.

The FTM-350 IS user firmware upgradeable.

Can the Kenwood do the sub-band APRS, and still transmit voice on 2M on the mainband?

I'm not sure what 'sub-band' means. But, the '710 will do APRS and voice at the same time. If that 'sub-band' means the other 'side' of the radio, then yes it will. If you are listening to someone on one side and the APRS sends a transmission, you will loose reception for that second or two. I think they all do that though.
The '710 is a dual band radio, meaning that you can receive on both 'sides' of the radio at the same time, VHF on one side and UHF on the other, or both VHF or both UHF. There really are two receivers in there, not just one.
- 'Doc

Thanks Doc. I'm trying to figure out what "sub-band" means too.

That 'sub-band' thingy has been bothering me so I did a search through all the Kenwood manuals for the TN-D710. I couldn't find "sub-band" mentioned anywhere. I think that may be a term used by other manufacturers for some characteristic of their radios, but not for Kenwood. I thought it might pertain to the frequency ranges other than the 2 meter and 70 cm bands that the '710 covers, but still no mention of that term.
I give up.
- 'Doc

I went through the same decision making process a while back... I chose the Yaesu FTM-350.

It's a great rig with a great display... If you're halfway familiar with programming a Yaesu radio - this one will be easy to figure out.

Functionality-wise - the main difference is that the Kenwood can digipeat. Not a necessity for me...

The FTM-350 can also use multiple speakers. One is inside of the display and base, however, you can also connect two speakers to separate each band's audio. Or, use both at the same time to really crank up the audio...or for nice stereo sound when listening to music.

The firmware is indeed user upgradeable. I've done it before. Easy, peazy...

My recommendation is to go to a Hamfest and look at both units in the flesh.

I'm reading various reviews and here's the major cons of the Yaesu.

APRS

APRS functioning takes priority over whatever is happening on the main VFO.

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Missing bits of QSOs on the main VFO, because the APRS kept interrupting reception to transmit a packet burst. If you are considering a FTM-350 for APRS, and are a big FM user, this could be problematic if you try to do both at the same time.

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APRS Beacon Transmission: The radio pays no attention to activity on the other active band when it goes to transmit the APRS packet (particularly in SmartBeacon mode). Though the interruption is brief, it has caused a bit of frustration when I've had to ask folks to repeat themselves, and I can't find a setting to change this. I would think a software update could be put in place that would inhibit APRS transmission until the main band's squelch closes.

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I presume I would have to disable my APRS beacon if I'm going to have an voice conversation on the main band. Not sure what the Kenwood does.

If you receive an APRS beacon, you can not change the other VFO. You'll have to press escape or wait untill the beacon-info dissappears. (For instance, compared to a Kenwood TM-D710, the message immediatly disappears when you're turning the other VFO knob, which I prefer/am used to).

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When in a busy APRS area, this would be extremely annonying. I wouldn't want to wait for the APRS message to display before I can use the radio.

I couldn´t find an APRS setting that ONLY gave a confirmation beep when my own APRS beacon was digipeated. Either you hear them, along wich a beep for a thousand ACK-frames per minute, or you just don't. Setting the Kenwood TM-D710 so that I ONLY hear a beep when my own beacon is digipeated, is a piece of cake.

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Hearing a beacon acknowledgement is highly appreciated. It is nice to know your message was transmitted successfully to a digipeater.


Misc

The radio will not send out your call sign every 10 minutes as the regulations require.

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Not sure what this means. I would presume I can say my own call sign every 10 minutes when crossbanding.

No memory groups.

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In a mobiel the presumption is it travels. I would prefer memory groups for different areas that I travel. I presume this would reduce the memory clutter and not scan out of reach stations.

Speakers in the head unit are not loud enough for mobile use.

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Pretty useless radio if I can't hear it. Sure would be nice if it would broadcast on the in-dash radio (like some portable audio devices).

With the internal GPS unit you cannot mount the suction cup upside down to mount to the top of your windshield.

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I'd really like to attach to the windshield...seems more secure.

Summary
I've been focused on the Yaesu, so not sure how the Kenwood compares. My preliminary observation: coming down to Kenwood's digirepeater and not having the APRIS issues (I still need to read the Kenwood reviews to verify) vs. Yaesu 220 and NAVI.

Jake

Kenwood D710A

Kenwood D710A

No dedicated controls for each side of the radio. If I want to change frequency or memory, I have to switch to that side to make the adjustments.

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Intermod. Receiver it's too much sensitive to intermod; sometimes it gets hard to continue the QSO.

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APRS running heavily and new signals are constantly arriving, the screen tends to flip back and forth between APRS reports and the regular operating screen. This can be annoying when you are simply trying to operate.

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No built-in GPS.

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Microphone into the base unit instead of the head unit.

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Has weather alert

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Jake

Kenwood D710A
Quote:
No dedicated controls for each side of the radio. If I want to change frequency or memory, I have to switch to that side to make the adjustments.
--
Yep, a 'one-button' push does it, from either the control head or the mic.

Quote:
Intermod. Receiver it's too much sensitive to intermod; sometimes it gets hard to continue the QSO.
--
There's a menu setting for each band that allows that 'inter-mod' to be reduced. An 'AIP' I think.

Quote:
APRS running heavily and new signals are constantly arriving, the screen tends to flip back and forth between APRS reports and the regular operating screen. This can be annoying when you are simply trying to operate.
--
That can be annoying, so you have the option of the APRS only using one half of the display screen. It's a part of the "CNTRL" function, which 'side' of the radio is 'in charge' or has priority. If you are also using the radio for communications then make that 'side' of the radio the one 'in charge'. That means that APRS will not beacon until the 'in charge' side of the radio is 'free'. Your transmissions are not interrupted. Your reception can be though. (There's two receivers, but only one transmitter. The active receiver controls the activity of the transmitter, if that makes sense.) I don't find that to be a significant problem, but that's in how I operate. Others certainly can have problems.

Quote:
No built-in GPS.
--
Nope, it doesn't have one built-in. But it does have provisions for adding one to the radio. Just has to be compatible.

Quote:
Microphone into the base unit instead of the head unit.
--
Depends on how you prefer things. I find that with the mic connected to the radio body I have otions for mounting the head that wouldn't be too practical with the mic connected to the head. Personal preference.

Quote:
Has weather alert
--
Yep. You have the option of turning the -automatic- reception of a weather alert 'on/off'. Don't want/need that? So turn it off, a menu setting. It defaults to off, and there's a programmable button on both control head and mic to do that with. Or, a two button push to get out of the 'automatic alert' thingy when it's 'on'.
I've tried it both ways and find I'd rather have it 'off' and turn it 'on' when I wanna know what the weather's like. Personal preference.

The TM-D710 isn't 'perfect' by any means. Most of the time it's 'faults' are a matter of use or personal preference. Don't like some feature? Turn it off.
Memory is 'bank' selectable, and each memory can be "skipped" individually. Several 'ways' of doing channel scanning, do it however it's most convenient for you.
(Same for the TM-V71A, which is the exact same radio with a different control head (no TNC built-in. Their 'heads' are interchangeable.)
Don't like the '710's features? Don't get one!
- 'Doc