Where did you receive the IPX8 information? The Yaesu tech emailed me back stating the radio is IPX5. Did some more searching and saw the brochure rating it IPX7.
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Yaesu VX-8GR vs. Kenwood TH-D72
- Thread starter snakyjake
- Start date
Where did you receive the IPX8 information? The Yaesu tech emailed me back stating the radio is IPX5. Did some more searching and saw the brochure rating it IPX7.
I have to ask, why would someone want to transmit on aviation freqs? As a person who flies with his family I am pretty sure I am uncomfortable with the general pubic broadcasting on aviation frequencies. Am I missing something here?
In an emergency we can legally transmit on any frequency. If I'm stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and a plane/jet flies over me, I can radio them for help.
I carry an aviation radio for this purpose.
What is your QTH Alaska? Maybe it is I don't know. I understand wanting capabilities for emergency but I live in rural Wisconsin and I canoe, hunt, fish, camp deep in the woods and I am very hard pressed to get out of cell coverage even if I try. Your location might be different. I certainly would have absolutely no need to transmit on aviation bands. Hell I ride a KTM 300 40 - 80 mph through the woods on 100+ mile trips where there is huge potential for injury deep in the woods and never felt compelled to transmit on aviation frequencies.
He's obviously not talking about using aviation frequencies for general purpose use. This is an emergency thing. Many amateur radio operators are also hunters/fishermen, hikers, search & rescue, or just general outdoor adventurers. It makes excellent sense that the most likely contact (with the exception of search and rescue) in an emergency would be a passing aircraft. Your uncomfortableness with the request for aviation frequency use seems a little extra presumptuous that you are a better or more careful operator than others on this forum. I wouldn't be so quick to assume the worst of your fellow operator's responsible use of their equipment. Capability does not imply abuse.
EDIT: @Thirsty: Man these forum advertisements throw me off. I didn't even see your second post after the top one on the page because of the ad. Anyway, FYI in Canada the population (and cell coverage) is strongly biased within say 100 miles of the Canada US border. We have huge expanses of land that are nowhere near civilization and cell coverage. We also have a large portion of the rocky mountains passing through British Columbia (my province). I can go 30km from my house and be out of cell coverage, not because of distance but because of geography. A big mountain between me and the nearest major city. I hope this just clarifies my initial writings above in comparison to your most recent post.
On a seperate note, I too am considering one of the Kenwood TH-D72A, Yaesu VX-8DR or VX-8GR radios and so stumbled onto this post. I really like the additional waterproofing of the VX-8DR. I happen to be one of those outdoor adventurers who likes to hike, backpack, bike, etc... and I don't want to ever be worried about water exposure. The kenwood has an even lower water rating than the VX-8GR.
1.) Anyone here with a kenwood TH-D72 taken it out on a rainy hike? Or the otherway around anybody kill one with water exposure?
I'm rather disappointed with the form factor of the VX-8DR despite the technical capabilities it has. The external GPS seems hokey the way it shares the external mic/spkr port. Plus I'd like the option to use a headset with my radio (Which plugs into the same port as the GPS on the VX-8DR).
2.) Anybody here use a headset with any of these three handsets? Please share your experience!
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You can install the Bluetooth board in the VX-8DR and have a wireless setup. I have it installed in my radio and it works well. If you search this forum for Bluetooth you wll find several threads that tell what BT headsets work with the radio. I have the Yaesu BT headset and also I use my Plantronics Voyager BT headset. They both work very well. I hope this helps abit.
Too bad we are refering to the VX8G and the D72 in this thread. Not the VX8. The VX8G does not have the bluetooth option.
As a newby researching for future purchase of my first radio, I downloaded and studied the manuals, included features, and add-ons of the 8GR, 8DR, and The D72 for the better part of a day. It was a great learning experience. The D72 appears to be the more complete and tightly integrated radio (without relying on external components) best equipped for interfacing with computers and associated monitoring software. I was especially impressed with the Kenwood programming software which I also downloaded and reviewed. The Yeasus require third party programming software as was mentioned by others.
Please correct me if my understanding of any of the above is not correct.
Which brings me to this question:
Since whatever I get will be operated 95% of the time at home, is there any base or mobile radio in the $400 to $550 price range that has equivalent or better features than the Kenwood TH-D72A, especially in the area of computer interface and interoperabiliity? Asked another way, is there a premium being paid for the miniturization involved in the relatively tiny handhelds compared to a base unit that would be 4 or 5 times the size?
Please correct me if my understanding of any of the above is not correct.
Which brings me to this question:
Since whatever I get will be operated 95% of the time at home, is there any base or mobile radio in the $400 to $550 price range that has equivalent or better features than the Kenwood TH-D72A, especially in the area of computer interface and interoperabiliity? Asked another way, is there a premium being paid for the miniturization involved in the relatively tiny handhelds compared to a base unit that would be 4 or 5 times the size?
This is a great thread! I am also in the, "Don't have my license yet, but want to buy a solid HT once i'm ready to go" category.
I've been shopping these particular HT's for their outdoor/backcountry/SAR capability. For me the GPS is not a function i want on a radio (i have a dedicated handheld for that), but PC compatibility via standardized cords is (USB).
The VX-8DR nudges out the TH-D72 for essentially 2 reasons: 1) Quad-band (and related ability to transmit/monitor bands simultaneously) and 2) better "adverse conditions" capability.
Anyway, that's my utterly novice take on these. I really don't know enough to evaluate the radios on their ability to transmit, which bands/freq's are truly useful, etc.
I've been shopping these particular HT's for their outdoor/backcountry/SAR capability. For me the GPS is not a function i want on a radio (i have a dedicated handheld for that), but PC compatibility via standardized cords is (USB).
The VX-8DR nudges out the TH-D72 for essentially 2 reasons: 1) Quad-band (and related ability to transmit/monitor bands simultaneously) and 2) better "adverse conditions" capability.
Anyway, that's my utterly novice take on these. I really don't know enough to evaluate the radios on their ability to transmit, which bands/freq's are truly useful, etc.
Oops! My bad! :blush: "D" "G" they look the same
You are correct it is a no go for the GR.1) Most radios can monitor multiple freq at the same time.
2) It is an HT, they are both adverse conditions.
Having the GPS included isn't really for navigation like a stand alone GPS. It is used to beacon location, speed, altitude. Or can be used to orient your radio with another beacon. You don't even need a GPS, and can manually input the data.
If you are mainly thinking of APRS for SAR and emergency, I think you'll be disappointed in that SARs and emergencies don't happen enough to make APRS fun.
Go to Google Maps APRS. This is the feature you'll probably use APRS 99.999% of the time. And ask yourself if you want yourself to show up. Do you want others to be aware of your location? I like the idea that my wife and family know where I'm at, so I don't have them calling and asking me where I'm at and how much longer until I'm home.
Or you'll get something like APRSPoint and make contacts 10000's of miles away.
Or maybe you'll be on a camping/road trip and locate another nearby HAM via APRS. I like tracking down Hams on my camping trips.
Jake