Topic: dual band worth it?

[knightrider]

I've been doing a lot of research and have been looking at a lot of dual band mobile rigs.  I keep wondering if I really will need or use 440.  2m seems pretty popular and there are tons of repeaters.  So Im asking here to get opinions. 

I've been looking at the Kenwood tm-v71a.  I like the idea of cross band repeat so I can use my ht when I'm out of the vehicle to reach people or just monitor the radio without being in the vehicle.  It also seems easy to program from the reviews I've read. 

Aprs also looks like fun so the 710 from Kenwood also catches my eye.  But realistically I don't want to be the only guy I know with it because that seems to take the fun out of it.

[SuperSlideStyle]

I know of a few guys who have a CB Radio, a backup CB Radio, Dual band ham radio and a tri-band ham radio inside a single ruck.

[knightrider]

Yea I've seen lots of people do multiple radios from all the reading I've been doing.  My question is more along the lines of, should I get a expensive dual bander with bells and whistles if everyone else is mostly using 2m.  I don't have an issue with learning curves as im normally pretty quick to learn new things. 

[Ghost65]

Yea I've seen lots of people do multiple radios from all the reading I've been doing.  My question is more along the lines of, should I get a expensive dual bander with bells and whistles if everyone else is mostly using 2m.  I don't have an issue with learning curves as im normally pretty quick to learn new things. 

I have a tri-bander in my truck...and use 2 meter 99% of the time. 

IME...440mhz/70cm repeaters are mostly club/private repeaters, and there is NO traffic on those.  But it is a double edged sword...no traffic means, no one to talk to.  One of my friends in this club bought a dual bander and we only use 2 meters, as there are so many good choices for repeaters.

IMO...buy a solid 2 meter radio, and spend the extra money you save on that with joining a few amateur radio clubs so you have access to their repeaters/nets etc. 

I joined Palomar Amateur Radio Club and East County Repeater Association, as they give good coverage in the desert and locally.  SANDRA is also a good one.  PARC is $20 a year and ECRA is $35, but it comes with an auto patch (phone tone access).

[RBduffer]

^^^^^^^^What John said.^^^^^^^^

And I personaly love Kenwoods for good audio and ease of use.
I have the TM-241, two meter only.  Don't know anything about Aprs

[knightrider]

thanks guys, i think im going to go 2m only, save me some $$$.  im normally one that goes big all the time, ussually spend too much money on something i dont use enough to justify the expense.  looking at the  icom v8000, i like that you can pretty much do everything from the mic so remote mounting the main unit is not as much of an issue because all i will need to do is see the display.  also the front firing speaker means i can maybe get away without running an external.

[Ghost65]

Good luck Jordan...I have an ICOM ht and have owned it for over 10 years.  

Just bought a new battery for it and still going strong, so a good platform for sure.  

I'll look up the V8000 model and check it out.

Check out some product reviews of the V8000 here:  eHam.net

[Paul]

I have a dual band radio - the Yaseu FT8800. It's a double/dual radio - two receivers with dual controls. I set one side to 2M to talk truck-to-truck and the other side to listen to the club FRS traffic with the radios extended receive abilities. The bigger antenna of the ham radio does a good job of listening to the FRS.

[knightrider]

Yea I have been comparing the 8800 and the v71 for a while now, I've read both of the manuals.  I think I'm leaning towards the 8800 since they have a $70 rebate bringing it down to the same price as the v71, also the 8800 comes with the separation kit, which I would have to purchase for $50 for the Kenwood.  I also already own a yaesu vx-170 and like the ARTS feature so I can tell if my ht has comm with my truck if I'm away from it.

[RBduffer]

I know ArchX got the 8800 and uses it as a repeater for his hand held when he hikes away from his X.  Very cool

[knightrider]

Yea both the 8800 and v71 are capable of that, that's one thing I want the dual band for

[Olaf]

Definitely go dual band.  You have more possibilites such as cross band repeat, FRS frequencies are on 440, and so on.

I have an Ft8800.  I like it but the buttons aren't illuminated so it's tough in the dark.  I'm not sure about your budget but I like the FTM-350r.

[knightrider]

I spent the day at work with nothing to do and was comparing the Kenwood 710 and the yaesu 350ar for aprs.  Still can't decide.  Budget is kind of a secondary concern, but with rebates, yaesu are the same price as the kenwoods options right now. with the added benefit of the ft-8800 including the separation kit, which is $45 for the kenwood

[knightrider]

After weeks of reading manuals and reviews and watching youtube videos i decided to get some hands on time at HRO.  Well I bit the bullet and picked up a Yaesu FTM-350AR tonight.  After playing with all 4 (Kenwood TM-V71A, TM-710D, Yaesu FT-8800, FTM-350AR) radios in the store for over an hour I found the large real estate screens of the 350 and 710 much easier to work with and adjust options.  I hate having to look in the manual just to figure out what the 3 letter abbreviated options are.  In the end the 350 won out over the older tried and true kenwood. I also am very interested in the APRS side (so i can text while on the trail) and like the optional GPS that plugs right into the control head that's half the price of the 3rd party Kenwood option.

[RBduffer]

Well done Jordan!  I like the hands on stuff at HRO, and it's the best way to know what you're comfortable with.  And that's way more important than performance numbers anyway.  See and Hear ya on the trail