New (and first) Radio!

[Cammo]

After much research, listening to the input from my intro AND listening to the MP3 recording of the HamNet, I decided that yes, I wanted a dual band radio with cross band repeat and APRS, but didn't want the grief it might cause at home with the price. Plus I figured I could add a TNC later for APRS. So yesterday I went to HRO and picked up the Yaesu FT-8800R. Brought it home & unpacked it, wow, is it small. Never thought I'd say this, but I think I want something a little larger. Also not too crazy about how far out the concentric controls stick out. None of these are a deal breaker, so I finish unpacking & cracked the manual a little. I try to separate the front panel from the electronics box using the little release tab, no luck. So I search the manual for what must be something I'm missing. Nothing to be found about separating the two. So I look in the extension kit that was included and it gives a pictorial of taking it apart and it appears that I was doing it right, so I proceeded to try some more. For the life of me I cannot get this thing to come apart! So tomorrow it's back to HRO.

Now comes my delema. Now that I've had some experience with my first radio, I think I'm ready for an upgrade . The 8800 didn't cause too much commotion, so I'll press my luck. I think I'll go ahead and exchange it for the Kenwood TM-D710A. I'm going with it instead of the yaesu FTM-350R because it will fit in a single DIN space where the 350 is too tall. I have a fetish about altitude readout and I notice the 350 has that. Does anyone know if the 710 does as well? Is the output able to interface to any external mapping programs run on a netbook?

[cruiserlarry]

I think I'll go ahead and exchange it for the Kenwood TM-D710A. I'm going with it instead of the yaesu FTM-350R because it will fit in a single DIN space where the 350 is too tall. I have a fetish about altitude readout and I notice the 350 has that. Does anyone know if the 710 does as well? Is the output able to interface to any external mapping programs run on a netbook?

The D710A head is probably the same sixe or larger than the FTM-350R head - I don't see how either would fit in a DIN space, or even understand why - the cable connections are not on the rear, so you'll need clearance on the sides of the head unit. Also, neither radio mounts the same way a standard car stereo mounts due to cable configurations.

The D710A does not have an altitude readout, in general, but will provide altitude details for APRS contacts when connected to a GPS. The data output of internal TNC will work with APRS-specific programs (UI-View-32, Overland Navigator, etc.), but have no positioning info to use with standard mapping programs - you still need an external GPS.

[Cammo]

The D710A head is probably the same sixe or larger than the FTM-350R head - I don't see how either would fit in a DIN space, or even understand why - the cable connections are not on the rear, so you'll need clearance on the sides of the head unit. Also, neither radio mounts the same way a standard car stereo mounts due to cable configurations.

Hmmmm. The specs on Universal Radio website lists the height as 1.76", well within the single dins 2" dimension. Maybe that's just the electronics package, I don't know. My plan was to mount the face on a blank panel in 1/2 of the FJ cruiser double din radio bay. That way I can still have an entertainment system in the other half. It sounded good at the time! I guess I need to see the radio & measure height & look at connections. If not, I'll just get the 8800 replaced. It will fit no problem.

The D710A does not have an altitude readout, in general, but will provide altitude details for APRS contacts when connected to a GPS. The data output of internal TNC will work with APRS-specific programs (UI-View-32, Overland Navigator, etc.), but have no positioning info to use with standard mapping programs - you still need an external GPS.

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! Would a GPS puck like a Delorm LT-40 work?

[sdnative]

If you are looking for an external TNC, I have had good luck with the TinyTrak4

http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak4/

They sell a GPS puck too and it can be powered directly from the TNC.

http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak/gps.php

The Kenwood 710 has a TNC built-in, but for other radios that are not APRS ready, you can use something like this to run APRS.

[Cammo]

Awesome website sdnative, thanks! That thing has a great price too. It looks like a PIC project...that's one smart cookie that programmed that one. I'll go that route if I keep the 8800. There's so much to learn...

[cruiserlarry]

Hmmmm. The specs on Universal Radio website lists the height as 1.76", well within the single dins 2" dimension. Maybe that's just the electronics package, I don't know. My plan was to mount the face on a blank panel in 1/2 of the FJ cruiser double din radio bay. That way I can still have an entertainment system in the other half. It sounded good at the time! I guess I need to see the radio & measure height & look at connections. If not, I'll just get the 8800 replaced. It will fit no problem.

Those dimensions don't take into account cable connections, and the D710A head unit is 2.76" tall, not 1.76" (I measured my unit), so UR must of had a defective tape measure

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! Would a GPS puck like a Delorm LT-40 work?

I would suggest a more generic puck - less money, and more universal with software packages other than Delorme.

[OLLIE]

Green Light Labs has a GPS receiver specifically for the D710 if you don't need a read out screen.

http://www.greenlightlabs.com/gps-710/

The D710 has a built in TNC (as does the 350) so it is not necessary to get a TNC if you go with one of those two radios. Do you already have a GPS in your truck, and if so, what do you have?

[cruiserlarry]

Green Light Labs has a GPS receiver specifically for the D710 if you don't need a read out screen.

http://www.greenlightlabs.com/gps-710/

I have the Green Labs GPS on my D710A - and it works great. For other GPS applications, it does have a pass-through port...

[OLLIE]

The D710 does give altitude, GPS coordinates, and heading when hooked up to a GPS transceiver. Just hit the "POS" botton on the faceplate.

[Cammo]

Well, I ended up keeping the 8800. The faceplate not disconnecting was, as I figured, operator error. It slides off sideways not straight out as I was trying to do (thankfully with not TO much force). Funny it's not mentioned anywhere in the manual. The guy at HRO says 80% of purchasers have the same problem so I didn't feel too ridiculous.

I replaced the dual DIN stock radio with a single DIN one. The 8800s face fits relatively nicely, with some trimming to the mount, in the remaining space below the stereo. It's not ready to use yet, but we're getting there.