[aprssig] Detailed review of APRS-capable HTs

[MJ Inabnit]

Hi John:

I received a update post from eham.net, then read your post here.  Thank 
you for writing up these rig reviews.  They will be very helpful to hams 
considering any of the three units mentioned.

An additional hickup of the vx8gr is the time setting.  It doesn't do 
daylight savings time well at all, this then completely throws off your 
slist/message logs.  I also have the ft-350 and it's got many bugs--too 
many really.  Kenwood updates their equipment, Yaesu doesn't (unless 
users buy the expensive kit for the ft-350) which basically leaves users 
stranded with the buggy and expensive gear.

One last thing, I feel is critical to the vx8gr, is that users must 
ignore the "weather alert" function.  I found myself in two situations 
where tornadoes were nipping at my heals.  Each time, neither the vx8gr 
nor the ftm-10sr rigs alerted me to the danger!  The weather alert is a 
*very dangerous gimmick*.  When I studied the information prior to 
purchase, this alert function was an important ingredient to my decision 
to buy the vx8gr over a fully weather tight (motorcycle friendly) gps 
unit that includes dependable working weather alert function!

Kenwood didn't have their HT rig available when I took my long 2 month 
motorcycle ride, so I used the vx8gr.  It lived in a saddle bag the 90% 
of the time!  I can tell you that it is a tough little rig!

I would have bought the Kenwood just to get updates, but the Yaesu did a 
good job pinging away in that cold, wet saddle bag.

Again, thank you for the good reviews!

73 om

On 04/30/2012 02:22 PM, John Goerzen wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I have seen a lot of questions online about the APRS-capable HTs out 
> there -- most often, the VX-8GR and the TH-D72A.  I have done quite a 
> bit of research and testing, and presently own one of each.  I wrote 
> up 9 pages of detail on how they work, feature set, specifics on APRS 
> feature set and battery life, tuning, etc.  I hope it is useful.
>
> http://changelog.complete.org/archives/7501-review-amateur-radio-handhelds-hts-aprs-and-battery-tuning-tips 
>
>
> -- John
> KR0L
>
>
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-- 

wishing you well
Jaye, ke6sls--via the acer w/thunderchicken3