[Kenwood] Comments on TM-V7A

[J. Newell]

My comments from eham.net are below.  I've owned the rig, which I purchased new, about a year now.  I'd still give it a 5.  Most of the complaints either relate to the batch of flakey displays an earlier post mentions or problems viewing the display when it's frontlit.  In vehicles with a low-angle windshield and the display on the dash, that could be an issue.  I drive a boxy old Jeep and I've never had the problem.  It's a great radio, much better IMO than the eHam average # indicates.
73
John
KB1FPM
I recently purchased a TM-V7A, motivated partly by the desire to add a radio with cross-band repeat and dual receive to the shack. Other than that, I figured it was basically similar to the TM-G707A that I've owned for more than three years. That turns out to be mostly true, with a few minor exceptions.

Based on my use so far, the good points of this rig are:

- dual band receive (VHF/UHF, VHF/VHF, UHF/UFH)
- cross-band repeat
- alpha-numeric memory tags
- easy to operate
- plenty of memories
- free memory management software on KW website
- very quiet fan
- easy to remote-mount the control head
- faceplate is easily removed to prevent theft
- excellent front end

I haven't found anything I'd identify as a problem, although there are some things I'd mention that buyers should be aware of.

I have not found the display hard to read in limited mobil use, but in my Jeep has a relatively high dash and the head is always shaded. If you put this on top of the dash in your vehicle, you may well have problems - something to think about beforehand.

There are enough memories in the rig for my needs, but the operator does have to allocate the memories between VHF and UHF bands, and if you change that allocation in the future, you'll loose all memory channel data in the radio (hint: download the free software and buy the cable).

If I had my 'druthers, I'd change the display to either permit display of the alphanumeric tags only (no freq), or to allow the size of the alpha tags and the freqs to be switched. As it is, the rig displays both the alpha tag and the freq for each side of the radio. You can blank the display for one side if you aren't using it, but the remaining display doesn't get any larger. This is not a big point, but I'm trying to be objective and complete. For me, it's all the more noticed because the display in the somewhat similar Kenwood TM-G707A is so excellent.

One feature of the -V7A (and the -G707A) that I hadn't used until I bought the -V7A is the "programmable memory" feature. Basically, this allows you to pre-set a large number of operating and display choices into one of four memories. You select them by pushing "PM" and then the appropriately-numbered button on the faceplate. This turns out to be a great way to quickly change display settings, power settings, band settings, etc. I never used it with the -G707A but find it very useful with the -V7A.

I live and operate in metrowest Boston, which has many pagers and other RF sources that will show up intermod problems quickly -- I have had no such problems with this radio.

On the other hand, the receiver seems to be very hot. I first noticed this when I did a doubletake, hearing a fire department I didn't recognize on the freq assigned to our town FD. It turned out to be a FD in a neighboring state, 70+ miles away, that I'd never heard before. I have been able to receive stations as much as 100 miles away with this rig installed in my home shack, which is extremely good performance.

I have to say that I have not found this radio at all hard to operate, nor do I think the manual is badly written, especially when compared to other KenYaeCom manuals.

Overall, a very strong rig and a pleasure to operate. Too bad it's gone...get one while you can.

73
John