[Mobile-Portable] Which radio for mobile?

[Phil Atchley]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of trying to decide which of the following radios is the 
"best" choice to go into my "Cowboy Cadillac" (Pickup).  Here are some of my 
anticipated "needs" or operating habits.

1.  Crossband repeat (it's only a "maybe" that I'll need this feature).
2.  Remotable head is desirable.
3.  Wideband receive would be "nice" but not at a sacrifice of performance.
4.  I DON'T anticipate any need for APRS or other digi modes on THIS radio.
5.  Mobile environment will be rather 'gentle', no mudbogging or hill 
climbing.  Mostly highway and in town driving (smooth riding truck).
6.  IMD performance in the vicinity of pagers, urban use etc IS a 
consideration.
7.  I'm leaning towards either the Yaesu FT-8800R or ESPECIALLY the Yaesu 
FT-8900R Quad Bander (looking towards the future when the "spots" start to 
return :)

The list of radios.  Please tell me of ANY KNOWN PROBLEM areas OR GOOD 
points of any of the following.  Radios out of my price consideration are 
not listed here.

List of mobile 2M/440 Dual Band radios under consideration.

"S" Indicates remotable front panel. * Indicates Units with Crossband 
Repeat.

1. *    Alinco DR-605TQ:

2. *-S  Alinco DR-635T:

3.   S  Alinco DR-620T:

4.   S  Icom IC-2720H:

5.   S  Icom IC-208H:

6.   S  Kenwood TM-V708A:

7. *-S  Kenwood TM-G707A:

8. *-S  Kenwood TM-D700A: (Seems to have more bells and whistles than I 
need).

9.   S  Yaesu FT-7800R:

10.*-S  Yaesu FT-8800R:

11.*-S  Yaesu FT-8900R:  Quad bander for 10M, 6M 2M 440.


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73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!

THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:  http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
QSL GALLERY: http://photobucket.com/albums/y123/KO6BB/
Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh

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