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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE KENWOOD F6A |
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| Q I'm a
long-time scanner monitor in addition to being a ham. I was wondering
how well the F6A serves as a general scanner in addition to its HT
functionality? I like to monitor a wide range of frequencies,
particularly 800Mhz emergency channels, VHF low, etc. Will I be able to
carry just one radio with me, or will I still need my scanner? Thanks, KD7OFV khgrant@ix.netcom.com |
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A
As a general purpose scanner it
can't be beat! You can PL or DPL your frequencies, store them in 8
banks of 50, listen to one bank or link them together, lock out
what you presently don't want, prioritize 2 of the frequencies, and scan
on both A and B band at the same time. It's a real hoot! Promise you
won't be disappointed. It's definitely worth checking out. Find someone
who owns one which is already programmed and have them put it through
it's paces. The only drawback to this radio is that it will not do
trunking. But, if your lucky, the services in your area that are
trunked might be running a permanent simulcast where everything is
repeated on a single frequency. I know the Hartford and West Hartford
Ct. fire depts are trunked and both can be heard on a VHF high band
frequency which eliminates the need to use a trunk tracker. However,
the PD in these two cities are not avail on another single freq.
I have owned just about every scanner
there ever was over the years and know just what is poor, good and
great in a radio. This radio is great!. I go to every military air
show I can and this little package does it all for me. You won't be disappointed.
Bill n1chu@attbi.com
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QUESTION: Hopefully somebody out there can "crack" the alleged
proprietary programming protocol on the F6A (and the D7A(g), etc.) and can develop a program where a user could program their HT using their
PalmOS-connected PDA. I, for one, would be one who would be interested in such a program. It is my understanding that the F6A's output is TTL, and the Handspring Visor Prism that I use also is TTL. This should be a fairly easily made cable. Gregg/KB9DBC kb9dbc@yahoo.com |
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| A There is a gentleman who runs the website at
http://www.wa3hrl.com. He has developed a program used to program the TH-D7, the TH-D700, and the TM-G707. I have corresponded with him and he advises me of plans of developing a version of his program that will work with the F6A. I would imagine that he may have some information that would be of some assistance. Gregg/KB9DBC |
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| A digitalck@yahoo.com wrote: I found a file for the th-g71 and several for the d7/700. I was going to work under the assumption that some of the commands would be similar. I have not been able to get back to that project. I did install a serial port monitor that logs both sides of the conversation.In the file for the g71 it mentions the ID command, which the radio responds with its model number. This is the same, so I still think that the radios have other commands in common. | ||||||||||||
| A bruceappelbaum" wrote: I had a string of e-mail messages back and forth to Kenwood customer service yesterday trying to get documentation for the protocol used to communicate from PC to TH-F6A using the Kenwood cable. After a string of packaged answers that didn't address my question, I finally asked that they forward my question to the software programmers. At that point they came back and told me that the protocol was proprietary. Anybody have any luck figuring out what you have to send to the F6A through the serial port and what the response is? And how to download data into the F6A? I'm talking about NOT using the Kenwood software -- I'm try to figure out how to program my own software or communicate with a simple terminal emulator. | ||||||||||||
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| QUESTION: Does
anybody have any comments on the performance of the Comet HT-224 antenna? Is it worth the $40 or so dollars especially on 220? Thanks,Fred...K8FR |
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| ANSWER: N6LRV@ARRL.NET I found the Comet HT-224 worked no better on any of the three bands than the stock antenna so, I returned it. | ||||||||||||
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| Q I have talked my wife into buying my first radio after getting my tech ticket. I have read alot about the VX-5R and the TH-F6A, but was wondering, in layman's terms, what are the advantages of spending the extra on the Kenwood. Anyone care to clarify for a newbie? sparrow@netpath.net | ||||||||||||
| ANSWER: Not
to mention the FAR SUPERIOR receiver of the Kenwood over the Yaesu !! The VX5R is deaf compared to my Kenwood; and I have both. Dr. Mark WB2EQE 30 years licensed Extra |
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| ANSWER: I
originally had a VX5. I replaced it with a TH-F6A for the following
reasons. 1. 6Meters isn't really a good HT band. There are few repeaters, 220 is better for HTs. 2. The ability to listen to two different freqs on the same or different bands is very useful. 3. The menu structure and programming on the TH-F6A was more intuitive, easier to understand. 4. The 'mechanics' of the TH-F6 are better. The VX5 has a very poor belt clip which doesn't hold very well. I like the PTT 'action' a lot better on the TH-F6A. 5. The TH-F6A will receive HF SSB/CW. It's not overly sensitive on the internal antenna, but that's to be expected. On a wire it hears ok and on a 'tuned' HF antenna it hears reasonably well. Overall, I'm a lot happier with the THF-6A than I was with the VX5. 73 John - K9IJ |
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| ANSWER: I
guess the two TH F6,s I had were the exception I have returned both as the sensitivity on the B front end was unacceptable, HF was completely unusable and having to wait 7 hours for the battery to recharge was unacceptable. On the other hand if one just uses the Tri Band capabilities of the A Rx its a great radio. Frank W9LVC |
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| ANSWER: One
reason I bought it was because of the the ability to receive CW. Unfortunately,
the RX is pretty deaf in the HF range and if you hook a significant HF
antenna up to it gets severely overloaded, even with the 20 dB
attenuator switched in. For HF RX it seems to work best with a 10
or 15' length of wire as the antenna. Wide FM, like broadcast and TV sound lots better on the F6A than the VX-5. I like the dual RX, 220MHz band, long battery life, free programming software... Lou |
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| ANSWER: The RX busy lights on top of the F6A are fine indoors but can't be seen at all in sunlight so you can't tell which RX is active. It would have been nice if the included a busy indication on the LCD display too. Lou W7DZN | ||||||||||||
| ANSWER:
I have had a vx5r radio and now own a
Kenwood F6a that I picked up at a local hamfest last week.
Unless you have a lot of 6 meter repeaters in your area, I would
recommend the Kenwood. I never heard a squeak from 6 meters
while I owned the vx5. Don't get me wrong, it is a fine radio.
But, do you work 220 or have any repeaters in your area?
If you get the kenwood the softcase is a must-its very nicely done!
The f6a has short wave capeability and although its not a true short
wave receiver, you can have fun with it. There is a learning
curve with respect to programming the rig, but that's true with all of
the later shack on a belt talkies lately. I can't remember the
price difference-seems like it was 30.00 and it was money well spent.
Better yet, instead of a talky, get your general and get an HF
rig-there are many out there for less than 300.00.
Good luck and 73s, Marty
AA5UN
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| ANSWER: The main differences is that the VX-5R has the 50/144/430 bands and that the TH-F6 has the 144/220/430 MHz bands and SSB reception. 73 de OX/LC2AAT Martin | ||||||||||||
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| ANSWER:
THE
KENWOOD THF6A IS A GOOD CHOICE. SINCE YOU DO SEARCH AND RESCUE YOU MIGHT
WANT TO CONSIDER THE KENWOOD THD7 WITH ITS DATA RADIO CAPABILITIES.
Kenwood
goes beyond the limits of what today's Amateurs expect from a radio. The
TH-D7AG is equipped with a built-in AX.25 TNC for simple packet
operation or to be used with a handheld GPS (NMEA-0813 compatible) as a
full function APRS(TM) Automatic Packet/Position Reporting System. The
TH-D7AG is capable of reporting exact position, speed and heading as
well as calculation of distance to destination. The TH-D7AG can also be used for APRS(TM) messaging to send up to 45 character messages through APRS(TM) or APRS(TM) Internet gateways without the use of a PC. Additional features such as advanced functions and capabilities with the VC-H1 Visual Communicator and HF SkyCommand operation with the Kenwood TS-570 D/S or TS-870S series radios are possible. The new unique jog/cursor key makes navigation through the TH-D7AG features a breeze. The TH-D7AG now makes DATA communications simple and easy. NØUQZ, JIM BAUDO 12/23/2005 |
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