Kenwood V71A Basic Operation
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- I go over how to setup the Kenwood v71a dual band amateur radio and get on the air. I explain how to program frequency, how to access a repeater, how to save the repeater parameters as a channel in memory, and how to name your custom memory channel.
Nice job with your video, helped me a lot, just purchased the Kenwood V71A from Ham Radio Outlet, they still have them in stock. Really like the radio.
Enjoy the rig! Very solid well built
Thanks for your overview here. This radio is the top choice for my first non- Baofeng and from what I can tell in this and your unboxing video, it's the quality I'm looking for!
Glad I can help. I will do a follow up review since I've had some time to play with it. It's a solid radio.
@@fotomotoxxiii Sitting here programming mine right now, just got it yesterday!
@@paulwwalters oh right on man. How do you like it?
Mr.G Disabled2Able it seems well built. The controls were definitely not intuitive but I figured them out. Radio manufacturers seem to employ the same UI designers as microwave oven and car radio manufacturers. I'm sure this complaint would apply to other brands of Ham rig as well. Sound quality is great both through internal and MFJ external speaker. I configured the PF Key on the remote the way you have it and it's more useful. Now I'm figuring out the scanning functionality. I'm close to an airport so I want to see if I can hear AM air band on this.
@@paulwwalters great enjoy! I'm also interested in AM bands to listed to public service and air band and such. I've yet to play with that.
...very helpful video...your instructions helped me go through the menu step by step and set this radio up after having it for 4 months! ...i really like it and am using it for a VHF/UHF base station with a Comet GP-3 about 33' up...thanks much and 73! de AJ4D
I'm glad I was able to help you mate 73s!
Thank you very much! This exact issue has been driving me crazy, and you explained it very well!
Got my tech ticket about 2 weeks ago and I just ordered this radio. Same one my ham mentor (Elmer) is installing in his vehicle. Thanks for the video! KK7AJO
Very cool! Enjoy the radio and the hobby mate, welcome!!
Great video man. I am looking at getting this same radio and wanted a little more info from someone who had it. I think I will get it now. Nice setup you have. Thanks!
No problem man glad I can help!
I have two of these, my base and my mobile love them both.
Is this a good radio for the SHTF scenario? I am asking about the freqs specifically....
@@scottbig123 this just a regular duel band 2M/70cm radio. All I have done is operate in phone (voice) I looked up those frequencies and since they are in the Amateur Band, it will work like any other radio. Not sure what you are really asking. KCØKM
@@KKEM641 I am really new to this world. I bought a Yeasu handheld years ago. It was really complex. I need a simpler radio. I was interested in getting a band which handles the emergency traffic, the two meter is the one! Thanks KKEM641!!!!
@@scottbig123 this is a duel band, but it still is easy too use. If you just want 2M I would go with a mono band. KCØKM
Thanks, good info. I got this radio in my truck.
What antenna do you use
Beautiful set up...love the power supply...
I got an HF rig and antenna tuner on that bench now! Gotta make a video soon. Thanks for kind words man.
@@fotomotoxxiii yes please make one...
Great video, thanks. About to pick one up and I’ll use this video again for sure. Curious - does this radio have a Roger beep?
I'm not sure about Roger beep to be honest. I don't use it.
GP-1 is a good little antenna. I have the GP-3 and my brother has a GP-6. Couldn’t say enough good things about them.
Absolutely I also have gp3 at my house reaches quite well. Since I'm in a valley it works better than gp6.
What's the best antenna to use with that radio for use in a pickup truck. Thanks
I'd get comet or diamond dual band antenna like the diamond nr770nmo. You can look at magnet mount or nmo mount.
Thanks man
Great video, thanks. The tone I need is 188.8. That isn't a choice. How do I set the tone for 188.8? TIA.
Hi, Enjoyed the video and new subscriber. I'm a virgin to anything "ham". I am going to take my Technician test in a week. I found your channel by searching Kenwood TM v71a. I am pretty sure I'll be ordering one as soon as I get my license (a long with a myriad of perriphial stuff).
I'd appreciate any advice...especially your thoughts on a antenna. I will be using this radio as a base. Currently I'm thinking of a Diamond x300a vertical...but it's just a hunch. I live in a semi rural area just north of New Orleans, so flat land with a lot of pine trees.
Sorry...I'm rambling but, I'm an old guy who as soooo many questions..
Thanks
BTW- In my younger days I had a Jeep CJ5 that spent most of the time in mud AND I'm a big enthusiast of pistols, my collection is mainly Glocks with 1911's, revolvers and a few oddballs😁
Hi there. I appreciate the sub! Feel free to post any questions you have and I'll do my best to help you out. I learned quite a bit since I setup this base station. X300 is excellent antenna especially for your location. High gain will let you get out far and height is important. Try to get the base of antenna at 20ft or higher. I love CJs. We built a few nice ones with v8 swaps. One day I'll make a video of all the jeeps we did swaps on. Stay tuned for more radio videos, I'll be posting more now that I got comments rolling in a bit. 73s!
Thanks for the video
My receive has been cut in half on this radio no matter which antenna I use any ideas
I'd call kenwood. No idea
Great video. I'm looking to get one of these Kenwoods.
where can I purchase that MFJ power supply? Thank you.
Thank you, the kenwood is a solid radio. MFJ power supply is ok but the fan can get annoying. I got mine at Ham radio outlet on sale.
@@fotomotoxxiii Thank you for the rapid reply. I appreciate that. Would you recommend another one if you had to get a different one? I'm a new ham and want too set up a base station. Thank you.
@@charliereyes1205 hey no problem. I'd recommend one without a fan that's for sure but they're more money and will weight a lot more as well. So if space is limited just get this one. Otherwise look for one without fan. I don't know what model though.
@@fotomotoxxiii Sounds good. I'll probably look into this one. Thanks again for your feedback. Will be subscribing to your channel. Thank you sir.
@@charliereyes1205 no problem thanks for the sub.
I tried to program my Mic key for Enter like you did, but mine defaults to a channel entry. But when I push the VFO button then the Mic4 button it clears to be able to enter a freq. Brand new radio so maybe they changed something?
Yea possibly that's strange
@@fotomotoxxiii I just got 2 of these today, one for my Jeep and one for my shop. They seem like a good unit. Your video was one of many that influenced my purchase. So thank you for your efforts. Now I just have to learn it. ;) KN6NLZ. 73's
@@indianxbullet that's awesome man I'm glad I could help. My radio still going strong. I'm going to make a 2 year review vid soon. Have fun with yours 73s
What brand is your power supply I’d appreciate that information because I was intending on getting the same radio and if your power supply works as good as you say I think it would come in handy for me. Thank you
MFJ and it still works great!
thanks for sharing this video 73 from kb2uew
I want to install this radio in my car and wire it directly to the car's battery with inline fuses. I'm confused about the battery voltage required to run this radio. It seems that everyone running radios off a power supply will select exactly 13.8 volts, but car batteries can deliver anywhere from 12 volts to 14 depending if its charging or not. Can radios operate fine over a range of voltages?
Yes absolutely they can operate from 12v up to 15ish. Best thing to read owners manual to see min and max. Below certain voltage transistors will saturate and not operate and above certain voltage you'll cook stuff unless there is protection circuits built in. I set them at 13.8 on power supply at home. And in car if it's not running you definitely dont want to transmit as you will sink your battery rather quick. On receive you're ok for a while. Voltage gauge works good for this in cars.
@@fotomotoxxiii I was hoping that was the case, good info. Thanks for responding!
@@enceladus2263 anytime man thank you for watching and commenting. It helps get these vids out for being such a small channel.
i WENT Through the setup menu, when I got to menu 200, So it locks me out, when I power on. page 74 of owners manual says I need to get a Mcp-2A download to program in the password. Whsre can I find a MCP-2A dcwnload?
Noticed you’re in the SD area, wondering where you got the spreadsheet with all the repeaters?
From my neighbor, he printed them out for me. I can share with you if you like.
That would be awesome, thanks!!!
@@Collabs_x email me at disabled2able@gmail and I'll forward it to you. I'll have to scan them first but shouldn't be too hard
Which brand has most intuitive UI and easier programing between Kenwood, Yaesu and Icom?
I think Kenwood and Icom I think are the easiest to program. Yaesu tends to be heavily menu driven.
I apologize, I need 118.8, mis read what I needed. Any way, great video, thanks!
How big of a power supply would you recommend for this mobile transceiver?
15a plenty
I had it work off 7.5amp even no problem
Mr.G Disabled2Able really I was thinking like a 30 amp! But that would be over kill.. I wonder if that 15 amp would work for all standard dual band 50 watt radios?
@@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4 really easy to calculate. Use ohms law and 50w at 13.8v will draw p/v = 3.62amps now account in inefficiency of 100% (never going to be that bad) so a 7.5 amp supply is good to go. 30 is overkill but it's not a bad thing.
Mr.G Disabled2Able yeah your right but a 15-25 work just as affective for a 50 watt mobile
Which do you like better, the V71a or Yaesu FTM-7250d?
V71a for base station and 7250 for offroad vehicle. 7250 is a tank and stands up to elements well. V71 looks nicer on my bench!
@@fotomotoxxiii That settles it! I have to have both! LOL V71a is just class I will admit. Thanks for the reply! Great videos.
@@twohandsandaradio you're welcome mate, glad I can help! You will most definitely enjoy both radios.
Can you talk on either vhf or uhf without any problems. Can you talk on vhf without any interference on the uhf side
Yes
Anyone know what simplex is?
Direct Radio to radio communications without the use of repeaters
@@fotomotoxxiii Ok Thank you!
I have this radio in my truck and have owned it for aprox 5 years now. It has broken down twice. The first issue was the fuse about the size of a grain of salt which is common to blow. Now the speaker won't work about a year later. keep this radio in bubble wrap surrounded by pillows. Anybody have a fix for the speaker?
Sorry for the issues you had. But for twice the price of a similar Yaesu or ICOM I guess that is what one gets. I fail to understand why Kenwood still sells radios.
At 7:00 does anyone else hear the Yaesu radio in the background??
MFJ Mighty Fine Junk
Like RCA real crappy appliance. It works and puts out stable voltage that's all that matters.
For a $12 speaker it's not bad! Better than many more expensive ($30-$50) Bluetooth speakers designed for music.
Too much work to use. HF better. Nice radio tho. Glad you like it but not for me buddy. But then I’m not a honey baked HAM lol 😂
This is nothing compared to work you put in to HF. Yes you need to put some time in the beginning programming all the repeaters and such. Kenwood offers free software to help make that process easier.
Mr.G Disabled2Able glad someone gets it lmfao
What? Lol