I just purchased a new TM-D710G for the shack. I don't drive, so some of the mobile stuff is not important to me.
The three things I like about the radio (in no particular order) are:
1. Two separate tuners so I can listen on two different frequencies or scan on one side and chat on the other.
2. Echolink "ready". This just means that they have a special setting that allows you to store Echolink DTMF memory settings.
3. Built-in TNC for doing packet radio stuff.
So I set it up this weekend and run into a couple problems. Try to read the docs is just effing useless. Their website offers ZERO help or FAQs for anything like that. I ended up solving one of the problems myself after banging my head into a brick wall for a few hours and googling stuff.
The issue i am having that I cannot seem to figure out is with its Echolink support.
You have to buy a special cable (8-pin din to 3.5mm split cable (mic and headphone). This cable plugs into the "data" port on the radio. It also has outputs for external speakers, but no separate MIC input...so the cable is the best option, obviously. Anyway, I plug this thing into an admittedly ancient Dell desktop with built-in audio. This is already putting me at a disadvantage because integrated ANYTHING sucks. And audio is no different. You pick up a ton of noise from the computer and it just doesn't give you great audio quality. But, I digress. When I use the external speaker into the PC, the levels are great. Nice and loud and no distortion. However, when I put the radio into "Echolink" mode by giving the radio the Vulcan Nerve Pinch at power up, the audio level is pretty much cut in half...if not more. Scanning the menus, I don't see ANY level adjustment for the levels. Because of this, I have to bump up the mic gain and raise the recording level on the already shitty sound card. So, at the end of the day, the quality just sucks. I googled the shit out of this problem and just couldn't find anything helpful.
I hang my head in shame, admit defeat, and call Kenwood support. I get onto the call with the "support" guy and try and explain my issue, but as SOON as he hears "Echolink", he says, I'll send you this email and that's all we can do. never even bothered to try to get more info about the issue. I work in tech support and have for almost 20 years. I'd NEVER give this level of support to anyone.
Sadly, the radio is nice, but I can't deal with a company that just has shitty tech support for those times you have problems that you can't solve on your own.
I've ordered a USB Sound Blaster dongle and will hook that up to see if it helps on the audio quality, but I'm not holding my breath. Ultimately, I may have to scrap the PC as it is getting pretty long in the tooth just isn't meeting my needs anymore. <sigh>
For the record, I have called Icom's support and they were amazingly helpful and I didn't feel like they just wanted to get me off the phone. Haven't dealt with Yaesu, so I can't speak to their levels of support, but a fellow ham has and said they were great.
I give myself a * * / * * * * * on the rant. I really didn't get to swear at anyone or do a mag dump on a piece of gear...so...
The three things I like about the radio (in no particular order) are:
1. Two separate tuners so I can listen on two different frequencies or scan on one side and chat on the other.
2. Echolink "ready". This just means that they have a special setting that allows you to store Echolink DTMF memory settings.
3. Built-in TNC for doing packet radio stuff.
So I set it up this weekend and run into a couple problems. Try to read the docs is just effing useless. Their website offers ZERO help or FAQs for anything like that. I ended up solving one of the problems myself after banging my head into a brick wall for a few hours and googling stuff.
The issue i am having that I cannot seem to figure out is with its Echolink support.
You have to buy a special cable (8-pin din to 3.5mm split cable (mic and headphone). This cable plugs into the "data" port on the radio. It also has outputs for external speakers, but no separate MIC input...so the cable is the best option, obviously. Anyway, I plug this thing into an admittedly ancient Dell desktop with built-in audio. This is already putting me at a disadvantage because integrated ANYTHING sucks. And audio is no different. You pick up a ton of noise from the computer and it just doesn't give you great audio quality. But, I digress. When I use the external speaker into the PC, the levels are great. Nice and loud and no distortion. However, when I put the radio into "Echolink" mode by giving the radio the Vulcan Nerve Pinch at power up, the audio level is pretty much cut in half...if not more. Scanning the menus, I don't see ANY level adjustment for the levels. Because of this, I have to bump up the mic gain and raise the recording level on the already shitty sound card. So, at the end of the day, the quality just sucks. I googled the shit out of this problem and just couldn't find anything helpful.
I hang my head in shame, admit defeat, and call Kenwood support. I get onto the call with the "support" guy and try and explain my issue, but as SOON as he hears "Echolink", he says, I'll send you this email and that's all we can do. never even bothered to try to get more info about the issue. I work in tech support and have for almost 20 years. I'd NEVER give this level of support to anyone.
Sadly, the radio is nice, but I can't deal with a company that just has shitty tech support for those times you have problems that you can't solve on your own.
I've ordered a USB Sound Blaster dongle and will hook that up to see if it helps on the audio quality, but I'm not holding my breath. Ultimately, I may have to scrap the PC as it is getting pretty long in the tooth just isn't meeting my needs anymore. <sigh>
For the record, I have called Icom's support and they were amazingly helpful and I didn't feel like they just wanted to get me off the phone. Haven't dealt with Yaesu, so I can't speak to their levels of support, but a fellow ham has and said they were great.
I give myself a * * / * * * * * on the rant. I really didn't get to swear at anyone or do a mag dump on a piece of gear...so...
![[rofl2]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/035.gif "ROFL2 [rofl2]")
That did the trick. Thanks, man! You should go to work for Kenwood!!!
