TH-D72A/E - N3UJJ

PROLOGUEAmateurs Building the New Global Communications NetworkHams have enjoyed using FM transceivers for years for SSTV, ATV, packet, satellite, EME, GPS andother communications modes. A fundamental reason for this has been that FM transceivers are easyto use. Recently, personal computers and the Internet have combined to offer globalcommunications opportunities. Yet, with their long history of communicating using various methods,nobody is better prepared than hams to embrace and take advantage of these new communicationstechniques to create an even more interesting new global network.No longer are users of FM transceivers bound by line-of-sight distances and local same-citycoverage. The Internet now shrinks the vast distances to other operators who were once out ofreach by using only an FM transceiver. Every ham now meets, experiments and interacts worldwidevia voice and data communications using low-power FM transceivers.These networks built by individual hams connecting through gateways into the Internet are allowingothers to share the experience that this infrastructure offers. Furthermore, the networks are growingin size day-by-day. Hams are using basic FM transceivers to communicate on a direct one-on-onebasis with operators across the globe. Besides hobby applications, such a communications networkalso has tremendous capability to deliver a powerful tool to serve the general public in times ofemergencies.Kenwood’s Approaches for development of APRSThe TH-D72A/E, the successor of TH-D7A/E, incorporates APRS (Automatic Packet ReportingSystem) functions. Kenwood has a long history in developing APRS: we have combined radio andGPS technology and developed APRS products over the years.At our first meeting with the father of APRS, Mr. Bob Bruninga, 15 years ago, our history of APRSdevelopment products began. In 1996, the TM-V7A/E became popular for use with APRS becausethe transceiver has been capable of the data communications using a separate band which is apartfrom voice communications. But the Internet, personal computers, GPS and electronic mappingtechnologies were all in their infancies compared to now and along with the change of theenvironment over the years, our transceivers have always been on the way to be evolved.TH-D7A/E and TM-D700A/E, marketed as APRS transceivers, had a great deal to do with APRS’sexpansion all over the world. In addition to APRS, with TM-D710A/E launched in 2007, it is possibleto use EchoLink over VoIP and this means you can plot stations from the other side of the planet on amap while sending mail and communicating with them by voice.Kenwood continues to be committed to exploring the possibilities of APRS to add more usefulfeatures.TH-D72A/E CONTENTS IFrom The N3UJJ.COM Document Library