What to buy, the Icom V8000 or Kenwood TM-281A?

[emorth]

Planning to buy a 2M rig for the 40. Can't decide if I should get the Icom V8000 or Kenwood TM-281A. Looking for input, thoughts, comments, experiences, etc. The 65 versus 75 Watt TX power difference is not a concern.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[ntsqd]

Former Kenwood 261 owner/user; current V-8k owner/user. No desire to go back to a Kenwood. The Icom is SO much easier to program and to clone. Set my personal simplex distance record with the 261, still no desire to own another Kenwood. The V-8k has been significantly more reliable. I know that I'm not comparing to the later unit that you're looking at and that all of my issues with the 261 may have been solved, but I'm not willing to risk it.

 

[1911]

As another option in that same price range, the Yaesu FT-2900R is an excellent and bulletproof 2M trail radio.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/2900.html

 

[jonheld]

I have the Kenwood 271A for about 2 years now. The 281A is a slightly different front with a few changes. Works well with no complaints. I prefer the Kenwood mic over the Yaesu mic, but that is subjective.

 

[ntsqd]

Post above reminds me, I order the radios (have three of the V-8k's) with the simple mic, not the "too many buttons" mic.

 

[emorth]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

ntsqd, if you have 3 V8Ks, you must like them.

Still suffering through the indecision.
Ed

 

[jonheld]

The base radios from the top 3 are all within a few dollars of each other. It really makes no difference which one you get as the feature set is almost identical. Once you get into dual bands and start adding features, the price almost triples.

As with any RF setup, the real performance factor is the antenna and its placement and tuning.

 

[Kofoed]

I have the V8000. I went into Ham Radio Outlet (walking distance to my former residence) and checked them out in person.

I decided on the V8000 because it has a front-firing speaker (a must for my mounting location) and the speaker was LOUD.

 

[jonheld]

Both of the units in question have a front firing speaker.

 

[Kofoed]

I was actually testing the diif between the 8000 and a Yaesu. The 8000 was the loudest of everything available for demo.

 

[1911]

When I'm going down the highway in my 40, I wish the Yaesu was louder. At all other times (including on the trail) it's way more than loud enough. It's for sure louder than the Kenwood TM-D710A that I use more often now.

 

[emorth]

Thanks for the input everyone. Icom V8000 it is!

Ed