Kenwood TH-D74A/E Operating Tips
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Kenwood Manuals
  4. Transceiver
  5. TH-D74A/E
  6. Operating tips

Kenwood TH-D74A/E Operating Tips

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

1

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for Kenwood TH-D74A/E

Summary of Contents for Kenwood TH-D74A/E

  • Page 2: Copyrights For This Manual

    Furthermore, any reselling, assigning or transferring of the software is also strictly prohibited without embedding the software in KENWOOD product memories. Copyrights for recorded Audio The software embedded in this transceiver consists of a multiple number of and individual software components.

  • Page 3: Trademarks

    Trademarks KENWOOD is a registered trademark of JVCKENWOOD Corporation. ® ® Windows and the Windows logo are the registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. The microSD logo and microSDHC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C LLC.

  • Page 4: Treatment Of Your Important Data

    defects and indemnities for any damages or losses. Selection and installation of any external equipment shall be done at your own risk. You are fully responsible for the use and effects of external equipment. JVCKENWOOD Corporation shall be free from any responsibilities for any incidental losses or damages, such as missing communications or call opportunities caused by a failure or performance error of the transceiver.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    THER NFORMATION ESOURCES 2.16 C KENWOOD APRS ................19 ONTRIBUTION BY 2.17 L TH-D74A/E ........21 IST OF ICONS THAT CAN BE SET DISPLAYED ON THE APRS ........................... 22 3.1 APRS F TH-D74A/E ..................22 EATURE ON THE 3.2 W KISS ? .....................
  • Page 6 ..........................51 6.9 M ......................53 EMORY HANNELS 6.10 B ........................55 LUETOOTH 6.11 USB U ........................56 SAGE 6.12 SD C ..................... 57 MICRO SAGE APPENDIX ........................... 62 7.1 E ........................62 XTERIOR VIEWS 7.2 TH-D74A/E S ....................63 PECIFICATIONS...

  • Page 7: Getting Started

    1.1 For publication of this document This manual has been developed with the user of the TH-D74A/E in mind. Its intent is to enable the user to enjoy the features of their radio in both APRS and D-STAR. In addition to the information shared on the TH-D74A/E, descriptions are provided on the MCP-D74 software.

  • Page 8: Enjoying Aprs (By Bob Bruninga, Wb4Apr)

    2 ENJOYING APRS (by BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR) 2.1 APRS Overview The TH-D74A/E APRS / D-STAR handheld transceiver is the latest in the long series of KENWOOD APRS radios and it brings the whole new dimension of digital voice (D-STAR) that not only allows the internal global data and messaging by callsign (APRS) but now global Voice by callsign through D-STAR networks.

  • Page 9: Packet Network Growth

    2 ENJOYING APRS (by BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR) communications support for the Old Dominion 100 mile endurance run. For this event in the mid1980s, the first vestige of APRS used Vic-20s and packet radio to share information on the hundreds of runners and horses across the hundreds or so square miles over the 24-hour event.

  • Page 10: Aprs In 1990S

    2 ENJOYING APRS (by BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR) 2.4 APRS in 1990s I formally presented APRS at the TAPR/ARRL Digital Conference in 1992. APRS really took off as the cost of GPS got below $500 each and I manually digitized maps of the entire U.S.A.

  • Page 11: Aprs Handheld And Mobile Radios

    To counteract this trend, we stopped using “Position” for the "P" in APRS and went back to the original “Packet” nomenclature for the "P" in APRS. Then in 1998, KENWOOD gave a landmark boost to APRS in the field and to this two-way digital communications capability by introducing the fully integrated TH-D7A/E.

  • Page 12: Texting

    Ham radio had had a wireless texting/email handheld device for nearly a decade since 1998 in the form of the handheld KENWOOD APRS TH-D7 A/E and yet even the amateur radio leadership was not aware of these capabilities and had never tried it.

  • Page 13: Facebook On Aprs

    SSTV images simply via the camera in the phone and an SSTV application software that can then convert the image to tones and transmit it over any of the KENWOOD handheld or mobile radios. Similarly, any such phone with the SSTV application can use the phone to decode the audio and display the SSTV image.

  • Page 14: Frequency Data Field And Auto-Tune (Or Qsy)

    APRS packet and could call others on their indicated frequency. KENWOOD was the first to leverage the value of this capability by introducing it in all of their APRS radios since 2007 (the TM-D710A/E, TH-D72A/E TM-D710GA/E and TH-D74A/E).

  • Page 15: Voice Repeaters And Club Info

    APRS as the locally recommended voice operating channels. The TH-D74A/E on the right has two ham calls, two tactical calls and one repeater object. It is easy to find these nearby frequencies in the huge station list by first doing a SORT.

  • Page 16: Hamfest Talk-In And Objects

    Hamfest the world over!. The talk-in frequency is also listed for instant QSY with the TH-D74A/E “Tune” function. I was on a cross-country trip one day on a weekend and just happened to see one of these objects and was able to detour and spend an hour or two at this favorite ham radio pastime.

  • Page 17: Voice Over Internet Protocol (Vo-Ip) And D-Star

    Think of it as a cellular system for ham radio where you dial by callsign instead of phone number. Both TM-D710GA/E and TH-D74A/E were designed to be evolved with this capability.

  • Page 18: Digipeater Path Information

    2 ENJOYING APRS (by BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR) 2.14 Digipeater Path Information Another new information feature included in the TH-D74A/E is the digipeater path display shown here so the recipient can understand the local network and how a given packet was routed through the APRS digipeater network.

  • Page 19: Contribution By Kenwood To Aprs

    Not only does the TH-D74A/E also include filters for easy sorting of these objects in the list, this radio is the first one to have the ADD OBJECT function so that users in the field can use only their handheld to place important objects on the map.
  • Page 20 Voice Operating Frequencies A very important feature of the new TH-D74A/E is the recognition of the value of the voice operator frequency as a fundamental communications parameter. Not only does the radio automatically include its own voice band frequency in every transmitted position packet, it also has special displays and features that make this information readily available.

  • Page 21: List Of Icons That Can Be Set / Displayed On The Th-D74A/E

    2 ENJOYING APRS (by BOB BRUNINGA, WB4APR) 2.17 List of icons that can be set / displayed on the TH-D74A/E (The icon designs below are supervised by Mr. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR) Person Fire Truck Red Cross EchoLink Bicycle Canoe Lighthouse...

  • Page 22: Aprs

    TH-D74A/E. The direction in which my station is advancing is displayed at the center of a big compass, while the direction in which the target station is located as well as its advancing direction is shown on the circumference for easy identification.
  • Page 23 3.1.4 Disclosing D-STAR Standby Information with the QSY Feature (New Feature) The TH-D74A/E also allows disclosure of the D-STAR standby information using the QSY feature. Operating the “Tune” function of the station that has received the D-STAR standby information enables the information of the station to be adjusted automatically according to the D-STAR configuration information of the transmitting station.

  • Page 24: What Is Akiss Modem

    For models up to the TH-D72A/E, the beacon of my station that is digipeated is not registered in the APRS station list. However, it is now registered on the TH-D74A/E. This allows a station to check the APRS information that is being transmitted from an objective viewpoint.
  • Page 25 TXDELAY For configuring the time 0 to 120 (78 h) Varies with the interval from the point when TH-D74A/E PTT is turned on until when Menu No. 508 data transmission starts.Units (TX Delay) of 10 ms configuration.

  • Page 26: Kiss Mode

    1. Press [F] [LIST] in sequence to set the KISS mode to OFF. Check to ensure that "KISS12” or “KISS96” is not displayed. The "KISS12" or "KISS96" icon is illuminated when the TH-D74A/E is in the KISS mode. 2. Meanwhile, on the UI-View32, open the Comms Setup window from the Setup pull-down menu.
  • Page 27 3 APRS 6. Click the “OK” button in the Comms Setup window to close the Comms Setup window. A command is sent from UI-View32 to the built-in TNC of the TH-D74A/E, and the built-in TNC shifts to the KISS mode.

  • Page 28: Enjoying D-Star (By Don Arnold, W6Gps)

    My advice to the first time user of the TH-D74A/E is to learn a few features at a time. You can get overwhelmed with this featured enriched handheld transceiver. Please check out some of my TH-D74A/E instruction videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/w6gps.

  • Page 29: Enjoy With D-Star

    You will have to get yourself registered first on the D-STAR network server. Go to http://www.dstargateway.org/D-Star_Registration.html and register. The TH-D74A/E’s DR mode for D-STAR means Digital Repeater. It is a series of commands to tell the D-STAR network what to do from your radio.

  • Page 30: D-Star Reflector Operation

    We refer to the Raspberry Pi as a Pi with is a very small computer, to which the DVAP, a simple Access Point that the TH-D74A/E transmits to and controls. The Pi and DVAP are connected wirelessly to a mobile Hotspot that gets to the internet via cellular mobile phone...
  • Page 31 TH-D74A/E. For my new D-STAR KENWOOD’s TH-D74A/E users, take your time and get on the air. While you’re waiting for verification and registration on the D-STAR radio, get familiar with the many different features of the TH-D74A/E. If you’re an owner of the TH-D72A/E or TH-F6A/F7E this radio will be very familiar.

  • Page 32: About The Th-D74A/E

    4 ENJOYING D-STAR (by DON ARNOLD, W6GPS) 4.4 About the TH-D74A/E You have a very powerful 5-watt amateur radio device the KENWOOD TH-D74A/E. I view as 4 radios in one. An SSB/Broadcast receiver, digital D-STAR transceiver, FM analog transceiver, and powerful standalone APRS communicator.

  • Page 33: Star

    5 D-STAR 5 D-STAR 5.1 Basic Operation Note: For communication (gateway communication) via the Internet, it is necessary to register the Callsign with the "D-STAR Management Server" such as US Trust Server. (There are other systems as well, they have their own registration process.).
  • Page 34 1. Configure the frequency using the [▲/▼] or [ENC] control 2. Press [MODE] to switch to the DR mode. If the TH-D74A/E is in the DV mode, go to Step 4. 3. Switch to the DV mode in the Digital Function Menu 4.

  • Page 35: Communicating Using A Repeater

    5 D-STAR 5.3 Communicating Using a Repeater 5.3.1 Local Area Call Local Area Call (Local CQ) this is a method of communication that uses only one D-STAR repeater. It is similar to the conventional method of communication using FM repeaters. By configuring "TO"...
  • Page 36 5 D-STAR 5.3.2 Gateway Call By configuring "TO" to the repeater of the area to communicate with, followed by pressing PTT, it is possible to establish communication with the stations that are able to access the repeaters of the area. The access repeater configured in "FROM"...
  • Page 37 5 D-STAR 5.3.3.2 Automatic configuration (Direct Reply function) On the TH-D74A/E, when transmission by the calling station is complete and while the reception interrupt screen appears, the transmission configuration for the receiving station automatically changes to "Individual", and the receiving station can make a call back to the calling station simply by pressing [PTT].

  • Page 38: Configuration For Reflector Node

    (We do not provide support for node devices used for reflector connection.) 5.4.2 Reflector Menu on the TH-D74A/E By adding a simplex node device's frequency information in the repeater list, the Reflector Menu Select can be used as well as a D-STAR repeater.
  • Page 39 Callsign to the Callsign list in the MCP-D74 Memory Control Program or of the TH-D74A/E. Menu No. 220 On the Destination Select screen, select “Individual” and configure the registered command in "TO".
  • Page 40 5 D-STAR 5. Write back the data edited in the MCP-D74 to the transceiver. 6. By switching the memory channel instead of the Reflector Menu in the DR mode, it is possible to select the command to be sent to the reflector configured in "URCALL".

  • Page 41: How To Update The Repeater List

    5 D-STAR 5.5 How to Update the Repeater list The repeater list can be imported to your TH-D74A/E by using MCP-D74 or a microSD memory card. Please download the Repeater List file "D74_yyyymmdd_E.tsv" ("yyyymmdd" is the numerical release date) from the following KENWOOD website in advance.
  • Page 42 (E-type/Europe)" and click [OK]. 7. The D-STAR Repeater List which is mainly focused on North America or Europe will be imported to the MCP-D74. 8. Write data back to the TH-D74A/E from the MCP-D74. Then the TH-D74A/E's Repeater List will be updated.
  • Page 43 (USB function) and set the transceiver to Mass Menu No.980 Storage mode. 3. Connect the TH-D74A/E and the PC via a Micro-USB cable. 4. Copy the downloaded Repeater List file "D74_yyyymmdd_E.tsv" to the microSD card folder [KENWOOD]-[TH-D74]-[SETTINGS]-[RPT_LIST]. 5. Remove the TH-D74A/E from the PC.
  • Page 44 9. The Repeater List which is mainly focused on North America (when selected "Data for TH-D74A") or Europe (when selected "Data for TH-D74E") will be imported from the microSD card to the TH-D74A/E. 10 Press [A/B] [OK] to restart the TH-D74A/E. Then the TH-D74A/E's Repeater List will be updated.

  • Page 45: Settings & Controls

    6 Settings & Controls 6.1 Extending the Battery Life The TH-D74A/E is equipped with a wide variety of hardware devices. You can minimize battery power consumption by turning off features that are not used or adjust the setting to reduce power consumption.

  • Page 46: Silent Aprs And Packet Communications (Voice Alert)

    A. 6.2.1 Volume Balance The TH-D74A/E has only one volume control, but it is equipped with a function for adjusting the balance between the volume of band A and band B. （→ Menu No. 910）...

  • Page 47: Viewing Microsd Card On Pc

    6.4.1 Mass Storage feature With the TH-D74A/E, connecting it to a PC with a USB cable, the microSD card can be used as a removable disk. To make use of this feature, it is necessary to configure the USB function of the TH-D74A/E to "Mass Storage".

  • Page 48: Adjustment Of Tx Audio Quality

    -9 ～ ±0 ～ +3 -9 ～ ±0 ～ +3 6.7 Wide-band and Multi-mode Reception The TH-D74A/E is capable of receiving signals between the bandwidths of 0.1 MHz to 523.995 MHz. Although a wide bandwidth range has already been achieved on the predecessor model, TH-F6A/F7E, many enhancements have been made and new features are introduced on the TH-D74A/E.
  • Page 49 6 Settings & Controls 6.7.1 Receiving Frequency Range & Demodulation Mode The default frequency and demodulation mode of each of band A and band B on the TH-D74A/E are shown below. [TH-D74A] Operating Frequency Demodulation Frequency Range [MHz] Step [kHz]...
  • Page 50 6 Settings & Controls [TH-D74E] Operating Frequency Demodulation Frequency Range [MHz] Step [kHz] Band Band Mode ～ 174 Band A 144 MHz 12.5 ～ 470 430 MHz ～ 0.520 Band B LF/ MF 0.520 ～ 1.710 1.710 ～ 3.5 ～ 4.0 (FINE Mode ON) ～...

  • Page 51: Mode

    6.8.4 IF Signal Output, Detection Signal Output In addition to the received audio signals, the TH-D74A/E is also able to output IF signals or detection signals to the built-in speaker, external speaker jack or USB audio. When the IF signal is selected in the "Detect Out Select" menu, IF signals for the SSB or AM mode are converted into IF signals with a center frequency of 12 kHz and output.
  • Page 52 The step frequency of the “FINE mode” can be selected from 20 Hz/ 100 Hz/ 200 Hz/ 1000 Hz. The smallest step frequency, which was 33 Hz on the TH-F6A/F7E, has been narrowed down to 20 Hz on the TH-D74A/E to enable tuning for greater listening comfort. 6.8.6 FM Radio There are two (2) methods of FM radio reception.

  • Page 53: Memory Channels

    6.9.1 Using the Memory Groups The TH-D74A/E offers 30 memory groups from "GRP-0 to GRP-29". Each memory group can be assigned with a group name of not more than 16 characters. When a new memory is registered, a default memory group number will be registered to the memory channel as follows according to the channel number that users register the group numbers again according to the intended use.
  • Page 54 6 Settings & Controls 6.9.2 Group Link Scan Pressing and holding down the [MHz] key starts Group Link Scan. Group Link Scan is a feature for scanning only the memory groups registered in the group link via Menu No. 203. For example, to scan only the amateur radio bands 144 MHz and 430 MHz in the registered name examples given above, both "GRP-0"...

  • Page 55: Bluetooth

    HFP (Hands-Free Profile) is not supported. SPP(Serial Port Profile) By pairing the TH-D74A/E with a PC and assigning a virtual serial port, it is possible to carry out serial communication with the PC wirelessly. Doing so enables wireless operation of APRS software programs such as UI-View32 and MCP-D74.

  • Page 56: Usb Usage

    The user may select any one of the options. The abovementioned USB feature on the TH-D74A/E enables data loading and writing by the MCP-D74 at a much faster speed Than over Bluetooth.

  • Page 57: Microsd Card Usage

    MCP-D74 Memory Control Program by connecting the PC to the USB port. There is no need to remove the memory card from this transceiver. To connect the TH-D74A/E with a PC, it is necessary to install a virtual COM port driver on the PC in advance.
  • Page 58 6 Settings & Controls 6.12.2 GPS Receiver for Prolonged GPS Logging Disabling the radio communications feature of the TH-D74A/E allows it to be used for an extended period of time. To do so, configure the "Operating Mode" for GPS to "GPS Receiver".
  • Page 59 6 Settings & Controls Select the Position Memory number to After copying, check the Position copy the information to Memory list Press [MENU] key to display the list menu (and select “Copy to Pos. Memory”) Position Memory List (Details) Screen Example: Items that are moved when registering information from a station list to the Position Memory list.
  • Page 60 6 Settings & Controls Example: Items that are copied when registering information from My Position to the Position Memory list. My Position Position Memory List → Name Position Name × Icon (same as APRS) → Latitude Latitude → Longitude Longitude →...
  • Page 61 Select one of the options from "My Position 1" to "My Position 5" or "Object 1" to "Object 3", and press the [A/B] key to copy the information. Note: Copying positional information to APRS Object is available from the firmware Version 1.06 or later. The latest firmware can be downloaded from the following KENWOOD website. http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/software_download.html...

  • Page 62: Appendix

    7 Appendix 7 Appendix 7.1 Exterior views The pictures below are the TH-D74A, and TH-D74E. The TH-D74A is equipped with a Triband Antenna (144/ 220/ 430 MHz band).

  • Page 63: Th-D74A/E Specifications

    7 Appendix 7.2 TH-D74A/E Specifications...
  • Page 64 TH-D74A/E Operating Tips December 1, 2017 Copyright © 2017 JVCKENWOOD Corporation All Rights Reserved...

Table of Contents