Kenwood TH-D72A/E User Manual page 7

PROLOGUE
Amateurs Building the New Global Communications Network
Hams have enjoyed using FM transceivers for years for SSTV, ATV, packet, satellite, EME, GPS and
other communications modes. A fundamental reason for this has been that FM transceivers are easy
to use. Recently, personal computers and the Internet have combined to offer global
communications 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 communications
techniques 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-city
coverage. The Internet now shrinks the vast distances to other operators who were once out of
reach by using only an FM transceiver. Every ham now meets, experiments and interacts worldwide
via voice and data communications using low-power FM transceivers.
These networks built by individual hams connecting through gateways into the Internet are allowing
others to share the experience that this infrastructure offers. Furthermore, the networks are growing
in size day-by-day. Hams are using basic FM transceivers to communicate on a direct one-on-one
basis with operators across the globe. Besides hobby applications, such a communications network
also has tremendous capability to deliver a powerful tool to serve the general public in times of
emergencies.
Kenwood's Approaches for development of APRS
The TH-D72A/E, the successor of TH-D7A/E, incorporates APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting
System) functions. Kenwood has a long history in developing APRS: we have combined radio and
GPS 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 APRS
development products began. In 1996, the TM-V7A/E became popular for use with APRS because
the transceiver has been capable of the data communications using a separate band which is apart
from voice communications. But the Internet, personal computers, GPS and electronic mapping
technologies were all in their infancies compared to now and along with the change of the
environment 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's
expansion all over the world. In addition to APRS, with TM-D710A/E launched in 2007, it is possible
to use EchoLink over VoIP and this means you can plot stations from the other side of the planet on a
map while sending mail and communicating with them by voice.
Kenwood continues to be committed to exploring the possibilities of APRS to add more useful
features.
TH-D72A/E I
CONTENTS