Chris,

I'm quite happy with my Kenwood TM-G707A, which I've had for two
years.  The radio covers 2 meters and 450, as well as the aircraft band at
118 MHz, but does not cover 220.  The speech synthesizer reads frequency
and PL frequency, but none of the other functions.  The menus are a bit
frustrating, but you can access them if you count carefully.  There are 4
Power Menus which let you set up various combinations of settings so you
don't even have to get into the other menus once you set them up.  Also,
the radio will scan PLs and store them in the memories, although that
feature only works if the repeater transmits the PL tone.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have about the radio.

Steve

On Monday 11/22/04 14:08 Kristine Hickerson wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>Well, I'm considering the purchase of a new radio, and, since mine is about
>8 years old, I'd like some feedback on the latest and greatest models.
>I would like to have the following features in a mobile unit that I can use
>as a base station.
>
>1. Speech for all functions, if possible.
>
>2. One which will search and locate PL tones and put them in for you.
>
>3. One where I can program the memories and easily scan both the preset
>memories or the entire band.
>
>4.  Not an absolute requirement, but 144, 220 and 440 would be nice.  I'd
>settle for a duel bander if not a tri-band.  We have considerable 440
>activity around here, but there is quite a bit over in the St. Louis area.
>With my 2 meter vertical I can talk quite a ways over into missouri even
>though I'm about 35 miles east in Illinois.
>
>Any recommendations.  I particularly like Kenwood, but I know Icom makes
>good gear, too.  I'd rather stay away from Yaesu.
>
>Thanks.
>
>73
>Kris Hickerson
>Highland, IL
>E-Mail:  [log in to unmask]
>Ham Call:  WB9SLM