Bob,

I've had my TM-V71A since last June, and I think it's the most manageable 
radio I've ever owned.  The key to its manageability is that it gives you 
feedback (either voice or high/low beeps) for just about every setting.  I 
spent the first couple of days just playing with the radio, pushing buttons 
and exploring menus without even opening the manual.  I didn't even have a 
cheat sheet for the controls, but I didn't need one because I knew what each 
control did by the way the radio behaved, or by the speech feedback.  In 
those rare instances where feedback wasn't available, such as changing the 
power-up message, I used the software to make the changes.  There were a 
couple of settings that could only be changed through the software, one of 
which was the microphone sensitivity, which I set to its highest level so I 
wouldn't have to shout to be heard at full modulation.  Perhaps I wouldn't 
have changed this if I were operating mobile, but I use the radio 
exclusively as a base station, so I wanted a more comfortable setting.  The 
other setting I would have had to change through the software was the 
power-up password, but I don't even use that function, so I didn't even try. 
One other setting that I could not have changed through the menus was the CW 
message for cross-band repeat.  I entered my call through the software, and 
then decided not to use the CW ID during cross-band repeat because it 
sometimes transmitted over the QSO and prevented me from hearing other 
stations when it did.

Without good feedback from the voice chip, this radio would have been nearly 
impossible to learn.  With the feedback, however, the learning curve was 
reduced from daunting to an interesting and enjoyable challenge. 
Incidentally, I eventually had to consult the manual, but only because I was 
interested in some of the more complex functions of the radio, like remote 
control via DTMF tones, for which I needed a detailed explanation.  Even if 
you never get beyond the radio's basic functions, I think you'll find 
yourself doing more with this radio than you ever thought you could or 
would.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Martin" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2008 10:33
Subject: The TMV-71A


> If any among us is using the TMV-71A would you be willing to share how you
> like it especially in terms of its manageability?
>
> Thanks and 73
> Bob Martin
>
> EchoLink Node - 55127
> Please visit http://www.wan-leatonks.net.
>
>
>
>