It isn't only about what items are spoken. Some radios are just plain hard to learn and use because of the front panel layout. Although I can see my IC-706M2G, I find it much less intuitive than my IC-7200, which has a bigger front panel and more space for dedicated controls. The IC-7200 also has a telephone-style frequency entry keypad and a front-firing speaker that I can actually hear. I've never liked radios with speakers on the bottom or top of the unit. The IC-7200 also comes with speech, albeit limited to frequency and mode. On the plus side it is built in so there is no need to install it. The 7200 only covers 160 through 6 meters, though.
The Kenwood TS-2000 does have the most accessible voice features for a radio that covers VHF and UHF, but be warned that it has a busy front panel and is not very easy to learn. There are plenty of opportunities to get it into some oddball configuration you won't easily get out of. It is also old technology by this time, even though it is still a currently sold model. Getting a newer design HF rig and a standalone VHF/UHF rig is better in my opinion.
73,
Patrick [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----From: K8LR Bob <[log in to unmask]>To: [log in to unmask]: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 17:47:25 -0000 (UTC)Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
Mike,
Icom rigs just speak s meter and frequency but no menu settings. The best speech friendly rigs are Kenwood with the best being the TS480, TS590 followed by the TS570 and the TS2000.
Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Barnard" <[log in to unmask]>To: <[log in to unmask]>Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 12:38 PMSubject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
No, I am interested in something more speech friendly. I wasn't surewhat spoke in that radio. I think that either the TS 2000 fromKenwood, or the Icom 706 Mk 2 G, are the only two that speek.Thanks.MikeKD2CDUAt 11:54 AM 3/7/2014, you wrote:>Hi Mike,>I don't think the icom 7000 is very blind friendly.>Yes it has a voice bord in it to give you s meter and frequency but that's>it.>Your going to have a bit of a hard time with any of the menus.>But if your only interested in changing frequencies and modes and keying >the>mic then it's probley ok.>Thanks 73 Matt ka0pqw>----- Original Message ----->From: "Mike Barnard" <[log in to unmask]>>To: <[log in to unmask]>>Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 10:45 AM>Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio>>> >I am interested in the Icom 7000. I think those radios go to either> > 2 meters or 70 centameters.> > Could you tell me the price you want for the radio?> > Thanks.> > Mike> > KD2CDUAt 08:40 AM 3/7/2014, you wrote:> >>I have an Icom 7000 that has speech built into it if anyone is > >>interested> >>in=> >> buying one. I also have the external keypad.> >>> >>Sent from my iPhone this time=20> >>> >> > On Mar 6, 2014, at 5:06 PM, Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]> > >> > wrote:> >> >=20> >> > Another radio worth the look is the 450. I had one of those, but> >> > the=20> >> > speech boards may be hard to find. The 690 is the same radio, but> >> > with=20=> >>> >> > six meters. The 440 is a great radio, but getting some age and many> >> > parts=> >>=20> >> > won't be available. I saw one listed some time back supposed to be> >> > in=20> >> > very good shape for $400> >> > 73> >> > Butch> >> > WA0VJR> >> > Node 3148> >> > Wallace, ks.
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