Kenwood TH-D72A - Manual (Page 2)

Featuring the SiRFstar III™ high-performance GPS receiver, Kenwood’s
TH-D72A dual-band transceiver is compatible with APRS ® data communications.
Offering position and weather information, The TH-D72A opens up broad new vistas of
outdoor enjoyment, especially for activities like trekking.
Built-in high-performance GPS receiver
The SiRFstar III™ GPS receiver, widely recognized for its high
accuracy, is built into the top of the transceiver.
Target point functions
You can store up to 5 target points and display, in real time,
the direction and distance to each of these. You can also
switch instantly between north-up and heading-up displays,
whichever you find more convenient.
GPS Logger functions
■ Store up to 5,000 points of track data in internal memory.
■
Choose from 3 different timing options for storing
data – interval, travel distance, or beacon TX point
(example: if set to a 10-second interval, logging is possible
for up to about 14 hours).
■ Convert GPS log data to the KML file format used by
Google Earth™ using the MCP-4A memory control program.
Extend operating hours (up to 35 hours per charge)
by switching off transceiver functions and using just GPS.
APRS ® firmware equipped as standard
Kenwood engineers working closely with Bob Bruninga
(WB4APR), who first developed APRS (Automatic Packet
Reporting System), Kenwood has developed system firmware
for the TH-D72A that enables easy APRS operation without
requiring a computer. The built-in GPS receiver provides
positional information, while weather information can be
acquired by connecting a meteorological device. All of this
information can be exchanged with other stations, and it can
also be output to a PC for map display using commercially
available APRS application software.
USB (Mini-B) port
You can connect the TH-D72A
directly to your PC with the supplied
USB cable.
Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC compliant with
AX.25 protocol
The built-in TNC (Terminal Node Controller) is compatible with-
the AX.25 protocol, providing full access to APRS functions.
A wide range of APRS applications can be used if the
TH-D72A is connected to a PC with the supplied USB cable to
enable control of the TNC. It is further possible to operate the
radio as an IGate station (wireless-Internet gateway) or as a
digipeater station (relay station for wireless packet
communications).
Stand-alone digipeater
On its own, the TH-D72A can serve as a digipeater. It can thus
be used in various outdoor situations as a digital repeater
for packet communications – for example supporting data
communications from a location surrounded by mountains.
Simple node access with EchoLink ® memory
You can store call signs, node numbers, commands, etc. in up
to 10 DTMF memory channels dedicated to EchoLink.
And thanks to automatic call-sign/DTMF conversion, it is
easy to make use of EchoLink’s Connect by call and Query by
call. Moreover, the MCP-4A software allows you to manage
EchoLink memory.
Support for MCP-4A software
With the MCP-4A Memory Control software (a free download from
the Kenwood website), you can use a
computer to input, edit and manage
data – for the TH-D72A’s memory
channels and APRS functions, for
example. You can also back up GPS
log data to your PC.
TravelPlus: Kenwood’s MCP-4A
software is compatible with ARRL TravelPlus for Repeaters;*
this allows data export to the
TH-D72A, making trip-planning easy.
*TravelPlus is available from the ARRL at; www.arrl.org
APRS ® features that expand your enjoyment
■
Positional/directional data
With the internal NMEA 0183 compatible GPS receiver,
information is available on distance, speed and heading in
addition to latitude, longitude and altitude.
■
Meteorological information
This transceiver can be connected to
most Peet Bros. and Davis weather
stations for access to wind speed/
direction, rainfall, temperature,
humidity and barometric pressure information.
■
Station list
This stores a maximum of 100
stations – including fixed base,
mobile, object and weather stations –
and offers filtering so you can select
from different types of station. You can also sort them by call
sign, reception time and distance from your own station.
GPS receiver
Target point display
(north up)
Dedicated GPS mode
Target point display
(heading up)
Log memory
GPS satellite and
signal strength display