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TM732A
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1992-11-17
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TM732A
From: flloyd@L1-A.West.Sun.COM (Fred Lloyd [Phoenix SE])
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: The Kenwood TM-732A - First Impressions
Date: 20 Apr 92 20:29:19 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Phoenix, AZ
First Impressions: The Kenwood TM-732A April 20, 1992
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ
The TM-732A is Kenwood's newest entry into the fiercely
competitive dual band mobile market. It is designed to replace
the TM-731 dual bander, which in its own right was an extremely
solid performer.
The TM-732A (or 732 for short) is closely related to Kenwood's
other late model radios like the TM-x41 series. I have personal
experience with the TM-241 and the TM-741 and find that there is
a good deal in common between them and the 732. On the other
hand, the 732 does hit the ground running with a few new
features which make it stand out from even its higher priced
brother the 741.
Physical Description
The 732 is the same basic form factor as the TM-2/4/541 series
mono band radios which goes to say that it is an very small
package for a full featured dual-bander. The package is a bit
longer, however due to the small fan mounted on the rear
heatsink. The manufacturers seem to be opting for the fan
instead of the heat sink these days, and my only guess is that
its ultimately cheaper to produce them that way. Nevertheless,
the 732 is _considerably_ smaller than the 731 that it
replaces.
Like the TM-741, the unit features a removable control head. The
control head's release latch on the 732 is nicely recessed on the
left side of the radio making it a bit more secure and less
likely to be inadvertently actuated. The latch clip also seems a
lot more positive on the 732. Also, the inside of the base unit
is covered by an integral black plastic panel which becomes
visible when the control head is removed. This was unlike the 741
which left you staring into the exposed guts of your new radio.
The shape of the control head is somewhat different in that it
is not exactly rectangular in that there is a cutout of about
1.5cm^2 where the microphone plugs in to the panel behind it.
The microphone receptacle, an 8 conductor RJ-45 type, is the
same as that used on the 741 and looks to be an emerging (ham
radio) standard, perhaps borrowed from the cellular telephone
industry. The receptacle is a part of the base unit, not the
control head, and so when the control head is removed it is
rectangular except for the cutout mentioned above.
The control head displays both bands simultaneously with the
first two digits of megahertz being a bit smaller than the
others. The clear front bezel was thoughtfully designed to be
recessed a bit, so as to prevent scratches. Now, there is a
nice lip on both the top and the bottom of the case that
protects the bezel.
CONTINUED IN TM732A.1