Kenwood TH-F6A HT

[KE7ZPZ]

Anyone have any comments about the Kenwood TH-F6A HT?  I just got my Technician license and am looking for a good tri-band handheld.  I think I'd go for a Yaesu VX-7R or VX-8R, but I'd like to work with the 1.25 m band and am disappointed in the low power output on this band by Yaesu.  Kenwood has 5 W output on all 3 bands.  Any comments appreciated.

[wb7sgl]

Anyone have any comments about the Kenwood TH-F6A HT?  I just got my Technician license and am looking for a good tri-band handheld.  I think I'd go for a Yaesu VX-7R or VX-8R, but I'd like to work with the 1.25 m band and am disappointed in the low power output on this band by Yaesu.  Kenwood has 5 W output on all 3 bands.  Any comments appreciated.

I have the Yaesu VX-6R ... I wish I had purchased the TH-F6A instead. I cannot hear distant stations without the preamp on the little Yaesu, and the 33CM band's power is limited, though I do have 5W on 70CM and 2M. I don't regret the VX-6R per se, it has been a great radio. The simultaneous receive on the Kenwood is a compelling feature though! 

[KI6DKC]

I have a Kenwood TH-F6A HT.  It is a good little HT.  It was my first radio.  The manual was easy to understand.  Being so far away from most repeaters, an external antenna was a must.  With a large external antenna it worked great.  I used to use it mobile.  I added one of the speaker mikes which made it a bit easier to use. I would also recommend the cigarrette charger adapter.  Then you can rig up something to another battery for an emergency.  The stock rubber duck antenna it comes with is pretty poor in reception and sending.  I added a Diamond tri-band to it and it works much better but the diamond is about twice as long.  The major drawback of the TH-F6A is how pricey the little radio is.  Now that I'm a General class I almost wish I had used the money to get an all in one like the Yaesu 857 or 897 and rigged up a power supply and antenna in some sort of emergency get away kit because the extra power and multiple bands would have been nice.  Of course back when I got my TH-F6A I was just a tech and the morse code test was still required to get general so I never thought about doing much HF back then.

[W6DDR]

The best hand held radio I have ever owned and the ease of use is the best I have ever seen.
I will never give mine up it is all any one could ever want.
Duane
w6ddr