Also known as: TH-D75A, TH-D75
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The Kenwood TH-D75A is the flagship of current ham handhelds: the only tri-band (144/220/430 MHz) D-STAR HT in production, with a full built-in 1200/9600 bps APRS TNC (KISS mode included), a 0.1–524 MHz multimode receiver that hears SSB and CW, plus GPS, Bluetooth, microSD and USB-C.1 It replaced the TH-D74A in 2024 and costs around $720.
Key takeaways The best-equipped ham handheld you can buy — our top overall pick in best handheld ham radios. Tri-band 5 W TX including 220 MHz, D-STAR with terminal/access-point mode, the definitive APRS implementation (KISS TNC, digipeater), and SSB/CW wideband receive. Weak spot: battery life — the 1,100 mAh pack drains fast with GPS and the color screen on. ~$720. No DMR or C4FM. Transmitting needs an FCC amateur license (Technician minimum); listening needs none.
Overview
Kenwood builds one handheld, and it builds it for the operator who wants everything. The TH-D75A is the direct successor to the much-loved TH-D74A and the only current-production HT that transmits on the 220 MHz band alongside 2 m and 70 cm. Its receiver is the other headline: dual watch (including two D-STAR signals at once), coverage from 100 kHz to 524 MHz, and demodulation of SSB and CW — no other current HT hears sideband. A transflective color TFT, 1,000+ memories, and a microSD slot for logging and recording round out a spec sheet that reads like three radios in one.
The honest trade-offs: it is around $720, it does no DMR or C4FM, its IP54/55 rating is splash-resistant rather than submersible, and the 1,100 mAh battery is undersized for the hardware it feeds — the number-one owner complaint. USB-C charging softens that in the field.
Modes & features
- D-STAR DV/DR, including Reflector Terminal and Access Point modes over USB-C — work reflectors with no local repeater.
- APRS done properly: built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC, KISS mode for packet and Winlink, and standalone digipeater operation. This is the APRS benchmark every other HT is measured against.
- Wideband multimode RX: 0.1–524 MHz with AM, FM, SSB and CW, IF filtering, and dual watch.
- GPS, Bluetooth, microSD, USB-C (charging, audio and programming) built in.
- 5 W output with 5/2/0.5/0.05 W steps; IP54/55 dust/splash resistance.
Programming
Kenwood’s free MCP-D75 software is the official route, and RT Systems sells the usual polished alternative. CHIRP’s tracker reports working memory download/upload support for the TH-D75 — but verify current driver status before counting on it, as coverage of Kenwood’s newest models has been a moving target. Memories also move via the microSD card.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk can’t replace the TH-D75A — it receives only, and this radio’s whole point is transmitting on three bands. But before spending $720, it’s worth knowing what’s actually on the air near you. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk monitors local repeaters and digital ham traffic, records and logs what it hears, and tells you whether your area has active D-STAR before you buy into the mode — see best SDR for GopherTrunk. Listen first, license, then buy the rig that matches the traffic.
Who it’s for
- Buy the TH-D75A if APRS, packet, or D-STAR is your thing, if you want 220 MHz, or if you simply want the most capable receiver ever put in a ham HT. Find on Amazon →
- Buy the Icom ID-52A instead for D-STAR in an IP67 waterproof body, or the Yaesu FT-5DR for C4FM plus APRS at roughly half the price.
- Skip it if you just need FM voice — a Yaesu FT-60R costs a quarter as much. Full rankings: best handheld ham radios.
Amazon note. Kenwood sells the TH-D75A mainly through ham dealers (GigaParts, DX Engineering, HRO, R&L), so the button above is a tagged Amazon search rather than a single listing — check dealer pricing too; instant rebates around $50 are common.
Sources
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Kenwood TH-D75A product page — Kenwood USA, on tri-band TX, D-STAR DV/DR and terminal modes, APRS TNC, 0.1–524 MHz SSB/CW receive, GPS, Bluetooth, USB-C, and IP54/55 rating. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kenwood TH-D75A worth the price?
If you use APRS or D-STAR seriously, yes — nothing else combines a tri-band transmitter, a real KISS TNC, SSB/CW wideband receive, GPS, Bluetooth and USB-C in one handheld. If you only need FM voice, a Yaesu FT-60R does that job for around $180.
Does the TH-D75A do DMR or C4FM?
No. Its digital voice mode is D-STAR only. For DMR, look at the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus; for C4FM System Fusion, the Yaesu FT-5DR. No current handheld covers more than one of the three digital voice families.
Do I need a license to use the TH-D75A?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license, Technician class minimum. Listening requires no license at all, and its 0.1–524 MHz multimode receiver makes it a genuinely good listening radio too.
How is the TH-D75A's battery life?
It’s the radio’s most common complaint. The 1,100 mAh KNB-75LA pack plus a color display and GPS means short field endurance; most owners carry a spare pack or a USB-C power bank, since it charges over USB-C.
Is the TH-D75A waterproof?
It carries an IP54/55 dust and splash rating — fine in rain, not submersible. If you need a dunkable D-STAR handheld, the Icom ID-52A is IP67 rated.