Field Guide · hardware

Also known as: TM-V71A, TM-V71

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The Kenwood TM-V71A is one of the most reliable FM mobiles ever sold: a 50-watt 2m/70cm rig with true dual receive, best-in-class cross-band repeat, a built-in EchoLink sysop mode, and 1,000 alphanumeric memories.1 Kenwood ended production circa 2021 and then left the amateur FM-mobile market entirely, so the V71A is now a used-market buy — and at a typical $250–350, arguably the best radio-per-dollar on this entire list.

Check price on Amazon →

Key takeaways Buy-it-for-life build, bargain used price. 50/10/5 W on both bands, true dual receive (V+V/U+U/V+U), cross-band repeat, EchoLink sysop mode, 1,000 memories, five PM profiles, detachable faceplate with reversible amber/green display, CHIRP-supported. Discontinued ~2021 (parts shortage); used market only — ~$250–350, trending up as supply dries. Near-bulletproof: the used-buying cautions are worn mics and missing brackets, not failures. No APRS/GPS, no digital voice. License to transmit; none to listen.

Overview

The TM-V71A was Kenwood’s last pure-FM dual-band mobile, and it went out at the top: a superb receiver, honest 50 watts, and the two features that made it an institution — cross-band repeat good enough to be the reference implementation, and a dedicated EchoLink sysop mode (special memories and DTMF handling) that made it the standard hardware for EchoLink nodes. Five programmable PM profiles let one radio serve several operators or roles; the faceplate detaches (the PG-5F/DFK-3D separation kit was always an extra); the dot-matrix display flips between amber and green. TX draw is ~13 A.

What it doesn’t do: no GPS or APRS — that was the TM-D710 line’s job — no digital voice, and a monochrome display that looked dated even in 2015. The speaker fires down or back in some mounts, so plan audio placement.

Used-market viability, honestly: this is the easiest used buy on our mobile list. The community regards the V71A as near-bulletproof — very few known failure modes across a long production run. Check that the microphone isn’t worn out, that the mounting bracket and (if you need it) separation kit are included, and that’s genuinely most of the checklist. Mid-2025 eBay solds ran about $247–260; clean units are trending higher in 2026 as supply dries up (the upper bound is an estimate — check current sold listings).

Modes & features

  • Analog FM on 2m/70cm with true dual receive — V+V, U+U, or V+U.
  • Cross-band repeat — a headline feature and still best-in-class; extend a handheld’s reach through the mobile at a trailhead or event.
  • EchoLink sysop mode built in, with dedicated memories and DTMF features.
  • 1,000 memories with alphanumeric tags, five PM profiles, PC programming port.

Programming

  1. CHIRP (free) — mature TM-V71A driver.
  2. Kenwood MCP-2A — Kenwood’s free software, still downloadable.
  3. RT Systems — the paid option.

GopherTrunk alternative

GopherTrunk receives; it cannot transmit — it cannot run a cross-band repeater or an EchoLink node, which is precisely what people buy V71As for. What it can do is tell you whether that purchase makes sense: a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk monitors every local repeater — analog and digital — and records and logs the traffic, so you know how active your area is before hunting a used classic. Listening requires no license; transmitting on ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician class minimum). Dongle picks: best SDR for GopherTrunk.

Who it’s for

Amazon note. The TM-V71A is out of production; the Amazon listing is a legacy third-party one that may show used units or no stock. The primary market is eBay, hamfests, and the QRZ swapmeet — compare against recent sold prices.

Sources

  1. Universal Radio TM-V71A archive page and RigPix TM-V71A entry — archived references documenting the TM-V71A’s dual receive, cross-band repeat, EchoLink sysop mode, 1,000 memories, and power specifications. ↩

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kenwood TM-V71A discontinued?

Yes. Kenwood halted production around 2021, citing parts unavailability (dealer notices went out in July 2021), and has since exited the amateur FM-mobile segment entirely — the TM-D710GA is gone too. A legacy third-party Amazon listing survives, but realistically it’s a used/eBay purchase now.

Is a used TM-V71A reliable?

It is the community’s shorthand for reliable — one of the most dependable FM mobiles ever sold, with very few known failure modes. The main used-buying cautions are worn microphones and missing mounting brackets, not the radio itself.

Does the TM-V71A do cross-band repeat?

Yes — best-in-class cross-band repeat is a headline feature, along with a built-in EchoLink sysop mode with dedicated memories and DTMF features. Those two capabilities are why it remains the standard rig for EchoLink nodes and event work.

Does the TM-V71A have APRS or digital modes?

No — analog FM only, no GPS or APRS (that was the TM-D710 line’s job) and no digital voice. If you want APRS in a mobile, look at the Yaesu FTM-500DR/300DR or AnyTone AT-D578UVIII Plus.

Do I need a license to use the TM-V71A?

Transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician class minimum) — and running cross-band repeat or an EchoLink node comes with its own control-operator responsibilities. Listening requires no license.

See also

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