Duplexer...

[K9CCH]

That's not a bad deal. I like that radio, almost bought one.

I bought that FTM350AR for $450 or $500 and it was WAY too much radio for me, even though it was quite a pretty radio. So I figured I'd put something cheap and easy in the Jeep and start back at the basics and grow from there to see how much I use it.

If I find myself using it a lot, and moving forward again with the hobby, then I'll look at upgrading later. I dont need all the bells and whistles right now.

So this 733A is used, and I'm trying to decide between it, or a Yaesu FT2900R.

[K9CCH]

Decisions decisions....

Would you buy a,

-Kenwood 733A with duplexer and separating kit for $200
-Yaesu FT7800R with separating kit and Lido floor mount for $200
-Icom V8000 for $100
-Yaesu FT2800m for $95.

I'm leaning towards the 2800 because it's the cheapest, or the Kenwood because of the dual band cross band repeat.

The Kenwood is opened up to TX wherever it receives.

[K7SGJ]

If it will get beat to shit in the Jeep, or stands a good chance of getting ripped off, go cheap. If it will be secure, and you think you will use the xband repeat, the Kenwood is a good buy. I use the xband repeat around here, because there are too many mountains and I'm too far away for most of the repeaters in Phoenix or northern AZ using a handheld. I mostly use xband on the swap net on 144. With a 50mw handheld going through the Yaesu FT8900 in xband mode, running high power to the multiband antenna, I can hit most anything.

[K9CCH]

The only reason I could ever see myself using cross band was if I were at the beach and wanted to walk away from the jeep with my baofeng. Or if I want to talk with the baofeng from inside my house. But then I have a J pole on the roof so that is a moot point.

I'm thinking about going with the 65w $95 option, and saving the rest to put towards an HF setup.

65w would allow me to hit all the 2m repeaters around here just fine.

[K7SGJ]

good choice