Kenwood TH-D72

Apple Airpod Pro Review

Apple Airpod Pro Review

Apple Earbuds Pro

 

Years ago I purchased wireless bluetooth Apple headsets and they seemed to work fine until March 2021.  Then, the batteries within the earbuds failed.  I went out and purchased the new Apple Airpod Pro paying close to $200 before tax.  I have been disappointed with this purchase for the following reasons:

  • My main complaint is that the audio level has diminished.  They provide a much lower volume than the older version of Apple bluetooth headsets.  I use an Android LG-V30 cell phone and have tried to increase volume settings but nothing works.  I did discover that if I tap on the left earpiece the volume seems to go up a tiny bit.  I walk outside along roadways and the traffic noise easily drowns out the audio I am listening to.   I find that I have to plug in corded headsets to properly listen to my cell phone applications.  With the cord headsets my cell phone allows me to increase volume.  This option fails to show when I am using the Apple Airpod Pro.
  • A constant problem is that the audio frequently fails to arrive at both ear pieces at the same time.  I get sort of an echo type of effect.  My solution is to switch out of one audio playback application and enter another different application which frequently results in synchronized audio.  I then switch back to the audio application I wish to listen to and for a while it plays properly.  The best solution is to, again, use wired headsets.
  • I tried to make a phone call using the Apple Earpod Pro but the party that I called immediately complained that he could not properly hear me.  I think he said that my audio was distorted.  I told him that I would call him back.  I removed the Earpods and used the phone microphone and speaker to make a second call to the party I wanted to reach and the person at the other end said the audio was now perfect.
  • The changeable ear piece fittings, of which there are three, is a possible improvement maybe for some people.   They are a bit difficult to unplug and attach, in my opinion.  I have yet to find one of the three ear gaskets that keeps the device in my ear without falling out.

The Good: 

  • The connectivity between this unit and my cell phone has really improved over the prior Apple wireless model.
  • Audio quality is very good.
  • Pairing between the headsets and the audio source is good.

The Bad:

  • Low apparent maximum audio level.
  • Audio fails to reach both headsets at the same time, occurs frequently.
  • Possible distortion in my microphone audio when using with a cell phone to make a call.

 

Summary:  I do NOT recommend this product.  I have resorted to wearing my very old corded headset, which NEVER provides echo problems, never falls out of my ears, gives good audio output level, but the cord is a bit of a pain.  I really do think I wasted my money.

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My Solution:

Years ago I purchased a very expensive handheld ham radio.  It is a Kenwood TH-D74 costing over $800.  I discovered that one of its many features is that the user can connect a bluetooth headset to it so the user can listen and talk on the radio.  But, for years I could not find any bluetooth headset that showed to work with the radio until 2021.  One ham radio operator stated that he found three bluetooth headsets would work. I rushed out and purchased two of them and they do work.  My surprise was that the Plantronics Voyager 5200 was so good that it not only connected to my handheld ham radio but also to my Android cell phone. It could connect to BOTH!   This headset is perfect for me for the following reasons:

  • Perfect audio.  The audio level can be turned up.  When I walk along any highway the passing car noise is loud so I turn the volume up or down to my liking.  I also found out that if I hear a vehicle approaches from behind me on the road, I can take my hand and press the headset into my ear and the volume really goes up.
  • Quick charge.
  • Very nice controls.
  • Perfect voice commands.  This headset notifies you of any incoming call and asks you if you accept or deny the connection.
  • There is a very small switch that you need to flip when you use the headset or not.  When you turn the headset off and plug in the USB charge cable there is a very small blue light that shows you that the headset is charging.

 

Summary:  I am so happy that I purchased this headset.   It costs about half what Apple Airpod Pro costs.  The one slight deficiency is that you only get audio into one ear.  I find this slightly annoying.

 

 

Posted May 21, 2021
Revised:  July 1, 2021

How To Enter Your Call Sign Into Kenwood TH-D72 Radio

How To Enter Your Call Sign Into Kenwood TH-D72 Radio

I love Kenwood Ham Radios because their radios are easy to use without a manual but the TH-D72 was driving me crazy.  As is typical with a lot of technology items, the user manual was nice but totally lacking in a couple of places. If you want to use the APRS function, you must type in your call sign.  I tried this so many times and failed that I figured that the radio was defective.  I figured that there had to be a secret in the menu and kept on trying and finally did find the secret.  I will now share the secret with you.

APRS process for entering your callsign.

  • Press the “MENU” button on your radio (top right corner of buttons)
  • Move the large black button joy stick button just above the buttons to the right and advance to the next menu item which should be “APRS”
  • Move the large black joy stick button to the right to advance.
  • Go to menu 300 which should show as being “Basic Set”.
  • Just under that word “Basic Set” you should see the words “My Calllsign”.
  • Press the black joystick button again to the right to advance to the manu item “My Callsign”.
  • The radio screen should show “NoCall”.
  • Use the large black joy stick to position the cursor all the way to the left so you can enter the first call sign letter.
  • Press the keyboard button that corresponds to the first letter of your call sign.  Just keep pressing the same button as it represents about 3 letters and 1 number.  By keep pressing the same button the letters will cycle and then the number, over and over again. Once you type in the first correct letter of your cal sign, then use the large black joy stick to move your cursor to the next field.
  • After you successfully type in your call sign then use the key (top middle) labeled “A/B -CLR”.  This is really important as it will insert a BLANK field (being the secret trick).  DO NOT press any key that shows up as a dash (such as “ENT”).
  • Once you have your call sign showing correctly move the black joy stick all the way to the left as this initiates a “enter’ process and check to see if your call sign still shows correctly at the bottom of the HT screen.  If you move the cursor out of the call sign field and your call sign does not revert back to “No Call”, you did it correctly.

Sky Command  process for entering “Callsign”

  • Use Black joystick and advance from RADIO to GPS to APRS to SKY.
  • The arrow should rest just to the left of SKY.
  • Press the Black joy stick button to the right thus revealing SKY COMMAND and the menu number should show 50-.
  • Press the black joy stick button to the right so that the arrow moves down to “CMD Callsign”.  Note that the field below will show “NOCALL”.
  • Again, press the black joy stick button to the right so that “NOCALL____” shows a flashing cursor just after the last letter.
  • Move the black joy stick button so the cursor is all the way to the left at the letter “N”.
  • Now enter your call sign as described above.
  • Remove any wrong letters or numbers by pressing the “A/B -CLR” button.
  • Use “A/B-CLR” button to clear any fields after your call sign.
  • Now move your cursor to the right and this will cause your call sign to be entered.