I'm wanting to put a mobile unit in my Jeep. Objectives are:
1. UHF/VHF dual band
2. cross-band repeater capable
3. Remote head, no larger than 2" tall (smaller dimensions than 1 DIN radio dash space)
4. Capable of utilizing APRS, even if by means of mobilinkd/android add-ons.
5. Capable of tx/rx on both the APRS tuned freq as well as a voice/mic freq.
Lots of APRS rigs, but mostly I'm limited by either no cross-band repeater, too large of a remote head, no APRS or data port for mobilinkd, or the unit is monopolized by APRS operation and no voice use is capable. Clarification about the cross-band and APRS: there's no intention of running cross-band repeat while APRS is active.
Intent is for this rig to be useful while wheeling with friends in my Jeep, keep tabs on everyone's position and send mine out to the group, and maintain voice contact while doing so. Another application is to park the Jeep remotely and hike with an HT, using the Jeep radio as a repeater (while power is isolated to a battery other than the vehicle primary one).
So far as I can tell, the only unit on the market that meets all of my objectives is the Kenwood TM-V71A. If anyone here has experience with another radio that can do all of the above, I'd sure love to know, just to have a second option for price comparison. The TM-V71A is about $350 around the innernetz, and I'd love to have an option closer to about $200 if at all possible.