Could the Kenwood VP8000 multi band, multi protocol radio be my favorite radio? 

I wish I had the money to afford these, you should try the Tait TP9900 multiband and multi protocol radio. I think you would like it.

Great video as always, hope BK is taking notes - I'd pick up a BKR9000 in a heartbeat if it did DMR in addition to P25

I like the ergonomics on the VP8000. The PTT/side buttons are comfortable to use. I just wish they’d release the NXDN for it.

Hi. What donyou think about THf6a? Greetings from Chile

Man This is like a dream radio for me.. Untill BK does multi protocol... wish i could afford one tho, lol.. Love your videos man !

The Kenwood VP8k is definitely a chonky boy. I had a perfect little silicone holder for my 8k in my truck and the Kenwood fits in it but it hits the shifter 😂. It carries nice on the belt. The DMR is AMAZING. My local PD is DMR and I always hated listening to them bc the audio sucked. The Kenwood sounded great out of the box.

I'm an amateur radio DMR user and with reception, the Retevis RT73 mobile sounds good. I was using a linked repeater system where the person on the other end was using a Yeasu VX-6R, Fusion C4FM(another digital format). He sounded good for being on digital and better than some DMR radios.

very nice radio not a fan of not being able to do NAS .. How was the process of getting programming software ?

I can put you in contact with a guy for the Tait TP9900 that does all band including 900MHz. P25 and DMR. Def something to look into.

Interesting your take on DMR. I would like to hear a VP8000 on DMR now. The NX5000s I've played with sounded terrible on DMR. However, it could wholey be based on their programming. I've used a large mix of radios on various P25 systems. Programming plays a part because some suck and some sound alright. Using an XPR7550e on DMR and a APX6000XE on P25 phase II side by side daily, the DMR sounds better. That said, these are Gen II Mototrbo radio, and the settings have to be just right for them to sound good.

Nice work thanks for the video man

If you think the Kenwood is clunky now, throw the high capacity battery on it. I have big hands and I find it difficult to press the PTT with the bigger battery on it.

So I’m learning about the kenwoods, can’t afford them, but still learning as I go, so basically the CPS for the kenwood there is licensed just like the NX series? Basically you said you buy a license for 3 years, when those years are up, CPS locks you out until you pay again? Is that how it works? Because if it is I will never buy a kenwood, I don’t like not owning what I pay for

can you possibly scan vhf and uhf at the same time

Your videos remind me of JerryRigEverything but for radios 😆

What vendor did you use

How much is the programming software for it? Also, how does Kenwood handle the ASK for P25 systems?

What tier of DMR does the Kenwood operate on?

Im not hating by any means but would like to make a couple points. The XPR is a sub $1K commercial radio, the VP8K is inherently a mission critical radio (that will do DMR) that is $4K+... The audio should be better, its apples to oranges. Kenwood is a little misleading with perpetual licenses, only certain licenses are actually perpetual, P25 conventional and P25 P1 ARE perpetual. P25 P2, DMR T2, DMR T3, purchased frequency bands, and multiple others AREN'T perpetual, and until they recoup the money that it took to develop these, they won't be perpetual. I do agree that JVC should add ENTER as a soft button it would simplify things in the menu. Also remember that JVC isn't catering to or entertaining the hobbyist that wants to NAS, and while unfortunate, I understand why they elected to go this route. To even add a trunking system you need a SKF for the NX5000 and a AKEY for the Viking line and unlike MOTO, there isn't a system key generator for either in the wild.

its easier to go from an older radio to newer and not the otheway around firmware is different