RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026AnyTone AT-779UV vs Kenwood TM-V71A
Our pick
AnyTone AT-779UV$99.00
The AnyTone AT-779UV offers substantially better listed specifications for the money, reflected in its higher RadioRanked score of 63 versus 45 for the Kenwood TM-V71A. The AnyTone costs $99 with known pricing, while the Kenwood's price is unavailable, making direct value comparison difficult on that front.
The single most important differentiator is power output: the Kenwood delivers 50W versus the AnyTone's 20W, a significant advantage for longer-range communications. However, the AnyTone compensates with lower weight (500g vs 1500g), making it far more portable for mobile or portable operation. Both radios lack DMR, APRS, and GPS capabilities and both support CHIRP programming.
Owner feedback slightly favors the Kenwood, with 4.8 out of 5 stars from 151 reviews compared to the AnyTone's 4.3 out of 5 from 175 reviews. This suggests owners report satisfaction with both radios, though the Kenwood's edge is modest.
The AnyTone AT-779UV is the better choice for budget-conscious operators prioritizing portability and value per specification. The Kenwood TM-V71A suits those who need maximum transmit power and can accept significantly higher weight. If the Kenwood's price were known and competitive, it would merit stronger consideration for power-focused users.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-conscious first mobile installation
It costs less and includes 500 memory channels, making it a practical starting point for a new mobile setup.
AT-779UVOperator scanning many repeater systems on a budget
Its 500-channel memory covers a large repeater list at a lower purchase cost than the alternative.
AT-779UVLightweight daily commuter mobile setup
At 500g it is roughly a third the weight of the Kenwood, which simplifies mounting and removal from the vehicle.
AT-779UVHigh-power rural range priority
Its 50W transmit power provides substantially more output than the 20W AnyTone for reaching distant repeaters.
TM-V71AOperator with 1000-channel repeater lists
It offers a 1000-channel memory, which handles very large repeater lists the AnyTone cannot store.
TM-V71AEchoLink node or dual same-band monitoring
Built-in EchoLink capability and simultaneous same-band monitoring make it the better fit for linked and multi-frequency operation.
TM-V71A
Reasons to choose AnyTone AT-779UV
- 1000g lighter (500g vs 1500g)
Reasons to choose Kenwood TM-V71A
- 150% more TX power (50W vs 20W)
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
AnyTone AT-779UVPICK
$99.00 on AmazonKenwood TM-V71A
Search on AmazonMore head-to-heads

