[Kenwood] Compact "Kitchen Sink" Mobile Rig?

Sat, 18 Jan 2003 15:48:26 -0500

A friend who works for one of the well known amateur dealers, had warned me 
not to purchase an FT100 at the time I was thinking about a change.  The 
story I heard was that they had a QC problem with the casting, and they 
were not cleaned properly.  As a result, perfectly good radios got released 
with metal filings rattling around inside.  My friend told me the FT100's 
were croaking left and right, all with different problems.  I assume Yaesu 
got past that, but it's the kind of thing you remember when you purchase a 
new rig.

At the same time, some 706 owners told me that they felt the newer version 
of the radio that included 440, was not as good an HF radio as the earlier 
version that had HF and 2M.  You have to wonder about tradeoffs when they 
continue to put more features in the same size box.

In my opinion, Kenwood took a major shift in direction with the 570 and 
2000.  Neither radio interests me.  If they continue in that direction, my 
870 will probably be my last Kenwood HF rig.  However, I have an 830 that I 
would never part with so that might categorize me as a bit of a 
"curmudgeon!"

de Rick, KN3C

----------
From: 	Paul Manuel[SMTP:[email protected]]
Reply To: 	[email protected]
Sent: 	Saturday, January 18, 2003 15:02
To: 	[email protected]
Subject: 	Re: [Kenwood] Compact "Kitchen Sink" Mobile Rig?

--- Doug Ford <[email protected]> wrote:
> Anyone have any theories on why Kenwood has yet to introduce a 706MkIIG
> or 100D style rig?  I mean, with the success those two rigs can claim,
> you'd think Kenwood would provide a rig to match.  Only one can hope, I
> suppose.
My theory is that Kenwood's lessened interest in the amateur field,
coupled with the difficulty in designing a radio to be good AND small, has
kept Kenwood from doing it. Yaesu's FT-100s are prone to problems (mine
needed mods when brand new,) and my original 706 cost me over $200 in
repairs. I feel that if Kenwood can't do something right, they just won't
do it, and I don't think that the amateur R&D department has had the
budget to do it right yet.
Just my opinion! I hope they do release one!

73,
Paul K4PDM

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