[Kenwood] TS 870?????

Sat, 6 Mar 2004 10:40:58 -0500

Kenwood fans,

The issue of a serial numbers by Kenwood is difficult to understand.  I have
seen on this list numerous inquiries regarding their rationale.  On numerous
occasions the following has been suggested:

The first number minus two gives the year of manufacture, i.e., 8 - 2 = 6 ~
in the case of the TS-870 this indicates that the rig was built in 1996.
The next two numbers i.e., 11 gives the month of manufacture.  Ergo, a
serial number 811xxxxx would indicate that a TS-870 was built in November of
1996.

Is it possible that serial numbers do not need to be sequential to indicate
age.  For example, a freshly manufactured TS-870 could have a serial number
of 5xxxxxxx?  With the formula above applied, a serial number of 501xxxxx
could mean a manufacture date of of January 2003.  In the case of the
TS-870, I do not believe that they were manufactured in 1993, which adds
credence to Clearwater in the rationale of the 2003 manufacture date.  How
else could Kenwood build a system to indicate when he rig was built?

What I inquired with a reputable dealer whether the TS-870 was still
available, I was told that there are new TS-870's coming in fresh from the
factory.  It was added that these were the latest and greatest of the breed.
It may be true that Kenwood quit the manufacture of this radio?  Which I
think they have, but the question is, when did they start building the
TS-870's, and when did they stop???

The question of Kenwood serial numbering seems to be a constant topic of
inquiry on the board, that I think we should all make a concerted effort to
unravel the mystery once and for all!  Perhaps an authorized Kenwood repair
center like Avvid, can shed some final light on this question...

On the same thread, all users should become acquainted with the Kenwood
Archives.  We have all recently been acquainted with a new search engine
designed to query the database.  For those of you who have not used this
service, here is the URL again:
http://www.w9wze.org/ReflectorSearch/SearchReflectorForm.php

We should all learn how to use it before asking the same question over and
over again.  It works great and put your finger tips on the information.

73 de n8csp k

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Smidt" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS 870?????

> Agree.
>
> That would be a heck of a quick shipment from Japan.
>
> 73,   Carl VE9OV
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carlos Avellanet [kf4rrn]" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 9:21 AM
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS 870?????
>
>
> > Try that formula again?????  I think it is wrong....
> >
> >
> >
> > > All Kenwood s/n's work the same way.  The first digit is the year of
mfg
> > plus 2.  The second two digits are the month, beginning in April.  So,
> > your's is fiscal year 2003 (3+2=5), and month is 11. Since April is 01,
11
> > is February of the following year.  So, your new 870 IS new, Feb
> > > 2004!
> > >
> > > james wrote:
> > >
> >
> >
> >
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