[Kenwood] Discussion With Kenwood Rep Regarding Future HF Rigs

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

Let' see, Icom's 7800 is probably not a bad rig to own (okay if you can
afford it, it is probably pretty good), the new Yaesu 9K looks like the
ugliest rig I've seen in a long time, (I like the Mk V however), and the Pro
III is so minimal in improvement anyone thinking about one should save $800
and get the Pro II if still available.   But for the money, you get the best
deal if you can find a recently made second hand 870 (except no one is
selling theirs) because no one beats Kenwood on the rx and tx audio quality.
I love my 870 and 850 and I'm glad I got mine when I did.  I wouldn't sell
my 870 for twice what it cost new.  Take a look at eham and qth.com-- all
the 870s for sale are at least 7 years old (pre factory mod runs).

Rob/K5UJ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Markey, KN3C" <kn3c at arrl.net>
To: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>; "'KCC-Amateur'"
<kcc-amateur at kenwoodusa.com>
Cc: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 7:07 PM
Subject: RE: [Kenwood] Discussion With Kenwood Rep Regarding Future HF Rigs


> Dear Kenwood,
>
> The choice of "obsolete" may have been a bit harsh, but when a
manufacturer
> admits that they've suspended R&D in the amateur market for two years,
it's
> not exactly a vote of confidence, would you say?
>
> The decision to go after the commercial market is understandable.  But
when
> you flat out tell the amateur market that you are temporarily not
> interested in them, well then you suffer the consequences.  If I'm looking
> to buy a new rig, am I going to look at Kenwood who has admitted to
> temporarily throwing in the towel, or am I going to look at Icom, Yaesu,
or
> Ten-Tec, all of whom have come out with cutting edge radios?
>
> I've been a loyal Kenwood customer for many years.  Just recently I
> purchased a TS-480 because it solved a problem for me in a new mobile
> installation.  But now that I know that Kenwood has temporarily lost
> interest in the amateur market, well maybe next time I need a radio, I'll
> look at the other players a bit more seriously.
>
> de Rick, KN3C, owner of a TS-830, TS-850, TS-870, two TM-V7's, a TM-7950,
> TM-2550, TS-700A, TS-7730, and a few others that I don't recall at the
> moment.
>
>
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