[Kenwood] Discussion With Kenwood Rep Regarding Future HF Rigs

[Esterson/Pinsky]

What about the notorious TS440 "all dots" death, and numerous reports of
cold solder joints on rigs of the same and later vintage?

-avi 4X6UA

At 17:52 07-03-05 -0800, you wrote:
>One of the sadder things about this decision also is
>that Kenwood seems to have the best quality control
>out there right now in the amateur market.  You don't
>hear stories of Kenwood transceivers:
>
>having transmit die after a couple of months (746PRO)
>Being hopelessly off frequency (910H)
>having severe RF feedback problems (857/897)
>Having severe 6 meter transmit audio problems (897)
>Needing grounding mods done (FT100)
>and on and one
>
>I would hope that Kenwood will continue in the future
>to R and D in the amateur market, but if they don't, I
>then own the last of a dying breed.
>
>73s John NE0P
>Currently own TS2000, TS60
>Previously owned TS130, TS430, T/R599, TS600, TR9130,
>TR851A
>--- "Rick Markey, KN3C" <kn3c at arrl.net> wrote:
>
>> 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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