[Kenwood] Wanted: Kenwood Xcvr

[John Parker]

I have been waffling a lot about various Kenwood Xcvrs for my first HF rig.
I have somewhat narrowed it down to any Xcvr that also has WARC band
coverage.  For now, my primary operating mode will be CW with a little bit
of SSB tossed in on the side.

>From what I can tell, the following Xcvrs fill that requirement:

TS-130S/SE
TS-140S
TS-430S
TS-450S
TS-530S
TS-680S
TS-830S

Kenwood QRP xcvers;
TS-130V
TS-660, WARC bands but not 17M

My ultimate goal would be to own a TS-830S gold series.  But reality is set
in and I'm willing to work up to owning one and start out with one of the
other rigs I mentioned above.

I like the styling and looks and the digital freq display.  Since I only
have a General Class license, I just don't get the analog display for
frequency coverage and don't want to be on a freq that I'm not supposed to
be on.

It seems that Kenwood has a long history of building quality ham equipment.
I can't compete with prices that are on Flea-bay and that is a whole
different philosophy.

I have two primary goals;
1. Set up a QRP station
2. Set up a primary HF station

I fund the purchase of HAM gear through the sale of items that I currently
own.  So, far I have sold $490.00 worth to apply towards my QRP station.
With that, I have opted to go with an OHR-500 QRP kit.

So, that leaves me with trying to get an HF station in order.  I'm still in
the process of selling other gear and hope to have everything sold within
the next 45 days or so. 

I want to be on the air by the end of June 2008.

Does anyone on the list have any input, suggestions, ideas, etc. or any of
the items listed above that they are considering selling?  I don't know all
the ins and outs of using this gear and was hoping that somone on the list
who has actually used it could provide more input.  

I have been reading reviews on e-ham.

73 and thanks for the bandwidth!!

John KD7KFT