[Kenwood] Fw: New HF Kenwood at Tokyo Ham Fair 09

[J. Moen]

I guess I care more about what a radio does, how well it performs, and not
 how it looks.  Actually, I almost didn't get my TS-2000 due to the small
 buttons, but I'm sure glad I did.

 The mockup radio being shown at the Tokyo Ham Fair 2009 is what was
 originally going to target the mid-range 570, but we've learned recently is
 now targeting the K3, so that give some suggestion both of price and the
 focus on roofing filters, etc.  The designer is the same engineer who
 designed the TS-2000. You may think it is ugly, but of course so is the K3.
 Still, people buy that rig because they get an awful lot of performance for
 not very much money.  I think this new Kenwood rig will be in the same
 class.  Kenwood claims they will take orders at Dayton 2010, with shipments
 starting about a month later.

 I talked to the Kenwood USA National Sales Manager - Amateur Products at
 Dayton 2009, and he was certain they would follow up the 570/K3 radio with 
a
 high-end transceiver.  He was talking about 2011, but I suspect it won't
 ship until 2012.  Kenwood is still in the game, following a different
 business model than ICOM etc. It's fun to watch as their plans become
 reality.

  Jim - K6JM

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "SkunkWeed" <kp249 at interia.pl>
> To: <Kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 3:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] New HF Kenwood at Tokyo Ham Fair 09
>
>
> AR> It looks as TS-570S refurbished!!
> AR> That's disappointing, :-\
>
> Is designer of previous Kenwood line dead or fired?
> This radio is ugly. I hate to use bad looking rig.
>
> Mike