[Kenwood] Recommend model

[cemilton at aol.com]

GA Paul,

Like yourself, I'm a dedicated boatanchor type with everything from Collins to Heath with side trips to Eico, EFJohnson, Harvey Wells................you get the idea.  My oldest Kenwood is a TS-830s and a TR-9130 for vhf.  Nice rigs for sure.

However, finding a low-cost, modern rig was also in my cards and I think I found the answer in the ICOM 718.  It's a 100w HF rig that will handle SSB, CW, RTTY and AM.  It's not complicated and the menu is straight forward and easy to use.  The readout is large enough to see across the operating desk.  It gets good reports from the distant end and has a better than average receiver.  It has DSP and filters can be added if you want.  Mine is just straight forward, plain Jane and I like it a lot.  Best part is you can buy one new for around $500.  If you need an auto-tuner, Icom makes one for wire (AH-4) and one for coax (AT-180).  Add a 30amp 13.8v supply and you have a station!

For AM work, it will provide just enough power to drive a desktop linear like the Heath SB-200.  When properly loaded, the whole lashup sounds like a plate modulated rig such as the Collins 32V-x or Heath DX-100 or EFJ Viking II, etc.............................

Other possibilities are the Yaesu FT-840 (I have one of these too) which can be found for ~ $350 used.  

I miss my older Kenwood TS-430sat and TS-440sat rigs, but they were aging and parts became an issue.  I have a Kenwood TS-50s that was given to me in non-working condition.  A trip to Clif Holland at AVvid fixed that and it's in use on my workbench.  I had one back when they were new and I think they are fb rigs.  

However, the goal is for something new................and the ICOM 718 as a starter rig might be in order.  I'm not familiar with the corresponding Kenwood series or the Yaesu.

Just some thoughts.

Gud luck es 73 de W4MIL
Chuck


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not first taken away from someone else.




-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Kraemer <elespe at lisco.com>
To: kenwood <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, Jan 18, 2012 2:56 pm
Subject: [Kenwood] Recommend model


Hello all
 am a real affecionado of the older BA gear. The newest technology I have 
urrently is a TS-820S and a FT-901, both of which I enjoy but wonder what I 
m missing by not moving up to all solid state radio with more features like 
etter stability, more accurate readout, better selectivity, better noise 
lanker, no tune operation. Only problem is, although I have been licensed 
ince 1958 there was a long dry spell in there where I got completely out of 
ouch with ham gear and don't know the current technology.
 am budgeted to what I can or will spend and I would say I am limited to 
sed transceiver that costs less than $1000.
hopping ebay and other venues, looking at reviews on QRZ,  is mind boggling 
o say the least.
o, I am very interested in any personal recommendation what to look for and 
hat models to avoid.
 get plenty of digital electronics at work. I think at home I just want a 
eliable radio I can enjoy operating without a lot of menus and programmable 
eatures.
o, what say you  all?  Perhaps you have older model you want to sell?
hanks for any help on this
aul K0UYA 
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