RadioBanter - Is Kenwood sleeping?

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On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 22:13:48 +0200, "Dutchm@n" wrote:

One of my rigs is a TS570S.
I expected Kenwood to put out a matching VHF/UHF
all mode and am rather disappointed.
Looks like Icom is the only choice such as the
IC821 or 910 as a companion.

ZS6KR

it's getting hard to market vhf/uhf only rigs, given the
all-in-one-bucket mentality nowdays, aka the 706/857/ts-2000 etcetera,
etcetera.

is the 910 really better at vhf/uhf than the ts-2000? the 910 review
in qst was only so-so.

bob
k5qwg

I have heard that Ham sales for Kenwood is sparse as well as other
manufacturers.
Will get worse with the decline of the solar cycle.
I know Hams who will not buy now until solar cycle picks up -- a long wait.

A Kenwood rep told me that their audio division was holding up the Ham side.

So a new flagship rig from Kenwood may not be forth coming.

They seem to be concetrating on the lower price range and the multiband all
in one boxes for sales.

But the question is does the performance of an all band box give the
performance of separates ???

Have seen the TS-790A all mode VHF/UHF base station for around $750 used.
Nice rig -- will accomodate 2m, 440, and 1.2 GHz but not 220MHz. However the
1.3 GHz module is pricey -- power at that frequency does not come cheap.

--
Lamont Cranston

The Shadow Knows
"Bob Miller" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 22:13:48 +0200, "Dutchm@n" wrote:

One of my rigs is a TS570S.
I expected Kenwood to put out a matching VHF/UHF
all mode and am rather disappointed.
Looks like Icom is the only choice such as the
IC821 or 910 as a companion.

ZS6KR

it's getting hard to market vhf/uhf only rigs, given the
all-in-one-bucket mentality nowdays, aka the 706/857/ts-2000 etcetera,
etcetera.

is the 910 really better at vhf/uhf than the ts-2000? the 910 review
in qst was only so-so.

bob
k5qwg

"Dutchm@n" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
| In article , "Dutchm@n"
| wrote:
|
| One of my rigs is a TS570S.
| I expected Kenwood to put out a matching VHF/UHF
| all mode and am rather disappointed.
| Looks like Icom is the only choice such as the
| IC821 or 910 as a companion.
|
| ZS6KR
|
Why not just add transverters to the 570. The 570 + some decent
transverters (DEMI, Elecraft, DB6NT, Kuhne) will blow away the current crop
of V/U or HF/V/U rigs.

Dale W4OP

Have seen the TS-790A all mode VHF/UHF base station for around $750 used.
Nice rig -- will accomodate 2m, 440, and 1.2 GHz but not 220MHz. However
the
1.3 GHz module is pricey -- power at that frequency does not come cheap.

Tell me about it- I'm finishing up a 400W solid state amp for 23cM- almost
need a mortgage to fund it.

W4OP

"Dutchm@n" wrote:

| Yes, the Kwd 2000 is OK for the money but surely a
more modular station is much more sensible - not all
in one small box as any breakdown stops all station
activity.

Having a backup rig would solve this problem. Keep your old rig when you buy a
new one.

Secondly I prefer a rig that is ergonomic for thick
fingers and dont need to put on glasses to operate.

Your comments?

Do the new rigs still allow computer control? That might help you. I've had my
old (almost ten years old now) Kenwood TS870 externally programmed for years.
Those dinky buttons are hard to see and when I first got the rig I sometimes hit
the wrong one. But once I figured out how to program them to a computer keyboard
no more problems.

BTW interestingly, the TS870 at almost ten years still does fine for me, but I
have had to replace the computer 3 times just to keep up with what I need. Maybe
that's why Gates is rich and Kenwood is suffering...

Hi guys,
Nice to hear your opinions and suggestions. There are
also some nice mobile dual banders like the TMD700A.

I wasn't even thinking of performance comparisons with
the TS2000 - merely operating practicality and
ergonomics because that's what counts here. Admittedly,
I am also guilty of putting an aesthetic aspect to it.

I also do VHF/HF(400W) relays on local Sunday morning
HQ and club bulletins so as to reach most of Southern
Africa. I go out on both frequencies at the same time
when I take the mike.
A VHF(Alinco DJ180 and HF rig(TS940) are hardwired
together with a home-brew switch-over box.

Thereafter our club bulletins the same way but with VHF
-HF and HF-VHF relay capability so everyone can hear or
call both ways. (This is legal in ZS)
This has worked well over the last 5 years and quality
has been fine-tuned to excellent.
No computer control, just a headset and switchbox.

Under normal conditions my personal preference is to
seperate HF and VHF physically and hence my query for a
companion to the TS570S.
There is so much more freedom with a modular station as
opposed to all-in-one buckets. However, it looks like
there are no new VHF/UHF dual-band base stations on the
horizon and we have to look backwards instead of forward
to obtain one. A converted TMD700A in base-station format,
internal supply and larger screen would also be nice.
Is Kenwood reading this?
ZS6KR

"Dutchm@n" wrote in message
...
|
| wrote in message
| ...
| | In article , "Dutchm@n"

| | wrote:
| |
| | One of my rigs is a TS570S.
| | I expected Kenwood to put out a matching VHF/UHF
| | all mode and am rather disappointed.
| | Looks like Icom is the only choice such as the
| | IC821 or 910 as a companion.
| |
| | ZS6KR
| |
| | TS-2000 a very capable VHF/UHF/HF, SSB/AM/FM/PKT/RTTY/CW....did I
miss
| | anything....Oh yes and the birds. It also has a built in .5 PPM
TCXO
| | which you'll have to pay around $300 U.S. for in the IC-910. Nice
to
| | have that extra stability for tracking the birds.
| |
| | You also need to install a mast mounted preamp for the VHF/UHF work
| when
| | using the TS2000.
| |
| | Just my opinion of course, but I think a lot of rig for the money.
| |
| | 73
| | Dale, K9VUJ
|
| | --
| | Yes, the Kwd 2000 is OK for the money but surely a
| more modular station is much more sensible - not all
| in one small box as any breakdown stops all station
| activity.
| Secondly I prefer a rig that is ergonomic for thick
| fingers and dont need to put on glasses to operate.
|
| Your comments?
|
|