What can't you understand?

Call Bob at Ham Radio Outlet in Delaware.
Unless you have $3300 + for a Ten Tec - the only other transceiver you can afford that does it all well is the Kenwood TS 590S....

Most hams wouldn't waste their money on two relatively new rigs at the same time unless they had a unlimited budget or had a problem with the one or the other. And I am not aware of any supplier that would just take the one back - USED and replace it with another new transceiver of a different manufacturer.

Your best bet is to drive to a ham radio store and look at them before you buy them.
My experience came from buying a transceiver sight unseen - by reputation and a recommendation only.

If the TS 590S has only been released here in the USA for one year, there is not going to be a lot written about it other then a glowing report written by the ARRL Labs that was posted in QST Magazine last year....

No one can hold your hand and no one can tell you what to buy.
Regardless of what they tell you - if you look hard enough, with a electron microscope - you will eventually find something wrong with all of them.
The Kenwood is just too new to have problems yet.
There isn't even any updates available for the one I bought last September.

On Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:54:38 +0000, Channel Jumper wrote:


Native Terran;789413 Wrote:
On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:28:34 -0700, wrote:
-
On Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:16:42 -0400, Native Terran
wrote:
-


I'm looking at the FT-950 from Yaesu or Kenwood TS-590 and Icom
IC-7200.




But other than that, I'm open minded.

But let me add that the radio is for base operations. I have a capable
radio (FT 897) for mobile use. I like it allot. However I'm open to other opinions..

Perhaps someone has used two from my list and can offer a comparison of
those two radios. I'm not an
experienced user but this isn't my first day either. Say top of the
newbee level or the bottom of
the intermediate level. Plenty of things to learn.

Not an unlimited budget, around $2000. I'm 60 and I am thinking about a
radio that will last me the
rest of my days.

Jim KC8UGV



What can't you understand?

Call Bob at Ham Radio Outlet in Delaware.
Unless you have $3300 + for a Ten Tec - the only other transceiver you
can afford that does it all well is the Kenwood TS 590S....

Dealers may be bias towards a more profitable model. Not all of 'em perhaps.



Most hams wouldn't waste their money on two relatively new rigs at the
same time unless they had a unlimited budget or had a problem with the
one or the other.

I was unaware of the short time the Kenwood (590) had been in the market. However soliciting
opinions on various models of radios isn't a waste of time. Maybe I should have listed the Kenwood
2000 as an option.

And I am not aware of any supplier that would just
take the one back - USED and replace it with another new transceiver of
a different manufacturer.


Prolly pretty uncommon. That's why I didn't think of it.



Your best bet is to drive to a ham radio store and look at them before
you buy them.
My experience came from buying a transceiver sight unseen - by
reputation and a recommendation only.



An expensive school...



No one can hold your hand and no one can tell you what to buy.


I was only asking for opinions. My hand-holding days are far behind me. I'm prepared to live by
whatever choice I make. But if I can avoid an obvious land mine, why not.


Regardless of what they tell you - if you look hard enough, with a
electron microscope - you will eventually find something wrong with all
of them.


I'm not looking for the perfect radio (for me) I don't know enough about ham radio to do that sort
of checking - to find every defect.


So, after reading your message (several times) I can't find your ideas on my request for info. Did I
miss them/it?

--
We live in a society exquisitely dependent
on science and technology,
in which hardly anyone knows anything about
science and technology.
Carl Sagan

The reason I recommended BOB @ Ham Radio Outlet is because I have dealt with BOB personally and he has never screwed me.
I'm not completely sure about his bio - but I believe that he has been a ham 40 - 50 years, the same as many of my friends who recommended the TS 590 to me.

On the other hand - you asked about the Kenwood TS 2000 - and I do have experience with the TS 2000.
The TS 2000 is a very old design - I have QST magazines here from 1999 that has that model advertised, it is a very old design.
I would put it in the same class as the ICOM 746 Pro - a lot to go wrong in a little box. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1249

Nobody is going to buy one if they hear that it sucks and is not a very good transceiver.
Most people that does buy one does not have anything else of comparative value to compare it to.
Like making chicken soup out of chicken poop.
Kenwood does a very good job of hiding the fact that the TS 2000 is a compromise between a good HF transceiver and a fairly good VHF / UHF transceiver.
Only, when you combine the two - you have to give up something to get something.
Like buying a 1985 Z/28 - IROC Z/28 Camaro and finding out that the factory stock tires are no good in the rain and the car doesn't go anywhere in the snow. On dry / hot pavement - it is a good performer - period...

Another factor in the 2000 that I do not like is the fact that when it breaks you are not only out a HF radio, but also your primary VHF and UHF radio....

Its much easier to purchase the 590 and a inexpensive mobile such as the Yaesu 8800 or 8900 and have multiband coverage and the opportunity to cross repeat in a emergency then to have a single band VHF transceiver which might be cheaper - but doesn't do anything else such as APRS or UHF or cross repeat.....

If money is an issue, you could purchase the Kenwood TS 480 SAT and still have the autotuner feature and the capability of working mobile.
Although the 590 also makes a pretty good mobile itself...

Like the robot on Lost in Space , I will tell you - warning, warning, danger, danger -- do not buy the ICOM Will Robinson...
Let them make a bunch of them and then let someone else see if they are any good before you plunk down your hard earned cabbage on one...

The FT 950 is another outdated transceiver with it's own set of issues.
The one my friend had, which I used a couple of times was a piece of junk.
When he died, it was arcing inside of the microphone - with no amplifier connected and sitting side by side - comparing it against the Icom 746 pro with 100 watts on the same antenna 10 miles apart.
The guys with the Icoms were checking into the nets on 160 meters and the guy with the Yaesu wasn't being heard....
And the guys with the Icom's were down in the valley and the guy with the Yaesu was on top of a large hill - where he could talk 2 meters for 70 miles the way you would talk with your walkie talkie to the local repeaters...

Like I said before, I had several opportunities to buy it, even for $700.00 and did not and it was only 9 months old when they sold it.

On Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:36:45 +0000 "Channel Jumper"
wrote in article


The reason I recommended BOB @ Ham Radio Outlet is because I have dealt
with BOB personally and he has never screwed me.
I'm not completely sure about his bio - but I believe that he has been a
ham 40 - 50 years, the same as many of my friends who recommended the TS
590 to me.

On the other hand - you asked about the Kenwood TS 2000 - and I do have
experience with the TS 2000.
The TS 2000 is a very old design - I have QST magazines here from 1999
that has that model advertised, it is a very old design.
I would put it in the same class as the ICOM 746 Pro - a lot to go wrong
in a little box. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1249

Nobody is going to buy one if they hear that it sucks and is not a very
good transceiver.
Most people that does buy one does not have anything else of comparative
value to compare it to.
Like making chicken soup out of chicken poop.
Kenwood does a very good job of hiding the fact that the TS 2000 is a
compromise between a good HF transceiver and a fairly good VHF / UHF
transceiver.
Only, when you combine the two - you have to give up something to get
something.
Like buying a 1985 Z/28 - IROC Z/28 Camaro and finding out that the
factory stock tires are no good in the rain and the car doesn't go
anywhere in the snow. On dry / hot pavement - it is a good performer -
period...

Another factor in the 2000 that I do not like is the fact that when it
breaks you are not only out a HF radio, but also your primary VHF and
UHF radio....

Its much easier to purchase the 590 and a inexpensive mobile such as the
Yaesu 8800 or 8900 and have multiband coverage and the opportunity to
cross repeat in a emergency then to have a single band VHF transceiver
which might be cheaper - but doesn't do anything else such as APRS or
UHF or cross repeat.....

If money is an issue, you could purchase the Kenwood TS 480 SAT and
still have the autotuner feature and the capability of working mobile.
Although the 590 also makes a pretty good mobile itself...

Like the robot on Lost in Space , I will tell you - warning, warning,
danger, danger -- do not buy the ICOM Will Robinson...
Let them make a bunch of them and then let someone else see if they are
any good before you plunk down your hard earned cabbage on one...

The FT 950 is another outdated transceiver with it's own set of issues.
The one my friend had, which I used a couple of times was a piece of

....then there's the ad in the QST I received today for a new Kenwood
transceiver to be announced @ Dayton next month. I had several Kenwood
xceivers - a 520 then an 820 and an 870 - and was happy with all of them.
But Kenwood seems to have skipped the dance recently - twice at least!
It'll be interesting to see what they roll out. Being potentially a newer
design than the competition... who knows?

Jason
WA2LJW

You can get into a TenTec for that much money. Since you have time to
check it out, there are some good deals out there but be very careful
in the used market. Most of us feel there is no ethical way to sell a
lightning struck transceiver, regardless of brand.

Having said that Ham Radio Outlet has a very good reputation here in
the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

TenTec takes a personal interest in every customer. They (and everyone
else) can be checked out pretty well on YouTube.

I have had my TenTec Jupiter since the were first available and I am
willing to upgrade when something better comes along. That just has
not happened.


I am 72 this month and I hope that I am young enough to need another
radio in the future.

However, if Yaesu does not come up with the Free Mod to make my FT-857
comply with the 60 meter changes, I am looking at my last Yaesu
product. Since this is to be a long term radio, consider issues such
as that!

On Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:54:38 +0000, Channel Jumper
wrote:


Native Terran;789413 Wrote:
On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:28:34 -0700, wrote:
-
On Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:16:42 -0400, Native Terran
wrote:
-

I'm getting a substantial refund check this year. I need advice
regarding some new hard ware.

I'm looking at the FT-950 from Yaesu or Kenwood TS-590 and Icom
IC-7200.



I have a FT897 currently and have some familiarity with their way of
doing things. I'm not totally
in love with all of their design choices however.


But other than that, I'm open minded.


Suggestions?
-
All three have been reviewed in QST. I suggest you read and review the
articles and technical measurements from these units. Much could also
depend on your intended usage. Portable vs. mobile vs. home station;
ssb vs. cw; what is your total budget; etc. Good luck on your
research. For a similar total monetary outlay, there might be more
capable rig availaable.

73 de Don W7WST-

Yes, but I was looking for personal recommendations. I _have_ read the
reviews. But these are
written by experienced operators and are hardly ever critical.

But let me add that the radio is for base operations. I have a capable
radio (FT 897) for mobile
use. I like it allot. However I'm open to other opinions..

Perhaps someone has used two from my list and can offer a comparison of
those two radios. I'm not an
experienced user but this isn't my first day either. Say top of the
newbee level or the bottom of
the intermediate level. Plenty of things to learn.

Not an unlimited budget, around $2000. I'm 60 and I am thinking about a
radio that will last me the
rest of my days.

Jim KC8UGV

--
We live in a society exquisitely dependent
on science and technology,
in which hardly anyone knows anything about
science and technology.
Carl Sagan
What can't you understand?

Call Bob at Ham Radio Outlet in Delaware.
Unless you have $3300 + for a Ten Tec - the only other transceiver you
can afford that does it all well is the Kenwood TS 590S....

Most hams wouldn't waste their money on two relatively new rigs at the
same time unless they had a unlimited budget or had a problem with the
one or the other. And I am not aware of any supplier that would just
take the one back - USED and replace it with another new transceiver of
a different manufacturer.

Your best bet is to drive to a ham radio store and look at them before
you buy them.
My experience came from buying a transceiver sight unseen - by
reputation and a recommendation only.

If the TS 590S has only been released here in the USA for one year,
there is not going to be a lot written about it other then a glowing
report written by the ARRL Labs that was posted in QST Magazine last
year....

No one can hold your hand and no one can tell you what to buy.
Regardless of what they tell you - if you look hard enough, with a
electron microscope - you will eventually find something wrong with all
of them.
The Kenwood is just too new to have problems yet.
There isn't even any updates available for the one I bought last
September.
John Ferrell W8CCW

In Channel Jumper
wrote:

And I am not aware of any supplier that would just
take the one back - USED and replace it with another new transceiver of
a different manufacturer.

On the other hand, Ten-Tec has a 30-day return policy for new gear (they
only sell direct).

http://www.tentec.com/pages/Return-Policies.html

--
Bert Hyman W0RSB St. Paul, MN

Well Burt - this persons budget is not 3300 + dollars, it is $1800 or less - or he would not be asking about which type of radio is best!
Come on now - he could buy both transceivers for less money then the TEN TECH ORION OR A ELECRAFT K3 - WHICH IS TWO OF THE TRANSCEIVERS THAT COMES TO MIND WHICH ARE RATED HIGHER THEN THE KENWOOD TS 590S AND EVEN THEN - ONLY BECAUSE OF THE OPTIONS WHICH CAN BE ADDED TO EITHER TRANSCEIVER WHICH MAKES THEM MORE EXPENSIVE THEN THE BASE PRICE AND TWICE TO THREE TIMES AS EXPENSIVE AS THE KENWOOD.

We got to compare apples to apples here.
Why not buy a Drake Line?
They were only made 40 years ago - and people are still comparing their transceivers to them today?

The problem with people is that they want everything handed to them and they do not want to do even the bare mininum amount of work and they want a iron clad guarentee that what you tell them is going to be 100% accurate with every transceiver that goes down the line.

Just as I said before about the people here who bought the Icom 746 Pro - because it did two meters and HF with 100 watts - not every transceiver had the burned out bulb problem and not every receiver was 100% perfect when it left the factory.

I like Chevrolets and you like Fords and someone else likes a Hyundai - which person has the right answer when you ask which new car should I buy?
No one - the only answer they can give to you is the data relating to known problems for that model and year of automobile. Their own experience with the personal vehicle they drove and 2nd hand advice from people who they know that owns or owned one and the problems they had to deal with.

One person might only drive it to church on Sundays - 15 miles an hour, while the other person got 3rd at Darlington with the same vehicle...
Reminds me of the story of the one lady who drove the family sedan in a Nascar race. She came home walking because she drove it into the wall.
When her husband asked her where the family car was - she said oh that old piece of junk. It laid down on me and died and I had to leave it in Daytona Florida.
I think her name was Louise Smith - and her picture was on the front page of their local newspaper - along with a picture of the crash.
She had some splaining to do as Darrell Waltrip would say!

Buy a Ten Tec - go ahead, see if I care.
But if you use it long enough - you will find out that it is a piece of junk - because the knobs on the front are so flimsy - they quickly wear out and then you are left with a $3300.00 + transceiver that doesn't work!

Ask me how I know.
Do you want pictures of the one sitting beside my desk?
It's not even hooked up.
Do you want to buy it?

You better come up with a better answer then the Ten Tec - at least if you want your answer to have any validity.
Its a real good transceiver when it works!