Butch, this is a great comparison of the F6 and T90. I've inserted my own
comments below, prefixd with (n5swr). Keep in mind I've never used the f6
but I've used the T90 since it was first introduced.
-Ken
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Hams For blind ham radio operators
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Butch Bussen
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 6:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: accessible VHF equipment
Here is a note I post to the list occasionally whenever this subject
comes up. Remember these are just my opinions and experiences....
This question comes up every month or so and I write a reply and
think I should have saved a copy of what I wrote last month. So,
this time, I'm saving a copy. I Habbe both hts. Honestly, I use
the Kenwood more for ham use just because, in my opinion, it is
easier to program and I have all the local repeaters in it for Las
n5swr - I think the t90 is a piece of cake to program too)
Vegas. I finally bought a cable to program the t90 from a local
ham. He also included the software, which by the way, works well
with window-eyes. I do also have the cable for the Kenwood. Here
are my thoughts, for whatever they are worth.
First, let us compare assessories. Kenwood is high on these
things, as all manufacturers seem to be, but Icom is even more
expensive. Examples. Kenwood software is free on line. Icom
software I think is $25.00. Kenwood computer programming cable is
$35.00. Icom cable is $45.00. NOte, this cable is available from
another source, rt systems, for $25. The DC power cord is
(n5swr - I have the rt cable and the same cable also works with my IC-718,
pro-96, VX-2R and IC-2100)
similar. $35 for the Kenwood, $45 for the icom. The icom
specificly says in the book not to exceed 11.5 volts, so you'll
need some kind of regulater if you plan to run it on 12v
cigarrette lighter, which you could build or buy their high priced
(n5swr - yes, ridiculous price)
dc cord. I haven't tried either speaker mike. The case is
another example. The kenwood case is kind of a rough feeling
materiall and comes with a belt clip. There is an opening over
the keys, so radio can easily be run in the case. The cost is
(n5swr - t90 case is easy enough after some use it softens up)
$15.00. The icom case is a leather feeling material and very
soft. It has a transparent cover over the keys, so is a little
harder to run the radio in the case. I think cost on this case is
$25.00.
Layout. I prefer the layout on the kenwood. It has a
more standard keypad, basically 4 by 4. The icom has 3 keys up and
down and 5 across which I think is a little strange.
(n5swr - yes but you quickly get use to it)
Tv band and cw. The two main reasons I bought the t90 after
already owning a th-f6 are these. The icom has a cw readout for
(n5swr - I never have to bug my wife to read the freq while scanning around!
To bad it doesn't read CTCSS and memory number)
frequency. Also, the Icom has TV channels preprogrammed. NOt a
big deal, as I programmed all of the channels into the kenwood
when I got the cable. I don't know if Icom also played with the
filtering or what, but the t-90 beats the kenwood hands down for
receive on TV channels. I compared them side by side many times.
(n5swr - IMHO, T90 is much better than F6 for a general purpose
receiver/scanner)
I've even swapped antennas. Icom always wins. TV stations I can
't even hear on the Kenwood are crystal clear on the t-90. I
suspect it has something to do with the bandwidth. I ran into an
engineer at the N A B convention here, and he tole me Tv channels
were 25 KC wide, and I think Fm is a hundred.
The icom does not receive as high a frequency as the Kenwood, but
I don't recall the exact numbers. One big drawback, and I don't
know why they did this, is what the icom does above 900. I use
some wireless headphones and speaker systems at home and I like to
grab the ht and listen to these outside. The kenwood works fine
as I can put it in wide fm mode above 900. Not so with the t-90.
It forces you to narro and won't receive wide at all. Also, the
(n5swr - yes but T90 will easily bring in those analog 900 phones and baby
monitors <g>)
Kenwood receives sideband. It isn't very sensative, but does make
a nice hf transmit monitor. I was running a kenwood 130 when I
was back In Kansas over Christmas and used the Kenwood ht to get
me close to the wanted frequency.
(n5swr - I have to use my Kaito 1102 to do this, BTW 1102 is great portable
SW receiver)
I feel the Kenwood is easier to program. The icom isn't bad once
you get the hang of it, I just think the Kenwood is more
intuitive. I haven't checked lately, but I think the t-90 is less
expensive for the basic package than the Kenwood.
(n5swr - until you buy all the accessories!)
I am not sure why, but the battery seems to last much longer on
the Kenwood. I need to check and see what battery saver options
(n5swr - agree, the t90 battery doesn't last long enough)
the icom has. Also, last week end the Kenwood was run down, so I
grabbed the t90 to run in the mobile on my little outside antenna.
I was amazed how much garbage I kept hearing on the t90. The
Kenwood seems to be much tighter.
(n5swr - this seems to be a common complaint with the t90, turning on the
attenuator helps much and I use tone squelch on all the repeaters that
provide it.)
As far as ham band coverage, the icom works on six, and the
Kenwood on 220, so that is something else to consider. If you run
the icom on six, you screw on a little add on thingy on the
antenna to make it longer.
(n5swr - I've never used the t90 on 6m, not very many repeaters around on
this band, that I can hit anyway)
I guess, if I had to pick, I'd pick the Kenwood. Actually, I'd
like to cross them and come up with one heck of a radio. Hope
this helps. AS the old saying goes, your mileage may vary...
73s. Butch WA0VJR.
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