Hi Lou,

Is the 790 accessible?  Think I'm going to look for a better dual bander
myself very soon.

Thanks.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis Kim Kline" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 2:09 PM
Subject: The Limitations of the Top of the Line Radio


>I have sought the top of the line radio that is all things to everyone
> without costing enough to require a second mortgage to pay for it, and I
> have come to this conclusion.  There ain't no such thing.
>
> I am of the opinion that we are asking too much.  What we are asking for
> is
> a radio like the Kenwood TS-2000 that covers all bands from the bottom of
> the longwave bands through UHF with all ham bands between 160 meters and
> 70
> cm, that delivers full power out on all those bands, that can handle all
> of
> the dissimilar band plans for repeater subbands on all of the VHF-UHF
> bands, that will handle PL tones, that will have a receiver that sounds
> great everywhere, that is fully accessible, and that has an auto tuner
> that
> will be as efficient as anything else on the market and cover at least 160
> through 6 meters.
>
> Well, that's a tall order, and after looking at all of the options, I find
> that manufacturers usually end up making compromises in a couple of
> areas.  Either they short-change the auto tuner to make room for all of
> the
> other stuff, or else they make the radio HF only, or at least Hf&6 meters,
> and trade off 2 meters and up.
>
> I think that what I've come around to is the realization that it is still
> better to run top of the line Hf and top of the line VHF/UHF gear as
> separate radios--at least if you are a stickler for performance.  Possibly
> the other approach that might make sense is to take Anthony's approach,
> and
> get a radio like the Kenwood TS-2000 which is probably the closest thing
> to
> a all-in-one radio you are ever going to get, and live with an external
> tuner.
>
> Myself, I still like what I've been reading about the Kenwood TS-480S, and
> I think I'll continue to run my faithful Kenwood TS-790A for 2 meters/70
> cm.  I have yet to see one of the all-in-one radios that can touch the
> performance of the '790 on 2 meters and 70 cm.
>
> 73, de Lou K2LKK
>
>
>
> Louis Kim Kline
> A.R.S. K2LKK
> Home e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
> Work e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
> Work Telephone:  (585) 697-5753