Hi Shaun.
If you are looking at used gear, and can live without the S-meter, a gem on
the used market would be the Kenwood TS450S or the TS690S. These radios
had very little menus other than the setup menu to tell the radio what
filters were installed, and if you get one that has the AT450 auto tuner,
that tuner was a bit more forgiving than the newer tuners I've worked
with. Also, if you can find a Kenwood TS440S in good shape with the auto
tuner and voice board, that is another good candidate. You have to be
careful with the TS440S radios as they tended to develop microprocessor and
keypad problems, but if you can find one that isn't exhibiting any keypad
problems and will turn on, you would otherwise have a gem of a radio.
Regarding the S-meter, I don't put very much stock in them because most of
them are grossly inaccurate anyway. The one in the TS2000S isn't accurate
within a mile. They are only relative, and what they tell you is whether
one signal is stronger than another, but they don't even tell you
accurately how much stronger. So, I just don't put a lot of stock in those
meters.
73, de Lou K2LKK
At 07:01 PM 2/18/2008 +1100, you wrote:
>the budget unfortunately precludes me from some of the nicer kenwoods.
>so yeah, am looking for the best for the bucks I got. as long as it
>tells me what frequency I'm on and s meter readings, and possibly mode,
>then that will do. everything else is incidental at this juncture.
>I'm not registered on ebay and don't plan on it at this time either. I
>do look around vkham.com and various dealers that stock second-hand gear
>to see what I might be able to pick up and, for how much.
>right now, if I want no accessibility, teh Yaesu FT817 is looking great
>problem there is I'd have to fork out for a milenium QSYer. so the Icom
>IC718 looks the go for the time being. I did want an IC703 but they're
>not carried over here in australia anymore and to import one would cost
>me more than I'm prepared to fork over for a radio of that type.
>
>
>On 18/02/2008 6:05 PM, the old scribe known as Colin McDonald was able
>to impart this pearl of wisdom:
> > are you looking for the least expensive accessible HF radio? or the most
> > accessible HF radio?
> > Or are you looking for VHF/UHF?
> > The IC-718 is probably the cheapest HF rig with a voice chip out there.
> > Although, you can get an IC-706 mark II g on ebay in good condition for
> > quite a bit less.
> > the 706 will cover 160M through 70CM...though without great sensativity or
> > performance on the HF bands.
> > The ts-2000 is of course probably the most accessible, with the most
> > features right now.
> > The ts480 is also very accessible, likely the most blind accessible HF
> radio
> > on the market.
> > But, if you have a lower budget which won't allow for something like the
> > ts-480 or the ts-2000, perhaps the 718 might be your best option for
> > strictly 160M through 10M.
> > You can also find used ts-570's out there. these are a very
> accessible, and
> > great performing radio.
> > 73
> > Colin, V A6BKX
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Shaun Oliver" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:39 PM
> > Subject: prasee of accessible radios.
> >
> >
> >> Hi ladies and gents, would it be at all possible to get a general
> >> overview from you all of what you think is the most blind friendly radio
> >> and why? my budget might just stretch far enough to get me an icom
> >> IC718, however, I ain't gonna go into this blindly as it were. I realise
> >> there's plenty of reviews already but, I want to hear from those in
> >> particular that have been around when things were just that much harder.
> >> thanks in advance.
> >> shaun
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
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> > 2:16 PM
> >>
> >
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>
>
>
>
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>5:50 AM
Louis Kim Kline
A.R.S. K2LKK
Home e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Work e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Work Telephone: (585) 697-5740
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