The TS-830 has tube finals and driver so you do need to tune it and will 
need a tuning aide to tune the radio. There are 3 knobs to adjust to tune it 
up and 1 affects the receive, the other 2 you *need* to have the TW-1 or 
something similar so you can tune for high output power. If you're just 
using an antenna tuner tuning for max noise, the TS-830 is not the radio for 
you. I had one for a while and miss it but had to sell it when the move was 
immanent, if I ever have the money and find one in as good shape as mine was 
in, I'd have a very hard time passing it up, I can tune it for max output on 
the TW-1 and get the good reports all day. That's actually the radio I did 
pretty well in the 10 meter contest with a few years ago and I miss it but 
right now, times are as tight as they've ever been around here so what I 
have is what I have, hopefully I don't have to scale back anymore. Really 
though if you don't have the TW-1 or something like that, you'll just cook 
the finals over and over and over again, you really need that to tune it up 
when you change bands or make drastic frequency changes on 75 meters. The 
TS-120 is probably the better choice for you, also that control you 
mentioned actually adjusts the mic gain, power is adjusted by how hard you 
drive it on that radio but that's not a bad one especially with an optional 
CW filter in it.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harry Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 9:30 AM
Subject: a kenwood ts830


> Hi all,
> I know of a kenwood ts830, in great shape! I'm not a rig expert, so, I'm =
> just wondering, what are the differences between the kenwood ts120, and =
> the kenwood ts830? From what I remember, the 830 has a built in power =
> supply, is that right?
> Also, can a blind ham tune that rig? What I like about the ts120 is, =
> there's just 1 knob on that rig, which is the power up and down knob, =
> and I just have to use the external tuner to tune the rig.
> So, if any one of yall know about the 830, let me know!
> 73,
> Trippy, ac8s