Hi.
The Kenwood TS120S and 130S radios would be better choices than the TS140S
because they at least use analog VFOs and crystal calibrators so there is a
chance of making them accessible. The older Ten Tec gear works out even
better because they used dial skirts which could usually be modified to
give blind operators a pretty good idea where they were operating. A
friend of mine had a Triton IV that he got a second dial skirt for and
somehow got ahold of a VFO knob for a Yaesu FT301 which was a little
smaller than the original Ten Tec knob. He had the 0 position on the skirt
punched with 3 dots, put single dots on the 65 khz marks, and 2 dots on the
10 khz marks on the skirt, and with the crystal calibrator and the smaller
knob so that he could get his fingers on the skirt, he could tell exactly
where he was. The beauty of it was that when he was through with the rig,
he just replaced the skirt with the original skirt, and put the Ten Tec
knob back on the radio, and the mods were essentially reversed!
I would think that you could take the same approach with any radio that had
a dial skirt around the VFO knob, like the Kenwood TS520 series
radios. Too bad Heathkit liked to tuck their dial skirts behind the bezel
where you couldn't feel them, or they would be good candidates as well.
73, de Lou K2LKK
At 02:15 PM 2/18/2008 -0500, you wrote:
>TS-140 isn't a bad one either and will take the VS-1 voice board, not sure
>on the TS-180. I want to say that has the voice board available but I might
>be wrong. Those are all good long lasting Kenwood radios. I know someone who
>even uses a TS-120 day in and day out, it's incredible how much of the older
>Kenwood gear is still out there in every day use and going strong.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Lou Kline" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 2:06 PM
>Subject: Re: prasee of accessible radios.
>
>
> > 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
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
> >> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >> >> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.7/1283 - Release Date:
> >> >> 2/16/2008
> >> > 2:16 PM
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > __________ NOD32 2881 (20080217) Information __________
> >> >
> >> > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
> >> > http://www.eset.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>No virus found in this incoming message.
> >>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> >>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.7/1285 - Release Date: 2/18/2008
> >>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
> >
>
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.7/1285 - Release Date: 2/18/2008
>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
|
