The menu with speech on the TS-2000 is the menu number and the setting so 
you need to refer to a menu list. I can say using the radio daily I go in 
the menu at most once a year and that's more playing than it is actually 
changing anything.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Shaffer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: Kenwood TS-2000 Versus TS-590


>I knew this would be an interesting thread.  I'm about to borrow a TS-2000
> from my friend who some of you know, Rod Moag, W5NDS.  As I understand it,
> the menu access with speech isn't good, if it exists at all, with the
> TS-2000.  My software will access both the 2000 and 590 menus though.
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Jim Gammon
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 11:28 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Kenwood TS-2000 Versus TS-590
>
> One important difference between the 590 and 2000 is that I don't
> think the 590 covers VHF and UHF.  Am pretty certain it stops at
> 6 meters, (54 MHZ) 73, Jim WA6EKS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date sent: Mon, 19 May 2014 09:43:19 -0600
> Subject: Re: Kenwood TS-2000 Versus TS-590
>
> Both radios are very accessible.  The ts590 speaks more for sure,
> with voice
> readout of swr, power, mike gain, compression and all that
> stuff...the
> ts2000 doesn't voice all those things, but it's easy enough to
> determine
> your settings anyway by click counting or whatever.
> the ts2000 is using 14 year old technology, while the ts590 is
> much much
> newer than that...similar performance perhaps ON HF etc, but the
> overall
> newer technology gives  the ts590 an edge in receiver
> performance.
> It is nice to have everything in one radio though...the vhf and
> UHF sections
> of the ts2000 are extremely good, as good as any dual band mobile
> etc.
> why you would want to control these particular radios with
> software is
> beyond me since that is usually far more cumbersome than using
> the buttons
> on the front of the rig.
> The ts2000 programming software is accessible and is useful for
> programming
> your vhf and uhf channels etc...I presume the ts590's programming
> software
> is equally accessible as kenwood software is generally.
> Not sure about control software though.
>
> If it's me, I would buy the ts2000.  Better bang for your buck
> right now,
> even though it's older technology.  It gives you everything in
> one radio, is
> easy to operate and is reasonably accessible.
> If your after mostly HF, then the ts590 is definitely the way to
> go.  It's
> an excellent little rig and competes with anything else on the
> market.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 9:22 AM
> To: <[log in to unmask]
> Subject: Kenwood TS-2000 Versus TS-590
>
> Hi!
>
>
>
> I am trying to decide which is a better rig for me between the
> Kenwood
> TS-2000 and the Kenwood TS-590.  This breaks down into two
> considerations:
> 1) "accessibility" since I am blind and 2) radio functionality.
>
>
>
> As far as accessibility, from what I have read the TS-590 seems
> to be a
> bit
> more accessible.  However, this difference seems to be small.
> One thing I
> read from a accessibility review
> <http://active-elements.org/2012/12/01/kenwood-ts-2000/>  of the
> TS-2000
> is
> " The TS-2000 was fitted with the optional VS-3 voice chip.  The
> VS-3 has
> been superseded by the excellent VGS-1 on newer Kenwood's, but
> gave
> unparalleled access to Kenwood radios when introduced."  Does
> this mean
> that
> the VGS-1 chip can be used in the TS-2000 to get its better
> performance.
> Also, both rigs have a computer control software interface
> option.  How
> accessible are they with JAWS?  Any comments about the
> accessibility
> differences of these two rigs would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> As far as radio functionality, the TS-590 seems to be a better
> HF rig
> (160 -
> 6 meters); but that is all its got.  On the other hand, the
> TS-2000 has a
> far more broader range of capabilities: 160 meters - 70 cm; 23
> cm option,
> TNC, and on and on.  From what I have read, the TS-2000 is a
> very good HF
> rig; and the difference between it and the TS-590 here are not
> all that
> great.  So, what are your thoughts about the radio functionality
> between
> these two rigs?
>
>
>
> Many thanks!
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Richard