It really IS fun.  Especially when you've been off the air as long as I was (about 15 years). It's like a new hobby all over again LOL.

I have been wondering lately if there is any way for me to find out when my call was first issued to me.  I know it was sometime around 1973/74 but I can't remember the date.  Does anyone know if there is any way to find out?

Thanks,
Mike
WA2TVU

Up on the new TS-480.

I have had my TS-480 now for about 3 weeks & I have to say that I'm very happy with it.  Since Oct 3rd I have worked 71 countries and every continent, all with a Windom antenna and all on CW.  The receiver is better than I expected but the addition of the 500hz filter would help in some of the pileups. 

It's small size lets me keep it right on my desk next to my computer.  I purchased a control cable from RT Systems (since Kenwood doesn't sell one) which lets me control the radio using my computer with HRD software.  Set up couldn't have been easier. 

My last radio was an IC-735 back in the 90's, which was a decent radio back then.  Maybe not having had anything made since then to compare the TS-480 to prior to buying it was a blessing in disguise since I didn't (and still don't) know how much better they can get.

All in all I'm extremely happy with the new rig and plan to keep it for a long time. (Or until I get the itch for something with more bells & whistles LOL)

Thanks, I went with the 100 watt version. I liked the idea of the built in tuner.

This is my first new rig in over 20 years so I'm really looking forward to it. 

Yesterday, I went out looking for some coax to throw up a quick dipole only to find out that NOBODY sells it anymore.  Now I have to order some online and wait till it gets here.  Was a time that Radio Shack carried it, but not anymore.

I just purchased a Kenwood TS-480 and want to hook it up to my computer so I can run HRD on it.   Kenwood say to use a DB-9 to DB-9. I've seen cables on Ebay that are listed as "CAT DB9 to USB" that claim to work on the TS-480's but before I buy one I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with this.  My only other option seems to be a DB25 (currently the only unused COM port on my computer) to DB9 adapter/converter.  Any advice on which way to go?  Thanks.

Thanks for all the reply's.

I decided on a new TS-480.  I got it from HRO for $950.00 (Kenwood is running a rebate of $250 until the end of the month) and they delivered it overnight!!  They've been selling used on Ebay for around $800 so for the extra $150 I have one that I won't have to worry about with a full year's warranty.  Hope to be on the air by the weekend.

Thanks again.

Ok, I've pretty much decided on a TS-480.  Now I'm wondering if the internal tuner is sufficient alone or would I be better off getting something like the Kenwood AT-230 tuner to use with it? Overkill?

Thanks

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for.

Will the Kenwood PS-52 power supply be sufficient for a TS-480 or would I need a PS-53?

So, given a choice between the TS480 and a TS-850 which would you go with?

Space isn't an issue for me and the prices seem about the same, give or take a $100 or so.

The 480 is obviously newer (better?) technologically and I'm not too hung up on contesting (although I enjoyed it back in the 90's). I'm just looking for a good CW rig that I can use casually with the occasional foray into contests.

Ok, now I'm really glad I asked.  Seems there are quite a few rigs that will fit the bill.  I'd like to keep my cost under $1,000, including power supply so that pretty much disqualifies the Ten Tech Jupiter, but I have seen the TS850's in my price range.

Thanks again everyone. I'm looking forward to getting back on the air and getting back in CW.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.  I'm not 100% sold on the 480, so I'll do a little more looking around before I decide what to buy.  I'll check out that FT-950.

Thanks

I have decided to get back on the air after a considerable time away.  I've always been strictly CW and I have been looking around for a good quality transceiver to buy.  I want to keep my cost reasonable and I the TS480 will fit my budget nicely. 

Most, if not all, the reviews I've seen about it seem very good and I really like the size of it (I have limited room for it in the house/shack) My question is, how does it handle CW? 

I have always been able to pull out signals thru all the QRM, having learned to copy CW while in the Navy about 100 years ago.  (Currently I can still copy about 25-30wpm in my head but only about 20 on a typewriter.)

Any suggestions?

Thanks

P.S. I don't know if this is the correct area for this question, but I don't see any "Equipment" forums.