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write your own review of the Kenwood TS-2000.
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K6AER
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 26, 2010 07:49
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Great all around radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used this radio for about 4 years. It came to me as a lightning strike basket case and Kenwood would not attempt a repair. For the longest while I could not get past the droopy butt front end design. Once I started to get into the radio repair and I was amazed at the quality engineering that went into the radio. As a RF engineer I would be proud to have designed this radio. Many have complained about sensitivity of the radio but this I found to be mostly myth.
I have the TS-2000 and the IC-7600 and although the IC-7600 is a superior HF radio from features and selectivity the sensitivity issue on the TS-2000 is blown way out of proportion. Each radio increases the noise floor by about 20 dB when connected to an outside antenna. The limiting factor is the noise floor coming out of the coax.
Minimal discernable sensitivity on TS-2000 on HF is about -129 dB, this is plenty. Part of the problem is many of the new hams who buy this radio, a shack in the box, hear high power stations using beams up high working DX they cannot hear on their G5RV. It not that the radio lacks sensitivity but their antenna is 20 dB below a beam up high for efficiency. In addition, antenna down low pick up more local noise and the new hams thinks the radio is noisy. Many new radios have better DSP but on the bench I have found the radio meets specification easily.
I use my TS-2000 mostly for 144 and 432 SSB. Like everyone else doing week signal work I have mast mounted preamps on top of the tower. I have checked the sensitivity with my HP E4432B signal generator and VHF sensitivity is .15 uV and UHF is about .19uV.
I just did a comparison on twenty meters listening to a DF1 on my vertical. The signal was S0 with the 1st. preamp on the IC-7600. Then switched to the TS-2000 with the preamp on. Although the signal was not moving the S meter on any radio there was no difference in copy ability. Both had the same audio to noise ratio. About 10dB.
Part of the TS-2000 receiver numbness narrative has taken on urban myth proportions. One ham complains and then the new hams all figure that is their problem and join in.
As with all things involving amateur radio it is about the antenna, not the radio.
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ON4XA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2010 04:24
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3 TS2000 and 1 TS2000 "LE"
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi, In the past I had 2 TS-2000, one European and one American. Worked perfect. Today I have one "normal" and since a few weeks a "LE" edition. Works also perfect. Filters works great, transmit audio are excellent. Just pity that it's impossible to add him the 4m band. It's the Rolls of the transceivers.
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IK1VQY
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 30, 2009 15:50
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Wonderful rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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The TS-2000E is a beautiful transceiver, with a good listening and good modulation as for any Kenwood transceiver. The digital filters are very effective and easy to use. His behavior is very good in all bands, and I receive compliments for modulation but not required.
Has good sensitivity even if the S-meter is a bit 'miser: I may not see the signal but it plays very well and very clean
I like it very much and I would buy it again.
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WS2L
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 30, 2009 05:04
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Great all in one rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I owned a TS-2000 for several years before selling it for financial reasons. On HF I found the performance to be excellent. I also used the rig for RTTY and PSK31, hooking up any external hardware was simple. I also used it to drive my Yaesu FL-2100F HF amp and the two worked well together. This rig was my first all mode 2 meter and 70cm transceiver so I have nothing to compare it to. My previous QTH was 350' above sea level and I use a Cushcraft 13B2 for 2 meters and a Cushcreaft A4496S for 440. Both performed well and I can only assume that this was normal for these bands. I'm saving up right now to buy a new TS-2000 but will probably only be using FM on VHF/UHF. I also like that there is a built in TNC which made it possible to access my clubs BBS.
If your looking for one rig to do it all for a reasonable price this is your best bet.
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K3AXR
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 13, 2009 06:05
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Great Rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've had this rig for about a month and continue to find things it can do. It is performing great on all bands. The dual receiver concept is fantastic. I recommend reading the manual numerous times. Every time I do, I find something more it will do. I also get unsolicited audio reports. And that's just with the hand mic that comes with the rig. I highly recommend this rig. I don't think you can beat it for the price.
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N4AK
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 29, 2009 17:57
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This rig is a bargain!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my TS2000x since September 2006. I have operated it on all bands and modes with no problems. This includes meteor scatter, SSTV, PSK-31 and Olivia. I can't believe the flexibility of this rig when paired with Ham Radio Deluxe! The antenna tuner matches my 160 meter version G5RV, and my 80 meter dipole with no problems. I also operate it with a HF beam antenna and a various VHF/UHF antennas. I think it really shines on the digital modes as it is so easy to simply select a low power level for a mode. Example 30 watts for PSK-31 with the turn of a knob. If you are into all modes or just want to experiment with some of the newer modes...this is the rig for you. By all means try it with the free software HRD for some real fun and "mind candy." With current pricing for the TS2000 at under $1500 with nothing else but a power supply to purchase this is a bargain. I am still learning new tricks with this rig! You gotta read the manual to get the best results from the little jewel. I just ordered my second unit....scared the weak dollar is going to drive prices up. N4AK
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K7GLE
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 31, 2009 12:26
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Added an ATU
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Purchased new in July 20009. Not much to add to others' comments regarding strengths and shortcomings. I'm a casual user without a lot of room and was attracted to the "rig in a box" configuration. I have been very happy with it on all bands and modes, including digital, plus or minus for band conditions.
As mentioned elsewhere, the range of the onboard ATU is somewhat narrow...too narrow to cover the entire range of all bands on my HyGain AV640 multiband vertical, so I recently added an LDG KT-100 autotuner, which is a direct replacement for the discontinued Kenwood AT-300 (plus the addition of 6M).
On HF the KT-100 is activated "transparently" using the tuner button on the TS2K front panel. Because the old AT-300 didn't cover 6M, that band requires tuning "by hand" using a button on the AT-100 while holding down your CW key.
So the rig, the ATU, a couple of closely-matching thrift store speakers, and a Navigator interfacing to a laptop comprise a very capable, tidy little desktop shack.
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KC9MLL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 27, 2009 06:07
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Great Rig!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my 2000 for almost 2 years.
Once I got past the initial apprehension of touching the wrong buttons, I love it!
Kenwood did it right when they made this rig.
Being the ALL IN ONE station made it affordable for me to work all the freqs. available to a ham!
Just recently I started work on 160 Meters. Plugging right along! Go Kenwood!! de KC9MLL 73
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AB9TX
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 24, 2009 12:32
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Multi-Tasking Gem
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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After several months of research, I purchased the TS2000x. Looked at the Icom 7600- very pretty radio- but 4000.00$?? -- Fancy LED displays dont last long --
With a cheeseball homemade inverted V, I made contacts in the UK. The DSP works very well, and the filtering is incrementally adjustable, not like others with a few fixed filters.
Overall im very pleased with this rig- The build quality is outstanding- built like a tank. I like the ability to experiment with satellites, no other radio made is as diverse as this one.
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N0FPE
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 17, 2009 07:52
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Ok, just not great
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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works ok. lacks in the receiver as folks have stated. Good all around radio just not a real bright star. I have the 2000X, works ok on 1.2ghz. I use it in crossband on 1.2 to UHF. If you want a good general radio this is it. If you are looking for high preformance this is NOT the radio.
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