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write your own review of the Kenwood TS-480HX.
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WU7X
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 14, 2009 15:35
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Great DXer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this radio for several years now. Also had a 480SAT which I recently sold as it was redundant. The HX has two CW filters installed and it works beautifully with the AF DSP. In a little over 24 hours I just finished working K4M on 17, 20, 30, 40, & 75 M. Two phone contacts, three CW. All with 200 watts. It is very easy to switch between the A/B VFOs in order to find out where K4M was listening, then piggybacking the last Contact.
The radio is very easy to interface with various ham software packages like: Logic 8, HRD, MixW, MMtty, etc. So you can quickly move from computer control to pushing a button on the control head depending on what you are trying to accomplish.
The control head sits on a "Sticky Pad" directly under my LCD monitor. The body is mounted under the desk. I can't imagine going back to having a huge radio sitting on top of the desk taking up all that space.
My next task is to integrate the HX with WriteLog and MMtty and give digital contesting a try. Will report back on how well it works under those conditions.
Dale WU7X
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W2OZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 21, 2009 08:52
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Great Mobile Station
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Kenwood radios with the VGS-1 Voice Guide System, cover all menu items, not like other brands, this makes visually impaired operation a pleasure. Great audio, Great receiver and filtering with optional 1.8Khz ssb filter. 'PF' Preset Function key allows easy low power tun without changing the main transmitter mode or power level. Exact power setting in 5watt increments to 200watts, no annoying guesswork. Well designed front panel remoted via data cable, 5 wire RJ12 a little fragile and Kenwood exclusive with not enough strain relief and fragile locking ramps. The software for the 'PF' key would have been better if it supported a 2 function key ,,'tap' and a 'hold' so 2 functions could be assigned.This would prevent the constant reprogramming of the 'PF' key from #62 S meter to #67 Low power tune. An optional mic supports 4 additional 'PF' keys, but it is obsolete.
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KH6DAN
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 20, 2009 13:39
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Nice to have the extra Punch
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned quite a few Kenwood HF rigs. I like them. I can not explain why (my vhf/uhf rigs are Icom for the same reason ... don't ask me why). I wanted to see if the extra power would make a difference (I do not dare to use an amp at my QTH - houses are almost touching).
The rig is much smaller than I'm used to (I'm used to a big boat anchor sitting in front of me. This rig would probably work well mobile because it's relatively small - but I haven't tried it mobile). There are all band mobile rigs that are smaller ... but not 200 watts.
At first I didn't like the fact that the head does not attach to the body. If you did use this mobile you will need to purchase the MB-480 portable mounting kit for $55.00 if you want the body and head to work as one unit. I do not have that issue when using it in my QTH.
I'm now used to the head being separate and it's not an issue. The extra 100 watts does make a difference. At least one S unit. I use a TS-2000 side by side for comparison (I like the audio of my TS-2000 better and wish the TS-2000 had the 200 watts). This may sound strange to the readers because I've read many of the reviews here on eham for both rigs and it seems that most folks like the audio better on the TS-480HX than the TS-2000.
Kenwood does offer a free download radio control program for the TS-480HX (need a DB9 cable and a computer). I do not use it to control the radio but it does work really well with the rig's DSP features. You can filter out the noise using some of their pre-sets, or create your own using the ARCP-480 software (free).
The TS-480HX gives up the built in auto tuner for the extra 100 watts (you get the auto tuner in the TS-480SAT 100 watt model).
You need to use 2 separate DC power cables (included). I also use two separate 25 amp power supplies (you need two with a minimum 20.5 amps each). You can run both power cables to the car battery when mobile, though.
I grown to really like the rig. I would give it a 5 except my particular rig (even with the DSP control features) does not sound as good to me as the TS-2000 (with its own anti noise features).
Back to the TS-480HX ... I am very happy with the 200 watts and I have been able to make contact and exchange signal reports with stations that could not copy my call sign with with the TS-2000. The signal reports are generally good as well.
Summery:
Very compact HF-6 Meters rig
200 watts
Should be easy to use mobile
Free control software
Audio could be better
Need 2 separate power cables (included) for TX and RX.
The audio for 6 meters was a little off frequency right out of the box. Signal reports on 6 say I'm a tad off freq.
I would purchase again. Next QTH is going to be on an acre with no CCR and an amp for my TS-2000.
If you can not / do not want to use an amp - than this might be the way to go.
73
KH6DAN
http://www.kh6dan.com
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LA9DAA
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 23, 2009 11:43
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Superior NB for mobile
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Using the TS-480HX mobile from my Hummer H2, I am very impressed with the noise blanker ! From s7 to s0 Cannot tell if the engine is on or off with the NB switched on. Far superior to NBs on other radios i have used mobile. Good rx.
Also like the higher power ! All in all a very nice mobile rig
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W7EIB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 15, 2009 21:17
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Fun
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just cant get it to key my amp up. maybe I just cant see anymore to soider .. but the radio is a 100% kick butt radio. 6hrs old but night and day to my TS-50 & 850SAT. 73 to all. PS dont tell anyone I cant see anymore.
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W7WIN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 22, 2009 13:53
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Great Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I like this radio well enough that I purchased two.
One for the house and one for my truck.
Fine radio.
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N6NJS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 10, 2009 16:38
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Great Secret Rdaio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have owned this radio for about a month now and more pleased with it than most others I have had (out of the box) which starts out with TS-830, TS-530, Ts-430, Icom Pro II, Icom Pro III, Icom 706 MKIIG,
TT Jupiter, TT Paragon, TT Omni VII. I know I havn't had it very long. But right out the box it was easy to use. I have tested the receiver using my ear and did the A/B test listening to weak stations using the TS-480hx and the Icom Pro III and I hear the same weak stations from both. I don't have expensive test gear just my ear. It is so nice to have 200 watts of power at my fingertips. The menus are easy to use and access, once you program them in there is not much to to access them very often. I get outstanding audio reports using the Heil GM-5 microphone. I think I'll sell the Icom 706MKIIG I have in the car and buy a new TS-480hx for it.
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VE7REN
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Rating: 5/5
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May 13, 2009 13:13
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league of its own
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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this radio beats the pants off my 857d . all round!!!!! my 706mk2g is better then the 857d but not as good as this moster. 200 watts a big + ease of use,features,etc. all in all, this radio performs. its alot bigger then the forementioned radios,and has the seperate faceplate,but it is solid. just wish you could run one supply cord for 100 watts,other then 2 cords to 40+ amps. still beats the competition although its been out a while. only radio i feel is close is the 7000 icom....good riddence yaesu 857d,yuck. but..........ill still keep the mk2g. its steps above the yaesu.
ve7ren brent
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KE4GRP
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 7, 2009 15:56
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After nearly two years..
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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My first review was just after only 4 months of owning this radio, and I loved it then. I have had the rig for almost 2 years, and love it even more. I have taken the time to learn a little more about it, using the filters, etc. As indicated in the first review, I have owned several different radios, ICOM, Yeasu, and I think that this is the best radio in it's class.
I keep seeing new $4,000 radios come out and can't believe they can't include an extra hundred watts for the price.
Guess I will hang on to this for a while. Be interesting to see if I see any for sale at Dayton. I bet not!
73
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GW4IMC
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 18, 2009 14:53
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Very good rx with optional filters
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Further to my earlier review. I have now installed two of the optional IF filters and this radio gets even better. The filters make a very good rx even better. I work mainly CW. With the narrow filters installed the rx is now clean and very, very, good.
For the money this rig is well worth a look and is great fun to use. I give this rig a 5 because of the excellent value, and very good RX. In todays world I think the price of this equipment will be very hard to beat.
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