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| Reviews Summary for Kenwood TM-271A |
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Reviews: 99
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Average rating: 4.4/5
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MSRP: $189.95
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Description: 2meter mobile
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Product is not in production.
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More info: http://
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K4SDW
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 1, 2012 15:21
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All in All Good Radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned 2 of these radios for over a year now.
The things I do not like about this radio is the High/Low power setting only. I wish it would let me reduce power down to 5 watts. I don't like having to go into the menu to set the squelch.
Those are the only things I would change if I could. I do like the radio over all and would buy it again. I have gotten very good audio reports and even had a few ask me what kind of rig I was running they liked it so well.
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KA3YVS
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 2, 2011 16:16
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Outstanding Commercial Quality Mobile.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have 5 of these rigs. I am active in Emergency Management and we use one at the EOC, in each of my 3 vehicles and in my home. My wife and sister each have amateur licenses as well. We live in a rural area with limited cell service so power output, reliability and rugged features are essential. I have used these rigs since 2007 and none of them have given me any problems. I use the MCP-1A programming software which works well. My only con was the cost of the programming cable. $69.95 from HRO was pretty steep. I highly recommend this radio.
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KE4RWS
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 2, 2011 13:44
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Love this radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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It’s hard to rate a radio “perfect” because there’s always *something* that keeps it from being a “5”. However, I love the TM-271a and I personally find it easy to use. Although it does differ in design from the typical Kenwood amateur 2-meter mobile, it appears to be based more on the commercial design than the usual amateur architecture, hence the 25/60 watt RF output vs. the typical amateur based 5/10/50 watt output (among other similiarities).
I have owned my 271 for at least two years now and it is a pleasure to use and sounds great on the air. The newest style microphone is a big improvement in my opinion and has a solid, commercial feel in the hand. The buttons are adequately backlit and of good size, as are the controls and lighting on the radio itself. The radio display is also of adequate size and is easy to read, and does not suffer from “washout” from direct sunlight unlike other models of the past. Like most every other radio made today, backlighting is accomplished using LED’s, which should never burn out or require replacement
Some have claimed the 271 isn’t as “sensitive” as typical amateur radio models; however I have never noticed the 271 being less sensitive over my other older Kenwood models. It's clear people sometimes say things like this merely because of their own perceptions about a product vs. real experience or data. The 271 does utilize a typical menu system that takes practice, not to mention getting used to. I don’t know what to tell someone who claims this is too hard for them to navigate because I’ve owned most every radio made for the last 18 years and although different, the TM-271a is among the easiest to program *if* you decide to just learn it and not use older radio models as an excuse to deem the 271 as “too difficult”.
T radio gets very hot using the high power setting if used for even moderate conversations. Although there is no factory cooling fan attached, I use an old CPU fan salvaged from a computer if used mobile, or a small desk fan if used as a base installation. This helps tremendously to cool the heat sink and allows you continuous talk time without the worry of burning your radio up.
The 271 has pads clearly marked on the circuit board for adding a data cable for attaching a TNC for packet, APRS, or whatever data you happen to fancy. Some other brands actually included either a pigtail or a data jack in the event this feature was utilized (the Yaesu FT-2600R comes to mind). Although Kenwood opted not to include a data port, I’m happy they at least provided the ability for people to easily add one if desired. Unfortunately, they did NOT do this for the TM-281 :(
I noticed there is a Narrow FM setting in the menu setup, which makes me wonder if the 271a is narrow band compliant. I know the radio is capable of 2.5 KHz resolution for receive, which gives you the required 7.5 KHz tuning resolution for receive. But the narrow band transmit selection makes me think it may be truly narrow band complaint. I heard Kenwood introduced the TM-281 to have a narrow band compliant 2-meter mobile on the market, which implies the 271 is not. Who knows . . .
I love the 271a and see no reason or need to trade-up for the new 281, as they both seem to have the same features, or at least none that would give cause to change out any time soon. From what I can tell the 281 is pretty much the same radio with an amber backlight (I’m sure there are differences though).
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W8MPX
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 21, 2011 16:40
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very good rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I HAD THE KENWOOD 271 I USE THIS RIG FOR ECHOLINK 24/7 GOOD AUDIO 60 WATTS 24/7 NO PROBLEM NOT BAD . IF YOU GOING TO USE IT YOU NEED TO PUT A FAN BECAUSE IT GET VERY HOT WITH A FAN IT WORKS COOL
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AK4OA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 15, 2011 20:53
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Very Pleased
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Bought 2 at about $140 apiece. I see they now have TM-281...love to know the difference. I have had good luck with them so far. For the price I could not resist.
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NQ5F
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 2, 2011 20:50
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It's a winner
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this rig several weeks ago to go in my new truck. I am extremely happy with it and with 60 watts into my 5/8 wave can work repeaters all over that I couldn't before. I like the display color and alpha tagging, but wish it had more channels (200) with alpha tags. When you name the memories you can only have 100. The mic is great and is lighted so you can find it when you drop it on the floor at night. I got it for $100 (used).
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KG4LOV
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Rating: 5/5
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May 15, 2011 14:43
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Nice simple radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've only had this radio a couple of weeks, but really love it. It replaces an Alinco DR-605 that I never really cared for. The 271 is much simpler to use and program, and the audio is good and clear and the tx reports are also good.
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KB5YYX
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 12, 2011 11:12
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Poor Performance
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The 271-A is fair. It never worked out of the box, wouldn't transmit under any circumstances. I could receive NOAA broadcasts, repeaters all sounded like a burst of static. I sent it to Kenwwod for evaluation. Kenwood (FTH Group) said it worked perfectly and sent it back. I am ready it to trash it for something that works.
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KC2UUX
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 12, 2011 19:58
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Great rig, and true narrowband as well
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After 20 months of mobile use in the weather extremes of the northeast US, I will cast another vote for the rock-solid performance of this great rig. The TM-271A is also (as of this date) the only 2M rig from the big 4 (Yaesu,Kenwood,Icom,Alinco) that will truly do the 2.5khz channel step (aka frequency step), necessary to access all of the new narrowband frequencies. I will add a 2M/70CM mobile rig soon; not to replace the TM-271A, but to sit beside it. Yes, in my opinion, this Kenwood is that good.
73 de Chris
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9W2FED
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 2, 2011 07:42
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good perfomance except receiving audio for FM Wide mode
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Anyone facing problem with receiving audio on FM wide? it's work well on narrow. There is another 2 members that facing same problem.
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