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write your own review of the Kenwood TS-520S.
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SM5SRR
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 20, 2011 00:42
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Good product!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Its a Kenwood i.e. built like a tank!
Positives: Good audio, quite sensitive, real VFO and you can repair it yourself. Negative: Yep, it's old with tubes in the final which means you have to re-tune when you change frequency every time.
Still, a good radio and quite cheap on the second hand market.
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KB4JKL
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2011 08:13
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A Great Radio!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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What a great Radio! I have three Kenwood Hybrids, two TS-520's and a TS-530. The 520 is a real performer! It sounds great and also puts out a heck of a great signal. It takes a little work to get it tuned but the work is worth the results. The receive audio is also really great. You can still get these rigs on the used markets at hamfests from $150 to $250 bucks. Well worth the money from a reliable radio. I have a TS-2000 and I somehow still seem to gravitate to these gems and enjoy using them! You won't be sorry if you get one!
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VK3LBT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 19, 2011 04:20
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Great performer.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This transceiver is in my opinion the benchmark for the hybrids of the time. I have owned 3 over the years and have sold them on to fund newer units. I have just purchased another that has been refurbished and this will be a keeper.
One stand out area of this radio is the receiver and audio which are comparable with most current tcxrs.
With proper tune up and regular maintenance the radio will last a life time.
For those of us who want to restore and repair a 520s, K4EAA website is invaluable for Kenwood hybrids and a great source for replacement parts.
I operate an Orion 2, FT847, Ten Tec 580 Delta, IC718 and yet the 520s looks,feels and performs like a radio should ( must be the older ham in me, its big, grey, and you can actually turn the knobs without having to press them with a pencil this to me is a radio !).
I would suggest to anyone purchasing one of these classics change the HV caps (120uf 500wvdc )and the 1N60 with Schottky 1N6263 which will improve the receiver.
These are a classic unit and with TLC will give many more years of reliable service and enjoyment.
Cheers
Barry VK3LBT
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VK4FNRS
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2011 02:29
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SIMPLE ROBUST SET
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I first saw this set in 1978 when my old friend Ron (SK) brought it new.
A couple of years ago my son tired of the CB idots asked about ham radio.
I contacted RON'S daughter and finding she still had the equipment , purchased it .
I have never regretted buying the set, and although I have access to my sonICOM 716,I rarely use it.
The kenwood is the KING in the shack. for it' is forgiving of antenna mismatch, and ham(no pun ) fisted operators yet still give such great performance.
If you are after a top set these are right up on the TOP SHELF.
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VK6HZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 8, 2011 06:20
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Solid Performer
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Back in 1984 when I was first licensed, a friend lent me his 520S. Once I bought my first radio, I gave it back...I should have kept it!
Recently I had the chance to purchase a beat up 520s with external VFO, 2m and 6m transverters for $300. I grabbed it! Even thought the radio and accessories are a bit rough, she still performed the way I remembered.
I have added a SP-520 and I already owned an AT-200, so I nearly have the complete set.
The RX audio is lovely to listen to. I have not heard anything better, and I have many radios in the last 25 years!
I plan to restore the radio over the coming months and make her look new again. I have had many QSO's on the 520s, running bare foot and currently use it as a dedicated 10M radio.
It doesnt have all the bells and whistles that my FT-2000 has, but it is a pure joy to use!
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WD6GLA
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 20, 2010 23:50
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Its all been said before ...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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These are some of Kenwoods best efforts . The 520 /530 series and the 820/830 rigs are real radios . Excellent performers and tough as nails . Every manufacture has their golden years , Yeasu had the 101 series and Icom has had theirs . Good stuff . These things will still be going when the newer gear will have died because you cant get parts to service them . I've got a 520S , bought it new many many years ago , and its still going like new .... like a Timex .
N7BDY
Bob
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NY7Q
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2010 06:39
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Absolutely great rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned several of the 500 line of Kenwood.
they are all great, and beat the new stuff when it comes to just playing radio.
Too bad there are some that strip them down for parts and sell them, when they are working rigs.
I have been looking for a "deal" on one for several weeks now.
I think I will again collect the 520s and 530s models.
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N8EHW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 18, 2010 18:18
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I REALLY LIKE THESE RIGS
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently decided to get back into the hobby after a 15 year absence, and was overwhelmed by the look of all the newer gear. All those buttons, and interfaces, and software, and dollar signs. Picked up a 520S with a MC-50 and speaker on ebay, put up 40 and 80 meter inverted V’s, and started filling up logbook pages again.
Same story as most everyone else with this rig…sounds great on both ends…rock solid frequency stability…tough as nails. I don’t really know what else you would need in a rig unless you were just trying to impress your buddies…like that would ever happen.
For those of us who just enjoy the radio part of amateur radio, you can’t beat the Kenwood hybrids.
Hope to run into you on the bands so you can hear this great sounding old workhorse.
73's - N8EHW
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NN2X
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 16, 2010 20:04
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Great Rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had the Kenwood line, including 530, 850, which were stolen, All were great rigs
I just obtain the 520s (Loaned)!
Bottom line, what a great rig, receives well, transmit audio is outstanding, tuning is a breeze for the transmit. What more you need for a rig that costs a few hundred dollars...
Great radio!
Best
NN2X Tom Wright
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KX7P
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 1, 2010 22:16
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CLASSIC HF
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The Kenwood TS-520S was my first HF transciever. I still have it and it still works good. I still get great audio reports from it. It's a proven performer and you can still hear many of them on the air today.
You can still buy one used for about $250 to $300, which can be an inexpensive way to get on HF and learn a little about tubes. It's a simple to operate radio, but you will need to perform a simple tune-up procedure before operating. Nothing complicated about this radio at all.
Pick up one of these classic HF radios and enjoy a piece of amateur radio history.
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