|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Kenwood TS-850.
|
W4HWD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 18, 2009 17:17
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Caveat Emptor!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I wrote a review about my 16+ year experience with the Kenwood 850, and I stand by it. I still have the rig, it's still running like new (only I can't find much time to get on it lately!) and all of that, but remember if you find a used one on eBay or anyhwere else these rigs 1) are easily 16 years old and 2) have been out of production for 16 years. Don't complain if you buy one, it breaks and you can't get support for it. Just sayin'...I ain't trying to start a feud but the fact is these rigs are now dated and if they quit working they quit working...same goes for any old classic that's no longer supported and long out of production.
I wouldn't part with my 850 for anything but I understand one day it will die. After serving me for 16+ years I won't feel bad. My other rig (Ten-Tec Jupiter) I think is as good but once the 850 says "73" for the last time I'll honor it by purchasing the only rig on the market I would be willing to spend my money on nowadays - a Ten-Tec Omni VII.
Enjoy your 850 but remember if you didn't buy it new like I did don't expect it to be around 16 years from now.
|
|
ARRLBOOSTER
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Oct 5, 2009 10:40
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Can't trust anymore
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I purchased one new in the 80's. Loved it. I sold it after the display went out. I bought a used one about a two years ago. After three months-the display went out on that one. After reading some of the very fine web articles describing replacement of the troublesome caps, I took that repair on. I replaced two caps and also repaired the trace that had corroded. It worked for another six months and the display died, again. I guess I would recommend as a back up rig, if you have the desire to bench it as it will fail.
|
|
26JLH
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Oct 5, 2009 09:04
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
went terminal in 2 weeks lemon
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
had this 2 weeks it gone wonky 2 boards gone ive been told its beyond economic repair..jeff..
ps stay away from the ts 950 to as this is also a crap one too..
|
|
W5WAA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 22, 2009 05:22
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
First impression, WOW
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I couldn't possibly add anything to the glowing reviews already posted, just want to reinforce the fact that if you have less than $1,000 for a rig, I don't think you'll find a better one. I feel like a kid with a new toy, just got to tell someone how exciting this radio is. WOW is the only way I can describe it. A real keeper.
|
|
K4WU
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 6, 2009 12:56
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
A ham radio classic
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I have owned my 850 since the 1990s (bought it new) and have had some mods performed on it. It is a great CW rig and it is very simple to use. The automatic antenna tuner is fantastic and the matching Kenwood speaker has a great sound. I will never part with my TS-850.
|
|
YO3IBW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 6, 2009 04:44
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Oldies but goldies
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I'm a proud owner of a Kenwood TS850s AT unfortunately without DSP100. What can I say, it's just a wonderful transceiver,the receiver is great, good quality on transmit,the Slope Tune it's a great feature,the noise blanker it's OK after the classic mod.
There are still some problems with the electrolytic capacitors on the carrier board, on the display board, some of them near the audio section and the battery that has to be changed.
Don't wait for those components to leak! Change them before they ruin your rig.
About the first DDS chips and they're failure. I don't know if the chips are the problem or the bad SMD electrolytic capacitors.
The first thing after I got this rig was to take off the cover and see if there something wrong and what do you think? On the carrier board near a capacitor there was electrolytic juice. He didn't do any damage yet but was close.
Once again, if you didn't change those parts and you rig is still working, DON'T WAIT for the problems to happen.
Ah by the way,this rig function great on 14V.If you experience the classic ALC problem check the voltage on the power supply and on the rig, near the connector. Don't let it drop under those 14V.
All the best from my side! 73's YO3IBW Dan.
|
|
KD4FUN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 25, 2009 20:07
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Awsome Radio
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
Upgraded from a TS-450 to the TS-850, very pleased, great reciever and many complients on my transmit signal. very good freq stability, a must have on the M.A.R.S. circuits. Plan on keeping this one for a while!
|
|
KC2TMD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 16, 2009 05:00
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
All Around Great Rig
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have owned an 850 for about 5 years.From what I can see,It's an amazing radio as long as you stay away from the lower serial numbers.The radios with a 20 and 30 million serial number are the ones to be aware of.The receiver is one of the best I have used. Compared to many rigs in the past I have owned and used it is one of the best.It is not a digital receive rig but once you get used to the filters and learn to use the other features such as slope,notch and AIP.The rig comes to life. Adding the DSP-100 is a big plus as well.As for transmit. I run an MC-60a with the amp off and it gets nothing but good reports.Most of the audio voodoo heads love the rig because of it's wide band transmitting. Again adding the DSP-100 for transmit does some wonderful things for quality.The rig is laid out well and is very user friendly.The antenna tuner works great and the radio has every feature you could want In an HF rig.
Parts for them are becoming increasingly hard to get.But many audio heads are still fixing them because of their hifi capability.If you buy one try to stay over the 40 million mark.The early serial numbers have problems with the DDS chips.The DC to DC boards have some problems and there was a run of them with Leaky caps on the carrier board.The noise blanker mod and battery relocation mod are both worth wile.All info on the mods and fixes for the rigs are very much available online.
If you can find one of these babies with a high serial and in good shape.Grab it.You can get them for a fair price on the used market these days.And they still hold up well against some of the newer DSP rigs out there.And if you Add the DSP-100 you have solved that problem.You get the best of both worlds.
|
|
K2VI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 1, 2009 06:24
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
5 stars
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
NICE QUIET RECIEVER,ADVISABLE TO HAVE A DSP-100 ON THIS RIG TO MAKE IT SING.I REALLY LIKE THE ERGONOMIC LAYOUT OF THIS RADIO.IN THE DAY THIS WAS IN CLOSE COMPETITION WITH THE YAESU FT-990.BOTH HAD IMPRESSIVE ACCOLADES FOR THERE APPEARANCE AND EASE OF USE.IT'S NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A DSP-100 WHICH IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE SO CALLED VOODO AUDIO.ON A SIDE NOTE...JERRY THE QUEEN UP IN CARROLLTON, MAKE SURE YOU REPORT MY POSTING ON .868.NOW SKIP ALONG.
|
|
N9ZI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 1, 2008 13:10
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Radio
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
Recently purchased a TS-850SAT & can say that it is one great radio. I have been mostly CW which it works wonderfully, but it also works great on SSB, am using the Heil goldline with GM5 & it gets terrific reports. The received audio is also great sounding. I have had several other rigs in the last few years, IC-746 - TS-570DG -TS-570SG - TS820S - TS-480SAT, also a nice radio, FT-450AT didn,t care all that much for, also have a little IC-706MK11 which is a pretty nice radio for the money. This TS-850SAT is a keeper for sure!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
