|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
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.
|
AA1BW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 2, 2012 01:19
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
GReat HF rig
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I like HF operations very much, and have several HF rigs. The TS-850 is the best of all.
If you consider this rig, you should be aware of the fact, that this is an older rig, and as you can see the web there are some faults, and you do have to perform some maintenance. If you are not willing to do this, please stay away from it.
This has the most ergonomic controls on any HF rig I have owned. The split operation, tracking stations is just excellent.
No DSP, but it is not needed in a rig like this. The narrow filters are just excellent. I have all mods done. So Inrad roofing filter, 1st IF 500Hz and 250Hz filter, and 2nd IF 125 Hz Filter. With this setup CW is just fun. I NEVER exprience QRM, as you have the REV buttton (reverse BFO injection) as well as SSB slope tune and notch to fight all possible QRM.
The only weaker point is the NB, which was designed to fight the not existing "woodpecker" and similar noises.
The SSB operation is also excellent with the rig, however I do very little of this.
I also hooked it up to a buddy AEA PK900, and with this setup RTTY is fun, and rock solid.
So if you are a keen dx chaser (CW), and find this radio cheap, consider it. Be aware of the leaky capacitors, in serial number up to 03.
But please be advised, once you buy the radio, you will be tempted to buy the extras (3 filters, roofing filter from Inrad, memory recorder board from PIEXX) These can add up in costs close to the radio's purchase price.
73s' Lajos
|
|
KC6DXN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 30, 2011 18:17
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Absolutely LOVE my 850
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
I am a newer ham, having been licensed as a GENERAL for 2 years from the start. It is easy to get started on 2 meter, monetarily speaking. But I had to go cheap and get a dino-101ZD on Ebay to break into HF. Hey, that was a good radio, but long in the tooth. Got GREAT experience tuning the valves. But I yearned for something simpler.
When I had a few $$$ stashed away (or room on my card), I decided to reach for something more modern. It was a very tough choice between an FT-990 or TS-850. Both appeared to be exceptionally fine performers for the price; with the 990 possibly edging out the 850 in selectivity. I went with the 850, because I noted that user support forums and logistical support were more common. Also, I got a good lead on a rebuilt TS-850 (which replaced or FCN'd all the irritating common bugs in this unit). Either way, I would not have been sorry.
This transceiver is an absolute pleasure to use. I ALWAYS get great audio reports, using my MC-60 desk mike. I have plenty of filtering options and other knobs to tune out the noise. All the important stuff is right at my finger-tips. The less important stuff (like one-time set-up stuff) is menu-driven. Only the most advanced of modern rigs will out-perform this solid platform. The only serious drawback to this guy....no DSP; unless you get the optional DSP-100 unit. But I never have had the chance to use DSP, so I do not know what I am missing.
It is a very capable rig, perfect for the newbie. You will be hard-pressed to outgrow this fine transceiver.
|
|
N9UY
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Dec 9, 2011 17:40
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
You're In Control
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I bought my TS-850SAT from an estate of a ham I didn't know, so I have no idea of its provenance, but I do know that it works terrific! My secondary radio in the shack is a Yaesu FT-857D which, with all of its menus, I sometimes feel is running me. With the TS-850 I feel like I'm in control of the radio because there is a knob for everything.
I am an avid DX'er; with my modest hexagonal beam antenna, I have busted many a pileup, most of the time with only 100 watts. I also consistently get unsolicited comments on my audio, using several different mics.
I use the radio for casual contesting so it may get 20 hours of use on a weekend and there are absolutely no issues with it. I have added the digital recording unit but no accessory filters - just the excellent built-in analog filtering. I discovered that I can use the notch filter as a kind of super narrow bandwidth filter when the bands are really crowded.
I realize that it is an old radio but I will hate to part with it. I might just take a chance on a TS-950....
|
|
N4ZAW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Nov 19, 2011 07:31
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Previous owner -- I miss it!!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Back in the 90's when it was first offered for sale by A.E.S., I bought one. It was the purchase of a lifetime for a poor boy like me.... THEN,I was hounded by a buddy of mine in the same financial boat and I eventually relented... Just too much monetary gain to continue to say "no" any longer! But I sure miss that rig's awesome notch filter! If you don't get the TS-850 you're reading this review to learn about, get it's big brother, the 950.
I've had many other HF rigs since then. The ones I recall;
Yaesu FT-757GX
Yaesu FT-840 (I currently own two of these fine entry-level rigs).
Kenwood TS-440
Icom IC-703+
NONE of those came close to the 850's audio quality, both transmitted and received, nor it's selectivity. Can't speak for sensitivity, or any other specs, but suffice to say, I would trade my twins for another 850, and that is saying something -- even one that was rode hard n put-away wet!
|
|
JP1DJV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jun 24, 2011 21:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
still shining with glare
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
I have used many sort of HF transceivers in 30 years. I did AB comparison with TS-850, TS-590 IC-7700, FT-990 and so on. TS-850 is getting pretty old, but it certainly works best of all these models on 20m (I don't operate on other bands). In my situation, TS-850=TS-950>FT-990>>IC-7700. The RX sound of TS-850 is so clear than the others that I can "read" even extremely weak signals, much better than IC-7700 when external noises don't exist on the band. (7700's noise reduction features are great,actually.) 850's memory keyer is also highlight. I can record my own word spaces in it. TS-850 may not be the best of bests, but I just prefer it because my ears are well trained by 80's Kenwood's sound. hi
|
|
KG4ODX
|
Rating: 4/5
|
May 8, 2011 13:52
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
WONDERFUL RADIO
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
A wonderful transceiver but it is prone to problems.
Be sure to visit N6TR's web page for a long list of problems with this rig.
http://n6tr.jzap.com/850repair.html
If you capable of doing most repairs yourself you and the TS-850 will get along ok.
This is a great rig but will have problems but it is one of my favorite rigs and I use it daily
|
|
VA7GP
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 24, 2011 14:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
20 years and still a competent performer
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
My TS-850 is still going strong, now at 20yrs old. Over time, I've added a TCVCXO, both 500Hz filters and the 250Hz INRAD filter. I've used this radio extensively on RTTY (and now PSK-31), in both casual operation and contest situations: it's awesome to be able to select any filter, in any mode - so, RTTY can use AFSK on USB and benefit from the 250Hz bandwidth. In addition, the '850 runs full-power, continuously, in these data-modes.
The computer-controllable features are overshadowed by newer rigs, but the '850 is still OK in this regard (especially for automated logging). Computer control works fine under Linux. Weaknesses are the computer-control-inaccessibility of some features like RIT, and the leisurely 4800-baud serial port - I cannot realistically perform continuous-tuning via PC at this baud-rate, although frequency-jumping (to a new freq) works fine, as do small nudges (slow tweaks) to your operating frequency.
The built-in tuner (in my '850S/AT) works nicely; I try to make reasonable requests of it (ie a large, or nearly-matched antenna), and it very-rarely cannot find a match.
I've never used the direct-FSK RTTY mode, nor have I used FM or AM modes. CW is great, especially after you perform the CW adjustable-sidetone-level mod (from the factory, the sidetone level is fixed :-( ). USB and LSB operation on the '850 have cemented Kenwood's reputation for audio quality, and the availability of IF-filter high- and low-cut edge tuning really helps carve the desired signal out from QRM.
My '850 has a 4-million serial number, and seems to have escaped leaking batteries and capacitors.
In summary: I remain quite happy with my purchase, and I remain happy with this highly competent rig's performance.
|
|
N3ZRX
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 2, 2010 18:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great Radio
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
My very first HF Rig was a Kenwood TS 850SAT and wanting to see what other items on the market i sold it after a year or so. That was twelve years ago and today at the Warminster Hamfest I bought my second one . It works like new ,with a pair of 500 hertz filters installed this rig is sweet . And the price less than 600.00 with the autotuner and a mc60 Not much else to say as we all know by now how well the 850 works. So if you come across one at a hamfest or ?? do not pass it up..
Ted
|
|
N3YV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 13, 2010 13:34
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
FANTASTIC & AMAZING!!!
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
|
I had many radios thru out time,always looking for the new thing,but sometimes new do not mean the best from,,, Icom to Yaesu I try them new and old,,kenwood in the other hand I never care for ,until I meet my new friend Mr.TS850S and what can I say,,,is the best Damm audio I ever hear,,The easiest radio to get that imposible QSO without wasting time trying to figure out how to operate the rig,,,every pile up just 100w in the first call they come back,,always and the audio reports from those stations are always super,,,i dont know why i didnt get one of these a long time ago,,is amazing and I'm super happy with it,,,I mean whats better a young wine or an award wining vintage wine,,,73's
|
|
HL2KXT
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 14, 2010 17:34
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
great rig.
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Current ts-850s limited 1 대, ts-850s 1 대 using the same equipment, two vehicles 10 years, including how to adjust the sound or after the analog very heart ever be satisfied.
ts-870 use, but had pleasure in part out of the sound quality and output. After the transfer of 870 and ts-850s and two are used. Is very good equipment. hl2kxt
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
