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write your own review of the Kenwood TS-120S.
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W5VK
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 3, 2006 19:12
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Nice Little Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned two. Enjoyed using them both. After I sold the first, I decided to buy another and have kept it for over 15 years. I just can't let it go. I drag it out every few months and have fun working some SSB on 75 or CW on 40 with a straight key. Only problem was loose screws on printed circuit board. Easily fixed. I've used this rig for field day. It's great! Super simple for anyone to use. Nice Little Rig.
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LW8DJI
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 18, 2005 13:18
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good good a++++
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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hola a todos,realmente me sorprendio este viejo transceptor,hace unos meses compre un ts 120 usado pero en perfecto estado y lo puse aa prueba con equipos de similares caracteristicas pero de modelos mas nuevo y no solo salio airoso sino que en algunos casos salio vencedor,cuando pruebo la calidad de un transceptor siempre centro las pruebas en el punto flaco de estos que suele ser por supuesto el receptor,puesto que es muy facil hacer un transmisor de calidad pero no asi un receptor ,que representa el mayor costo del transceptor en si mismo,y es alli donde muestran sus falencias los equipos de baja calidad,precisamente el receptor del ts 120 es su punto fuerte obviamente no pretendamos compararlo con un 756 pro sino comparado con equipos de similar o me atrevo a decir de mayor precio,este simple conversion es super silencioso y muy sensible tal vez no es lo suficiente selectivo en condiciones muy desfavorables comparado con equipos de costo mucho mayor ,la parte transmisora anda muy bien y con unos pocos toques es capaz de entregar unos 150 w medidos en mi bird 43 elmanejo es facil no como mi querido movil ic 706 para el cual icom deberia lanzar un curso de manejo por separado porque es complicasimo de usar,el 120 en cambio es totalmente amigable para los operadores como yo que solo pretendemos comunicar y no nos interesan las lucecitas de colores en sintesis es un equipo excelente para los principiantes y para los no tan principiantes lo recomiendo ademas se consigue por muy poco dinero usado en los hamfest es una buena opcion.creo que en su gama de precio es una interesante opcion ,eso si, tiene que estar en buen estado y no desajustado sino no sera valida la prueba que hagan y pensaran que es un mal equipo, 73 lw8dji
THIS IS TRANSLATED WITH BABEL FISH ALTAVISTA hello to all, really me sorprendio this old transceiver, for months it has been buying ts 120 used but in perfect state and I put aa test with equipment of similar new and nonsingle characteristics but of models but salio windy but that in some cases salio winning, when I always prove the quality of a transceiver center the tests in the skinny point of which usually it is of course the receiver, since asi is very facil to make a transmitter of quality but not a receiver, that represents the greater cost of the transceiver in if same, and is alli where they show to its falencias the equipment of ES TRADUCIDO CON EL BABEL FISH ALTAVISTA hola a todos, realmente me sorprendio este viejo transceptor, hace unos meses compre un ts 120 usado pero en perfecto estado y lo puse aa prueba con equipos de similares caracteristicas pero de modelos mas nuevo y no solo salio airoso sino que en algunos casos salio vencedor, cuando pruebo la calidad de un transceptor siempre centro las pruebas en el punto flaco de estos que suele ser por supuesto el receptor, puesto que es muy facil hacer un transmisor de calidad pero no asi un receptor, que representa el mayor costo del transceptor en si mismo, y es alli donde muestran sus falencias los equipos de baja calidad, precisamente el receptor del ts 120 es su punto hard obvious we do not try to compare it with 756 pro but compared with similar equipment or I dare to say of greater price, this simple conversion is super quiet perhaps and very sensible transmitting part is not sufficient the selective thing in very unfavorable conditions compared with equipment of much greater cost,la walks very well and with few I touch is able to give about 150 w measured in my bird 43 elmanejo is facil not like my movil beloved IC 706 for who icom deberia to send a handling course separately because he is complicasimo to use, the 120 however is totally friendly for the operators like I which single we try to communicate and not us obviamente no pretendamos compararlo con un 756 pro sino comparado con equipos de similar o me atrevo a decir de mayor precio, este simple conversion es super silencioso y muy sensible tal vez no es lo suficiente selectivo en condiciones muy desfavorables comparado con equipos de costo mucho mayor,la parte transmisora anda muy bien y con unos pocos toques es capaz de entregar unos 150 w medidos en mi bird 43 elmanejo es facil no como mi querido movil ic 706 para el cual icom deberia lanzar un curso de manejo por separado porque es complicasimo de usar, el 120 en cambio es totalmente amigable para los operadores como yo que solo pretendemos comunicar y no nos interesan las lucecitas of colors in sintesis it is an excellent equipment for the nascent ones and for the not so nascent ones I recommend ademas obtains by very little money used in hamfest it is a good opcion.creo that in its range of price is an interesting option, that if, must be in good nonsera state and not misadjusted but been worth the test that does and thought that it is badly an equipment, 73 lw8dji
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AC0CW
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 21, 2005 10:21
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Not bad for being older than the operator
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought this radio used shortly before I became licensed, and it's worked pretty well for me. The only problems I've had is that the power supply apparently crowbars on 20 M SSB, and I haven't had the time to figure out why; and also, the s-meter seems to read a little low most of the time. I think some of this may have something to do with the grounding system I was using at the time. For CW work, which is mostly what I operate, and for SSB on 75 and 40 M (I haven't tried 15 or 10, since I haven't heard much on them) it works great. The antenna I was using (I haven't set up at my new QTH yet) was about 100 feet of 14 ga wire strung out to a fencepost, only around 8 feet off the ground, run as an end fed wire through a tuner. The whole system worked very well, and probably would have been even better with a better ground. I received good reports on CW and on 75 and 40 M phone. Also, my radio does not have the CW filter, which would be nice. A used VFO-120 is coming to me soon, so I haven't had a chance to use it yet.
A couple of other points: The frequency display is easy to adjust through the left side of the radio, but the control seems a bit pressure sensitive. As a CECOM tech, this is easy for me to deal with, but might be frustrating for someone new to peforming their own adjustments on an analog VFO radio. Also, the 1kHz ring on the tuning dial, or maybe the tuning dial as a whole, doesn't quite seem to track right, but I never use it anyway since there's a digital readout of the measured frequency right there.
Overall, not a bad radio--I rate it less than 5 because of the power supply problem on phone, but I work mostly CW, so this isn't much of an issue for me. Anything else seems like nit-picky details to me.
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W6TH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2004 14:57
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For its time a great rig.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had the TS 120s on 40 meters and a friend drove up in front of my house and blew my front end. The TS 120s could not take the overload and should have had some protection, even if it meant a couple of diodes back to back. Otherwise a very hot receiver and was enjoyable in every way. I still give it a 5.
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N8ARY
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 16, 2003 16:25
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EXCELLENT FOR AN OLDER RIG
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This rig is great. It has no bells and whistles, which GREATLY simplifies operation. I sold my ICOM 706 after I bought this radio because of the great signal reports and excellent receive audio. I don't even miss having "channels." You're better off having separate rigs for VHF/UHF in the shack anyway (my opinion). I like having a separate crossband-capable rig to get into distant repeaters with an HT.
It's great for Phone, but a CW buff would have to tell about the performance on those bands.
I paid $250 for mine and it was worth every penny.
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N0TONE
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Rating: 3/5
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Mar 24, 2003 23:27
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Good starter if acquired cheap enough
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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If you can get one of these for around $150 it's worth getting as a starter rig. If you can get a TS-130 instead, it's better, because it has the WARC bands. The best part about this rig is that it is super simple to operate.
Pros:
Super simple to operate
IF shift helps with QRM
Analog dial has solid "thunk" at endpoints - blind hams can use this rig easily
Small size fits typical half-desk area often given to beginners
Drawbacks:
No QSK (major drawback - that would keep you from ever wanting to learn CW)
Audio output IC very fragile - I have repaired dozens
RF output protection circuitry marginal - I have repaired a few, but usually only after someone modded the rig to increase power
Receiver RF input transformer is very fragile - and difficult to replace, because it sits under the bandswitch shaft
This is an analog radio, not digital. The digital dial measures the VFO and reports it. So it drifts, but no worse than the analog tube radios of the same day.
High phase noise. Even very strong SSB signals never sound real clean. This also makes it a poor Field Day rig, because the broadband noise messes up other stations on the same band.
No easy method for split operation. The RIT does not have enough range for working most DXpeditions. You MUST use the external VFO-120, no longer in production. If you can get one with the external V"O, you're in luck. Otherwise, you can not work most good DX with the rig.
Receiver overloads very easily
Despite what seems to a long list of shortcomings, I still recommend this (or better yet, the TS-130S) as a starter rig because of its simplicity and ease of use.
AM
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KD5SCG
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2003 13:36
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good starter rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is one of the better "starter" rigs that I have used. It can put out a solid 200 watts pep, and only wieghs 12 pounds. This would be a great mobile rig because it has no complex menus, and it is incredibly easy to memorize the front panel. Can't understand why kenwood would stop making these.
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N5YRJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2002 15:21
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Rugged & Dependable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I owned the TS 120 for approximately 5 years. It was used mobile in a company truck which was subject to offroad abuse. Guess what, NO PROBLEMS.
Thats right this radio is rugged and dependable.
PROS
simple to operate
small enough to run mobile
great receiver
great transmit audio
currently sell for less than $275
CONS
only covers 5 bands 10-80, no warc
drifts slightly
73's
N5YRJ Steve
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KB5VJY
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 28, 2002 02:47
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Great Little Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had a 120 for over 8 years. I bought a Used 450SAT that is now my primary rig. The 120 is used for RTTY now and have had very good luck with it. Have a small switch problem that I have to clean about every 5 months but other than that I have worked the world on it. I think that this rig makes a good first rig or a back up rig..
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VE7LGT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2002 06:45
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warc bands
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Time owned: months
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to SWL1 the only way to get the warc bands onthis radio without totally re-enineering it would be to look for a TS 130 which had the warc bands plus other features such as speech processor and I believe audio filter
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