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write your own review of the Kenwood TS-520.
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ON4MHO
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2008 03:42
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A real Kenwood radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hello from Belgium. I bought this radio from a SK friend. My radio is more than 20 years old but works like new. I've never heard such a quality "tube sound" like this before. I enjoy the 520 daily and use it much more often than any other radio I own. Excellent on TX and RX. PA bulletproof. For about 200$, what would you want more?
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N1YE
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 23, 2008 11:15
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Like driving a classic, old cadillac! Basic, solid performer.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Love these radios! Good, basic design! These are 'old-timers" by today's standards, but when they were introduced to the Ham community, they were the luxury premium rigs of their day. Great audio. Great optional crystal CW filters. Good receivers. Robust finals. Still many on the air.
I still have two of these with their external speakers and VFO's set up as a "vintage" station.
A simple SO2R switch enables me to use them for variety in many contests. I use this station almost as much as my modern gear. Used them to contact the 3B7C Indian Ocean DXpedition. If you have one that is still running...don't get rid of it. Or better yet..give those "nasty 'ol" radios to me :) 73!
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ZS5WC
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2008 03:16
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Pleasant Surprise!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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To cut a long story short-we had a AWA get together on my small farm which included a boot sale in my garage . Well , the sale ended and I picked up an sea-air worn TS-520 and a Cubic Astro 151 for an equivalent sum of $150 that nobody wanted. (They looked sad!.)To my surprise when I connected the 520 to the ant. it worked like a charm!. Output was low (original S2001 tubes) , and the carrier oscillators were a bit misaligned.
Anyhow, I immediately whipped out the tubes, cleaned the PA -did all the lubrication as required , neutralised the new 6146W tubes, and set the carrier osc. for good audio. That was it-I have YET to operate a set of that vintage that works so well!. The VFO is stable, the oscillators are spot on, audio is good , and no intermittent problems . (relays)
The Covers are RUSTED , the cast face is peeling from oxidation- but it works perfectly!.Interestingly enough-because there are no vents in the covers-the rig is pretty clean inside, and the sea-air did not get in there much. I am really gob-smacked by these old Kenwoods, and am now a fan for sure. As compared to the old FT-501 that is a real rolling stone-this rig is rock solid.
It puts out 140w on 80m , 125 on 40m so it works like new. A couple of people on our daily net have now started to play with the old kenwoods-including the TS-820 , and my mate John Fielding (ZS5JF) has even developed a new audio board for this rig, with a very good CW audio notch . This makes the '820 even better with good audio output. I will be restoring this one with a new face and covers (if I can find them)-be a worthwile effort.
Old Kenwoods are great!
Best Regards,
William ZS4L / ZS5WC
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YY1MFF
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2008 13:15
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my baby is back in home
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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my baby is back at home, after 4 long years whit out me , my rig has returned again to my property.
Today I can say that the best rig were made in the 70 and 80. I can cite the TS-_520 and the FT_-101Z/ZD Yaesu, the Kenwood radio is a incredible rig , after 35 long years of service is even giving the best of himself and the audio and reception is perfect. I do not change my old TS-520 by the newest radios , with a slight modification in the audio stage, it sounds like a nightclub, even better than the FT-mark 5.
harry Up my Ts-520 !!!!!!!! and yours.......!!!
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N2UGB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2008 06:02
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Great Rig for Everyday Casual
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my latest 520. Have had several and for some silly reason always took one to a hamfest where it was quickly purchased.
Keeping this one for ever. All the positive reports previously listed also apply to mine.
As a good, solid, everyday performer it is wonderful. It is not a super-station contest rig. As I do not contest, that is not a factor.
I use an old Timewave outboard filter. I don't have the Kenwood CW filter and one is definitely needed, most times.
I operate 100% CW so can't comment on SSB performance.
I have also heard good reports of the Kenwood hybrid serviceman out of Florida.
Lately good Kenwood hybrid rigs are not going cheap even at their age.
I suggest spending a few extra dollars for a good one. Don't buy a DOA unless you really want to put the time into serious restoration.
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KD5ALU
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 6, 2008 13:29
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I'm Loving it
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I just had my radio reconditioned by Ken K4EAA http://www.dbeweb.com/Kenwood/ and it is a great radio. It is a fun radio to use and it sounds great. Signal reports I get are very good and I am operating into a 80meter dipole made of hamsticks. If you can find one, I recomed you get it. If you have one that needs work, I recomend you contact Ken K4EAA.
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PE1NPG
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 19, 2008 07:19
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Nice Rig!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought a complete Kenwood TS-520 line for 300 euro's last week, from an older Ham who was selling all his gear... Included the external VFO, Speaker, Antenna Tuner, Station monitor and 2 meter Transverter. 30 years old, but in mint condition! Had to clean all switches and potmeters but now its as good as new. Tubes also OK. Receiver low noisefloor and excellent sensitivity (better then my IC-718), equiped with collins ssb and CW filter. Great way to get an old "boatachor line". I'm going to enjoy this for a long time!
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KA4DQJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 6, 2008 20:53
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Cheap, Solid, Timeproven Veteran
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Yep, it's a pain in the butt to reload/dip the finals every time you change band/frequency, but that's the way I started out. There didn't used to be any other way and nothing TOO complain about.
It doesn't have 160, or the WARC bands, AM mode or even digital readout either. But, most of that was unknown 30 years ago too, and was nothing to complain about.
It's heavy, it takes up a ton of space on the desk, and don't even think about split operation unless you have the external VFO accessory (which I don't).
But, having owned several 520's I only paid $50 for the current beast, and like the others this one has turned out to be bullet proof. Here's something else... it has the best receiver of anything I own. I have my rigs rotor-switched into my multiple antennas, and the 520 will receive the weaker signals that the Icom and the TS50 can't hack. With good finals, I can also get nearly 50% more output power from the 520's pair of 6146B final amplifier tubes, and when the 520 needs to be repaired I can do it myself rather than box it off to the factory and wait for the ungodly repair bill that will follow a month or more later. The final amplifier tubes also ain't squeamish about a 3:1 antenna load either, a resonance that causes my solid state rigs to run home crying to Momma.
I like my newer, all solid state equipment, but they all set on top of my old 520. Sometimes, maybe for nostalgia, maybe just for the performance of the old boatanchor, I'll turn off the surface-mounted componented wonder toys and use the old TS-520.
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KE5GK
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2008 22:34
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An Icon
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Bought this rig from the estate of an SK.
Performance was very good in all respects. Regretfully, I sold it to purchase a new TS-450S.
The new rig never received as good as the 520. I soon got rid of the 450.
Best advice: Get a good used one and hang on to it!
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W9ZXT
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2008 17:03
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COOL RIG
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I can't give this Rig anything BUT a 5.0!! I have had 2 520's, 2 830's, and an 820. They are just good Rigs PERIOD!! I Hope this might help someone who may be looking at one for a purchase. Best 73 ES God Bless!!
W9ZXT
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