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| Reviews Summary for Kenwood TS-130V |
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Reviews: 10
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $(missing—add MSRP)
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Description: QRP radio
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(Web site missing—add URL)
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You can
write your own review of the Kenwood TS-130V.
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WB2LHP
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 21, 2007 13:29
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Solid QRP Performance
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Outstanding little performer. This is a fully user-serviceable radio. No microprocessors or non-standard components. Solid, well built. Great receiver. Small size but plenty of nice features. I work most everything I hear with a simple wire antenna.
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EA4RJ
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 8, 2006 06:44
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Nice vintage QRP transceiver
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Looking for a TS-120V or TS-130V for several years, my dream come true at last.
Found one of these transceivers on a Spanish QRP forum at reasonable price: 250€. That was including a TS-130V plus VFO-120 and desk mic MC-50, and shipping. Not bad. The rig showed several scratches at the cabinet, that means could be used mostly mobile or portable. As a CW-only operator, the key jack seems to be hard to plug in (perhpas never used?). No filters included that was a nightmare... Fortunately, I have found both SSB (1.8kHz) and CW (500Hz) narrow filters, new condition, in a store located in France (70€ each).
The rig itself works as I expected. Receiver is quite good and compete seriously with my Elecraft K2 (without digital filtering) and my little Yaesu FT-817 (another one with blown finals syndrome here). Power output over a dummy load was 12 Watts in all bands.
After a few hours of use in CW mode, receiver failed intermitenly. The fault was located at IF Unit, 4PDT unsealed relay (OMRON LZN4). Looking desperately for replacement, finally I learnt that there is an exact macth to make a clean fix. The original one is no longer manufactured. You will find a sealed 4PDT relay as NF4EB-12V. Brands who make this kind of relay are NAIS/Matsushita and Aromat/Panasonic.
Now I am using it as my main HF rig. Because I am not interested in split mode, I am selling the remote VFO, and even the K2. No need for more HF rigs, hi.
PROS: easy to use, QRP level, amateur bands only, clean audio, nice sensitivity.
CONS: notch filter, mechanical (relays, waffer band switch).
Rafael, EA4RJ
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K2BK
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 21, 2005 08:52
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A Great little radio.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Back in the mid 80's, I was in the market for my first all solid state, 13.8 volt rig to use on trips and field day.
I was was looking at the TS-130V and the TS-130SE, and was leaning towards the TS-130V.
"Friends" talked me into buying the TS-130SE (MORE POWER, and POWER IS GOOD!!), and I bought the SE, loaded it with the 1.8 and 270 filters and still have it. It's a good radio.
But I always looked back and thought I should have bought the TS-130V. That little 130V would be a lot of fun with a motorcycle battery. So about four years ago, I started looking for a TS-130V. Many that I found had been mobile rigs and look real beat.
Three years ago, I found a NEW one that belonged to a collector who was getting out - it was still in the box, and had the 1.8 and 270 filters (still in boxes).
Well... I paid (and paid and paid) for it and couldn't be happier.
It is a great little QRP rig - unlike most QRP radios, it still feels like a real radio, and at field day, anyone can run it with two minutes of instruction - try that with any of the current crop of QRP radios.
I currently own a crop of high end radios, including a Icom 756 Pro-III, but the little TS-130V has a special place in my heart, and still gets a lot of use.
Paul - K2BK
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DL3OCM
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 27, 2005 13:54
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Won't give it away
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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At around the time I was born - when my mom was on pregnancy leave, she passed the ham radio examination, got a SW-license and chose the TS-130V as her radio. 14 years later I really regretted she didn't take the TS-130S with reasonable power output... But she added the excellent 250-Hz-CW-Filter
I'm not active anymore myself but I will keep this rig, no matter what. It may be old, it may be heavier as other QRP-rigs, but if you want to use it as a home station you have a very compact radio. Of course featurewise it can't compete with any of the modern transceivers, but the receiver sensitivity and clarity is still great! It is a pleasure to listen to a clean, crisp signal without any audible "ringing" that narrow filters are prone to.
I tested it against a Drake TR7 and Kenwood TS-870, both are a bit better, but I was surprised to see how close the 130V got! Along with the excellent 250-Hz-CW-filter, it will be perfect for CW enthusiasts.
The only little drawback I noticed was that upon CQ-calls, most stations answered about 200-Hz above my frequency, so that when you are using a narrow cw filter, you might not hear them. I wonder if other people have made similar experiences.
However, this problem can easily be solved, it is just a little annoyance.
If you are really sure you won't need the higher output version which I assume has the same receiver capabilities, you will be happy with the TS-130V!
good DX
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KE9PP
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 13, 2005 16:45
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Great Little Rig
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have had Kenwood transceivers for many years now, several TS-520 and a TS-7500 rigs, and have ALWAYS been please with them, especially the marvelous audio reports.
I got the QRP bug last year and started looking around for a nice QRP rig. Wow, are some of them expensive. I am not much of a CW guy since I like to hear what people from all around the world sound like (I was an SWL which led me into HAM radio in the late 1950's), so I did not want just a CW only rig.
I am pretty active on eBay and typed QRP into a search one evening expecting to see the usual array of CW rigs and, low and behold (no pun intended....MUCH), a Kenwood TS-130V appeared. It said that this was just a TS-130S that was low power and intended for the Japanese home market where low power was mandated. I did some investigation, including this forum, and found mostly very positive things about it, i.e., no mods to correct inherent problems. I decided to go ahead. I took a chance, won the auction and got the rig for around $250 with shipping.
I have been using it for a couple of months now and have been working stations left and right from 75 through 10 meters. I usually don't tell them that I am only putting about 5-10 watts out to the antenna until later in the QSO and most are pretty amazed. I reduce power by having the final protection reduce power by purposely slightly mis-matching with my tuner. Even on 20, where the "big guns" lurk, I can work almost anyone who I can with my TS-520 with 100 watts. To make things more interesting, my antenna is merely a 1/2 size G5RV mounted right behind the house at 15 feet.
I worked Puerto Rico with 10 watts on 10 Meters and then I tried reducing power in steps. He said I was still Q5 S4 with 1/2 watt!
The rig is not a fully featured as most of the new menu driven QRP rigs I studied, but it works just fine for me.
The only thing that I think I might do to it is to replace the "grain of wheat" light bulbs with white LEDs to further reduce the power drain on receive.
I just worked a fellow ham in Brownsville, Texas on 17 meters who was running 600 watts to a log-periodic at 65' and we carried on a QSO for nearly half an hour. I have also worked Curacao on 17 and Belize on 20 without any difficulty.
All and all a great little rig. I'm fulfilling my urge to go QRP without having to spend a small fortune. I plan to take this rig to the top of Mt. Haleakala in Hawaii this spring and working DX from 10,000 feet!
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KE9PP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2005 11:46
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Great little QRP rig!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had Kenwood transceivers for many years now, several TS-520 and a TS-7500 rigs, and have ALWAYS been please with them, especially the marvelous audio reports.
I got the QRP bug last year and started looking around for a nice QRP rig. Wow, are some of them expensive. I am not much of a CW guy since I like to hear what people from all around the world sound like (I was an SWL which led me into HAM radio in the late 1950's), so I did not want just a CW only rig.
I am pretty active on eBay and typed QRP into a search one evening expecting to see the usual array of CW rigs and, low and behold (no pun intended....MUCH), a Kenwood TS-130V appeared. It said that this was just a TS-130S that was low power and intended for the Japanese home market where low power was mandated. I did some investigation, including this forum, and found mostly very positive things about it, i.e., no mods to correct inherent problems. I decided to go ahead. I took a chance, won the auction and got the rig for around $250 with shipping.
I have been using it for a couple of months now and have been working stations left and right from 75 through 10 meters. I usually don't tell them that I am only putting about 8-12 watts out to the antenna until later in the QSO and most are pretty amazed. Even on 20, where the "big guns" lurk, I can work almost anyone who I can with my TS-520 with 100 watts. To make things more interesting, my antenna is merely a 1/2 size G5RV mounted right behind the house at 15 feet.
The rig is not a fully featured as most of the new menu driven QRP rigs I studied, but it works just fine for me.
The only thing that I think I might do to it is to replace the "grain of wheat" light bulbs with white LEDs to further reduce the power drain on receive.
I just worked a fellow ham in Brownsville, Texas on 17 meters who was running 600 watts to a log-periodic at 65' and we carried on a QSO for nearly half an hour. I have also worked Curacao on 17 and Belize on 20 without any difficulty.
All and all a great little rig. I'm fulfilling my urge to go QRP without having to spend a small fortune. I plan to ake this rig to the top of Mt. Haleakala in Hawaii this spring and working DX from 10,000 feet!
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PA3EHZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 8, 2004 14:51
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fine set
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought the Kenwood 130V second hand. The small
set is very handy and sturdy, even in mismatch with the antenna. I operate the 130V together with the Kenwood AT-230 antenna tuner who does a good job. Being a ham again after many years not being active I have a lot of fun with this set.
Specially the receiver is very sensitive. I am glad I bought this 130V to start again.
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W0AKR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2002 17:23
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A great and fun little ham band radio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the TS-130SE and I love it. It hears well and contrary to other opinions, performs well too. You really can't compare it to a radio of the 90's and beyond. It just isn't that technologically "advanced". I don't think it was ever produced to really compete with the QRP market.
It is small, easy to use and has one of the best Noise Blankers (Kenwood is known for their great noise blankers) I have ever used. A mobile rig ? Not in today's compact car environment. Fun to use for camping, field daying, or just plain base operating. I have the 500hz CW Filter and unfortunately, there isn't a large number of filter slots available.
If you can find one for around $300 it is worth it. The K2 QRP rig is far more expensive, in fact, many of the QRP rigs are as much as a really good used HF radio (can't figure that out).
THe 130 doesn't have dual VFO's so watch out for a used VFO-120 as a matching companion (another reason you couldn't use it mobile if you plan on trying to work a "pile up" mobile).
All in all, I like the little radio and the fact I can work the WARC bands. You set you power output and that is it. No NR functions, menus, etc., to dink with.
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WA4PQD
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 9, 2000 13:32
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Good to Go.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Similar to TS-130S/SE -- See those reviews. Different PA and LPF. Mine looks like a rental unit judging from the way the cabinet looks. But inside it is very clean. It puts out about 12-15W CW and the RX excellent. Narrow filters are a great addition. Easy to work on. I added filters and replaced the S-meter and freq readout dial lamps w/o making the rig look like it was having open heart surgery. The manual states it draws 700ma on rx, same as the S/SE unit but I've not verified that. Seems like a reasonable "QRP" rig. Nice size and weight and definately rugged. But I understand they kinda rare/difficult to find. If you are looking for a 'true' QRP (5w) there are alternatives (elecraft and others) that are more of a power miser. Or consider the S/SE model (around 300USD on the used market) and operate a lower power. They weigh 20% more at 12 lbs (5.6Kg). Overall a nice litte rig w/ a fine rx, options like external VFO (vfo-120) and CW filters. Built-in cw side-tone and has a 'spinner knob'. I just like it -- nice piece of usable art history from the past.
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AK2A
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 22, 2000 11:21
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Great Qrp Rig
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Time owned: unknown months
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This radio is the qrp sleeper of all times. There is nothing not to like and I would pit it against a K2 at any time. If you are a QRP op, and you come accross one of these little gems, dont hesitate, they dont make them any more. Anyone with questions may e-mail me at ak2a@aol.com
72
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