| W2NCS |
Rating:      |
2011-06-26 | |
| Fun, Fun, Fun! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| OK, I have owned a lot of rigs since 1968. I have always been a Yaesu fan, so this is my first experience owning a Kenwood. In my opinion, this rig is EXACTLY what ham radio is about. FUN!! Before I purchased this rig, I read all of the reviews from other hams. I took many with a grain of salt. There are always people that look to complain about something, and if you look hard enough, you can always find something to complain about. But let's be realistic here. Where else are you going to find a rig that has all of the features that this rig does for the price????? I find it quite interesting that the majority of people complaining about this rig are comparing it to rigs that cost anywhere from two to ten times as much! The fact that anyone would even DO this is what convinced me to purchase this rig. If someone came out with a car for $5000.00, and everyone compared it to Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW, would you buy it? I have owned this rig for approximately six months now, and I have to say that I never had so much fun with a rig in all of my years as a ham. If you don't have ten grand to dump on a rig, take a look at this one. You won't regret it! |
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| M0NYW |
Rating:    |
2011-05-15 | |
| Ok for shack in the box |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After trying alot of radio's in the past and only having room for one radio in the shack I purchased the T2KX. Ideal HF-23cms plus sats what more could I ask for....
Well I have noticed a few times on all bands I lose sensitivity and have to reset the radio. I have the latest firmware. (hasnt been an update in a while Ive heard???
Also thought I would try my hand at sats BUT noticed that there is a sprog on 436.799Mhz which two sats downlink are on 436.795 which makes this no good for that!!! so glad I didnt invest in antennas and rotators.
Not to impressed so far but its early days. |
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| KC9IMT |
Rating:      |
2011-05-08 | |
| Simply amazing! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Starting as a Yaesu ham, I've slowly moved into more sophisticated rigs both in the car and the QTH, and most recently, I purchased this rig as my main radio.
A lot of reviews on here say it's a noisy radio... And it is, when using the preamp when most of the time, the preamp isn't necessary. Now, for those weak signals, the preamp certainly helps pull those weak DX signals out of the noise, but for the most part, I keep it turned off, because it isn't necessary.
Overall, this radio has everything I could ask for - 100w on 160-2m, 50w on 70cm, tons of filters, a built in 160-6m antenna tuner, and is overall very easy to use. Did I mention that it has amazing ears on it??! It really does. I can totally understand how some would say that it's "noisy" - I say just turn the preamp off.
If I could find a downside, it'd be the separate 2m and 70cm antenna jacks. I don't plan on ever using the rig as a repeater, but having the functionality is a bonus. A $50 144/430 duplexer allows me to use a dual band antenna with this rig, so like I said, it's not really a downside, just something that I'm not used to!
Love this radio! Looking forward to many years with it! |
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| N8ERM |
Rating:  |
2011-04-22 | |
| Trouble +++++ |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Just sold my last one with full disclosure. I have had 3 TS-2000's and 1 TS-2000X rigs, All of these developed filter problems. Expensive to fix with no help from Kenwood in repair costs of a known flaw. |
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| KK8ZZ |
Rating:      |
2011-03-21 | |
| Latest are best |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I've owned three of these guys, and previously considered the RX as noisy and troublesome to listen to per my other reviews... recently had the chance to replace a puzzling IC-910H with a TS-2000 with a 9XXXX serial number and the difference between previous TS-2000 versions and this one is absolutely astounding... no longer is the radio hard to listen to, now easy on the ears and a real pleasure to hear... not sure what our friends at Kenwood have been up to, but the 9XXXX serial number version is a real winner on HF.
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Earlier 3-star review posted by KK8ZZ on 2010-05-07
I've tried these TS-2K rigs twice, and each time the RX is far more noisy than anything Icom produces, included the lowly IC-7200.. the RX is just plain tiring to listen to. Just to make sure, I hooked my IC-7000 to the same configuration that I unhooked the TS-2K from minutes before, and the difference is REALLY different. While "your mileage might vary", I've done this twice (really wanted the satellite functions) and the results are the same. Wait for the upgraded rig that's supposed to be announced at Dayton 2010 and available later in the year... |
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| N0HAN |
Rating:     |
2011-02-25 | |
| not bad HF kinda poor VHF and up |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
OK I have owned this for about 4 weeks. I opted for the TS-2000X version with SP-23 and MC-60. Also installed the voice and DVR so its a complete station! I have to admit I like kenwood for the most part but will admit it lacks on VHF UHF and 1.2. The receiver is decent on hf with enough filtering for most all situations. My older Yeasu 290-790 radios are much more sensitive than this. I have owned the TS-711 and got a chance to measure the Kenwood TS-790 and have to admit the receiver on vhf on this is on par with the 711 in other words if your a avid VHFer pass on this unless you want an armchair radio. I know kenwood can do better, they did with the TS-790 and even the TS-700 series but after years of time you would figure they could do better than the radios they built in 70-80s. Over all I like this radio but its performance on the higher freqs is just not up to the cut. I also measured this and friend did his and we both had the same results. He actually had radios made in 70s that where very sensitive compared to this. So yes its an OK vhf and up radio and a better than average hf radio. But is way not cutting edge even looking back 10 or so years. This is going to be my back up radio for a K-3 with transverters.
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|
| W3DD |
Rating:      |
2011-02-24 | |
| The BEST Shack-in-the-Box ever made |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is my 2nd review of the Kenwood 2000(X). Checkout my Dec 9, 2008 09:04 review. Now in the 3rd year of use I have a little more to say.
First off, like many others, I have too many rigs. I’ve tried to control myself but when the Icom IC-7000 arrived I had to sell my IC-706MKIIG and buy it. I used the IC-91A until Yaesu got is right with the VX-8DR. Even considered moving up to the FT-2000D before my common sense took over. I own way too many HF, mobile, & handhelds.
Now to the TS-2000: If you can have only one radio, this is the one to own. It truly is a Shack-in-the-Box. Everything any ham radio might have you will get in the TS-2000. You get 100 watts on all HF bands, 6 & even 2 meters. 70cm gets 50 watts and 1.2 GHz (satellite) gets 10 watts, if you install the UT-20 module. I’ve just started messing with satellite.
Dual receiver, Digital filtering, Cross band repeat, with a Built-in Auto Tuner, Built-in TNC, & Built-in RS-232 for computer control, etc, etc, etc. No other radio manufacturer has ever even tried to put all of this into one radio. I wonder if some of the less than positive reviews were from folks partial to other radio manufactures who just have not offered anything comparable to the TS-2000.
I just recently picked up another TS-2000 for $650 & installed it in the trunk of my Cadillac. With the RC-2000 control head up front and the Little Tarheel & Diamond 2/440 antenna in the back, I’m on 2 meters on the way to work in the morning and 80 meters around town. It is soooo cool.
My base unit has the DRV-3A Digital Recording Unit and the VS-3 Voice Synthesizer installed. These are really fun unnecessary options.
So once again, if you have a TS-2000 and you don’t hate Kenwood you probably love this radio. If you’re looking for a rig that does everything, you’ll probably love this radio.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W3DD on 2008-12-09
Before I begin let me say, I am not in any way qualified to give a true review of this radio. Having only participated in this wonderful hobby for a few years and only recently acquiring the TS-2000X. But I feel compelled to express my thoughts about this radio.
Like many of you, I have a closet full of BACKUP rigs and have played with many others. (BTW, could anyone give me advice on how to explain these extra radios to my YL.) I started with an IC-706 a friend lent me. Then eBay helped me find an Alinco DX-70TH, Yaesu FT-840, Kenwood 820S, IC-706MKII, Yaesu FT-2500M and a Kenwood 520S. I still love the older radios but the TS-2000X has taken me through an emotional rollercoaster. I hate it then I love it.
First it has the most confusing front panel I have ever seen. The hard core, Xbox playing, code writing, Frys Electronic customer will love this command and control center. It took me about three hours of playing with it to realize how great it is to have ever setting at your figure tips. I do not have to dig through a multi-level menu system like the IC-706. Secondly, the size is smaller than a lot of the other rigs I have acquired but way too large to be called a portable. After a few weeks I have decided this is the perfect size unit for me. It sits not on a shelf but on my desk with my computer keyboard and mouse. The manual is very important for this rig as without it you will probably not be able to enjoy the unbelievable number of features this unit offers. Although some friends have said it does not have a great tuner, I have tried everything from a clothes hanger to alligator clips on my old cable TV coax on the roof and have always gotten something. I currently have a home brew Carolina Windom 160 knock-off.
As time goes on, I am sure to learn more and more about the Kenwood TS-2000X. I do not expect it to be my last radio but for now it is absolutely my favorite.
73,
W3DD
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|
| KA7SLC |
Rating:      |
2011-02-08 | |
| I've owned 12 HF Rigs and... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is my Forth Kenwood TS-2000 since they came out almost a decade ago now. Feel free to search back in the reviews and find my other TS-2000 reviews. I was a little less seasoned back then, but since that time I have owned over 12 HF and satellite rigs. Each review listed has been on a different TS-2000 and at a different QTH/antenna/setup, etc. as I have moved around a few times over the past decade. My new QTH is a noisy place and nothing over here works that great because of high powered lines a block away. Plus that noise is continually being competed by noisy Linksys Wireless Routers and cheap unshielded Plasma TV's. Add our eco friendly CFL's and dimmers and the amount of man-made noise our HF hobby has to deal with is greater than ever before.
Once I got my antenna system up to par (HF Tribander and Rotatable 40 Dipole) the bands opened up for my little TS-2000. Can you use a wire and nothing else? Sure, but in my case the wire seemed to add noise that no radio, not even a $5k radio could compete with.
Learning how to actually adjust the TS-2000 is key to making this radio shine. I believe that it is really important to adjust the Hi/low shift filters (I don't even touch the DSP). Also properly using the AGC in slow mode makes the Kenwood shine. Much like the 1o year newer TS-480 radios, I use Lo-Cut setting at 100-200hz and hi-cut filter at about 2800-3000hz, to really dig down into the signals.
Of course you'll never be able to enjoy any radio until you get your antenna system up to par.
I think it goes without saying that new hams should put their money into a good antenna system and forgo all the $5k transceivers, the 1000 watt amps, rx preamps, all the bells & whistles. For an under $1500 USD all Band, all-mode radio, the TS-2000 cannot be beat (even after a decade).
In closing, I should mention that the TS-2000 works digital modes perfectly. I use the Signalink USB unit for PSK, RTTY, etc. When you use the Signalink TS-2000 data cable on the acc port, your audio and data transfer/setup is the easiest thing in the world to accomplish.
While you are HF Psk'ing on one side, you have a full transceiver available for local FM use available on the other side. I'm simply saying that of all my base rigs, this continually does the job, and does it better than expected. I only wanted to give this rig a 4.5 out of 5, because Kenwood has never put out a major firmware/hardware update to deal with the 436.800 sat birdie (even though you can tune around it) and hasn't added 60 meters like almost all other manufactures have done.
Kenwood appears to have forgotton about the DC to Daylight market.
Doing the MARS mod gives you the 60 meter option as a bonus, but may void your warranty.
The TS-2000 has fully customizable TX Audio and RF Bandwith settings and puts out that nice professional Kenwood sound.
I'm looking forward to grab a ICOM IC-9100 (when it finally comes out sometime in the year 2020 - I jest, but at time of this review, it's been in FCC Type Acceptance mode now for almost 18 months) and I'll compare the two radios side by side and report back!
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KA7SLC on 2009-02-18
Over the past 6 years I have owned THREE TS-2000 rigs and loved them all. I also have been a huge Icom lover as well. This radio takes a skilled operator and YES, it does work awesome for super tight contesting. The filters narrow right up and pbt helps. This system when properly adjusted rival my IC-756pro.
For all that it does, It DOES well! Tuning oddball wires and condo balconies are a blast with it's excellent tuner.
Also, they are a very coveted used radio as well. They have awesome resale value as well.
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Earlier 4-star review posted by KA7SLC on 2002-01-23
First off, I'm not disrespecting the Kenwood TS2000, anymore then Kenwood itself is doing by severely de-valuing the rig with their recent and drastic price cuts...
I was one of the first owners and reviewers of the TS2000 almost 1 year ago and while I still own the TS2000, my group (not just myself) had the opportunity to use the TS2000 and an ICOM 756PRO side by side at the JOTA Excercise in October 2001. We switched back and forth between the ts2000 and the pro on the same band, same antenna, etc...
I had been louding the TS2000 as the best receiver I have ever owned, and I've owned over 10 HF rigs.
I just hate to eat crow, but the 756PRO out performed the TS2000 in receiver sensitivity and selectivity hands down on both 10 and 6. (We had two mobile command posts operating HF within 100')
It concerns me to read all the recent TS2000 reviews damning the ICOM 756PRO.
Another thing that upsets me about Kenwood is that they did NONE of us hardcore TS2000 owners any favors by severly DE-VALUING the TS2000 this past month by dropping the price to 1699.00, with their unheard of $500 coupon.
Most of us thought that 2219.00 was a great price down from 2499.00 when it first came out, although I didn't say it after I got the rig, I felt as most others did, it was only worthy of a 1999.00 MSRP price.
Lets face it folks, as reported here and in other TS2000reviews, most agree that the ssb RX on 144 and 432 are dismal at best....but I admit, the ts2000 does shine effectively on the HF & 6 mtr bands. There are at least 5 folks here in Utah I know that agree with my assement and we bought our radios at different times.
In reading these reviews, a prospective buyer needs to keep and Open Mind and don't get turned off from any other radio line, until you can sit and play with several HF rigs, side by side, using the same settings, antennas, etc.
One of the reviews stated that the ICOM 756 PRO was 2199.00, it's being closed out at 1899.00 at AES and I heard that some re-packs are going for 1699.00 around the country.
I wished I could afford both the TS2000 and an ICOM 756PRO, but like 99% of amateurs, we can't, so we often try to purchase the most bands and modes for our buck.
I will say that at 1699.99 the TS2000 is a VERY AWESOME Deal, don't EVEN think about comparing the Yaesu FT847 for 1499.00 with the finer TS2000.
We had a FT847 at JOTA and after 5 minutes of switching back and forth, the Yaesu FT847 got unhooked and placed on the back shelf of the Command Post,unused, for the rest of the JOTA Weekend.
While some might not agree with our testing, it is our opinion having owned or played with all three radios, as far as receiver pluses, I would rate the Icom 756Pro at a 9 (only an OMNI 6 was better) and give the TS2000 an 8, the ft847 came in at a dismal 5.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by KA7SLC on 2001-01-31
I have owned 13 differant HF radios and just sold my Yaesu FT-847 to move up to the Kenwood TS2000.
I hunted around and found it for 2185.00 at a dealer in 'TEXAS', quite a bit cheaper than anyone else.
I love the design, but then again, I got the opportunity to talk to the engineers from Kenwood while at Dayton this past summer. They said it would be a Quad Conversion HF system, just like the 870, Kenwoods other top of the line HF platform.
They didn't lie and the receiver really performs. I haven't seen a receiver like this since I played with a Ten Tec Omni 6.
This will be my Fourth Kenwood HF rig now, I still own my trust TS690at.
I got to play with an ICOM 756 Pro and the TS2000 right side by side, switching the antenna and the Kenwood sounded better and hada better noise floor, with out any DSP on.
If I was really loaded, I'd have the 756 Pro also:)
I have personally talked to a few TS2000 owners and I haven't heard ONE negative comment or hardware problem, which is in itself, UNUSUAL with new products, but then again, KENWOOD took almost 2 years on this one, and another year of testing before mass producing the rig, unlike the disaster with the latest FT100 and Icom HF mobiles:) (Which I both own).
If I have a gripe about this rig once it's 'really' broken in, I'll be sure to post it here first!
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|
| WD4AB |
Rating:      |
2011-01-25 | |
| SO GOOD I JUST BOUGHT A SECOND ONE! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This radio is an amazing shack in the box and performs amazingly.I have had my first one since 2006 with no issues. I do a lot of weak signal work on 2 meters, 6 meters and 432 and it has worked admirably. Check out my contacts just Google my call and see. I just bought a second one the "2000x" model to get me into 1296. Right now best bang for the buck and trouble free. |
|
| WU5E |
Rating:      |
2011-01-23 | |
| great rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned a TS-2000 and Ts-2000X since 2005 the only time I had issue when the TS-2000 a lighting strike. it was repaired by Hamrepair.com and has worked like a champ on HF nets and working DX. I have work DXCC and WAC WAS and VUCC and WAS on the birds on these radios. It's good on CW the only complaint I could even remotely says is fan is a little louder that I like. I would recomemd this radio to any Ham that like to do it all from one radio. The noise floor in both radios are low. I don't have room for 4 or five radios so one radio will do it all. It interfaces with HRD and perform great on PSK31. You can't go wrong with this radio. Hope to work you. 73 |
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