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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-820S

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-820S
	Reviews: 63	MSRP: 5000.00
	Description: 160 meter through 10 meter HF radio
	Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.qsl.net/sm7vhs/radio/kenwood/ts820/ts820.htm
# last 180 days	Avg. Rating last 180 days	Total reviews	Avg. overall rating
1	5	63	4.9

VK4AEF	Rating:	2024-12-17
I love it.			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this radio as a part of a package with a couple of other radios and some accessories for $1000au. Over the last few years I have replaced HV caps, cleaned it up and tightened and lubed everything. It is a great radio. I use it for nets and rag chewing as well as DX. Making contacts all over the world. I regularly hear "That definitely sounds like an old Kenwood man, loud and clear" I love the old gear and this is usually my go to radio. I do cheat and use an SDR to find signals sometimes and go to them on the 820s.

W1JPP	Rating:	2022-11-26
Love this radio			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Over the past few months I picked up a ts-520, a ts-520S and a ts-820S...just coincidence that two different people were selling these. The ts-820S needed some minor work, new finals, neutralizing tubes and adjusting the vfo dial so all the numbers matched up with the digital readout... Mostly I like the sound, and the ability to adjust the af gain and rf gain to minimize noise and maximize the voice... I do have a couple more "modern: radios - and icom 756 proii - that I like very much...but it seems whenever I come down to the shack its one of the kenwoods that gets the nod... My audio reports are fantastic - and I've sometimes done a/b tests with my icom that has an sm-8 mic - that also gets good reports - and usually the people like the fuller sound of the kenwood Tuning up is quick - certainly not as fast as the more modern rigs...but for listening on nets, and not band hopping its great.. Built like a tank too.. I told my nephew if he gets his general license he can have one of them and I'll teach him how to use it...

G0WBR	Rating:	2022-07-06
Brought back the magic!			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was the first radio I started my ham radio career with, and I was lucky enough to pick another one up recently. I was expecting to do some work on it to get it going, but it works really nicely. It's obviously not as competent as my IC-7300, but boy oh boy, when I started playing with it and talking on air with it, that old magic came flooding back. This old girl takes me right back to why I got into radio in the first place. It sounds great on both transmit and receive, has plenty of power, and just looks like a proper radio. Awesome.

LU7BSE	Rating:	2022-06-26
Kenwood quality			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Excellent equipment, heavy quality, clear reception and quality transmitter, typical Kenwood audio, there is not much to say about this beast, it is a pleasure to use the 820, highly recommended for those who like vintage equipment.

KK4NWW	Rating:	2022-05-11
ONE OF THE BEST!			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
THIS IS ALONG MY 830 MY FAVORITE HYBRID, SUCH A SWEET RX AUDIO AND PUNCHY TX AUDIO. A STATE OF ART!! GRAB ONE IF YOU CAN.

K1KIM	Rating:	2021-08-09
Great Old Radio for The Technology of The Time!			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a mint TS-820s with the SP-820, AT2-220, VFO-820, and MC-50. Great Kenwood audio. But missing the advancements of the past 50 years! SDR's with the ability to project onto a 27" screen has won me over. Now it never gets used and is for sale.

KC4LRR	Rating:	2021-08-09
Oh My - what a great radio !!			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got my TS-820S, SP-820 and VFO-820 from a SK estate sale. In great condition (9.5 out of 10) except for a melted place on the SP-820 grill. I had been thinking about one ever since I saw the default screen saver on my TS-890S. Thanks Kenwood. Very happy with the rig. Great Audio. It was packed up in 2006 newspaper when the SK moved to TN from NM. I guess he never set it up after the move. Came with a manual. I found a Service Manual on eBay and a VFO-820 manual from Universal Radio... Running it on my 80m/40m/20m dipole with a Plaster AT2K. A friend gave me another TS-820S from someone thinning their heard of Boat Anchors. Lucky Me.

KD8ZKW	Rating:	2021-08-05
Awesome radio			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I haven't owned my Kenwood ts-820 very long. I've used it a lot and have no regrets of getting this rig. I have used this more than my icom 746 pro because the receive audio is better sounding than the icom. It doesn't take me long to tune everything up. I bought the Kenwood at 200 tuner and the Kenwood mc-50 mic. All I need is the Kenwood external speaker. Thinking about buying the external VFO also. To anyone who can get a nice clean Kenwood ts 820 I'd buy it just to have it. Fun to operate and Ive made more contacts in the short time I've owned this compared to my icom 746 pro.

W6SSP	Rating:	2021-04-19
best bang for your buck			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
One of the advantages of vintage equipment is they have a well documented history. Any problems and their fixes are well known. I've owned and used the TS-520, TS-820 and TS-830 family of radios since they were first introduced in the early 1970s and have never regretted buying any of them. There are a few things to consider when looking at any ham gear; how well does it work, can it be repaired without the need for special tools, are parts available, and of course price. The TS-820S is the clear winner in my opinion in all of these areas. I have four major and minor operating positions here with a mix of older tube gear and new gear as well. I have a TS-820S at each station. This is the radio I suggest as a first one for new hams or for more experienced hams wanting a vintage rig. The very best bang for your buck! Steve W6SSP

ZL1PWR	Rating:	2016-04-01
Heavy Duty			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got one a few years back and still enjoy using it you do have to repair things along the way as they are very old now. The one I have is the 820 but with the optional counter. If you like to hear people comment on your nice audio then this is the radio for you as it happens every time I talk to someone new. I have tried several mics with it but nearly everyone prefers the stock mc10 fist mic

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Category:

Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

Product:

Kenwood TS-820S

Summary:

Rating:	Time Owned:
Great! Good OK Needs Help Poor Awful!	0 - 3 Months 3 - 6 Months 6 - 12 Months More than 12 Months

Remarks:

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