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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-510

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-510
Reviews: 6MSRP:
Description:
Kenwood circa 1967 all tube HF transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0064
SM5SRR Rating: 2024-04-30
Easy to work om Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is on of the early Kenwood produced hybrid rig. The construction is quite simple but efficient with a very nice sensitive VFO. As there is plenty of room, the rig is easy to work on if servicing needs to be done. Beware of the high voltages though. Don't start poking around if you don't know what you are doing as the high voltages can kill you.

Yes, it is an old rig from the late sixties but it is amazing how good it is. For CW the extra X-tal filter is a big plus and works extremely well. The transceiver itself is quite light. The PSU unit is where all the weight is. To say that the rig is huge is in my opinion somewhat exaggerated.

I also have the TS-515 which came after this model. Both are great radios with can be found cheap as younger hams tend to shy away from anything with tubes. Sure, they don't have all the extras of DSP radios but they are extremely reliable. The fact that these radios still work close to 60 years later says a lot.
IU0OYC Rating: 2021-09-28
The sound of the tubes :-) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The bad)
1) This radio is huge, don't even think to buy it if you have a tiny desk.
2) and is really heavy, too
3) and if you find it, rest assured it will need a lot of work

...but, the good)
1) works like a charm,
2) easy to work, study and fix
3) Beautiful look, fantastic audio on receive and clean and powerful transmission

Bought mine as parts/repair, and found/fixed the following faults
Bad selenium diodes in the B+
Dried/short caps in the -90V grid supply
Some bad tubes in the final amp and in the voltage regulated supply
Dirty relays contacts
Some carbon resistors way out of specs, impacting in critical circuit voltage values.

As you can see, nothing difficult, but a lot of passionate work.
FORMER_KC6O Rating: 2009-01-16
Top notch for it's day Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.

Picked it up at an estate sale. The fellow brought it back from a tour in 'Nam in the late '60s. Worked perfectly, unlike so may other brands when well-aged.
Now owned by a new Amateur - great starter rig.
VE7RC Rating: 2008-01-04
Good Rig for the Time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Trio/Kenwood TS-510 was my first personally-owned HF rig purchased new in 1971. I stupidly never bought any CW filter since, as a kid, who could afford such a luxury? It worked reliably with its S2001 Japanese final tubes (6146B wannabees). Reasonable sensitivity on receive; TVI source on transmit. But who didn't have TVI on lower VHF channels in those days?

The biggest problem was the fiber belts used to link certain tuning shafts. These belts aged and expanded making transmit tuning unreliable, at best. I believe later models (TS-511?) used light chains for the purpose.

It worked reliably for 20 years and I never had to have it repaired. I wish I still had it for nostalgia reasons, but I have no desire to actually use it anymore. The new stuff is too good.
WA9DGM Rating: 2004-02-12
overall good for its day Time Owned: more than 12 months.
used in japan 1968-1970 as ka2ny. it was under the TRIO name in those days. no problems in 2 years of operation. was sold in us under the allied radio name. it was a good basic radio like the ts-520.
PA9MG Rating: 2002-10-25
proud new owner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
So, i bought this rig... i think it needs a lot of work! The final tubes even oscillate when receiving! :-( Also saw some internal firework in in finals... when transmitting on a dummy load.

At least something todo, i hope in can save this one!