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Reviews For: Kenwood TS790

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Base/Mobile (non hand-held)

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS790
Reviews: 31MSRP: 1500
Description:
VHF/UHF (SHF) all mode tranceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00314.9
K9WIT Rating: 2004-10-15
GOT THE LAST ONE ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought the last one AES had on there closeout of this model. I never looked back. This is a superior vhf-uhf radio for the serious contester.
WO4C Rating: 2004-06-05
Love Mine Time Owned: N.A.
Love my 790. Works superbly. Have a YEASU FT-847 sitting beside in. The 847 doesn't hold a candle to it. Also have a FT100 which too doesn't hold a candle to the 790.

Draw backs - no AM (have no use for AM myself) and no VOX. Don't want or really need vox for FM and VHF/UHV/SUHV SSB isn't really used much as a ragchew mode so??? why do you need it. Really hated to see Kenwood discontinue this one.

Thanks for reading. 73
de
Tony - WO4C
W8GTX Rating: 2004-05-06
loved it then, still love it now! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased another 790. It's been 8 years since my last one that I bought new. An IC-820 replaced it. MAN what a mistake that was. Excellent receiver for weak signal work. This radio equals a 970 and 736R a friend has in receive and punch. Clean quiet receiver as this radio spends it's hours on SSB looking for those weak signals. With the SSB "power down" reconnected (they are clipped from the factory for lower SSB output) it produces full rated output using my Icom SM-10. Always quality audio reports and clean received audio. Easy to use features and that classic clean Kenwood look. I also bought the UT-10 1.2ghz band module. Contrary to popular belief they can still be had new. Just look around. Bought mine from West Coast Parts. I can't say much else other than this radio is a joy to operate.
W5GM Rating: 2004-03-11
Like a rock! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this radio for several months now and man am I impressed! I have had the yaesu 736r and 847 and they couldn't touch this thing. I am really happy. Cons would be limited memory channels and direct keying outputs for amps.
VK2TWR Rating: 2004-03-01
VERSATILE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ihave been using a 790A for 6 yrs have been impressed with the easy operation of the rig it has mainly been used for weak signal work on a daily basis it never has needed the lid off in that time added the 23cm module a yr after purchase I think that the small things wrong with the 790A have been rectified in the TS2000x Ihave just bought one and do think that the improvements
like the speech proccessor being adjustable and also the noise blanker for a pre dsp rig the 790 will always be a favourite I do think it was a little ahead of its time when it was releasedalso love the dual vfos that was great for contesting they go for around $2,000 second hand in Australia but they dont come up for sale very often thats all for know another happy 790A owner
NI6M Rating: 2004-02-04
Simply the best! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is by far the best allmode VHF/UHF radio that I have ever used. The receiver is top notch. Power out is on the low side compared to the newer radios but thats what amps are for. Never have had a single problem with the radio and it has been used in several contests and even been rover with me. Best radio I've ever bought.
DL0USB Rating: 2003-10-04
Just great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We recently changed to icom's 910 but had the 790 long time. Did not fail. Except that we once burned the 23 cm rx accidently. Selfmade repair and went fine again.
Better than the 910: it has really 3 tx-ground lines on the rear for each band. The 910 does not! PLL phase noise seemed to be less, but just by feeling (?).
Much better: S-Meter!!!
Worse: more size and weight for less output power.
NT9E Rating: 2002-11-07
Excellent base radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
In 97', AES was selling these radios for $1800 (MSRP $2199) The 1.2 ghz module option was another $500.

Picked one up recently for $900 w/1.2 ghz, Sub-Tone board, and encode/decode tone options. Only had it a bout a week and so far I like it very much.

Mainly wanted it for VHF/UHF contesting and local ragchew. Might get into Sat. operation down the road.
K7QL Rating: 2002-10-25
12 yrs+ and still love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine new when it first came out. I liked it then and I love it now. Used SSB, FM and Satellite with no problems. Using it with the satellite functions are a bit clunky at first, but I got used to it.

Recommended, it's a keeper.

This unit will probably go to the grave with me. Anyone make underground VHF antennas?
VE3EIE Rating: 2002-03-14
Sounds great and will last you a lifetime! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After listening to a few other brands and playing with their controls, I decided to buy this rig back in 1992 as the one to last me a lifetime, mainly because it was easy enough to operate. Ten years later, it still works great, although I have not yet used it to its fullest potential (:I have lots of time left before I retire though:) My TS-790 is still rock steady, still very easy to listen to on SSB, and it certainly looks great beside my TS-870S! (thats another rig that will last me years!).

I wish Kenwood would have continued development and offered 2.4 GHz, etc., but I still think I made the right choice for my operating style and budget.

73, John