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Reviews For: KDK FM-2030

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

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Review Summary For : KDK FM-2030
Reviews: 4MSRP:
Description:
2m 25W FM mobile transceiver with 11 memories
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.3
KE5SRZ Rating: 2008-11-22
An oldie but a goodie! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Managed to snag one of these old radios pretty cheap and I like it. It seems solidly built inside and out and will probably last quite a while longer. It took me a while to get used to the VFO and how to program the memories, but it's not too bad. It has very nice audio on both TX and RX, much better than several other modern 2 meter radios I've used. The only potential turn-off I have about it is that you have to open it up to set the PL tone. It's pretty easy though and only took me a minute of turning the pot and trying to "kerchuck" a repeater. Luckily in my area all the "big" repeater operators got together and decided on one PL tone; so once I set it, I don't have to worry about it anymore. If you live in an area where every repeater uses a different tone, I'd pass on this radio. I run mine on low power through a 50 watt external amplifier to preserve its finals; but that's probably not even necessary. Overall it's a nice old radio with great sound and 80's charm. If you don't mind its shortcomings in regard to PL tones, it will serve you well.
RADIOWEENIE Rating: 2007-04-06
One of the best perfroming receivers ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The KDK 2030 is an excellent radio and has an excellent receiver that is sensitive yet highly resistant to intermod. I still have mine along with a 2033 and 7033. I would like to underline K5YC's observation that the factory IC controller on the reverse side of the printed circuit board is vital. K5YC has noted that if this particular IC goes, so does the radio. He is certainly right about that. My IC "went" and so did the radio. In this case, i am lucky because i found another IC from another radio in FL to replace it. Result: It works!
K5YC Rating: 2005-12-13
OK RADIO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had 2 of these radios. Easy to use. Not
made anymore though. Use one mobile for years with no trouble. Be shure to check output power and not run more than 25 watts. I tuned mine for around 20 or 22 watts and brick final lasted
longer. If running too much power finals will blow after getting very hot. ALso this rig is controlled by a KDK factory made ic for functions and operation. IF it goes, so does the radio. No Replacement! Easy radio to work
on. Radio does not have tones to bring up some repeaters.
NA4IT Rating: 2003-11-06
Good APRS Unit Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Using one as an APRS unit in our city EOC. Running with Kantronics Packet Communicator 3 and UI-View as the software on a Win98SE computer. Running at full power, staying "cool as a cucumber". Great older rig for this purpose. If the power fails for some reason, the radio comes right back on still on the same freq!

P.S.- If the TX audio needs to be turned up for the TNC, look for a plain old metal and baklite flat pot mounted on top of two "test pins" beside the area where the tone module mounts on the board. It will look like something that has been added, but it actually comes from the factory that way. Also, if you need to "tweak" it back on frequency, the adjustable cap is not located on the PLL board... it is on the other side of the radio!

73 and look for "KF4CFO-7" on APRS!