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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-570D(G)

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-570D(G)
Reviews: 168MSRP: 1,100
Description:
A compact, affordable, full-featured HF transceiver.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/ts570dg570sg.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001684.6
SWMAN Rating: 2022-05-25
Perfect for me. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my 570 for 23 years now. Bought it when they first came out. Great little radio, good audio out and receive. Very easy to operate. Couldn’t ask for much more in a radio. It is still my go to radio. It will be a keeper.

Jim W5JJG
N0TES Rating: 2022-05-24
I own 2. Why? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Buttons! Some menus control the rig, but buttons rule the operation of it. I especially like being able to switch between two different antennas, as the rig has 2 SO239 connectors on the back. I run one rig using the stock hand mic and the other has the desk mic. I particularly like the desk mic's weight and sound quality! The tuner in each rig is fast and perfect for tweaking the SWR of any good antenna. Smooth tuning is notable, and the display is easy on the eyes. I would but this rig again and did! As I now own two of them because of the ease of use when training new hams how to operate an HF rig.
AE7YD Rating: 2022-04-10
easy to use and great performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had many transceivers over the decades, including IC7300, K3, IC756Pro III, FTDX3000 and the last one a FTDX10. Yes, those are great performers but I really enjoy the simplicity and nice audio of the Kenwood radios. Mine is a 570DG.
It is so simple and straightforward to use. Unlike most more modern transceivers the markings are a size that you can read without a magnifying glass.
The noise blanker works well enough to remove the noise that we sporadically have. The DSP works very well to.
I have only one regret, it is that I didn't buy it sooner.
KC3KJJ Rating: 2021-01-07
Perfect for me. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this TS-570D from Goodwill online. I paid $266.00 and did not expect it to power on. The transceiver was packed perfectly and did not have a scratch. I examined it and discovered it was one of the last to be produced. I fired it up, and it works flawlessly. I can only assume it sat in a box and was donated to GW when the owner went Silent Key. I will continue to take care of it for him/her. My antenna is a M392 tap antenna that is 60 feet above the ground. I consistently get reports that I am 5/9 plus. I like this so much, I want to mount it next to the bed. The wife says, "no way". I was very lucky with this transceiver. I'd buy it again and pay any price the seller asked.
SQ2TAC Rating: 2019-04-21
Good rig for the price! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I don't get it! Someone who knows how to use trx will notice that there is no big, (huge, great...) difference between RX and TX in different radios. The basic thing is antenna system, local QRM etc...
I've heard ts590s, ft1000s, ic7300, and many others "great" rigs with so poor RX that you wouldn't belive it. On the other hand i've heard ic706, ft100s, ts50, etc.. with so great RX that you wouldn't belive it:-). In my opinion, if you know how to use your rig - it will do great.
TS570DG i own isn't best rig ever, but imho has very good RX, very fine DSP (if you know how to use it) it has great look too;-) it is almost fanless;-) and easy to use without manual.
However there are some things i don't like. The MENU... It seemst to me that someone put the options in menu just in randomly order. I don't see any logic in it. (i have already used to it).
So, with the prices on the 2nd hand market, it's hard to find something more satisfying.
73! and good DX:-)
WB0QOA Rating: 2016-03-27
If I can hear them!, I can work them Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I did a lot of research before making this purchase. Admittedly I have a strong Kenwood bias. I used to love Heathkit but they are no more. My first rig as a technician many years ago was a little battery powered portable 2 meter rig followed by a TS-520, another 2 meter mobile unit and now the TS-570D.

I bought mine used on eBay after several months of watching YouTube videos, reading reviews here and talking to lots of users.

Initially, I was sold on the TS-480 but the split configuration did not work for me. I also gave a serious look at the TS-590 but it had a bit of a price spike on the used market and got pushed out of my meager budget.

I was pretty thrilled to get the rig, the matching power supply and the signature K-wood mic and even a TS-520 matching speaker. It was a great package deal.

It's important to describe the antenna for the station. It's the 4 band Hustler 4BVT if memory serves and I will be writing about it as well in a separate review. My setup for the vertical is not ideal. It's about 3 feet from my house, next to a Dogwood Tree and with not a single radial.

The vertical is mounted on a steel pipe down about 2 feet with 2 - 4 foot copper ground rods attached to the base of the antenna. It's all connected to the rig through 100 feet of RG 58.

So cutting to the chase, I had not been on the air on HF in 30 years. I set the rig and antenna up on a Saturday in March here in North Carolina and on Sunday fired up the rig for the first time.

My first contact was a pileup around a station in the Czech Republic. The next one right after was Canary Islands and a Brazilian station. What I found was the internal ant tuner was superb yielding 1.0 to 1.5 to one SWR across EVERY band 10 to 160 meters. That doesn't mean these bands were open but if I could hear a station in the 5by7 to 5by9 signal, I could work them. Note these are all SSB Phone contacts.

So in short, I am ecstatic! There is a bunch I have not figured out but the bottom line is this little rig rocks!!

KB9BVL Rating: 2015-08-15
A great, simple radio for anyone Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a great, simplistic radio that is ideal for the beginner, as well as the ham that doesn't want(or need) all the bells and whistles of a newer, high-tech radio. I purchased this radio from a fellow ham that upgraded to a TS-590SG this past spring. For what you can find these for used, you can't find a better radio for the price. Kenwood radios are very intuitive for me, and the TS-570D is no different. Menu layout is easy to understand and manipulate, audio is clean. Signal reports are good even off my 10-80 Meter OCFD. I love the size of it also. Side by side, when compared to my TS-850SAT, the TS-570D is only about 60% the size of the 850, and about half the weight. It will make a great radio for portable/field day or for traveling when combined with a Pelican case. This is a great rig, if you have the chance to get one, do it. I don't think you will be disappointed.
SA3BYC Rating: 2014-07-28
Very nice radio, over average performance to it's price. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought mine a month ago and use it as second radio. It's a rather large radio in a medium sized package. After having used it extensively for DX, ragchewing and my first contest (IOTA) must say I'm very pleased with it.

Easy to get to know and operate, with both original handmic and my Heil HC-4 headset it sounds great.

During the IOTA contest in heavy Qrm and crowded bands you can of course notice that it's not as good as a FT-1000 or similar, but doing well anyway. I will add a narrower SSB filter and hope that will help a bit. Not using this radio for CW, so the lack of space for more than one extra filter is not a problem. But it's a real shame that Kenwood didn't provide at least space for 2 extra filters.

I think this will be a radio staying in my schack for a long time :)

/Johan
W8NLZ Rating: 2014-06-24
Your Best Value in this Price Class Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is Review #180, so most everything has been said about the pros & cons of the TS-570. Briefly:

(a) This is a basic transceiver. It is not a contest engine; a DX chaser, or a swiss army knife. But it does basic CW and SSB well.

(b) The current price for a clean used one is in the $500-$700 range. It's hard to touch any other modern radio with similar performance for that price.

(c) I bought mine as a travel radio. But I find myself using it afternoons on the back deck even though I have a whole stable of big iron back in the shack. It's a fun radio! Easy to transport. I carry mine in a Pelican case. Works well with an AGM battery.

(d) It is a Kenwood. It just oozes quality and professional appearance. Like a finely appointed automobile, it is a pleasure to drive. Kenwood owners know what I mean.

My summary: as a travel radio, back-up radio, or starter radio, I think you will like the TS-570. I am amazed at how much I enjoy it.
K8TJ Rating: 2013-08-15
A FINE rig IF you know how to use it! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The TS-570DG is a super fine rig on CW IF you know how to use it. First off, install a 500 or 270HZ CW filter. Set menu item #50 (RX EQ)to FP and you will have one kick butt CW rig. If your using it on SSB set menu item 50 to Hb.I have an early DG model and LOVE it.