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Reviews For: Kenwood TR-7950

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TR-7950
Reviews: 25MSRP:
Description:
Early to mid 1980's 45w 2M monobander with digital display, frequency entry keypad on the front panel, and 21 memory channels.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.n7uic.net/radio/kenwood/tr7950/tr7950.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00254.6
N0TLD Rating: 2021-09-18
Classic and consistent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I love this radio. It's a fine performer and a good looker -- very Kenwood, very '80s, a damned pretty thing -- and in the parlance of many other reviewers (on eHam and all over the 'net), it is built like a tank. It didn't come with the optional CTCSS board and I was happily resigned to just using it simplex for a while, but only a few months after I got it I unexpectedly found an original TU-79 CTCSS board for next-to-nothing, and after installing that I used the 7950 as a base station for a few years. I recently came across an MB-9 mounting bracket online for another next-to-nothing and now I've had the 7950 running mobile in my Jeep the last few weeks. Works like a charm with a Larsen 150. Of course, it only has three PL choices, and I set them up for the three most common in my area. I am getting a Yaesu 2980r very soon, and will use that mobile and so return the 7950 to home use. I prefer it home, safe and with a good base antenna to hit my local repeaters. But she has performed beautifully mobile. Just classic Kenwood goodness.
N8GD Rating: 2019-10-06
A real workhorse! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my 7950 after I got tired of my old Heathkit HW-2036A in the early to mid eighties. It worked great for about a year then started to develop intermittent transmit issues. I opened the radio and found the transmit circuit board looked like it was cold soldered. I resoldered every connection on that PCB and it has operated flawlessly ever since! About 3 years ago I resurrected it from storage and bought an after-market tone board replacement for the original Kenwood TU-79, a model TU-79px from www.piexx.com, which, unfortunately cost as much as the radio was worth at the time (about $75). I can now utilize modern PL enable repeaters with my trusty old TR-7950. I also replaced all the old, mostly burned out green grain-of-wheat panel lamps with bright blue LEDs - what a difference! I still use this rig as a 2M FM backup in the shack. With a spare 7950 parts radio at hand I can swap out parts (especially the unobtainium display chip) if the working rig has problems.
N6JPA Rating: 2019-10-05
1980's 2 meter radio that worked great for years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was the first 2m mobile radio I purchased for $300+ when I was a tech in 1984. I used it mobile throughout California and in Germany when I was stationed there. It worked until 1992 when i accidentally dropped it on it's face. I then obtained a TM-2550 & TM-3530. They don't build them like this any more.
N4ZAW Rating: 2017-06-02
Qualifies as a "Classic" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A bit "dated", but they can't be beat for reliability given their vintage. I've owned several over the years, and currently have two working, mothballed TR-7950's.
They're built like little tanks!
W6PMR Rating: 2015-01-26
One of the best. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wonderful old radio. Very good performer but
you need to install an external PL. I put on
a Com-spec 32 and all is well.
I have it on my repair/test bench in the
garage and it's on all the time.
You can pick one of these for way under $100.
I picked mine up at a local Ham swap for $30.
K4YZ Rating: 2014-12-19
WAS A GREAT RADIO IN IT'S DAY Time Owned: more than 12 months.

Had mine from 1984 to 1986. Was stolen in Florida. Loved that rig! Solid as a rock. Heard about the intermittent PA issue, but never manifested in mine. Also used for Civil Air Patrol and USAF MARS while in PA. Limited CTCSS access would be a serious impediment today, but if you're using it for a base rig for one or two local repeaters and simplex, would fit that bill nicely. I'd snatch one up for that role if I found one for the right price. 73 de K4YZ
K9MHZ Rating: 2013-11-06
It's OK. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK radio. Very popular in the 80's, but very dated and low in capability for modern use. The problem that I had, which was a common headache back when they were in common use, was the grounding of the final amplifier board. The board mounting standoffs that were part of the heat sink casting were drilled and tapped to accept the mounting screws that held the final amplifier board in place. Trouble was, the holes weren't deep enough, which meant the board mounting screws bottomed out and didn't therefore hold the board in place tightly. This, combined with a poor grounding design in that area of the radio meant that you would literally lose your PA circuit ground if the screws came loose, which they did. The fix wasn't hard, so long as you devised a more secure grounding system in addition to securing the mounting screws. What a silly design flaw.

Performance was good when you fixed the PA bugs. The mounting bracket hardware was actually a pretty cool concept.

In summary, it's OK. Today, just make sure you have a very specific use for it, which also doesn't include CTCSS. If you find one cheaply priced at a hamfest, then knock yourself out. Short of that though, it's just severe mediocrity and you'll be far happier with a modern rig from one of the big three.
KK4NEF Rating: 2013-02-10
Great Transceiver Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This was my first 2 meter mobile transceiver ( other than handheld) and have loved it ever since I bought it. No complaints at all except for only being able to select three ctcss tones but it is an older radio. I gave it a 5 because it has served me well and never failed.
KC0SDV Rating: 2011-06-15
Great old workhorse Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Based on the 7930 I got last year and wrote a review...see below, I found a 7950 on ebay and got it for a great price. Everything works great and had some great reports on the audio. Power measures 5W and 45W just like it should. Will probably replace the memory battery just in case. Nothing fancy at all but great back up radio that will keep on ticking for a long time.

73

Cliff
kc0sdv
N4ASX Rating: 2011-02-07
One of the best HAM 2 meter radios Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased one about 1984. It was the 'standard' for two of the clubs I belonged to and they were right! I live in a high RF area and newer radios pick up intermod. the 7950 has a great filter system in the front end that all but eliminates this problem. The only draw back is that many of these radio do not have a PL deck, but this can be corrected by buying the PIXX aftermarket tone board that is plug and play. I have many VHF radios, but when I see one at a hamfest I scoop it up. I have three working and two parts radios.