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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
K8CPA Rating: 2009-05-23
Good old Battle ship Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have it's younger brother the TR-7930, that I got as my first 2 meter rig from a local ham. Had the tone board in it. Works well. It's been through the mill. But she still works well.

Recommended for remote bases and such.

73 de K8CPA

-Chuck
KE5JVH Rating: 2008-05-09
I Like Mine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one of these at a local hamfest for a little more than I wanted to pay, but I'm glad I did. I'm really impressed with it. It is a nice clean rig inside and out.

I installed a tone board and have had nothing but good reports on transmit. I love the full depth audio on recieve. It fills the whole shack.

The display is bright and the controls are easy to use. I'm going to setup a echolink RF node with this rig and I'm sure it'll be a good one.
K4SGT Rating: 2007-05-19
Not perfect, but simple to use. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned two of these classic two meter rigs. They can be found for around $50 at hamfests. They are good radios with solid output and a good receiver. You should know that they are prone to suffer from display problems and also the backlights burn out of them often. That being said I use mine for my 2M echolink node and it has been a great workhorse. I added a small computer cooling fan to the back of the heatsink and now it can transmit on high power for over an hour without breaks and the rig still is not near overheating. This is a 25 year old radio, it is not as feature rich as a new rig. If you need PL tones then you have to have the optional tone board (then you are still limited to three tones). If you just need a simple strong radio for 2M packet or Echolink or APRS then this one should serve you just fine. I would have given it a 3 out of 5 because of the display and backlight issues, but I have decided to give it a 4 due to the age of the radios. These are really strong workhorse radios.
KC9KTI Rating: 2007-03-03
Good Buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just bought one of these little gems off ebay. Can't complain. Hooked to a homemade J-pole and very impressed. An oldie but a goodie!
N5NPO Rating: 2006-05-07
Nice 1st radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I can not say enough good about this old workhorse. The reason I didn't give it a 5 is because mine had a strange problem that I was unable to solve. The rx would moan and squeal at times when a signal was present. I was able to make it stop by slapping the top of the radio. It may not do it again for weeks, but it would do it from time to time. This was my first 2m rig, purchased used in the late 80's from W5OBR for $250.00. I wouldn't hesitiate to own another one. There is one on the air up here all the time as an APRS digi....
73
N8EKT Rating: 2006-02-20
SAME AS 7850 WITH LCD Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Same problem as 7850.
Re-solder or repalce the PIN diode and all should be well with this one.
K5YC Rating: 2005-12-13
GREAT RADIO Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had this radio given to me years ago when a ham friend passed away. Has worked without any problems since. Kenwood got something right in this one. Use it on low power to work all repeaters in area. I have other radios, but this one is my main radio for 2 meters. Other radios have died or been replaced, but the 7950
just keeps on ticking. Well built, easy to use.Controls all on front panel. Do I like it,YES!
KC2FTN Rating: 2005-08-19
Two thumbs up ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use my TR-7950 as the link radio in my Echolink RF node. So far, this rig has performed FLAWLESSLY, and is on 24/7. I'm using it on the low power setting, into an indoor verticle dipole.
N1UMJ Rating: 2005-06-10
Great radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this radio mainly because it was for a good price and instantly liked it. Now I use it on packet all the time where it does a great job. I did use it for voice before packet and the audio from it is great, the feel of the controls I like and I just like the ease of use. I might even buy another one if I can get one for the right price some day. Why can't anyone make radios like this one anymore?
KE4MOB Rating: 2005-04-30
After 3 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is one heck of a radio. I've started a Yahoo! group for the 7950/7930 owners so stop by:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TR7950/