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Reviews For: Kenwood TM-271A

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TM-271A
Reviews: 97MSRP: 189.95
Description:
2meter mobile
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00974.3
W9ZRO Rating: 2004-03-23
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This radio is AWESOME
I love the MIC and the frount end is great especially here in Chicagoland the rf nighmare
display is bright but kinda small compared to other radios
but it makes up for the display with all other pluses.
DID i say i LOVE the MIC??????

WD8KLJ Rating: 2004-03-19
Installed in Feb - Sold in March Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the great opportunity to "try" a lot of gear in my mobile. The TM-271A scored high on my list in every point except the RX audio quality and the lack of a real SQ control knob. Being an "old timer" I still like a knob instead of a menu item for such a common setting.

Easy to program, great full size mic. Just the right amount of controls on the faceplate. Easy to read display and with a few moments in the instruction book - a better than average menu system for a rig in this price range.

This radio followed the use of a ICOM 8000 series mono bander which in my mind has it beat only in RX audio area.

KF4TPM Rating: 2004-03-03
Great radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excelent radio all around one of the best RX ive heard in a while a real mic yay!! and also real priority scanning not the usual junk that they call pri scanning where u have to be in vfo or mr and it just looks back every 5 sec no u can be just about anywhere and it will go back to pri chan scanning your mem in vfo call anywhere love this radio and its durable too. Will write another review in a few months and see how it holds up but if its anything like the tm-251 itll be bulletproof thanks kenwood for a great radio.
W2MB Rating: 2004-01-15
Kenwood Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just installed this thing in the car this afternoon so the review is from that perspective. I've used a Yaesu FT-2800M and an Icom IC-V8000 in the same installation recently. The Kenwood is by far the easiest to program and operate. It is obvious that a lot of thought went into the user interface. I also like the full size MIC and find it easy to use but miss the up/down buttons being located on the top on the MIC. The receiver is the best of the 3 when it comes to rejection of nearby strong signals and seems more sensitive than the Yaesu and as Sensitive as the ICOM. The audio output is more than sufficient but I'd rate both the Yaesu and Icom as having fuller sounding range. For reasons unknown, the Kenwood seems to reject ignition noise better than the Yaesu and Icom. I'd rate the physical construction of the Kenwood as the least "commercial grade" of the three. At this point I'd say this transceiver is my favorite of the three.
FORMER_K2OOL Rating: 2004-01-12
Refreshing 2m Mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ok is can't stand it no more... what this radio needs is a new review.....
The mic not mike stands out as a refreshing high point. It is thick with a real push to talk button.
None of that sissy stuff! Heavy rubber protects each end of the mic cord. It also has a super tuff spring locking button. Heck you could fly the plane upside-down and that baby still will stay in the hanger. I remember the Kenwood tiny button... much better now!
The radio is wide; I guess this is due to the good audio speaker. Sounds Great! Also you turn the radio off and on via a push on the volume control so you don't have to worry about resetting the volume every time you turn it on.
I programmed the radio functions, put in freqs and tones without even looking at the manual...whata breeze!!!
Stations are coming in with above average range. I have had good reports as well.
Kinda odd having only 25 watt and 60 for power levels. No five watt level? That's right! But then it dawned on me, if I want a radio to do 5 watts I'll just use an HT. The cooling fins are on the bottom. I guess this is to keep the dust out of them.
Hey Kenwood you must of worked hard on producing a successful 2m mobile.... Good Job!!
K2OOL Mike in Texoma 73505
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ON4VP Rating: 2003-12-17
Nice improvements Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Kenwood did the right thing to introduce a low priced well designed to the hamradio world.

First I like to admit I do not own one, but I had the time to test one in a local shop.

First impressions that struck me:

- great receiver
- finally great audio trough front speaker
- clear display even in bright light
- software included for CAT control and memories
- 1k2 and 9k6 packet ready (no TNC inside)
- High power, aluminum casting
- No noisy fans

We all know that nowdays the most mobile rigs have a lot of features and multiple bands.
But a monobander with high performance that does a great job, at the right price is still a nice thing that will do fine.

Here in ON-land we have a lot of 440Mhz reapters to, but driving mobile 145 Mhz does cover most distances and I prefer it the most.

Next, the rig does look very basic, and I love it, you have to keep your eyes on the road, not on the zillion buttons and submenus while driving.

To me, a good deal and I hope I'll find one under the X-mas tree this year ;-)
K8RAM Rating: 2003-12-16
Excellent 2 Meter FM Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the new TM-271. The 200 memories is nice and they are easy to program. Output is 65 watts into a dummy load measured with a Bird 43. Low power is 28. Receiver is fantastic. I hear repeaters that I have never heard before. Tone ID scan is very helpful when trying to talk on unfamiliar repeaters. The heatsink does get warm when using high power. I got this one from Universal for $179.95. I have owned a TM-261 for several years and this is a tremendous improvement in my opinion. I am very pleased with the all-around performance and looks of this radio.