Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Kenwood TM-271A

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
VK5FDAV Rating: 2008-03-17
A Keeper Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi all,
Have only had this rig for a few weeks now but I know I will never get rid of it.
The radio has excellent intermod rejection, I have no intermod at all, as I use the radio as a base radio with a 8.3db antenna I am amazed there is no intermod problem, I used to have the yaesu ft7800r and I could only use that at night time due to the intermod on all freqs. The rig is easy to use, that is it is easy to use without reading the manual. I used the pc software to program all the channels in it and that is a breeze to use too, I dont know what some of the other guys say in the other reviews about having a hard to use menu. As for the radio not having a dedicated rotary squelch nob I dont see what the fuss is, espically if you are mobile you dont want to bump it. The radio is small but dont be intimidated, it is built like a bullet, uses same chassis as tk series commercial radios. It has very clear audio, powerfull and clear coming from the front mounted speaker, Much nicer than the ft7800r audio. Once I got around to reading the manual I found it very well written and had no problem doing some of the more technical operations.
Once again I cannot fault this radio in anyway, It is easy to use, powerfull (60watt), no intermod problems, clear audio, pc programable, easy to read display, small, etc..
Someone said to me a while ago that kenwood stuff is much better than the other major brands, I took it with a pinch of salt like everything else you hear on the internet, but in this case I agree, in respect to the yaesu anyway it is just perfect.

These are just my 2cents.

Dave. VK5-VXO
KB3BTO Rating: 2008-03-16
Great, but... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I agree with the majority of comments made about this radio, especiallly the need for a 5 watt power setting. In fact, it was these very reviews that convinced me to purchase the TM-271A.
It is a great radio, but I, too, ran into problems when attempting to enter freqs into memory. Several emails to Kenwood tech support and 1 phone call later it was determined that the radio was defective and should be returned to the place of purchase. The repair tech at the place of purchase could not duplicate the user problem. Solution: the dreaded "operator malfunction."
Please be advised that when the manual directs you to "push" the MR button, DON'T "push." Instead, simply "tap" the MR button lightly. This "tap" makes the difference and the memory function will perform as designed.
Other than that, this radio is both fun and easy to operate and performs quite well as a base station.
K9EUI Rating: 2008-03-15
Great little radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the 271 for several months now. Overall I'd certainly get another one but there are a few things I'd like to see:

1) Better settings for the time-out timer. Since most repeaters are set for 3 minutes, we need something just a little less than that - also a warning beep before it times out would be nice.

2) A 3rd power level in the 5 to 10 watt range.

3) Maybe I am too old-school but give me a "REAL" squelch control.
G8ITB Rating: 2008-02-24
No Problems! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this radio since new - over 2 years. It is mounted in my Honda CR-V with a Diamond NR-22L 144 Mhz only antenna on a spare wheel mount and has travelled all over Western Europe. I have had no problems due to its 'rugged' semi-commercial build. The low power is a bit high - but I accept that. I knew that fact when I bought it. The deviation is to current commercial 'narrow' specification.
As it is NOT a wide-band receiver type it has good out of band (intermod) rejection. If you need more then do what I do - fit a decent bandpass filter in the antenna lead. If you can get a Kenwood BPF-2A; great! But for the ultimate bandpass filter go get a DCI filter - I use one and NOTHING causes me intermod problems!
Even working at major international airports and military installations - I'm clear!

Richard G8ITB.
KC0SEY Rating: 2008-01-14
Goods & Bads of TM271 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had one of these for about 2 years. They are for the most part, a good radio. They are built well when it comes to the case and the mike. About my only complaint would be that it has some intermod problems. Where I live the are MANY VHF paging stations around. I get paging noise from these services. Also a few of the comercial radio stations use 150 MHz for remote feed back to their studios, this also intermods quite bad. In short, a great radio if you live in a rural or small town area. In a metro situation, they have some intermod problems.

HB9OAY Rating: 2007-10-14
More than a basic VHF Rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bougt this rig 3 years ago because I wanted a tough one for my 4WD truck planning to use it when travelling in the Sahara desert.
The MIL sepecs really play the role: solid, dust proof (it has no fan), 60W power and an incredible front speaker (so loud and clear you can't even suspect).
The Mic is also tough enough to stand the rig (even if the red keybord doesn't match the green display).
The reciver is very sensitive and the transmitter has a good modulation tone along with the real 60W power output (you can even adjust it to 70W if you really need).
I got an A version because at that time it wasn't available in Switzerland. This version hasn't the data port but you can install one by yourself. You just need a mini-DIN plug and and a piece of cable. Open the rig and you'll find the the contacts on the bord well labelled.

For the "dark side" there are two minor issues:
The lack of a real low power step (saying 5W) along with 25W and 60W.
A little low deviation (you may need to increment it a bit by using the adjust menu).

The lack of some functions on the front panel are not an issue in IMO, you can easly program the ones you need on the PF keys of the mic.

Despite these minor issues, it still a great rig that I would buy it again (I trade it for a TM-V71 because I really needed the UHF for Echolink).

Warmly recommended ;o)

Mauro - HB9OAY
KK9H Rating: 2007-09-09
Good value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one to use as a packet radio tranceiver for my APRS base station. I also use it in my wife's car with a 5/8 wave mag-mount antenna when we go on road trips. It works beautifully for both applications. This is an easy-to-use 2M radio that has plenty of audio from a front firing speaker. I normally run it at 25 watts, but it is handy to have 65 watts when needed.
N0CODENOW Rating: 2007-09-09
GOOD RADIO FOR THE $$ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this to put in work car. First impression-good so far. Have not experienced the low transmit audio previous reviews have noted. Transmit audio gets all good reports.
Solid build mechanically. Like the microphone, better than anything I've seen on competing rigs. Receiver is very sensitive and seems immune to most intermod. Great spec. on frequency stability (2.5 ppm). Checked it on a service monitor and everything where it should be.
If there were a front panel squelch control, it would be a big improvement. A 10 watt power setting would be nice, but 25 watts works fine for everything I've needed. It's good to have the 65 watt output available if needed.
This one is a definite keeper.
KF6ELR Rating: 2007-04-12
Good radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the 271 in a high vibration environment on our snowmobiles for hours of problem free operation. It has worked well with the small snowmobile battery and been clearly heard on simplex from deep in the Sierras down into the Sacramento Valley.
K3JJC Rating: 2007-04-08
Would not buy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Once again technology has ruined a good thing. This is the most annoying radio to program from the front panel I have ever seen. To simply adjust the squelch you just
Press F
Press REV (that makes sense)
Turn Menu to SQL 1
Turn TUNING control to adjust level.
If you think thats fun wait til you program a repeater with tones.
Off course they have a free computer program that works very well with the $80 cable.
Trying to set up one for a friend, I finally recommended he return it and get something else.
I hate to rate anything negative but this piece deserves it, in my opinion.