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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
KB8RMN Rating: 2004-07-29
Excellent wonder box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased this radio, and am very impressed. Aside from what seems to be very solid construction, the radio has a remarkable receiver, and all of my audio reports have been excellent. I operate out of a little hole with a 3 element beam polarized horizontaly 25ft up (I live in an apartment), and can easily reach repeaters 50 miles away no problem, and can actually hear much farther than I can receive with this radio!

There are a couple of little noise spots here and there, but nothing you wouldn't expect out of any radio on this band. This little FM radio is so good I'm probably going to get rid of my 2 meter all mode and see about getting something for 6 meters now (2m SSB isn't very busy here as I can see anyways yet). This rig was actually purchased to replace my ancient Azden PCS-2000, but it may end up pulling double duty both mobile and base!
KG7VG Rating: 2004-07-21
Amazing little rig! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After much deliberation and research, I decided to go with 2 of the new 271A's, one for mobile and one for base.
Kenwood did it again by producing a feature-rich rig without having to spend a boatload of cash.
The 271A beat out the Icom IC-V8000, IC-2200 and the Yaesu FT-2800R (at least in my book).

Controls are intuitive and straight forward, even though the majority are menu driven. The display, while compact is bright and easy to read. The microphone fits nicely in one's hand and is not cumbersome or overly busy, while still offering good functionality and access to many features.

Kenwood was thoughtful enough to have given the user 4 programmable function keys that can give you fast access to your most important menu items, but the keys are preprogrammed very thoughtfully at the factory.

The thing that amazes me the most is the little front-firing speaker. How in the world do they get so much sound out of that little thing? I can be driving down the freeway with my windows rolled down and can hear QSO's clearly over the road noise!

I've had reports of "beautiful audio" and "excellent signal", both on simplex and through the local machines. The recieve is excellent, giving me the ability to monitor machines from well over 100 miles away.

I find that 25 watts (low power) does a grat job for me in my area, but it's nice to know that I have the 60 watt setting when I'm on the fringes.

I do come across a few birdies here and there, but it's no worse than my former Icom 2100. I notice it the most when I'm travelling ungerneath high-voltage power lines or around areas where there's a bunch of flourescent lighting like car dealerships and such. Nothing I can't live with.

If I were to have any complaints, it would be that there is an apparent lack of radio-to-radio cloning capability, and really expensive PC control cables. It would make life easier for those of us who buy multiple radios to get through the task of programming if the clone feature was available or the cables were more affordable. Personally, even at $160, I wasn't able to buy a cable after buying 2 rigs. I digress....

I highly recommend this rig and am planning on buying 2 more in the next month. Go get one (or two) while they're still on sale!

73!
K0DEN Rating: 2004-07-15
Best Radio in a long time Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Personally this is the best radio i have bought in a long time, the only small complaint i have is the recieve audio is a little quiet in noisy enviroments. the mic is in the style of public safety radios i use on my fire dept. actually the whole radio is that way, I love it! very dependable and rugged
WI4NDS Rating: 2004-07-02
UPDATE Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finally had the radio on a good meter. Shows 25 watts on Low and 68 on High. Radio performs flawlessly. Receive is excellent. The mic is the best Kenwood has put on 2 Meter FM rigs in a long time. Good audio reports received regularly. This is a keeper!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WI4NDS on 2004-06-07

I had an Icom V8000 when I bought this at Dayton 2004. This one is more menu intensive than the Icom, but getting used to it. Very well built and I love the mic!!!! Good audio reports on it all the way around. I liked the internal speaker on the Icom a bit better, but mostly use externals anyway. As far as hearing, I hear everything I heard on the Icom on the same setup.
This is the first Kenwood I have purchased since the TM-221A. I would certainly buy another. The power levels are fine with me and the display is very good. Good Job KW!
N3JTN Rating: 2004-07-01
very good radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
this radio works great no intermod hear "GREAT RIG" Like the Mic......
W5ZZQ Rating: 2004-06-07
Still love it!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I still love this 2meter rig. Not one problem at all with it. Does get kinda warm on high with a long QSO - but that's understandable. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great - dependable 2 meter rig.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W5ZZQ on 2004-02-09

Just picked one up at hamfest. Very easy to program - if you're familiar with Kenwoods at all. Finally a good handmic for mobile. Really like the feel. Radio reminds me of the Yaesu FT-2600M - which was a good radio too. I like the power and volume knob together - works well. Would rather have a squelch knob too. All together a very good radio - keep up the good work Kenwood..
KC0KJF Rating: 2004-05-22
Not Bad Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Programs Easily : wish you could program power level on each memory ,and 20 or 60 watts.
Whats with that .
I have terrible intermod from pager companys that I never experienced with the IC2100H, but trade off is reciever is hot.
I would buy again.
WN2WNC Rating: 2004-05-02
great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only complaint is guys tell me of low audio -Have to scream-Do you all know where the pot is to turn up the mike gain
Tnx 73
KI4DRA Rating: 2004-04-28
Glad I bought it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For me, it was a stand-off between the Icom IC-V8000 2M Mobile, and the Kenwood TM-271A. Both are very good mobiles, and I'm sure I would have been pleased with either one.

The other reports written about the Kenwood mobile are all true. It's an excellent mobile with a good Mic, and it's built like a truck. My transmissions are reported as being very clear and loud. Unlike a lot of the reports on the Icom which many complaints are about white noise in the background. Rejection of various emissions is great. The front speaker is awesome. One of the reasons why I'm upgrading from a HT is because I was sick and tired of holding it up to my ear while I run down the interstate. Well, no problems hearing the 271 because it is loud and clear even all the way up. I measured both Hi and Low setting, and for my unit it came back 27W on Low 57W on Hi.There is not a ultra low setting like 5 watts. But I figure that if I wished to use that low of power I could just turn my hand held on. I had no problems reaching a repeater today that I could barley receive, but could communicate with no problems on my end. I could never do that with my 5W HT even hooked to my 5/8Wave antenna.
The screen is large and well lit even with the sun beating down on it. The user interface is easy to learn. I was able to program frequencies into memory without looking at the book though I had to refer to it to find out how to attach tone squelch frequencies. In fact there has been a few emails sent to Kenwood asking the same question, so I believe the book is a little vague when it comes to programming DTCS, Tone. The web site has a downloadable file which explains in better detail how to program in tone. After I referred to it I didn't have a problem.

Over all I'm very satisfied with this unit. Loud, clear and easy to use I feel I made the right choice.
N5MZ Rating: 2004-03-28
Love the Heavy Duty Mic Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? I love the microphone - heavy-duty with a REAL PTT switch. Feels like a real radio instead of a toy. Front-firing speaker is nice and loud, with a full tone (not "tinny" like some other 2M rigs I have owned), and very little distortion at high listening volumes. Like the "reverse" button on the front panel; it has been absent from some recent radios I have used. I too would have liked a squelch knob, but the "set it and forget it" menu squelch looks like it is here to stay, as most all radios these days has it. Heat sink looks better on the bottom, giving the top a nice professional finish (which, by the way, comes off without tools...), but I think it would have been more effective on the top, as the radio runs 60W and has no fan...

To sum it up in two words - "like it".