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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-830S

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-830S
Reviews: 129MSRP: 930
Description:
160M-10M SSB/CW transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.kenwood.net/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001294.9
K4PDM Rating: 2001-05-22
A quality classic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is one of those rigs that I really wanted when they made them, but never managed to own one. I was lucky enough to pick one up at a hamfest about 3 weeks ago, and I'm extremely happy. It would be difficult to really recommend it to the new ham (they generally wouldn't like the tube finals,) so maybe that should decrease the rating. But I saw so many for sale at Dayton, in such good shape for such good prices, that I think the 5 rating makes sense. Excellent transmit audio (just about any mike will sound good) that you will have no trouble tailoring to your likes, good receiver (not great, but no dog,) and smooth sounding receive audio. Well built, and most of the parts are still available. If you value good transmit audio and dependability, don't mind tuning the final, and aren't too picky about receiver intercept point and the like, you'll love this classic.
VE7AZC Rating: 2001-05-22
Still Impressive after all these years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first trannsceiver was the 830 that I still have. Got it used in very good condition, ($425CDN). Replaced the finals and it drives the TL-922 better than my 940! Very strong output, good speech processing. I use it with a Turner HL6 microphone.

When the other radio's have needed repair, the 830 ALWAYS WORKS. Great receive, good transmit audio. Can't beat hollow state technology.

It's a keeper!

Cheers,

Herb
VE7 AZC
W0PPK Rating: 2001-01-29
One of the very best! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
They don't make them like they use to anymore! Old reliable. Excellent quality both Rx & Tx. Once you use it you fall in love... Recently got it from a lifetime friend who bought it new back in 1982 and use it for a few months only.

Looks and works just like came out of the factory box with the original finals.

Will be in my shack for a long time.

Bob - 73!
WA7RCT Rating: 2001-01-14
Will never say 'goodbye' Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my '830 in 1985 brand new and have never had one minute of trouble with it. I did replace the driver tube after about 10 years, but consider this to be normal maintenance. I just bought a used TS-950SDX, mainly for some conveniences and newer technology, but the '830 still sits by ready and waiting whenever I need to feel loved! I love this radio and will never put it back in the box or sell it. I rate it a 10 on a scale of 5.
KA4KOE Rating: 2001-01-14
Nice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well, I always wanted a top of the line rig...and after a ten year hiatus, I finally have one now (even if top of the line was 17 years ago). The rig looks brand new.

Initial impressions? Well, the rig is built like a tank, with just enough controls on the RX end to make it a good one. My one and ONLY complaint is that the tone control does not seem to have a lot of effect on received audio. Friends have told me that this is a common situation.

I look forward to many contacts on the bands with this nice rig. I don't need all the bells and whistles available today....dipping the plate at least gives me something to do besides spin the knob and turn the thing on.
K9MNQ Rating: 2000-11-14
Nice Tranceiver Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've enjoyed using my Kenwood TS-830 on HF and haved owned over 3 years. It covers all amateur bands from 160-10 meters and does not have a lot of buttons that have to be pressed to get the radio operational. Plus the tubes take more abuse with mismatched swr (being new to hf, I did have swr problems with my tuner, till I figured out what I was doing) One, minor drawback is that the radio has no frequency lock, so you need to be careful not to bump the vfo knob. Excellent value on the used market.

Mark, K9MNQ
K5LAD Rating: 2000-05-26
Like putting down a friend Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used my 830S since buying it new in the early 80s. It always performed well for me and I once said I'd never replace it. Perhaps, if it had been equipped with a computer interface, I would not have considered moving past it but..... ah...... progress. It has just been replaced with a new 756PRO, and although it is no longer on the operating table, I still have not brought myself to offer it for sale. That eventually will happen but I'm just not ready yet. I have spoken to many folks who had wonderful things to say about the transmit audio they hear. For a beginner or an old timer, the TS-830S is a great rig.
It served me well for many years. Goodby friend 830. Still worth a 5.
4X1MK Rating: 2000-01-31
Going strong after 18 years Time Owned: unknown months.
I'm still on the original finals that came with the radio when I bought it in 1982.
I changed the driver (12BY7) this past summer after it finally got soft. Owners of the
TS830 know the reliability of this radio, superior transmitted audio with a real RF peech processor.
My main beef with the radio is that when the out-of-band megawatt broadcasters near the
15 and 17 metre bands start booming in, then cross-mod products start QRMing the RX, and with the RF attenuator in to remedy this, many signals got lost. But we're talking about an early 1980's from end, which was pretty good for its day.
But all in all still a great radio!
To the chap who asked when to change the finals ... if you're getting 100 W output, then leave
them alone! If output stops dropping off, then it could be either the finals or the driver tube.
K0SR Rating: 2000-01-31
TS-830S Finals last forever ! Time Owned: unknown months.
KA4AQM: I bought my TS-830S used after it had been to the Carribean several times, and was used extensively at the W0AIH contest site. Still with the original 6146B's! Those tubes lasted several more years until I made a tragic mistake. The T/R relay is under the chassis, inside a metal can. I took it apart to clean the relay contacts and inadvertantly pinched a wire between the metal can and the chassis, shorting the grid bias to ground. When I fired the rig up, the tubes "ran away" and started to melt down, then the fuses blew. Fortunately the person that designed the grid bias supply had a 10K ohm resistor in series with the output, so I didn't smoke the power supply as well. Two new tubes, and I was back in business. That was 6 or 8 years ago, and the "new" finals are still putting out in excess of 100 watts on all bands, including 10 meters. I bought replacement tubes from AES. They say "Made in China" on them, and when I first put them to work I was getting over 120 watts out. Over the course of a month or so, the output fell off to a more normal level, and I had to re-neutralize the finals. After this one month burn in, they have been stable and reliable. Now if I could get the shaft coupling inside the final cage to stay tightened up ! My band switch gets pretty sloppy with use. I'd be happy to hear from anybody who has found a solution to that problem. I cna be reached at K0SR@USWEST.NET 73 de Steve K0SR