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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-870S

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-870S
Reviews: 164MSRP: 2399.00
Description:
The Leader Of The Pack
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.kenwood.net/products/index.cfm?AMA=open
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
251644.7
W2DTC Rating: 2002-04-12
Outstanding audio. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I added a professional microphone and a mixer with a little EQ to my TS-870S and it gets outstanding audio reports. I have yet to hear anyone say that another brand of radio sounds better on SSB than my 870S.

With an AL-1500, the TS-870S does a respectible job on AM; however the TS-870S will not modulate greater than 70% no matter what menu (standard or service menu) you change. With this modulation limitation you can run a higher carrier without going over the 1500 watt PEP limit. Because of the upper limit of 3kHz, audio reports will not be as good as the plate modulated "east coast audio" systems but you could use the 870S as you only AM rig with excellent results.
MI5CFM Rating: 2002-03-15
happy man Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have had ts440s/ts850sat,but when the ts870s came i was very pleased works 100% looks good with the ps52+sp31
KE6I Rating: 2002-02-28
Get the DRU Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Make sure to pick up one of the DRU, voice keyers
if you buy this radio. You just push the big buttons on the front of the radio, and it plays out your messages. It saves the vocal chords when doing those really, really long CQ calls. And, I find it less demoralizing when no one comes back, if I'm pushing a button to call CQ on voice, rather than calling out with my own voice.

Me, I upgraded to this from an ancient IC-730, so this was lightyears ahead for me.
KB9IV Rating: 2002-02-27
The Ideal Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have played, owned many of the top dog tranceivers and I have finally found the ideal radio. If
one wants a full featured, finest TX and RX Audio and quite receiver look no further. The 870
allows me to not just hear well (flexable filters) but with Superb audio. Finally a receiver that
isn't filtered to death, allows the radio to get out of the way!!
It isn't a contest radio but is a Dx'er, Rag Chewer all around great unit. In 35 years of hamming
I found the ideal...........the 870S!
Chris Rating: 2002-01-28
Great radio for the $$ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have one of the "older" serial numbered 870's and frankly, it works great !
Compared to what you can buy today for around 1200-1500$, you won't find a radio
that compares. THe 756PrO is a really nice radio, but frankly, I don't need a $3000 radio
to work DX< especially when so many of them have ballpark specs from one another. I don't
see the vast difference in performance to warrant a large outlay such as that. I have a radio
with the "scope" but to be honest, I never use it. What would I use it for ? To see band activitiy on 20 or 40 or better yet, 75 ? And to use it on VHF is a waste of a $2000 radio to be used
as a "monitor" that I won't "see" in the next room.

The 870 provided many features which I won't go into. The only cons that have are listed as follows:

1. Why don't they carry the manual notch on these radios. As a experienced CW operator, I use the manual notch frequently. Nowadays, if you want a radio with it, be prepared to shell out
around $2500+. They don't put them on the mid-range radios. The 850 had it, why not the 870 >?
2. Why not fully adjustable Bandwidths (Hi/Lo) for the NR in lieu of selectable settings only.
3. NR: I really have yet to play with one that really does a lot for me. This one isn't any exception. It is as good as the 1000's and the 756 PRO series, but honestly, if these manufacturers can get a DSP like this in a radio and then add 4 filter slots, that would be great for me. DSP just doesn't turn me on. Yet. Still waiting for the DSP that can actually "pull" out a very weak signal say S-1 or less and make it audible through the band noise. No slam on te 870, they are all like this with the current technology.

In summary, the 870 is a great bargain just as is the 850. It performs well, has a load of features you won't use probably, and is quite capable in a pile up/contest to hold it's own.

KA0W Rating: 2002-01-22
GOOD BUY! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
FOUND THE TS-870S TO BE A GOOD BUY. WORKS VERY WELL ON CW (QSK) AND RECEIVE QUALITY IS EXCELLENT. IT IS THE FIRST RIG I OWNED THAT WAS ABLE TO USE A NARROW IF BANDWIDTH (BELOW 500HZ) WITHOUT EXCESSIVE INSERTION LOSS AND / OR RINGING, EVEN AT AN IF BANDWIDTH OF 50HZ. MY OMNI 6+ HAD VERY LITTLE SIGNAL LEFT WHEN USING A 250HZ IF FILTER. NICE FEATURES FOR THE CW OPERATOR. A PLEASURE TO OPERATE AND A SOLID WELL MADE RIG.
SM5CBM Rating: 2001-12-11
Fantastic Radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have had the TS-870S for 3 months and I find new nice features every day. Nice rig for CW.
M0CTQ Rating: 2001-11-17
in the shack for good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had the 870 for abt 2 years found it to be a solid reliable well made rig,recieve quality exellent as is the selectivity and the sensitivity.compared it with the very nice 756 pro but i and the other guys that visited the shack all agreed the 870 had the edge on the weak signals.worked 280 countries in 10 months,i will hang on to this radio for a long long time it does everything i want.
WY6DX Rating: 2001-11-10
Nice RIG! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Perfect radio!
EA2AAE Rating: 2001-07-02
vy good radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
THE DSP WORKS GREAT, YOU CAN DO NEARLY ANYTHING YOU WANT WITH THE SIGNAL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALSO CASCADED CRISTAL FILTERS, THEN IT WILL BE PERFECT.THE NOCHT IS NOT USABLE, IT NEEDS THE ONE THAT HAVE THE TS-950.IT ALSO NEEDS ANOTHER RECEIVER( THE DUAL RX). A TS-870S WITH CASCAED CRISTAL FILTERS, DUAL RECEIVER AND A MANUAL NOTH IS THE PERFECTION. BUT FOR THE MONEY I PAID(GOT IT NEW)I AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT, IF IT HAS ALL THE GATGETS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE IT WOULD BE A DIFERENT RADIO.
IF I HAVE TO BUY A RADIO,AND HAVE NO MONEY FOR A 756PRO, I WOULD BUY A TS-870S.