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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-530S

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-530S
Reviews: 55MSRP: 800
Description:
10-160 Band HF Trancvr
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.universal-radio.com/used/u245lrg.jpg
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25555
AE4NR Rating: 2000-04-28
Oh what a radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I picked up my 530 at the Shelby Hamfest(September 99) for under $300 dollars and to date have worked all states on 80 meters and 40 meters.I have owned a Yaesu ft101 and a kenwood ts 140 by the way if you have one of those it makes a great mobile rig.But talk about forgiving I have put the 530 through some terrible antenna situations and the old tubes just kept on glowing.I experience some trouble with the band switch and normally just a shot of contact cleaner takes care of this I have gotten some very nice reports on the ol girl as far as audio quaility and it has no problem with me running rtty through it and also packett.It just coasts along and like an ol friend it sure likes to talk alot great beginners rig if you can get one well worth about $350.00 if in pristine condition
73
de AE4NR@aol.com
AB0HI Rating: 2000-04-27
Dependable and Affordable! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the only HF rig I have ever owned. I bought it a few years ago in mint "like it just came out of the box" condition for $400. I have always received excellent reports on the audio. It has performed well from rag chews to DX pile-ups. During QSO's with other hams they will usually say complimentary things about the 530S. I have never heard a negative comment. The digital frequency readout is extremely accurate. Another good point about this radio and some of the older rigs is it has a built in power supply. That saved me another $150. It is not feature rich like the newer rigs that are on the market today. However, it has provided me with many hours of enjoyment. If you are on a budget, this radio will serve you well. Heck, even if you are not on a budget this is a nice radio.
WA5CSH Rating: 2000-04-21
Excellent Buy on used rig! Time Owned: unknown months.
I too picked up a TS530S at a swapfest and it is now my main rig. The only "problem" it had was a slightly dirty bandswitch on the 17 meter position..a quick spray with cleaner fixed that.I have always had rigs with tube finals, so 'tweaking' is second nature and it's nice to have those forgiving finals! Anyone needing a first rig or extra one can't go wrong with this fine little rig. By the way the frequency readout is always 'dead-on' frequency..very accurate..
73 George WA5CSH
N8GCD Rating: 2000-04-11
TS530S Comes home-Full circle. Time Owned: unknown months.
I was licensed back in 1982 and the 530s was my first new rig as a ham, I had to drop out of hamming for a while, to raise kids etc., and sold the rig with matching desk mike, the mc60. Well it's now 1999 when I got back into the hobby, and looked up the guy I sold it to, Yup, he still had it, and he needed some cash as he just went through a nasty divorce case. After agreeing on the price, I picked up my origional radio, albeit a little dusty and filled with tobacco smell, tore her down, cleaned her inerds, oiled what need to be oiled, put a new set of matched tubes in her, put it all back together, and Viola! She has a special spot in my ham shack, oh man, I just love to put her on line, dipping, peaking, tweaking, you older guys will appreciate that! And to this day, I have a local bunch of fellas I chat with at night on ten meters, ask me when I'm going to put the 530 Sheila on line! Kenwood, you out did yourselves with that line up of the 530S/830S. A great bunch of rigs...Signed a satisfied customer.
K1ROD Rating: 2000-03-19
Excellent rugged rig! One of the best for a new h Time Owned: unknown months.
I have owned a TS-530S for about two years now. It is a fantastic rig. It does about everything I want a rig to do and recently I pressed it into digital service (PSK31). The finals (6146B's) are very forgiving. This makes the rig well suited to the new ham who may not always tune it up quite right. It is extremely frequency stable and has great audio. I often get reports telling me my audio is as good as any rig out there. Best thing is you can pick TS-530S's up at hamfests for about $350. If I was elmering someone at the moment, this is the rig I would point them to.