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Reviews For: Kenwood TM 241

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TM 241
Reviews: 42MSRP:
Description:
2m FM Transceiver
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/fm_txvrs/tm241a.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00423.5
KI4SDY Rating: 2007-11-08
THESE ARE GREAT LITTLE RADIOS! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A good powerful little radio with excellent
receive and transmit. Always get good audio
reports. No display problems or issues with
the mike. I don't know what more you could ask
for? Mine was marked TM-241A.

Later appeared as the ADI AR-147 with controls
in the same place and similar features. I have
one of those too and it has been a great radio
as well.
N1FMP Rating: 2007-10-05
Tough simple radio in spite of lousy mic and crazy display. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have three. The first one I got used when it still hurt to drill a hole in the roof of my "new" 1987 Ford F-150. The second one I got (brand new) to install in my wife's car (mid nineties), the last I got at a hamfest three or four years ago.

All three microphones failed after a few years of use. One totally dead, one no PTT and one no audio on transmit. All three radios have had the "loose front assembly connector" display problem. One required a battery replacement (against all good advice I replaced it with one from Radio Shack by soldering braid to the battery - wearing safety glasses of course).

I have replaced the MC-44 mic's (which are discontinued by Kenwood and were trash), with various 500-600 Ohm dynamic mics. One I replaced with a Trio brand that had the correct connector, the PTT, UP and Down buttons were even wired correctly ($5 at a flea market). The others I replaced with old 6-pin Kenwood mics that needed to have the connectors changed. I used the 8 pin connectors from the defective MC-44's.

I hadn't used the dial pads for many years because the phone patch on our local repeater hasn't been in use for years. That might be an issue for someone that needs the touch-pad. Power output seems very sensitive to line/antenna mis-match, but that's a good thing.

The radios seem bullet proof (except for the crazy dial problem). After years of bouncing around in pickup trucks, and my 1987 Jeep, they still work. They are a bargain used in spite of lousy mic and crazy display.

They have very nice audio in receive and have always gotten good signal reports in transmit, The audio may have improved with the dynamic mic's. I especially like the large clear display, and simple operation. I am one of those guys that can't run a VCR (or should I say DVD) remote. I don't use most of the features on most of the radios I own because I can't remember how to use them minutes after figuring out how. For me the fewer bells and whistles the better.

These are my kind of radios.
Ed. N1FMP
WA6GON Rating: 2007-01-15
Great Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had mine so long I cannot remember when I bought it new. Had to be mid 90s. Used it mobile for a time and during packet heyday it was my home packet station connected to a PK88. The last six years it was in storage until I finally put it back on the air as a packet rig. Our local ARES is starting a packet net for reporting neighborhood issues after a severe storm. I had the same mic problem. That was caused by the foam Kenwood used to make the PTT button spring back. I fixed it myself replacing their foam with new foam with an equally springy quality. Never had the display problem but then I did have it mobile very long. It just seems to keep on working.
KD7TDA Rating: 2006-07-09
Not bad Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My TM-241A has worked good. The mic has been a problem. I have had it repaired and now it is not working again. The ptt button is the problem. I really don't have any complaints about the radio itself though.
W0PPK Rating: 2004-10-16
Exellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Has worked flawlessly! Tricky to program but still like it fine. Good power and modulation reports. Love the small footprint. Would prefer the display to light up and stay lit when power on.

73's Bob W0PPK
N8LU Rating: 2004-04-10
TM 241 Great Radio!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned a TM 241 for many years....since it was new. It is a great radio. However, I recently considered changing the lithium battery for the memory back-up. I received the battery from the dealer. However, I can not find the battery in this rig to change!!! Does anyone know where it is??

It is working, so I do not need to change it...I just thought I would for PM. I have changed memory back-up lithium batteries before, but I can not find this one to change!!

Dave Lathrop, N8LU radioN8LU@juno.com
KE4MOB Rating: 2004-03-10
Display finally FIXED!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this radio for about 4 years now and been suffering with an intermittent display. It will work for a couple of months, then go out. After reseating the connector for the hundreth time, I finally resorted to using a needle and small jewelers screwdriver to gently pry up the contacts inside the connector on the front board to snug up the contacts.

Imagine my surprise when I applied pressure to one side of the connector and the other side of the connector lifted up off the board! The display connector on the front panel is surface mounted, and it apparently didn't have enough solder on the pads to secure the connector and make a good, solid electrical connection. A little work with a 0.7 mm tipped soldering iron and voila! The display is alive for good.

Moral of the story: after you have checked the contacts inside the connector, check the connection between the connector and the circuit board. You might be surprised.

This radio is definitely a workhorse....the only detractor is that darn display.
KE4HEN Rating: 2003-10-23
241 problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had a 241 which I sold for parts in 2002. I purchased the radio in 98 on the internet. It was a decent radio for the most part. As everyone else states, the display was wierd. Seems to have a mind of it's own at times. It had solid performance before the RF module went out. The part was around $60, so I cut my losses and sold on ebay for parts. I used it as a primary base rig for it's life. I own alincos and yaesu now. Kenwoods have a traditionally loud audio modulation, as the 241 does. Always had good reports on sound quality.
N3NDW Rating: 2003-07-17
A GREAT Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine used about 6 years ago and had good service from it although I knew that the early models had display problems. Mine did not develop the display problem for a couple of years. When my display started to act up,I sent email back and forth with Kenwood about this being an ongoing problem with all of their TM-241's, and that they should fix this at no charge. I could get no help. I finally called them and got a real nice lady who said to send it back, that they were repairing this problem at no cost. I sent mine back with a note that I also had an intermittant Xmit problem. I got the radio back in about 10 days. The xmit problem was still there, but the display was corrected. I returned the radio to Kenwood with a note that they forgot to look at the xmit problem. They returned the radio with a new mike at no cost. Just Great people to deal with. I had a 261A, but found this radio eaiser to program on the road. I tried to sell it once for $100. and no one would buy it. I put it back in my truck. It is a comfortable radio to use on the road. Always good audio, good receive, and good output. If you find one laying around for under $100. buy it as a spare for when the high end radio your using crashed on you and you need to get back on the air. Its a very good investment.
VE7NRM Rating: 2003-07-06
Great Rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this radio now for 11 years and it was the first radio I bought after I got my licence. I have to say it has been the best radio I have owned. The display goes haywire once in a while but it is liveable. I have just encountered a new problem though, when I transmit all there is, is a bunch of noise. Still working on the trouble shooting.