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Reviews For: Kenwood TS-511

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

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Review Summary For : Kenwood TS-511
Reviews: 7MSRP:
Description:
10-80 USB,LSB,CW - 10 vacuum tube rig 500watts PEP, 300watts CW
Product is not in production
More Info: http://kenwood.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1575
WE7EE Rating: 2024-07-25
Loved the TS-511S Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was my first transceiver. I traded-in a Hammarlund HQ-170 and a Heathkit DX-60B with $389 in cash at Harrison Radio in NYC back in 1973. I have the receipt on my QRZ page.

It ran like a champ, I had many hours of DX and rag chew around the NYC area with that rig. I moved several times and my antennas varied from a Yagi to end fed long wires and somewhere along the way something blew in the final stage and it would just show massive plate current on key down.

I could not find any burned, cracked, or discolored parts, all the tube bias voltages were correct, no shorted caps and resistor values were correct. I changed the tubes with no luck. I was 17 and not yet able to dig further to find the culprit.

I got married at 18 and ham radio became a distant memory, I moved it a couple more times until I foolishly tossed it out not thinking it would be something I would have loved to have fifty years late in life.

W6MWS Rating: 2018-12-21
One of the best kept secrets. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Beautiful design, inside and out. Ahead of its time. Kenwood quality throughout. I use mine more than any other radio, and I have many.

Sure, there is a long list of new SDR things that are not in this radio, and if I need those gadgets, I would just swing my chair around to the 7300.

No hiccups in this unit, but I do have to detune the drive a bit to use an amp. But then I don't use the amp as often with 230 watts output. (the 500 watts spec is "input"}

If you find one of these radios, buy it, treat it nice and you will get years of service out of it. The secret to running those 6LQ6 finals is quick tuneup.
N0UNI Rating: 2011-03-30
Super Cool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got ahold of a 511S a while back and all I can say is its a slick old rig. It is what it is. A very simple strong radio. Receive on it is great and has 500PEP worth of power. Not much info on it out there. My 511S has on the MODE switch USB LSB CW and TUN. Some rigs dont have the TUN portion.

Its Kenwoods first transceiver. Its a simple radio without a lot of bells and whistles.
K8RBV Rating: 2003-06-15
An amazing rig! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first sideband rig. Worked the world on CW and phone with minimal antennas. I rate it high due to its many features for a small price. Sold my original, but bought another later due to nostalgia. Now, if I could only find an operator's manual.
WA3RPG Rating: 2003-02-18
Great radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first radio, still in its original box in the attic. Very under appreciated by the ham world. And 500 watts barefoot! Match that today!!
KY6R Rating: 2002-12-13
Wish I Kept Mine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I might be nuts, but this was one radio I think can be compared to some of the Drake radios of 70's vintage. Had one as a teenager as WA2QHN.
KD2E Rating: 2000-06-09
A sleeper! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well, the rating would have to be compared to other tube rigs. I have, or have had a bunch of the old 10-80 tube xcvrs, and never came across anything that came close to the TR4CW/rit until I picked up a Kenwood TS511S. I have many of the others, even KWM2A. The TS511S is a solid rig (unlike others) has a CW filter, good audio both ends, and good readout. It must weigh 3 times an SB102! If you've used a TS520, then you can compare it to that. They are similar in operation and performance. Compare these features to a Swan or Galaxy or WHATEVER.....
25 Kc calibrator,
1 Kc readout,
full metering,
excellant noise blanker,
switchable RIT,
VOX standard,
CW filter,
very low drift,
built in fan.
Well, the only things I can think about it that some may object to are the sweep tubes, no AM (I see as a plus!), and it is a hard rig to find!