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Another model question

T

Tumbleweed

Guest
Kenwood TS 820S, 430S, or 440SAT

Pro's, con's on any of these models?

I'm still looking.

Thanks,


Jerry
TW350</p>
 

Jerry,

The TS-430 and TS-440 are both nice radios. Don't

know much about the '820's except that thy're hybred

radios (have tube finals), and have analog read outs

(not digital without an accessory freq.counter). They

also sort of drift till they get warmed up good.



The TS-430 is an earlier version (sort of) of the TS-440.

Both the '430 and '440 are '100 watt' radios, do all modes,

('430 needs an FM board for FM), and the '440 has a

built-in auto-antenna tuner (some don't), the '430 had

an optional external auto-antenna tuner. The auto-

antenna tuners are very handy especially as a mobile

radio. If you have the choice between with/with out,

take the one with the tuner. The '430 has 4(?) memory

channels, the '440 has 100 with several memory scanning

functions.



There are some qwerks about all three radios. The

'820 tended to loose ground on some of the circuit

boards. It's an easy 'fix', so it's really not to worry

over. The 'processor's on both the '430 and '440 are

very 'hot' and are not worth using unless you get inside

and turn them down. The external control is just

on/off, usually better with it off. The '440 in the early

production runs had a problem with the CPU. Things

would go 'weird' on you for no apparent reason. That

was because they used a socket for the CPU and it

would loose contact with the chip. The 'fix' is to pry

the chip out slightly then re-seat it. The later radios

had the CPU soldered in.



The '430 and '440 could be 'opened up' for transmit

on all receive freqs above 1.8 Mhz. The '430 is a bit

harder to 'do' than the '440, but not really all that bad.

Probably any '430 or '440 you find will already be

'opened up'. I don't think the '820 can be 'opened up',

but I'm not sure. In any case, it would require a bit

more to 'do' it than the other two.



I don't know what the 'going' price is on any of them

are anymore. You might try the 'AES' used equipment

list to get an idea, little high, but probably about average.

If you look on 'eBay', the prices are ALL too high if they

don't include birth control pills too. I've had several of

the '430's and '440's and wouldn't mind having another

or either for a back-up radio...

- 'Doc




</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub86.ezboard.com/uw5lz.showPublicProfile?language=EN>W5LZ</A> at: 2/27/02 9:00:47 am
 
Doc, thanks.

The 440SAT has quite a bit with it, filters and such. The case has been redone so it looks really nice on the outside.

He's asking $575 for it.



The 820S has a digital frequency counter above the analog dial, LED's are blue, what he told me. It has the seperate 820VFO box as well, no cord, they couldn't find it. Quite a bit of stuff with it as well, sevice manuals, filters etc...

$375 for it.



Both look in excellent appereance wise, and both rate these radios a 9 and 10 respectively.

Thanks again


Jerry
TW350</p>
 
Jerry,

Sounds like both are asking a 'premium' price for the

two radios, but it just depends on what comes with

them.

Kenwood filters

The Kenwood filters are junk. If your buying new ones

get the International Filter co.'s filters, they're much

better. The '440 came with a 2.7 Khz SSB filter. If you

plan on doing much AM, the 6 Khz filter would be handy.

If you don't plan on doing much CW, the narrow filters

are useless to you (the narrow SSB filter (1.8 Khz) is

also useless).



I goofed on the '820, the '800' series had the digital read

outs, the '500' series didn't. It really isn't a bad price for

the '820 + Ext.VFO, but get the connecting cable, you'll

have fun trying to find one. You'll also need to brush up

on your 'tuning' skills with the '820. Unless you've found

an exceptional one, the readout isn't too accurate and

changes with heat.



Four years ago $600 was an average to high price for a

'440SAT by it's self. As always, depending on what comes

with it, the price you quoted isn't out of reason.

The price for an '820' is sort of what ever you can get for it.

You don't see them in the 'Used' lists too often, the big

dealers just don't like to take them in trade. It's price isn't

too bad at all, but ~get the cable~. Having gotten used to

the digital tuning on the newer radios, I'd hate to have to

go back to an analog radio. That's a personal feeling and

isn't to say that there's anything wrong with the '820, I'm

just lazy...

- 'Doc






</p>
 
I have had a 440 for 12 years now. It’s a great radio. I also got the filters from International Crystal. They also have a few other kits available for them as well. Doc didn’t mention it, but it has a direct entry keyboard, which means you can enter the frequency you want by a keypad. Or just spin that big knob like the old days.



The only inconvenient thing I noticed is that you can’t adjust SSB power. There is probably a mod out by now, but I just got a bigger amplifier.



I wish I only paid $575 for my TS440AT………..




</p>
 
Skip Talker,

Does International Crystal still have the variable

tuning rate 'mod' for the TS-440? That was one

of the handiest things since sliced bread!

- 'Doc




</p>
 
Well, I missed the 440 and passed on the 820.

I bought the Yeasu 757GX, or did some horse trading actually.

Seems pretty easy to work. It's the stuff on the back that's confusing. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

thanks


Jerry
TW350</p>
 

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