"Oscar Siera!", as the hams say. "Oh $#^+!" as some of the rest of us say.
Got the new TS-480 all hooked up, turned it on, was amazed at the difference between it and the TS-850. Didn't think Kenwood could improve on the '850, but they certainly have. (From me, thinking anything matches the '850, much less 'improves' on it, is really praise!)
Getting the thing from 'UPS' is a long story. Problems were more in my impatience than in they're performance, but who cares, I wanted it NOW! Wasn't going to be at home when it was delivered, work. So went to UPS early, they couldn't find it, wanted to know if I was sure it was here. Told them UPS called me, and I traced it, you guys told me it was here, so I want it now. Said go get the tracking number and call me (very nice looking lady!), so I did. Called, she said let me check, did. Then, "oh shoot', you just missed it, the driver left with it on the truck. ... ... (expletive deleted). Went to work. Supposed to get off at 5 Pm. They got fed up with my impatience and sent me home at 4 Pm. Next stop, UPS. Driver returned at 7 Pm. Just thought the UPS lady was nice looking. I think the driver posed for the UPS delivery driver pictures you see on the internet! Very nice looking lady! She smiled and said to have a nice evening... ... almost asked her if she'd like to improve my evening a little bit. (Of course I didn't, I'm too chicken, and what if she'd said yes!?) Went home. Stopped along the way to brag about the '480 and show it off (took about 3 seconds). Assembled '480 on porch, who wants all those 'peanuts' in the house? Spent next hour removing '850 from desk. Set '480 on desk, connecting power etc. OH $#^+!, antenna'z down... now what? Who cares, hook it up anyway! Did. (80 M dipole hanging straight down, both legs.) My, my, it still hears stuff. What the 'hey, punch tuner button. My, my, it tuned it! Uh uh, ain't gonna try transmitting, I ain't that stupid, for now. Noodled around several bands, I know what I'm going to be doing when I get home from work today, fix antenna.
I'm really surprised by the TS-480. Works! This thing is small, as in could almost put it in my pocket. It'll fit in my truck (will wonders never cease?). Half the @#$ wiring for the VHF radio will work (power cord is different).
Sound like a kid with a new toy? Dam right, and enjoying the hell out of it! (At my age, it's called a 'second childhood'. Very nice state to be in. Makes for a very good excuse for all kinds'a stuff you'd never get away with otherwise!)
The rest of you guys, eat your hearts out! Ain't had this much fun since the pigs ate my little brother...
- 'Doc
(Not the 'HX' model, the 'SAT' model. Can't drive an amplifier with 200 watts.)
Got the new TS-480 all hooked up, turned it on, was amazed at the difference between it and the TS-850. Didn't think Kenwood could improve on the '850, but they certainly have. (From me, thinking anything matches the '850, much less 'improves' on it, is really praise!)
Getting the thing from 'UPS' is a long story. Problems were more in my impatience than in they're performance, but who cares, I wanted it NOW! Wasn't going to be at home when it was delivered, work. So went to UPS early, they couldn't find it, wanted to know if I was sure it was here. Told them UPS called me, and I traced it, you guys told me it was here, so I want it now. Said go get the tracking number and call me (very nice looking lady!), so I did. Called, she said let me check, did. Then, "oh shoot', you just missed it, the driver left with it on the truck. ... ... (expletive deleted). Went to work. Supposed to get off at 5 Pm. They got fed up with my impatience and sent me home at 4 Pm. Next stop, UPS. Driver returned at 7 Pm. Just thought the UPS lady was nice looking. I think the driver posed for the UPS delivery driver pictures you see on the internet! Very nice looking lady! She smiled and said to have a nice evening... ... almost asked her if she'd like to improve my evening a little bit. (Of course I didn't, I'm too chicken, and what if she'd said yes!?) Went home. Stopped along the way to brag about the '480 and show it off (took about 3 seconds). Assembled '480 on porch, who wants all those 'peanuts' in the house? Spent next hour removing '850 from desk. Set '480 on desk, connecting power etc. OH $#^+!, antenna'z down... now what? Who cares, hook it up anyway! Did. (80 M dipole hanging straight down, both legs.) My, my, it still hears stuff. What the 'hey, punch tuner button. My, my, it tuned it! Uh uh, ain't gonna try transmitting, I ain't that stupid, for now. Noodled around several bands, I know what I'm going to be doing when I get home from work today, fix antenna.
I'm really surprised by the TS-480. Works! This thing is small, as in could almost put it in my pocket. It'll fit in my truck (will wonders never cease?). Half the @#$ wiring for the VHF radio will work (power cord is different).
Sound like a kid with a new toy? Dam right, and enjoying the hell out of it! (At my age, it's called a 'second childhood'. Very nice state to be in. Makes for a very good excuse for all kinds'a stuff you'd never get away with otherwise!)
The rest of you guys, eat your hearts out! Ain't had this much fun since the pigs ate my little brother...
- 'Doc
(Not the 'HX' model, the 'SAT' model. Can't drive an amplifier with 200 watts.)
No really you got a good chuckle out of me
. You a have great sence of humor. any way good luck with your new rig,catch you on the bands.
Congrats on the new rig Doc. 
...runna pile-up on 6m SSB