Kenwood TS50 VS Icom 706MllG

[Wiskey Delta-40]

Ok here we go.....
If you had your choice between a TS 50 and a 706MllG for a mobile unit what one would you pick and why

Pros and Cons on your pick Plz

 

[W5LZ]

I've had both. Swapped a TS-50 for a '706 and ran it for about a year. It did exactly what it was supposed to do, but was too distracting for me. I swapped it for another TS-50.
- 'Doc

 

[TonyV225]

TS-50S Great radio easy to run excellent recieve with a noise blanker that actually works a true workhorse HF rig thats simply just as reliable as they come

 

[n0zna]

I dont like Icoms,

but the good thing about the 706 is it has 2mtrs.Yhe Kenwood is far better,,,73 de n0zna

 

[trucker]

I have both and like them both as well. The 706 is really not that hard to use. And most of the menu settings are set and forget. As for the Noise Blanker in the TS-50, in my case, it was all but useless. And the one in the 706 MKIIG, is not much better.
My ICOM 7000 has an excellent noise blanker that actually works.
The 706 has HF, 6 meters and VHF & UHF as well. (shack in a box) Whereas the TS-50 is HF only. Both radios have good audio on receive and transmit. The display on the TS-50 can be hard to see in some lighting conditions. The 706MKIIG is much easier to see. And , the 706's front face can be removed and the body of the radio installed somewhere out of sight. (less chance of theft) The TS-50 can usually be found cheaper than the 706 used.
Overall, the 706 MKIIG is the better (in my opinion) of the two radios. However, I don't plan to get rid of my TS-50 anytime soon! It is a simple to use radio. But, it does have menus too. (just not as many as the 706)
If you can try both out, do so. But, if you can only get one, the 706MKIIG is the best deal.
trucker

 

[TonyV225]

706 also like to get really warm if 2 meters is a important desire than get a seperate 2 meter rig or just get a Yaesu FT-857D and have it all minus the heat problems ETC the 706 has.

 

[EDUK8TR]

I had a TS-50, great little HF rig. I have the 706MKIIG and use it mobile. I really like this "Shack in a Box". I looked at the 857D but didn't like the small display. If all you want is HF the TS-50 will serve you well. If you want more versatility to have access to HF,2M and 70cm this is another great choice.

73

Wayne C.

 

[Wiskey Delta-40]

Ok here we go... I got lucky and found a deal on BOTH radios the 706 and the TS 50, spare couple dollars from sell of another car I put together.


I have had both these rigs side by side for a couple weeks now, They have there pro's and con's.. The TS 50 has a hotter recieve then the 706, but the 706 factory speaker much cleaner sounding.


The menu items on the TS 50 easy to find and get to the 706 a bit more difficult to manage, The 706 has a speech compressor that the TS 50 does not, NOT saying the TS 50 really needs one (with a desk mic, on low setting broke thru a few pile ups good clean audio reports)


The TS 50 has a good old fashioned Mic plug. NOT a phone jack, no need for a expensive adapter to run a different mic. The 706 does have the advantage for a seperation kit so you can mount out of the way Xcept for the head unit. Also for wattage adjustments goes to the 706 also, The TS 50 has only 3, 10/50/100 The 706 goes very smoothly from 0-100.

Now to band switching the 706 has that also, You can go up and down band segments very fast, The TS 50 has to go by MHZ at a time not a full band, Also have not found on the TS 50 to change dial from KC to KHZ another + for the 706.


If you are going to run a amp behind these rigs for a base station the TS 50 takes that option, due to the 706 needs a ICOM only adapter to key a amp and the TS 50 has the normal RCA jack. Having a band scope on the Icom is kind of nice eye candy to see if that band has any activity on it besides turning the dial.


To summ this up a bit if you look at these rigs as "HF" ONLY I would give the edge to the TS 50 due to its simple use and better audio out, If you are looking for as what they are called "Shack in a box" that goes to the 706M11G due to the VHF/HF capabilities (I have not tryed that part on mine yet)


What one am I going to put in the mobile? Probally the TS 50


Now on the hunt for a Multi band Mobile antenna

 

[Robalo]

TS-50S was good on his time, right now most of the radios are on the dead line capacitors leaking on tx-rx boards (57-4220-11) and been discontinued and not easy to fix. smd parts are too small, expensive, and hard to find.
good luck on your new radios

 

[Mudfoot]

TS-50S was good on his time, right now most of the radios are on the dead line capacitors leaking on tx-rx boards (57-4220-11) and been discontinued and not easy to fix. smd parts are too small, expensive, and hard to find.
good luck on your new radios

If you can get a TS-50 for around 3 bills, then no harm done. If it poops, it can be sold for a parts rig.

Hard to do on Ebay though. They seem to get big prices.