Pulled the Trigger LAST Tuesday

[Robb]

I also pulled the trigger last week and got a Kenwood TS-2000 HF rig. I'm not rich or famous either. I have a bunch of equipment to sell now to cover spending $1100 for this 1 year old radio! It will TX/RX on 160-10m, 6m, 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm. All mode. The TX filter is software definable up to 3.3kc on SSB. Can TX a frequency response between 10hz to almost 4khz with outboard audio enhancement.

Works great - got it from a guy in Michigan that is a MARS operator. He even threw in the 2010 repeater directory with it. I just bought a 13 pin DIN plug from eBay ($5.50/shipping included) to make my own audio input/PTT thru the ACC2 port. Also ordered a USB/CAT cable for it too (eBay: $26/incl s&h). I plan to hook up my MXL V88 condenser mic, BBE 822A Sonic Maximizer, Behringer mic preamp and digital EQ/compressor/expander/limiter to it this week.

"ESSB..."

 

[Moleculo]

Those are very versatile rigs with a lot of features. When you can, get one of the Kenwood HT's that supports "Sky Command" and run HF from your HT. Very fun...

 

[W5LZ]

Mole',
I think you know I'm a Kenwood fan, I've said it often enough. I think that you've made a couple of good choices in new/'new' radios. Neither are 'perfect', but that's nothing unusual. That 'perfect' is different for everyone.
I also think that you will find that 'K3' is a little more 'perfect' than the 'TS-2000' in a few ways, maybe not so 'perfect' in others, but still 'better' than some of the other brands of radios. The biggest difference is in 'how' things are done, mainly the 'K3' is a different approach to a 'problem' instead of simply a 'bigger stick' sort of thingy. If that makes sense.
'Kit' versus 'assembled'.
Actually, that 'kit' feature is more expensive and harder to produce than an assembled, 'ready in the box' radio. So why do those people do that instead of just building the radio and selling it cheaper? Cuz there's a market for those 'kit' thingys!! One of the characteristics of 'radio nutz' is that most love the -idea- of 'making it themselves' instead of just buying it. It's more satisfying for some reason. It's also a hell of a lot harder than just getting something ready to go, cuz you have to know more, and have experience in the 'building things' aspect of it, which most people don't have (like who has the patience and time to learn all that weird, 'old fashioned' stuff). Those 'K' people have done the really hard parts, designing and that @#$ 'SMC' stuff, they give you/us the opportunity to do the mechanical and 'plug-in' stuff, the final assembly! "HOT DAM, -I- built it!", you know? None of which mentions the fact that those 'K' radios seem to be the 'top of the line' in the performance aspect of thingys.
[I know, it sounds like blasphemy for a Kenwood fan to say that, but it's still true. It's still a fact, "If you ain't got Kenwood, you got squat!", but with the 'K3' you're just sort of crouched down, you ain't really 'squatting' yet. I love puns! Especially when they're true!!]
I'm jealous!
- 'Doc

(And just to cover all bases just in case... If you decide you don't like either of those radios... can I have it?)

 

[Wire Weasel]

Congrats on the fine choice Robb. If I needed 440 in a rig I would also probably choose the 2000. I don't need the 440 so my pick on a similar rig is the Icom 746/Pro. But I'm an Icom guy anywho.

Have fun and hope it does what you want it to do for you!

 

[Highlander_821]

Nice rigs according to a few people I know who have them. The people I know who run these rigs don't do satellite modes, so I don't have first hand info on it, but there are several reviewers on Eham.net that say there is a birdie on one of the Sat downlink freqs that make that bird basically unusable with the TS-2000.

If my FT-847 ever clunks out on me, and I can't find a working used 847, I'll have to seriously consider the TS-2000. I hope that day is a long way off, though, because I LOVE my 847....:wub:

 

[0x33f]

Looking good

 

[0x33f]

Nice Rig you have there
Highlander_821 the birdie is supposedly in the 436.800 range bad for AO-27 and SO-50

 

[0x33f]

I plan to hook up my MXL V88 condenser mic, BBE 822A Sonic Maximizer, Behringer mic preamp and digital EQ/compressor/expander/limiter to it this week.

"ESSB..."

Sounds more like a recording studio than a ham shack LOL

 

[mackmobile43]

Sounds more like a recording studio than a ham shack LOL

There's lots of guys out there that have tons of of trinkets that don't have a clue of how to operate them, I take my stuff out in the mobile and set up my base to record on the pc and I go from that, then and only then am I satisfied that my rig plus it's trinkets sound ok.

Anyway I guess what I'm trying to say is your ear is fine for you but my ear is the deciding factor.

Nice radio there Robb and I bet you bust up many a pile up with it when mutha nature is at your door.

 

[kb6led]

Nice choice on radios, I will listen for you on lower 38 I am interested to see how it sounds when you get all ur audio gear hooked up to it.