| Author |
Message |
    
Wendy
Member
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 91
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 6:59 pm: | 
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Somebody has a kenwood 440 with power supply they want to trade for an RCI 2990. First of all what is a Kenwood 440? Anybody have a picture of it? Is this a good trade? Any input is appreciated.
Thanks Wendy
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 87
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 7:58 pm: |
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Wendy,
if your talking about a ts-440 it would probley be a good deal,assuming it works like it should.
this link has a pic of the ts440.
http://www.rigpix.com/kenwood/ts440s.htm
tech291
CEF#291
kc8zpj |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 8:07 pm: |
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Kenwoods are great radios. The TS440 is a mid level model of it's time and has lots of nice features. Like most amateur radios it's pretty much designed around SSB and is a little touchy to set up for good AM operation. I have a TS450 and love it. I've known quite a few amateurs who have TS440s and love them, but in my travels around the net looking for mods for my TS450 I've seen some information about TS440s having problems. You might want to google TS440 and look at some of the modification websites for more information before you decide to buy it. |
Wendy
Member
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 92
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - 10:01 pm: |
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I wouldn't have to pay any money he just wants my other radio. I just can't understand why anyone would want to trade a kenwood for an RCI. I'm not sure if it's the 440 ts. I know you need a power supply to run the radio. Thanks for the advice I'll try a google search. |
Mrbigshot
New member
Username: Mrbigshot
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 9:11 am: |
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i dont think i would ever get rid of mine. the downfall to these radios is the need for a power supply, im using a 25 amp on mine. |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 391
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 10:20 am: |
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The Kenwood TS-440-AT is a very good radio if in A-1 condition. The biggest thing to look for on buying one or tradeing for one is to make sure that the VFOs are fully functional, to have the VFOs rebuilt is a Kenwood service center charge of up to $350.00. Amateur transceivers are not something that can be repaired at the every day CB shop. |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 1:16 pm: |
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Yankee - Is there a problem with the encoder failing on the TS440? On a solid state rig like the TS440 the VFO is an encoder and it's associated hardware which shouldn't be a big deal to replace. It might be difficult to get because it's probably out of production in the case of the TS440 as this rig was made in the 80s, but getting a used part from a scrapped rig shouldn't be that expensive.
The Kenwood service center isn't known for inexpensive labor rates, so if you have your radio serviced there it's going to be pricey. There are amateur radio dealer service centers known for working on specific brands or models of out of warranty radios. They generally charge less per hour than the factory service center and are very familiar with modifications and model specific problems.
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Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 458
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 6:10 pm: |
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Wendy,
If you don't have a ham ticket, I'd forget this trade. If you talk on cb almost exclusively, you will be disappointed in the am CB performance and receive of the Kenwood.
Maybe someone could give you a market value of each radio. I have a feeling that the Kenwood being so old would not be worth much more than the 2990, but I could be wrong.
Mikefromms |
Chad
Intermediate Member
Username: Chad
Post Number: 146
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 6:30 pm: |
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Mike, What if one stay's mostly on SSB? I'm getting my code down and will hopefully be getting my ticket soon. Looking for a good radio with general coverage. |
Mikefromms
Intermediate Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 461
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 7:22 pm: |
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Chad, that would be a different story since these radios are set up at the factory for superior SSB use. In that case, I'd go for it.
Mikefromms |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 392
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 7:48 pm: |
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RacerX, I have a TS-440 that has the VFOs dead on a good share of 10 MHz., but the rest of the VFOs work fine. I have contacted Kenwood and they tell me this is a normal problem with the TS-440 because of the type of epoxy sealer that was in use when the 440s were built. |
Racer_x
New member
Username: Racer_x
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 9:16 pm: |
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Yankee - I read through the TS440 service manual and apparently the problem you have is a VCO that isn't functioning in one of the PLL circuits. That would give you a dead band but the rest of the frequency range would work.
I would imagine the Kenwood service center price was to replace then entire PLL unit rather than fix the problem. I'd check with some amateur radio service centers that service out of warranty Kenwood gear and tell them specifically what the range is that doesn't work. They can probably tell you exactly which VCO isn't working and give you a good estimate of what it would cost to fix - if it can be fixed without replacing the entire PLL unit.
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Dx431
Advanced Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 977
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 10:39 pm: |
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Yankee, if youre having trouble with your Kenwood, shoot me an email. ( if you still have it) |
Yankee
Intermediate Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 394
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 9:57 am: |
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DX431: Sorry I can't say that I have your E-mail ADDY in my address book for some reason.
But yes I still have the Kenwood TS-440, send me an E-mail. |
Dx431
Advanced Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 978
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 1:12 pm: |
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Yankee,check your pm..... |
Tech833
Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 60
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 8:38 pm: |
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I own a Kenwood TS-440 with the built in auto tuner, and I have been very happy with it.
I did contact Kenwood once about a possible problem it began to have, and I was told that they no longer support this radio AT ALL, and they sent be a brochure on all their new radios. I do not care for non-analog meters, so I chose to fix my 440 instead.
It still has an odd intermittent audio problem with the receiver, but a quick rap on the desk or the radio itself 'repairs' it again.
Actually, I am getting rid of some of my HF gear, but I am keeping the Kenwood because I like it so much. It makes a GREAT little SW receiver. |
Racer_x
New member
Username: Racer_x
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 8:06 am: |
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I know what you mean about the analog meter. I had a TS140 and upgraded to a TS450SAT. I love the TS450SAT, and I like it's meter, but I still miss the analog meter the TS140 had.
To me, radios should have needles that move. My Kenwood KR-7050 analog stereo tuner has 4 meters and I love to watch them as I listen to the radio. It's also got a 4 gang air variable capacitor and 5 FM filters.  |
Legend
Member
Username: Legend
Post Number: 78
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 6:38 am: |
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I have the new Kenwood TS480SAT. The one with the detached face.
I love it!
And it rocks on AM too. That is one of the major reasons I bought it, when compared to other Amateur gear. |
