Kenwood ts - 940 hf base

[ai4ep]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?

[n8yx]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?

Owned one. Traded it to a buddy/coworker.

Pros: Will do just about everything you need...is amongst the last of the 'serviceable' Kenwoods of the era...very flexible in the RX department.

Cons: Keep the cooling fans lubed or the rig's internal power supply pass transistors will overheat and fail...destroying the finals in the process. These rigs were also known to exhibit intermittent connections throughout their wiring harnesses and at the points where their cable-header SIPs were soldered into the various PCBs. Nothing that a session with a soldering iron won't fix, but most folks don't relish diving that deep into a radio.

I would have kept mine except I was after a buddy's TR5 station and "... I made him an offer he couldn't refuse..."

[A71AN]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?

I have worked on TS-950S, one of the best rig I did come accross, used at the Qatar Ham Radio secoity and many people been playing around with it, always remaind solid.

I had and still have the Kenwwod TS-850S just as good as the TS-950, also I used the TS-50S mobile and always enjoyed these rigs, A friend of mine here having the TS-50S mobile and I been for a long time running behind him to sell it to me.

Kwenood Radios of the 190's are real great.

If you come a cross the TS-950S in working condition, never leave it behind, buy it.

[WR8D]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?

There are no parts for them now. You must trouble shoot each board when you have problems...."you will have problems" due to the rigs age. I bought one new and it was my main rig for several years. The world was using them at that time also. I think maybe two solar cycles back in the 80's was when they first came out. Beautiful sounding and looking rig.

I'd never buy a used one nowdays especially due to all these screw driver wannabe techs and their golden touches. You'd be only asking for all "their" problems. Read my comments then if you purchase one my words "will" come back to haunt you! "lol"...

Drivers go out...power supply problems...alc problems..."a warble on receive which you'll have to be an expert to repair"...connectors that kenwood used at that time will oxidize and the rig will just die before you...or it won't even power up when you hit the power button.

Good Luck...i hope my comments prevent you from this torture!

73 Happy Easter.......John WR8D:(

[wb7dmx]

I had a ts 940 for several years, one of the best rigs I have ever had, wish I had it today.

[wg7x]

Robert,

You sound like you're still stuck in the CB mode when you use terms like that.

But on message:

I have used my Kenwood daily since I purchased it back in 1987. It is a great rig and well worth using. I only changed to Icom because Kenwood is no longer competitive in the HF arena.

I will echo the comments about the cooling fans and inter connections. I still use an external fan on the transformer cooling fins. The original fan and replacements usually fail within a year or so. As far as the connections go, I have had a few problems in that area but not too many.

If you find a good used '940 but it! I think that you will find that it is a great addition to the shack.

Base radio indeed!

You know better than that!

73 Gary

[wb6mmj]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?
I will not own one of those. They are known for having many problems.

[ai4ep]

thank each of you for your fast reply.

I know of one ( 940 ) with a matching external speaker with the filter switches on it, and one of the kenwood desk mikes ( I dont know which model but it aint a current one ) for sale for $700.00

and it works great, I have talked on it and tuned around with it...the antenna tuner works, and apparently the rig is in top notch shape.

To me the term BASE RADIO means a rig that has a built - in ac/dc power supply...and you dont have to have an external ac/dc power supply to run it in the house. That is my reason for the term.

[K0DXC]

Has any one ever owner one, do you own one now...and what are the PROs & CONs on operating / owning one ?


My grandpa has owned one for years. All in all, buy one! You won't be dissapointed. It's a little big, but a great all around radio.

[KC0HLM]

ive owned 3.. fantastic transmit audio. great radio.. try and get a later serial num. like 7 min 8 mil 9 mil..