Icom 746 vs. Kenwood Ts.480

[N3TU]

Which one is the better rig with the receive and runs cool. Forget the two meters on the ICOM, which is a better radio? The Icom 746 or the Kenwood TS 480? I am looking for a good radio that will cut down on some line noise. I have been looking at the K3 but I am wondering how the ICOM 746 and the TS 480 hold up to a good radio.

[W1YB]

I seriously considered the Kenwood when I bought a new HF rig a year or so ago, but I decided on the 746 Pro as a base station rig for a number of reasons.

1. I 'AB-ed' the rigs on the same signals/antennas and found the IC less tiring to listen to over a longer period of time no matter the frequency or mode. I attribute this to the good front end and the nature of the receive circuit design. The receive capability exceeds the capability of my (and many ham's) antenna systems.

2. The IC requires less 'menu' access and the menus/program are far more comfortable for me to use. The functions I use most often are right on the front panel of the IC.

3. I like having 2 meter FM capability on a larger radio as well as having the additional power out on 2 meters. I do 'Net Control' duties and the 746 Pro runs cool and the fan almost never kicks on.

4. The free PS was nice, and unlike others who have the IC PS, mine is not noticeably louder than any other PS.

5. My mobile/portable rig of choice is not the Kenwood 480.

My 746 Pro has performed flawlessly for more than a year of daily use.

Good luck in your decision making and operating.

73 and see ya' down the Log,

W1YB/7 - Johnne

[G0GQK]

Your question is like comparing carrots with onions. Both are good tranceivers, manufacturers don't design bad tranceivers today. The 746 is much heavier, a base station rig, the 480 is a mobile station rig, as well as a base rig. The only way to make a decision is to try both, and check what users think on e-ham.
Some people don't like carrots, some people don't like onions, some people like both.

G0GQK

[AA3RE]

I have a Kenwood TS 480 HX. I use it exclusively as a base. I think its a fantastic radio. Its mounted on the back of my desk. The remote head is real nice because it doesn't take up much space. If you plan on having multiple radios as I do you'll appreciate the small foot print. I also mostly control it with the computer interface. Using computer control mitigates the menu complexity on the rig. I have more control on the face of the rigs 'computer' face than the IC has. All w/ just a mouse click.

Several years ago I had an IC 746 and I just didn't like it, nothing to really quantify. I didn't think the DSP worked as well as the Kenwoods. As far as TX/RX it would be tough to tell the difference in the real world.
I like green onions

[NG9R]

I own both radios and have had both on the desk, although the 480 is used mainly mobile. The noise blanker of each one leaves something to be desired, but the 480 does eliminate line noise better than the 746 Pro. After that, the IF DSP of the 746 beats the 480 hands down. The 480 uses AF DSP and it has some limitations when working on a crowded band or in a contest. In most cases an IF DSP will work much better than an AF DSP.
I have both the optional CW and SSB filters in my 480 and it makes a big difference on AGC pumping when next to a strong station on CW and as an improvement on SSB. The 746 Pro still makes the 480 look like a beginners radio when it comes to contest radios, although it too has it's problems with crowded bands, it still wins hands down at my station.
Menus aren't a big deal on either one, they are pretty much a hands off radio once you set them up for your operating preferences. I find I almost never get into the menu system of the 480 anymore.

NG9R