New Kenwood Radios: TH-D72 and TS-590S

It's not just another handheld... it's a replacement for the discontinued Th-D7 APRS handheld.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

 

I guess that also assumes or only looks at "repairable" radios... I have a FT-100D I'd love to send you, but you can't get parts for it (re: V/U PA module)

Bill

 

You guys are killin' me!

I've heard many complain about the TS-2000 faceplate's slanted, "contemporary" styling. I've heard many complain that the TS-480's faceplate is detached from the body of the radio. The TS-590 solves both of these major complaints, yet we still complain it looks too ugly. Nevermind how it might perform.

Additionally, people are complaining that Kenwood is behind the times and that the TS-590 is nothing new from Kenwood's previous offerings. The radio has a 32-bit floating-point DSP, yet we still complain about its performance with little or no basis to do so.

I think no matter what Kenwood does hams will continue to gripe. At this point VERY LITTLE information has been offered on any of these new radios from Kenwood. Don't be so negative. Wait til the radios hit the shelves, wait til we get the final feature lists, and wait til the ARRL lab comes back with the performance specs. Chances are you MIGHT just like the radio. In the meantime, don't be so quick to pass judgment.

 

The new HT is also to compete with the Yaesu VX-8GR with built in GPS.

 

That's odd, I always thought the VX-8GR was Yaesu's attempt to compete with the now - long - out - of - production TH-D7Ag.

 

Kenwood

I have owned several kenwood HF rigs and my fave was the TS 830S and the one i own now my TS 450sat. Its a shame Kenwood lapsed for so long in the HF market. I'd say they are a little late in the game to start a new rig, but thats my opinion.

 

I think we can help.
We have some replacements in stock (I believe)
I am familiar with that problem It's a fairly common failure. Yaesu engineers could have done some things differently on that unit!

(936) 564-6700 9:00 - 16:00 CSDT 12:30-13:30 Closed for lunch

We don't ever say "Can't"

73's - Mark

 

I failed to mention that the engineers at Yaesu REALLY messed up when they designed that radio.
The reason the PA's failed is because of aomething called "Thermal Runaway"
The MOSFET final stage was designed to run in the AB bias mode, but what happens during standby?? Um, lets see I bias .4A * 13.8VDC = 5.52 watts of continous heat dissipation, then they failed to add a negative coefficient
thermla diode bias circuit.
Simply put it's going to get hotter and hotter until, "KABOOM" it craters.

Class C operation would be the correct re design for this radio.
In Class C you might see a slight decrese in RF power, other than that reason, I know of no other.
A continous running fan on the final might be a "Spit and baling twine" fix too.

Do a google on Thermal Runaway. It will make things a little clearer.

73' s - Mark

 

Yahoo-group for the Kenwood TH-D72

Yesterday I started a Yahoo-group for thoose of us interrested in the Kenwood TH-D72.
You can join the group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kenwood_TH-D72/

 

Good man...

The 850 was one of the best analog-only rigs ever produced for Amateurs. It's receiver specs speak for themselves. It is also my main rig for the time being.

Let's see how this new Kenwood stands up to scrutiny -- after it's released.

73.

 

There is a new TS-590S Yahoo Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KenwoodTS-590/

73, Peter - HB9PJT

 

That will look good next to my TS-570

I have a IC-706mk2g and a TS-570DG and for a non-portable station I'll take the Kenwood. It's just easier to listen to: the audio DSP actually makes the signal clearer instead of harder to listen to, it never gets hot, and it will tune up on bands where stray RF (or something) freaks out the Icom.

The weakest point in the 570 now is the filters, you can only add-in one, and they are made of unobtainium (although Inrad second-sources them.) IF DSP will solve that problem.

-w

 

I Like LARGE !!!! LED/LCD Displays on Radios
the bigger the better

yah, Class C amp would have been the way to go.

 

Photos

Here are some photos of both rigs taken in the Kenwood booth at Hamvention:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveclausen/sets/72157623937113809/

 

One feature of note is that the TS-590s has a USB port on the back, wonder it it will be for cat commands, sound or both? (like the IC-7200)