Kenwood TH-F6A!!! What do yall think about it????

[spdfile1]

Fellow Forumers,
I will be purchasing a Kenwood TH-F6A in the very near future. Mainly to take advantage of the CW/SSB feature it has so that I can monitor the HamSat Beacons that operate up on UHF SSB. It will also give me 220 Mhz access which I currently don't have. So for those of you that already own this piece of fine equipment what do you think about it? I've been told it is very menu driven?! Do you guys use the computer to program it? That's the way I would go if it's available. I've also been told that Kenwood USA has a program available on there website to program the radio via a computer. How about anyone who uses it for monitoring the AmSat beacons? I would be hooking it up to the Diamond SRH-77CA antenna. It's looks like a great radio and packed with features!!!!

 

[ka3jjz]

From everything I've read you'd probably be better off with hamsats using an Arrow or Elk antenna; using just an extended duckie will work, to be sure, but your chances will increase with an antenna you can point at the satellite you wish to work...anyway, this Yahoo group is devoted to the F6A - that's where you're going to find all the tricks, tips and so on you will want to know...

TH-F6A : TH-F6A

73 Mike

 

[dwh367]

Fellow Forumers,
I've been told it is very menu driven?! Do you guys use the computer to program it? That's the way I would go if it's available. I've also been told that Kenwood USA has a program available on there website to program the radio via a computer.

Learn how to program it without the computer first, because you're not going to always have a computer handy if you need to change something. It can't be all that hard. Even though I have the software for all my scanners and radios, I can still walk over to one and do whatever needs to be done to it manually. Even my girlfriend can program her HT, her mobile radio and her scanner because I wouldn't let her take the easy way out. That knowledge has came in handy for her several times.

 

[KB0VWG]

Easy to program

Learn how to program it without the computer first, because you're not going to always have a computer handy if you need to change something. It can't be all that hard. Even though I have the software for all my scanners and radios, I can still walk over to one and do whatever needs to be done to it manually. Even my girlfriend can program her HT, her mobile radio and her scanner because I wouldn't let her take the easy way out. That knowledge has came in handy for her several times.

I agree with dwh367
Its very easy to program I have had mine for years It works great but I dont really use it to listen to HF. So far I havent gotten a cable to program it I just do it manually.
73s
Michael
kb0vwg

 

[KR4BD]

I've had my TH-F6A since they first came out over 10 years ago. As far as HF monitoring is concerned, you will only hear signals if you hook it up to an HF antenna. With the "stock antenna" mine works well on 2 meters and 70 cm as far as receiving and transmitting is concerned. However, it does not seem to perform as well on 1.25 meters when compared to my ancient IC-3AT. I did purchase an aftermarket "Tri-band" antenna and that seems to somewhat enhance the performance, especially on the 1.25 band. I do like the fact that it can also receive stronger AM and FM stations which comes in handy for me. I use it everyday to listen to "talk radio" at my office where I work on a computer most of the time. It gets recharged every night and still has the original battery in it (over 10 years). Mine has been manually programmed since day one.

Overall, I think that Kenwood has a "winner" in the TH-F6A which is further evident by the fact it has been in production for nearly a dozen years and is still going strong.

 

[N6RDC]

I agree with the rest, a very good HT, I've got 2 of them and I'll be posting one for sale soon,
a back up that's been in my shack....great radio!

 

[spdfile1]

Thanks to everyone for there replies. Very good points made. I was already planning on getting the Arrow Antenna for monitoring the sat's. And I agree about not totally relying on the computer software to program it. I would allow myself to be well versed in operating it manually. Good info on the performance of the unit on the 220 band. I gotta see now if the diamond's I got will transmit on 220?!?!? Again I appreciate everyone's take.

 

[gewecke]

I am buying a new vx-6r but I did consider the th-f6 as a choice,but I already have all the yaesu accessories so that was the clincher.
n9zas

 

[spdfile1]

I am buying a new vx-6r but I did consider the th-f6 as a choice,but I already have all the yaesu accessories so that was the clincher.
n9zas

gewecke,
I have the VX-5R and I love it. But I also have a Kenwood TMV708A mobile in the car. So for me Kenwood and Yaesu are about the same. They both work phenominal. Just came down to features. I just wasn't lucky enough to already have something that picks up SSB/CW.

 

[gewecke]

gewecke,
I have the VX-5R and I love it. But I also have a Kenwood TMV708A mobile in the car. So for me Kenwood and Yaesu are about the same. They both work phenominal. Just came down to features. I just wasn't lucky enough to already have something that picks up SSB/CW.

I also have a vx-5r but it recently took a hard bounce, for the last time I think.
Hence the reason for going with a new vx-6r. Why waste all those accessories?
n9zas

 

[N6RDC]

Most of my equipment is Yaesu but I've got some Kenwood as well, I think that the big three
Yaesu, Kenwood and Icom all make good gear and I don;t think that anyone would go wrong
with something from one of the big three, and some of the new cheaper Chinese radios are tempting
due to the prive being half or less than the big brands.

 

[Dantian]

I bought my TH-F6A for the same reason you are considering it - amateur satellite beacons, especially ARISS-Sat, the various recently launched small sats, and that new PSAT coming up ... ParkinsonSat Design Page, plus local nets.

Haven't heard any satellites on the Kenwood yet though -- have only had the radio for a short time.

Observations:

* Don't need the computer software to program it (and the software is for Windoze, an OS not permitted in this household).

The manual is great, much better than Icom manuals in my opinion. But the radio is enormously flexible so you will need to operate your brain and determine how you want the radio to behave.

* SMA: Screwing and unscrewing an SMA connector to attach different VHF and HF antennas is a drag. You have to be careful not to damage the threads.

My solution for in-home use will be a coax switch to switch between a 2M/440 antenna, and a long wire for 50 MHz and SWL. I bought Comet's good HS-10 SMA to SO-239 cable.

For handheld use I have the Diamond SRH-320A which many recommended. This antenna comes with a small flexible grommet that helps protect the SMA.

* The radio is not continuous tuning across its very wide spectrum. You use a button to switch bands.

* I have been told that the markings on the keyboard rub off earlier than expected.

* Several hams have remarked on how good the transmitted audio is -- without my asking about it. This from using the internal mic and also the SMC-34 external mic.

I was pleased to hear this because some have criticized the apparently unusual engineering of the internal mic.

* Pleasant display. You can switch between frequency and name display.

* Was surprised at the effort it takes to mash the power or backlight button. This radio will not turn on accidentally or run the backlight if you don't want it.

* Radio has a flat bottom and actually sits on the table.

* Be careful to set the internal bar antenna to disabled mode, and the squelch off if you want to listen to HF, otherwise you might not hear much. The fine tuning mode is pretty neat.

* The rubber cover for the headphone and power ports is kind of large and fumbly.

* Haven't found a decent case for it. The belt clip is pretty solid.

* The radio is capable of listening to two entirely different bands at the same time. This was the default and can be confusing unless you understand what is happening. I changed this right away.

* The transmit power levels available vary depending on whether you are powering it from the supplied rechargeable pack, dry cells in the battery case or external DC. The manual provides a table that lists the different options.

I'm looking forward to spending some more quality time with it.

 

[spdfile1]

Dantian,

Thanks for all the good tips. I enjoyed them. Very helpful!!!

Scott

 

[Robert721]

F6a

I have one for sale now only because I wanted to get into D-Star.

 

[gewecke]

I have one for sale now only because I wanted to get into D-Star.

What are you asking? I just bought a new vx-6r but my boss has a th-f6 also and might like an extra.
Thanks,
n9zas

 

[Robert721]

F6a

I listed it and the details in the classifieds section. If you don't find it I will get back to you when I get back home later today.



Sent from mobile device

 

[burner50]

Fellow Forumers,
I will be purchasing a Kenwood TH-F6A in the very near future. Mainly to take advantage of the CW/SSB feature it has so that I can monitor the HamSat Beacons that operate up on UHF SSB. It will also give me 220 Mhz access which I currently don't have. So for those of you that already own this piece of fine equipment what do you think about it? I've been told it is very menu driven?! Do you guys use the computer to program it? That's the way I would go if it's available. I've also been told that Kenwood USA has a program available on there website to program the radio via a computer. How about anyone who uses it for monitoring the AmSat beacons? I would be hooking it up to the Diamond SRH-77CA antenna. It's looks like a great radio and packed with features!!!!

I have used a computer to program mine in the past, but I dont normally.

It has a few menus, but every key has a second function also.


Be aware, the SRH-77CA does not do 220. You need the SRH320A triband.

I have never tried to monitor AMSAT beacons.

 

[K2KOH]

I've had a THF-6A for a few years now. It is now my triband mobile rig along with an Austin Metropolitan antenna. Awesome radio. My Yaesu VX6R is what I use out of the car. Get one...you won't regret it.

 

[gewecke]

I've had a THF-6A for a few years now. It is now my triband mobile rig along with an Austin Metropolitan antenna. Awesome radio. My Yaesu VX6R is what I use out of the car. Get one...you won't regret it.

Thanks! My vx-6r is already in transit to me.
n9zas

 

[K2KOH]

gewecke, good luck with it! It's a great rig...not hard to program although software helps. Did you get the barometric unit?