Kenwood: Kenwood TS 2000 recommended antenna type

[KR4NIV]

Recently picked up a TS 2000 on Ebay auction for $500. Seller said it was tested and works which so far seems true. I haven't connected it to an antenna yet but it powers on and I hear static. I've also acquired an Astron RS-35M power supply for it in trade for some restoration work on an RCA Nipper dog statue.

I'm studying for my general but getting things set up ahead of time which is also incentive to study and get that license!
I currently have a 18.5' half wave 11 meter vertical antenna which I assume the Kenwood antenna tuner can compensate for on 10, 12 and maybe 6 meter bands?

My question for those in the know is: what would be a good antenna(s) to put up to use with the TS 2000?

 

[K9KLC]

Do you plan on using the TS 2000 for 2 meters and 70 cm also? Did it come with the 1.2 gig module installed and if so do you plan on trying to use that at all?

That tuner will work at least somewhat better than some of the more modern built in tuners but you're gonna likely need more for lower HF bands, there's literally a thousand kinds of antenna's you can use for HF, I usually used an end fed type, but my wire came down in a storm and I haven't put it back up yet. Right now For VHF and UHF I'm using a comet CX-333 because I also do 1.25 meters and for now my I-Max 2000 on 10-12-and 15 meters on my HF radio. I plan on getting a wire up again when the weather settles down here.

 

[KR4NIV]

Do you plan on using the TS 2000 for 2 meters and 70 cm also? Did it come with the 1.2 gig module installed and if so do you plan on trying to use that at all?

That tuner will work at least somewhat better than some of the more modern built in tuners but you're gonna likely need more for lower HF bands, there's literally a thousand kinds of antenna's you can use for HF, I usually used an end fed type, but my wire came down in a storm and I haven't put it back up yet. Right now For VHF and UHF I'm using a comet CX-333 because I also do 1.25 meters and for now my I-Max 2000 on 10-12-and 15 meters on my HF radio. I plan on getting a wire up again when the weather settles down here.

Thanks.
2 meter and 70 cm --- probably not for now, no 1.2 gig module. (those ain't cheap!)

I've noted that my half wave 11 meter vertical antenna when connected will auto tune from 6 - 160 meters. How well it performs is of course in question. I suppose the frequencies closer to 27 MHz will perform better.

I'm thinking I'll start with a G5RV dipole. Easy to put up and readily available or I can easily just build one I guess. That should get me on 20 and 40 meter ok. I have an open air space in my back yard with some very tall tulip poplar trees that have branches starting about 30 - 40 feet above ground. I think there is 102 feet of space to string it up with the center lining up nicely with the shack.

Feedback on that idea welcome...

 

[K9KLC]

Thanks.
2 meter and 70 cm --- probably not for now, no 1.2 gig module. (those ain't cheap!)

I've noted that my half wave 11 meter vertical antenna when connected will auto tune from 6 - 160 meters. How well it performs is of course in question. I suppose the frequencies closer to 27 MHz will perform better.

I'm thinking I'll start with a G5RV dipole. Easy to put up and readily available or I can easily just build one I guess. That should get me on 20 and 40 meter ok. I have an open air space in my back yard with some very tall tulip poplar trees that have branches starting about 30 - 40 feet above ground. I think there is 102 feet of space to string it up with the center lining up nicely with the shack.

Feedback on that idea welcome...

As you noted, just because something makes the radio happy (the "tuner", that doesn't mean it will perform well there. I have a dummy load that will present a good SWR from DC to daylight but I don't talk on it. Yes, your current antenna should work on 10 and maybe even 12 meters. Honestly my iMax surprised me and has gotten me several new counties on 15 meters and I almost couldn't believe it. The tuner on the 991A won't tune it else where so I really can't comment to that.

I used a G5RV for a lot of years with pretty "ok" results, yes, you can build one pretty easily for next to nothing. Sounds like you have a good scenario for a dipole type antenna with that much room. You'll hear "yes's and no's" on the g5RV and while there are certainly better antennas I had good luck with mine for a lot of years on 20 and 40 meters.

 

[sallen07]

I usually used an end fed type, but my wire came down in a storm and I haven't put it back up yet.

Right now For VHF and UHF I'm using a comet CX-333

I love my TS-2000. I have other radios, but the TS-2000 is my daily driver.

I also have a CX-333 with a triplexer so I can feed 1.25m to a 220 radio and 2m/70cm to the TS-2000.

For HF I'm also using an EFHW (MyAntennas 8010) and the TS-2000 will tune it on 160 as well.

 

[K9KLC]

I've used the CX-333 for about 30 years now on different radios thru out that time. Currently it's a Kenwood TM-741 with 2 meters, 1.25 meters and 70 centimeters. I plan on using that radio ( other than when I do some digital voice) till the end of time. I also have a 641 with the same bands and I plan on eventually putting in the mobile.

I've got way newer stuff but that 741 is just a joy to run and I like it better.

I had the opportunity to run a TS-2000 for a bit and it was a great radio, I can understand why you like it and I'm sure @makerdino059 will also.

 

[KR4NIV]

I'm slowly learning it, at least on RX. So far it's a joy to get to know. I love the layout and the easy menu access. The manual is excellent and well written. I'm a manual reader and this one is done right.

 

[prcguy]

Thanks.
2 meter and 70 cm --- probably not for now, no 1.2 gig module. (those ain't cheap!)

I've noted that my half wave 11 meter vertical antenna when connected will auto tune from 6 - 160 meters. How well it performs is of course in question. I suppose the frequencies closer to 27 MHz will perform better.

I'm thinking I'll start with a G5RV dipole. Easy to put up and readily available or I can easily just build one I guess. That should get me on 20 and 40 meter ok. I have an open air space in my back yard with some very tall tulip poplar trees that have branches starting about 30 - 40 feet above ground. I think there is 102 feet of space to string it up with the center lining up nicely with the shack.

Feedback on that idea welcome...

A G5RV was designed as a 20m gain antenna and its optimized for that band. It will tune and radiate on most bands 80-10m but with a high SWR and additional loss due to the coax feedline operating under high SWR conditions.

There is a cousin of the G5RV called the ZS6BKW which is a computer designed 80-10m of slightly smaller size with a different length of balanced line for matching. From memory its about 94ft long with about 41ft of 450 ohm balanced line for matching. It will work well without a tuner from 40-10m and the match on 80m is around 5:1 which is better than a G5RV at about 7:1 or worse.

I ran a ZS6BKW for several years as my main HF antenna both at home and at work and was happy with it. I now run a MyAntennas 80-10 OCFD modified for a better match on the phone portion of 80 covering 3.8 to 4.0MHz and I'm really happy with that one.

Looking at the picture of your station, why two power supplies when the Astron should power both with no problem?

 

[KR4NIV]

A G5RV was designed as a 20m gain antenna and its optimized for that band. It will tune and radiate on most bands 80-10m but with a high SWR and additional loss due to the coax feedline operating under high SWR conditions.

There is a cousin of the G5RV called the ZS6BKW which is a computer designed 80-10m of slightly smaller size with a different length of balanced line for matching.

Looking at the picture of your station, why two power supplies when the Astron should power both with no problem?

Thanks for that info. I'll look into that as an option.

The Pyramid was purchased for the QT-60. Output is 20 amps max. I thought it would be ok for any future radio I purchased for the ham bands. Turns out that the TS 2000 wants 20.5 minimum on TX and 2.6 standby so I figured I'd get a different PS with more overhead. I'll probably use the Pyrimid as a tech bench PS. I was shopping for an Astron RS-35M on Ebay and they run $130 - $350 depending on age and condition. Yesterday I decided to check with the guys at the local Radio Museum to see what they might have for sale. They get a lot of donations of gear some of which they sell. I ended up being given the Astron as a gesture of gratitude for the work I did on this a while back:

 

[Skypilot007]

That's very nice piece of work. Much appreciated from a former RCA employee.

 

[KR4NIV]

That's very nice piece of work. Much appreciated from a former RCA employee.

Thank you! It was a fun project.

 

[K9KLC]

Thank you! It was a fun project.

I remember the publications "Nippers tips"! Man that's going back a ways. That's great you did that, man that's something.

 

[Token]

I have a few TS2Ks, one basic and two X models. While they are getting a bit long of tooth, and were never exceptional receivers, I really like mine for the combination of features that you just can't find in really any other radio.

Keep in mind you have 5 antenna ports (if you had the X model it would be 6), and they do not all cover the same frequency ranges or applications.

Antenna 1 and Antenna 2 are your main HF / 6 meter antenna ports. HF RX Ant is a dedicated receive only antenna port, and can be used in conjunction with Ant 1 or Ant 2, i.e. you can set the radio to transmit on Ant 1 or 2 and receive on HF RX Ant. This comes in handy for specific applications, such as RX only antennas like an amplified loop, Mini-Whip, or something like an AZILOOP DF72. So you can put a basic dipole on the TX side (Ant 1 or Ant 2), and a better RX antenna on the HF RX Ant port.

Typically I have my HF antennas on Ant 1 and my 6 M beam on Ant 2.

You also have individual 144 Ant and a 430 Ant ports, so one each 2M and 70 cm. This means you can use individual VHF and UHF antennas (especially good if you do sat work). If you want a single dual band VHF/UHF antenna you will have to add an external duplexer, but you can do that and it works just fine.

I run one TS2KX in a mobile application (using the RC2000 head). I have another TS2KX in the house. The third TS2K is not currently in use.

I typically use the one in the house for sat work or when I want to be on HF or 6M while working around the house / property. The Sky Command remote system works great, and I can have a 70 cm HT with me while say working out in the garage, or on the tractor, and still check into the 40 meter Swap Net. For that radio I most often use a home-brew 4 band fan dipole (160/80/60/40 meters) for TX on Ant 1, and a dedicated RX antenna on HF RX Ant.

Ant 2 is on a home brew 4 element, dual polarity (4 elements on each vert and horiz) 6 meter beam.

On the VHF/UHF side I use an external duplexer and a Diamond X510HD dual band.

T!

 

[KR4NIV]

Really appreciate all of the brain food offered here. Manny thanks! 👍