Need a new HF rig

[rescue161]

My uncle is getting his ham ticket and I'm going to give him one of my HF rigs (TS-140S) and so I want to get a new one for myself. Since the old 140 doesn't have an internal tuner, I'll probably give him my manual tuner as well. That leaves me without a tuner and with only one radio (TS-50), which is fine, but I want to use the TS-50 as my back up radio and get a new radio with an internal tuner. I've narrowed my search down as I don't want to spend a ton of money. I just want some input from the group.

I'm looking at the Kenwood TS-480SAT and the Yaesu FT-450D. Are there any other radios out there for under $1000.00 that do what these two do? Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about these these two?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[w2xq]

Wirelessly posted (Moto Droid Bionic: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.0.4; en-us; DROID BIONIC Build/6.7.2-223_DBN_M4-23) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)

Did you also look at the reviews on eham.net? The ARRL has all issues of QST on line; I'm there are reviews that would serve as a starting point. FWIW I'd also find the manuals (as PDFs) online. HTH.

 

[LtDoc]

I'm a Kenwood fan so guess which I would recommend. And since I've had both a '140 and a '50, and have a '480SAT now, I can say that the '480 really is definitely a step 'up' from the other two. I can't make a comparison with that Yaesu, never owned one. All things considered, I doubt if I ever will either. That's a personal preference, you do what you think is best for you.
- 'Doc

 

[rescue161]

I've always had Yaesu VHF/UHF equipment and really like it. I've only had Kenwood HF radios and really like them too.

I like the 140 due to it having simple controls. Does the 480 have a lot of drill-down menus, or is it fairly simple?

 

[K4xdx]

If you are used to all of the menus and sub menus of Yaesu VHF/UHF equipment the menus on the Kenwood 480 will be a breeze. It is a very nice rig with a better receiver than the TS-2000.

 

[ranger821]

My vote would go to the 480 SAT or 480HX. I have had my second hand 480 HX for about 5 years. Outstanding rig. As of today it will be my back up. Bought a TS 590 at the Orlando hamfest. Love the kenwood line.

 

[LtDoc]

Menus. I hate them things, oh well.
The Kenwood's menus are more intuitive for me than other 'brand's menus. They aren't dead-nutz easy, but certainly not all that complicated either. Any 'new' radio will have menu options so it's a matter of which one you find easier to 'live' with.
- 'Doc

 

[ranger821]

Know what you mean Doc. The manual stay right next to the rig till I am comfortable with EVERYTHING in the rig. I may spring for one of those nifty guides for the 590. They used to be 4-6 bucks, now there 18 bucks. Looked at all of the new stuff at Orlando last week. My old brain could not wrap itself around some of them.

 

[k3cfc]

I have a kenwood ts 480 hx it has dsp no tuner. ldg makes a tuner just for this model it learns as you go. i don't have a tuner yet but looking. this radio is 200 watts. remote face.


K3CFC