New member, use gifted old Kenwood or purchase new tech?

Keiserrotten

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Dec 18, 2023
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6
New member needing advise.

I've been listening (junk ht) on the 70cm and 2m bands off and on for about 5 hrs and a scanner for a little longer. Recently I've lost my ears as more and more are going digital and or encrypted. I'd like to get my old entertainment back and also have the ability to reach out for help should an emergency arise. I've decided to get a tech and general license and am currently studying.

I've been blessed with good friends, one of which just gifted me a boxed rig he had in storage. A pretty decent old radio from what I've read.

Kenwood ts-820s
Kenwood VFO-820
Kenwood sp-820 speaker
Heathkit antenna tuner sa-2060
Wilson antenna rotor wr-500

My question: buy an antenna, set this radio up and learn on old tech or sell/trade it and get a modern radio that will get me digital?

I really have no interest in chatting with strangers on the ham as we have far better tech in our pockets for that, ie: cell phone. No disrespect intended for those that do, I get it.

I do have an interest in hearing the law enforcement, life flight helicopter (friend is a pilot) fire, ambulance, etc.

Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas!

Keiserrott
 

popnokick

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Confused by your question. Is this an either or situation? First…. The Kenwood TS-820S is not going to help with your stated desire for LE, life flight, EMS, fire, etc. But keep it and use it with your General license in the ham bands. Great radio for that. And if you want digital text modes with it, add an external sound card modem such is Tigertronics. West Mountain, or similar. For the LE, EMS, Fire, etc digital voice…, use what you saved not having to buy an HF ham rig and get a digital scanner.
 

mmckenna

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New member needing advise.

I've been listening (junk ht) on the 70cm and 2m bands off and on for about 5 hrs and a scanner for a little longer. Recently I've lost my ears as more and more are going digital and or encrypted. I'd like to get my old entertainment back and also have the ability to reach out for help should an emergency arise. I've decided to get a tech and general license and am currently studying.

OK, but an old amateur radio HT isn't going to do much for you as the one you have likely doesn't do the digital flavor that public safety uses, and absolutely will not decode encryption.

If by "reach out for help should an emergency arise" means getting help in a true emergency, your only option with an amateur radio is to talk to other amateurs. I would not recommend relying on that in an emergency. Use your cell phone.

I've been blessed with good friends, one of which just gifted me a boxed rig he had in storage. A pretty decent old radio from what I've read.

Kenwood ts-820s
Kenwood VFO-820
Kenwood sp-820 speaker
Heathkit antenna tuner sa-2060
Wilson antenna rotor wr-500

That's a good friend you have.

My question: buy an antenna, set this radio up and learn on old tech or sell/trade it and get a modern radio that will get me digital?

That radio does HF only. It won't work on the VHF, UHF, 700/800MHz bands used by public safety. If you just want to listen to public safety users, get a scanner, but do understand that no scanner will decode encrypted traffic.

I really have no interest in chatting with strangers on the ham as we have far better tech in our pockets for that, ie: cell phone. No disrespect intended for those that do, I get it.

No offense taken. If you don't want to talk to other hams, then don't waste your time getting your ham license. Give the Kenwood radio back to your friend if you are not going to use it. He may know someone that can use it. Save your money and buy a scanner if all you want to do is listen.

I do have an interest in hearing the law enforcement, life flight helicopter (friend is a pilot) fire, ambulance, etc.

A scanner is what you want.

Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas!

Keiserrott

Merry Christmas to you also.
 

Keiserrotten

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2023
Messages
6
Confused by your question. Is this an either or situation? First…. The Kenwood TS-820S is not going to help with your stated desire for LE, life flight, EMS, fire, etc. But keep it and use it with your General license in the ham bands. Great radio for that. And if you want digital text modes with it, add an external sound card modem such is Tigertronics. West Mountain, or similar. For the LE, EMS, Fire, etc digital voice…, use what you saved not having to buy an HF ham rig and get a digital scanner.
I like the suggestion of getting a digital scanner. Are there features I should seek out given my intended use? I'd prefer to stay sub $600 if possible.

On the Kenwood radio...is this something a new to radio person can get up and running without outside assistance? I have searched and found the list of hams in my area unfortunately I dont know any of them personally. I've also looked into clubs in the area and found the closest to be about 45 minutes away.
It appears that the entire "kit" is there, all boxed up in original manufacturer boxes. The only thing I see that it lacks is antenna/wire. What would one expect to spend to get up and running?

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Keiserrott
 

mmckenna

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I'd be very careful on how much effort/time you put into that old radio. These things are from the 70's, I think. Even if it lead an easy life and spent most of its time living in the box, the capacitors would dry up and need replacement. Alignment of the radio would probably be required. You could easily sink a lot of money into this thing.

Sure, it would be a fun challenge, but that's a lot for a new ham.

Basic wire antennas are not hard or expensive to make and might give you some decent performance.

I'd talk to the guy who gave it to you and see if he wants it back. If not, find someone who's willing to give it the love it deserves. Old radios like this can be a headache.
 

Keiserrotten

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Dec 18, 2023
Messages
6
I'd be very careful on how much effort/time you put into that old radio. These things are from the 70's, I think. Even if it lead an easy life and spent most of its time living in the box, the capacitors would dry up and need replacement. Alignment of the radio would probably be required. You could easily sink a lot of money into this thing.

Sure, it would be a fun challenge, but that's a lot for a new ham.

Basic wire antennas are not hard or expensive to make and might give you some decent performance.

I'd talk to the guy who gave it to you and see if he wants it back. If not, find someone who's willing to give it the love it deserves. Old radios like this can be a headache.
I have concerns about it being more than I can handle. The friend that gave it to me knows nothing about it. He allowed someone to store the radio for a 3rd party years ago (that fell out of contact) and is just happy to see his shelf space freed up.
How difficult would it be to test the radio?
 

SA4MDN

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May 10, 2017
Messages
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And the Kenwood is not just a switch on and go radio, your gonna have to learn to tune it up being tubes an all.
 

paulears

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Oct 14, 2015
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Lowestoft - UK
The key statement, sure, is this.
I really have no interest in chatting with strangers on the ham as we have far better tech in our pockets for that, ie: cell phone. No disrespect intended for those that do, I get it.
Ham radio, as a hobby = especially with really nice, but older gear like this is that it lets you hear (and talk to) people all over the world. Talk generally about nothing at all - the hobby is in making the links. even the old short wave listeners had their version. Hearing people in other countries, and learning to pull weak and feeble signals out of the noise. Noise which is far worse today.

If you have no interest in this, ham radio is a lot of work, study and effort for nothing. I'm still licenced, but my interest in chatting has waned. I'm interested in different radio things now - so I have a really nice HF radio sitting on a shelf. No point plugging it in.

You have a lovely almost complete system, but spending a bit of money on feeder cable could be a waste for you?
Do you want to be a ham? which facet of the hobby interests you? I suspect none.
 

Keiserrotten

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2023
Messages
6
The key statement, sure, is this.
I really have no interest in chatting with strangers on the ham as we have far better tech in our pockets for that, ie: cell phone. No disrespect intended for those that do, I get it.
Ham radio, as a hobby = especially with really nice, but older gear like this is that it lets you hear (and talk to) people all over the world. Talk generally about nothing at all - the hobby is in making the links. even the old short wave listeners had their version. Hearing people in other countries, and learning to pull weak and feeble signals out of the noise. Noise which is far worse today.

If you have no interest in this, ham radio is a lot of work, study and effort for nothing. I'm still licenced, but my interest in chatting has waned. I'm interested in different radio things now - so I have a really nice HF radio sitting on a shelf. No point plugging it in.

You have a lovely almost complete system, but spending a bit of money on feeder cable could be a waste for you?
Do you want to be a ham? which facet of the hobby interests you? I suspect none.
The challenge of reaching out to new places does peak my interest. The thought of trying to hold a meaningful conversation seems like it could become frustrating quickly after being technology spoiled by the other comms now available.
 

AK9R

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The thought of trying to hold a meaningful conversation seems like it could become frustrating quickly after being technology spoiled by the other comms now available.
On HF, that feeling is offset by the knowledge that there's no intervening infrastructure. Just your radio and antenna communicating with the other guy's radio and antenna.
 

paulears

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and sometimes, you do speak with interesting people - and even show yourself up. When I was active, I really knew very little about foreign callsigns, so when I received an answer from JY1, it did not ring any alarm bells. Had a nice chat. He asked what I did, and I replied I was a teacher, I then asked what he did - and he said "I am a King". King Hussein of Jordan - loved ham radio and had a better British accent than me! Things like that I still remember.
 

jhooten

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Mar 6, 2004
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Paige, Republic of Texas
and sometimes, you do speak with interesting people - and even show yourself up. When I was active, I really knew very little about foreign callsigns, so when I received an answer from JY1, it did not ring any alarm bells. Had a nice chat. He asked what I did, and I replied I was a teacher, I then asked what he did - and he said "I am a King". King Hussein of Jordan - loved ham radio and had a better British accent than me! Things like that I still remember.


I still believe his QSL card cost more than the radio i used to make the contact with him.
 
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