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This radio was purchased to rebuild my ham shack after a number of years off the air. My previous experience was with Kenwood as an excellent radio. This unit was definitely in used condition. One of the two position switches was broken and the face plate needed to be glued back on. After several hours on the air, it works well but fear the finals are weak. That is to be expected. The VFO is slightly off calibration. Would love to be able to have a beam antenna to use but homeowners association will not allow. Works great off of dipoles in attic. 40M does not seem to get out very well so may have to put on analyzer to check true output. Needed to replace 9 pin VFO plug as it must have fallen off in transit and accidently thrown away. Now all I need is time to get air time to enjoy the radio.Read full review
OK, so I'm a new ham. I buy one of these from here on Ebay. I also buy an end fed sloper antenna that covers 10-80 meters. I hook it up, tune it up and start broadcasting on 10 meters. Great reports. "Audio quality is excellent" people say. Signal reports 5/9 in Dominica (little Island in the Caribbean) I'm happy right? So, just to make sure everything is good with the antenna I get an antenna tuner. Low and behold I find out that I was running an SWR of more than 4:1 baking my final output stage and yet it was STILL performing as it should. Now admittedly I most likely reduced the life of my final tubes but I tuned up the antenna, tuned up the radio which still puts out 100 W and just worked a pileup in Australia on freaking 10 meters! Although the receiver sensitivity is very good, it's still not quite as good as some of the newer radios but for a dufus just starting out you can't beat it. Signed, the Dufus on 10 meters.Read full review
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The Kenwood TS-520 and 520S are top notch radios. They were built to last and they have proven the test! They have crisp, strong audio both in transmit and receive. The 6146s can take a beating over transistors. It is also a relatively easy rig to maintain, fix, and operate. I have been using one for over 25 out of my over 40 years of ham radio. It continues to be my favorite radio.
I love my vintage 520S's, especially the warm-natured vacuum tubes and the fact that it blends so well in my 1927 Nash. However, she is so big and heavy, I will have to keep her in the rumble seat and run my inverted V antenna up the windshield posts. Bingo.....I am cruising in my 27 Nash and chatting to my Aussie buddies on 80 meters. The weight helps the Nash get traction in heavy snow, and serves as a boat anchor if the rains get too heavy. A true marvel to the engineering world!