Kenwood TS-440s - OLD, but still GOOD?

[@WECB640]

I have 3 of them. They are easy to repair, modify and are a workhorse. No they don't have a waterfall, but they are a radio...not a TV.

[@LB0FI]

Good point!

[@franciscolopez3229]

I agree. It is the communication you can make with it no matter how old the rig is.

[@chuckrann9784]

I’ve had mine since 1988. It’s been a great radio in the house, in the car, at a State Park, at the Beach rental, at relatives…. I did have to replace the Lithium battery lately. The tuner works very well.

[@jaym1301]

This reminds me so much of the Kenwood R-5000 general coverage receiver I used to own for shortwave listening back in the late 1980s. My receiver had had the filters replaced with optional narrower ones, and between the time I paid for it and the ham in Atlanta, Georgia who sold it to me shipped it he had attended a swap meet, found the optional voice synthesizer module for the radio, bought it and installed it at no extra charge. So at the push of a button a nice Japanese lady told me what frequency I was on. I heard a lot of great DX on that radio (with a strip of aluminum foil thumbtacked to the wall above my apartment windows as an antenna.)

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

The R-5000 was basically just the receiver section from a TS-440s, some of the controls were modified to optimize it for SW.

[@Tamlin73]

I had the chance to get one of those for about 2 years ago here in Norway, but i did go for a Yaesu ft 897d and love it :) 73 from Fredrikstad. Im in hospital right now, but i was allowed to get one of my radios today 😂

[@BoeingSkunkWorks]

Just bought a very nice condition TS440SAT last night. No dot problems on any bands. Has the PS-50 and the SP-435 too. Looks brand new.

[@justcasey3678]

open up the radio and remove any glue from the circuit board. This glue is conductive and cause lots of damage to the board, especially the dot on display.

[@m1sdh]

Nice rig. It has all the features you really need, nothing complex, and right at hand.I do prefer tactile switches and knobs to menus and touch screens. Thanks for the overview.

[@LB0FI]

I'm starting to really like this rig, so there are more videos coming on it.

[@KS0JD]

Kenwood makes a solid rig. My first HF rig was a Kenwood TS930. I still have it. I understand the light in the back of those units fails quite often. I heard a friend of mine put a LED in behind the meter. It might be a simple mod. I will find out more for you on it. 73

[@LB0FI]

The actual replacement is very easy, buy getting to the bulb is quite a different story.

[@gfodale]

@@LB0FI Have you tried searching Mouser or Digi-Key? I found the seed bulbs I needed for some older gear at these distributors.

[@LB0FI]

@@gfodale Not getting tue bulb, but the amount of disassembly required to get to the bulb.

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

@LB0FI, I strongly suggest using an LED. The incandescent bulbs don't last very long, and replacing it is something that you don't want to do any more often than necessary. It's not extremely difficult, but it does take patience and you must be careful not to damage anything. Be ESPECIALLY cautious with the leads/traces for the frequency display. They are fairly delicate and it doesn't take much of a pull to damage them. Replacements are almost impossible to find unless you have a parts rig. 73.

[@LB0FI]

I have already replaced the bulb. Except for the tuner which is mechanically broken the rig works perfectly now

[@unixbehr]

yes I have rebuilt mine. I recapped it . and rebuilt the amp section.. I replaced the light where the meter is and put a led light. I have also rebuilt the ps-50 power supply for the 440. I also have a ts-711a I am recaping now and working to fix it up. I like the kenwood ts-440 . and kenwood radios. I started out on a ts-120 then to a ts-520 then to the 530 .

[@HamRadioCrusader]

This was my very first rig ever. It was used, but it was great.!

[@LB0FI]

It's a fantastic rig!

[@Gonzo-ll3cf]

You mentioned that your 440S' AutoTuner is not working. The 440S models don't come with one (yours probably doesn't have it) The 440AT model does comes with one installed from factory. However they AT's sell used & is an easy install on the 440S model. You questioned the T-F SET function. This is used for split frequency operation. I have the same model as this. I purchased it new in '89. The price was $999.00 at a discount from $1295.00. Still looks and functions like new. Never did have the auto tuner installed. Always used an external one when needed. 73 & thanks for the review.

[@LB0FI]

Thanks for replying. And yes, the radio has an ATU. At the moment it seems like there is something mechanically wrong with the two variable capacitors. It clunks like an old French car when I use the tuner. I have a feeling that the tuner is just coming out of the radio permanently

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

This was kind of the 80s equivalent of the 7300, there were huge numbers of them on the bands but they mostly seem to have vanished. Backup rigs in people's cupboards? T-F Set is for working split, while it's held you will RX on whatever your TX frequency is set to. Really nice rig, usual excellent Kenwood ergonomics.

[@LB0FI]

I am really looking forward to playing more with this rig. I am putting on a hamfest tomorrow though, so there is a chance of more old rigs finding a new home.

[@KC3UVF]

Nothing wrong with simplicity, and nothing wrong with those old Kenwoods. I've got a 680s, and it just works. No fuss, no bother, just key up and go.

[@LB0FI]

And that is exactly why I like this rig 😀

[@franciscolopez3229]

Wow, it's same model someone in my country is selling in very good working conditon still with original electrolytic capacitors. How long have you had yours and is it also untouched yet? The price is reasonable, my worry is, it may just die on me in a short time since like what I've mentioned, it has never been recapped.

[@cqdx1677]

i Have a Trio TS440s-at. İ have bought it from a marine surplus shop last year.. i guess it has been produced for japan market.i have never seen a trio brand 440s before...this radio has been used in a marine vessel long years as a spare receiver .Cover ,screws metal buttons were oxidated due to sea humidity. And it is still working without problem.😮.like a military product.i admired its durability after 30 years

[@LB0FI]

Mine is in parts at the moment, but that is completely my fault after attempting to remove the tuner and not paying attention to where everything goes. I will get it up and running again.

[@cqdx1677]

​@@LB0FIyou can look service manual.i guess

[@unixbehr]

Carrier is also used for the ts440sat with the auto tunner.

[@LB0FI]

Yes

[@DK5ONV]

Hey Morten. Your new Purchase looks in a nice cosmetic Shape. As much as I loved the older Kenwood Radios but the TS-440s was not really the Radio for me. I prefered the TS-140s over the 440's. I hate Radios who do not have a official variable RF-Power Function. Just for this One Reason me and the TS-440s never became Friends on long Terms. TX and RX Audio of the TS-440s is just marvellous as we know Kenwood. Tnx for your neat Video. Happy Weekend & 73 de YFUG 🙋‍♂

[@LB0FI]

Thanks Günter! This is never going to be my primary rig, but it's fun to play with.

[@MikeN2MAK]

I do like the look of that radio!

[@LB0FI]

I love the look of 1980s electronics

[@AlvinMcManus]

T-F SET switch Depressing this switch will allow you to rapidly set ore check the transmit frequency, curing SPLIT operations, without the need of actually transmitting. Pg 15 para (d) of the manual.

[@macster11]

Hello Morten, I love the looks of that radio and was considering one myself but then I leatned of the "dot problem" with the ts-440's. Have you heard of it? If not google it. I really want a 440 but that problem has made me back away.

[@LB0FI]

"The dot problem" is just one of many things that can go wrong with an older radio, Kenwood or not. And this radio is not free of any issues. Right now it's sitting on the shelf with a mechanical problem in the tuner, but that is fixable. Everything is fixable with an older radio, but as with everything else you should do a cost/benefit analysis on if it is worth buying it.

[@unixbehr]

do you have a tuner internally ? you have to open to find out you also have to hit the auto and at-tune to make it work ... The Carrier myst be aroud 2.5 to 3 to activate the tuner ..

[@LB0FI]

I has a tuner, or more correctly had a tuner. There is something mechanically wrong with the tuner, so it's on my bench at the moment.

[@kevanwoodcock6858]

just add a 12v LED wired to the battery input for the back light of the S Meter. You can even choose a coloured LED for fun.

[@LB0FI]

Thanks for the input. The radio is now restored, and has an original bulb in place.

[@franciscolopez3229]

I just love the simplicity of old hf radios even I haven't had one and still hoping of owning one. My question is, a ts 680s is being sold in very good working condition with its all original electrolytic capacitors. With your expert opinion, how long do you think will it work, 1, 2 5 or maybe 10 years more?

[@LB0FI]

First of all, thank you for calling me an expert, but I am not an expert though. I have no way of giving you an answer to your question.

[@Alessioalessio-qv1ff]

My 440 has one digit less. As wxample I see on this one 14.265.00 on my 440 it displays 14.265.0 . Not the last zero. How can I display the last zero?

[@LB0FI]

I have no idea. I got this radio used for free.

[@Alessioalessio-qv1ff]

@@LB0FI I got one close to "NEW OLD STOCK" from Germany

[@Alessioalessio-qv1ff]

I found out. There is a diode to cutt

[@joeslovo7384]

the voice switch is not for VOX: @ VOICE switch When the optional VS-1 voice synthesizer unit is installed the operating frequency will announced whenever the VOICE switch is depressed. For a dial frequency of 14.200.0 the frequency will be announced as; "one", "four", "point", "two", "zero", "zero", "zero", "zero". Please refer to page 28 for installation instructions concerning the VS-1 Voice Synthesizer

[@LB0FI]

Thanks for being pedantic.

[@WATTYUK]

I'm booked in to take my UK foundation licence soon and only have HTs I'm looking at one of these as my first home base, unless you can suggest something else

[@LB0FI]

As far as I have understood it the foundation license allows only ten watts, and this radio has no way of regulating output power, so just in that this radio would not work for you. I would suggest looking at a newer and not too expensive radio as your first radio. I know Tim G5TM did a video on that a little while ago.

[@WATTYUK]

@@LB0FI thank you for the reply, damn I was hoping to dial the power down to my allowed wattage :( back the the search hahah

[@izzzzzz6]

Is it possible to lower the power output?

[@LB0FI]

Unfortunately not on the TS440

[@izzzzzz6]

@@LB0FI I believe I found a mod online somewhere that enables this. googling it found something but I didn't end up getting the radio.

[@unixbehr]

fixing the lit is easy just pull the brokeing buned out light and clip it and put a led builb. and slide it back into place

[@LB0FI]

Have you ever been inside a TS440?

[@unixbehr]

the voice key is not for vox. tits for the vc-1 voice board. It reads out the freq and other items for blind users....

[@MoonDogService]

I need a 440s. Anybody have one for sale

[@LB4FH]

That guy was clearly 5 and 6.8, not 5 and 7! 😡

[@LB0FI]

Love that comment!