parnass@ihu1h.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (09/03/84)
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Owner's Report: Kenwood TR-2600A 2m Walkie-Talkie, a Winner
In considering the purchase of a new 2 meter ht, I limited my choices
to the Kenwood TR-2600A, the ICOM IC02AT, and the Yaesu FT209, the
Yaesu not being available for another few weeks. I bought a Kenwood
TR-2600A, a 2.5w/300mw, 10 channel ht, and have been using it now for
one week.
There are at least 4 features that separate this unit from other new
2m ht's:
1. As sold off the shelf, this ht has continuous receive coverage
from 140 - 160 MHz. Factory authorized modification information
that permits out of band transmitter coverage will be furnished
upon receipt of a copy of the owner's MARS license.
2. Like other new Kenwood vhf/uhf offerings, a Kenwood designed
digital control squelch (DCS) is included. To quote from the
owner's manual:
"The new DCS system gives the operator the ability to select
which stations he wants to listen to. Only those stations that
transmit the proper data will be able to "open" the squelch of
the TR-2600A, when the DCS system is actuated."
"A short burst of ASCII data, at the beginning and end of the
transmission, contains the necessary information for the proper
DCS system operation. Both a 5 digit access code and call sign
data are contained in this data string."
3. Using the keypad, the owner's call sign may be programmed in
ASCII. An optional rolling screen type LCD display accessory
can display the call sign of the transmitting station, and store
call signs of those others that have called (crude form of mail
box).
4. In a throwback to the early ht's from Standard and Wilson, a
conventional, but illuminated, meter is located on the top of
the radio. It is used as an S-meter on receive, and a battery
voltmeter on transmit. The Yaesu FT209 has a conventional meter
also. The ICOM IC02AT uses a section of the LCD display as a
bar graph.
The TR-2600A allows one to scan the 10 memory channels, scan between
the limits in channels 8 and 9, or scan the entire 20 MHz wide band.
In the last two modes, the user can select the frequency increment
(e.g. 5, 10, 15, 30 KHz etc). Unlike the ICOM IC02AT, individual
channels may be locked out (excluded) from the memory scan.
Like the IC02AT and FT209, plus 600, minus 600, and simplex offset
information is stored with each memory channel. Odd splits can be
programmed by selecting channel 0 as the transmit frequency. A
latching type "reverse" switch is included.
I bought the optional $35 CTCSS ("PL" - tm) encode-only deck. As in
the earlier model TR-3500 UHF radio, this deck fits inside the radio,
and the proper CTCSS frequency is selected by programming the 6 DIP
switches, which protrude through the rear of the case. The ICOM
IC02AT comes with PL as a freebie. The PL code is programmed into
memory from its keypad.
The TR-2600A comes standard with a 450 mah NiCd battery and 15 hour
wall charger. The ICOM portables come with a short life 225 mah bat-
tery. I bought a spare battery and the ST-2 rapid charger/base power
supply. My ST-2 recharges a completely dead NiCd pack in 1.0 hours.
Using a Fluke 8024B DMM and Bird 43 wattmeter, I checked out the
current drain of my TR-2600A. The figures in parenthesis are
Kenwood's specifications:
condition voltage current in ma.
--------- ------- --------------
recv, fully squelched 8.4 36 (35)
recv, open squelch, volume off
COR LED glowing 8.4 61
recv, open squelch, full volume 8.4 135
xmit, high power, pl off fresh battery 644 (less than 800)
xmit, high power, pl on fresh battery 660
xmit, low power, pl off fresh battery 264 (less than 400)
xmit, low power, pl on fresh battery 268
The power output into a Heath "Cantenna" measured 350 mw on low power
and varied between 2.5 and 3.5 watts, depending on the frequency.
The standard battery seems to last a good long time.
With the exception of the Tempo S5 and S1, low audio output in the
receiver section has plagued several ht's (e.g. ICOM 2AT, 02AT, Yaesu
FT208R). In contrast, the audio output on the TR-2600A is husky. I
have no problem hearing stations in crowds when the radio is worn on
my hip. I use the optional speaker/microphone on my lapel to avoid
being a "walking PA system."
ICOM has a good reputation for compatibility of accessories across its
product line. Kenwood dealt the owners of the predecessor TR-2500 and
TR-3500 a bad hand: the batteries, speaker/mic, and leather case are
not upwards compatible with the TR-2600A. However, the rapid/charger
is the same for all units, and with the exception of a label, the
CTCSS deck is the same for the TR-2600A and TR-3500.
Aside from an error in the DCS section, the TR-2600A users' manual
reasonably well written, containing a block diagram and schematic. No
PC board layouts are included, but a service manual will be available
for purchase. The users' manual makes reference to the TR-3600A,
which I assume will be the (as yet unannounced) 440 MHz version of
this radio.
Some other user impressions:
- The ability to selectively lock out memory channels from the
memory scan is a big win over the ICOM IC02AT. I wish both of
them would scan faster though.
- I have no way to test the ASCII and DCS fanciness. I would have
preferred a convention PL be included as standard instead. The
circuitry for this new Kenwood feature is implemented using a
separate microprocessor and modem chip, so it wasn't just a free-
bie. If the Kenwood idea doesn't become widely accepted, this
feature will be useless.
- The keyboard has a nice, positive feel (differs from TR-2500).
- The belt clip was $5, and it should have been standard.
- The keypad is also a 16 key DTMF pad and one hears the tones as
the keys are struck. The xmtr is held on for 2 seconds after
each key is struck (a nice touch).
- The supplied BNC-terminated flexible antenna looks more like a
450 MHz "rat tail", but it seems to work about the same as the
more familiar, fatter heliflex.
- The plastic case doesn't seem as rugged the ICOM cases do. There
wasn't as much weatherproofing either.
In summary, I enjoy using this radio. A hand held radio that scans
the public service/business/government frequencies AND allows amateur
QSOs seems twice the fun of a conventional ht or pocket scanner.
I'm awaiting announcement of the UHF version, in hopes that it too
provides generous out of band receive coverage.
--
***NOTE NEW ADDRESS***
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Bob Parnass, Bell Telephone Laboratories - ihnp4!ihu1h!parnass - (312)979-5414 rb@houxn.UUCP (09/07/84)
Bob; It sounds like a nice radio....but!!! According to NJ law...." it is illegal to possess a scanning radio capable of receiving police transmissions....in a moving vehicle....without a permit from the chief of police of each jurisdiction" Unless we get exemption for hams here, it sounds like they are illegal in NJ! Rob, N2FC
parnass@ihu1h.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (09/07/84)
>It sounds like a nice radio....but!!! > >According to NJ law...." it is illegal to possess a scanning >radio capable of receiving police transmissions....in a moving >vehicle....without a permit from the chief of police of each >jurisdiction" > >Unless we get exemption for hams here, it sounds like they are >illegal in NJ! > According to a 1984 pamphlet entitled "Summary of State Laws Regarding Ownership and Use of Scanner Radios", by the Scanner Association of North America, "FCC licensed Amateur Radio operators with Technician Class or higher grade license" are exempt from this New Jersey law. This was not the case at the time I fled New Jersey. -- ***NOTE NEW ADDRESS*** =============================================================================== Bob Parnass, Bell Telephone Laboratories - ihnp4!ihu1h!parnass - (312)979-5414