Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021
Been a while since I posted here, but I can’t help but rant this evening. My efforts to repair my Kenwood TS-520SE was unsuccessful (sigh). I replaced the HV caps, but nothing changed. At this point, I’m tired of fooling with it.
I’m planning on listing it on eBay; I’m sure someone more familiar with the radio can fix it easily. I’m not wanting to spend more time on it. Besides, I found a nice condition — and working — Kenwood TS-520S on eBay priced worth the money. I submitted a offer and it was accepted.
The radio arrived yesterday, and I was horrified by what I saw on my front porch. The photos on this page show the packing box as it arrived, with one side split and it was leaking packing peanuts.
I assumed the radio was trashed, judging by the condition of the box. The box was apparently used, and the problem was the seller failed to protect the radio; he wrapped two wraps of small bubble bubble wrap (???) around the radio, then wrapped three worn-out bath towels around the radio, then he poured packing peanuts in the box, though not enough to keep the radio from shifting around in the box, which is why the box was split.
It was the worst packing job I’ve seen in recent history. If the radio had been any other radio than a TS-520S, the radio truly would have been trashed. This proves just how tough the TS-520S is physically.
I took photos along the way, figuring I would need to file a claim since I doubted the radio was going to work.
I got the radio upstairs, and lo and behold, it receives well, and after tuning it up per the manual, it transmits. The case survived without any dents or damage, believe it or not!
The blog continues below the photos, which I provide to show you how NOT to EVER pack a ham radio!
ANTENNA WORK TO COME! Tomorrow afternoon I plan to patch the feedline on my dipole and try to run it up to my shack. I’m anxious to get back on the air. I’m anxious to get the TS-520 on the air as well.
One thing I noticed on the TS-520S, the VFO at times is a little unstable. Not sure if this is because of being jostled around in shipping, or if its just something that the radio was doing before. It’s only noticeable if you turn the dial rapidly. If you tune slowly, there’s not a problem.
I hooked the radio to my dummy load, and it seemed to load up ok, which was great news.