Kenwood TS-830S

Discussion:

Kenwood TS-830S

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w***@cox.net

2009-08-03 01:45:34 UTC

I hear hams talking about the Kenwood TS-830S "GOLD LABEL". like it is
something special...My question is : What does the gold label mean?
For several years I worked as service manager for a Kenwood
dealer,attended the Kenwood service seminars ,received all Kenwood
bulletins etc...Never have I ever heard Kenwood refer to or advertise
a gold label edition of the 830..Can someone tell me the true,factual
story on the gold label ..TNX W4PQW

Bill M

2009-08-03 02:05:59 UTC

Permalink

Post by w***@cox.net
I hear hams talking about the Kenwood TS-830S "GOLD LABEL". like it is
something special...My question is : What does the gold label mean?
For several years I worked as service manager for a Kenwood
dealer,attended the Kenwood service seminars ,received all Kenwood
bulletins etc...Never have I ever heard Kenwood refer to or advertise
a gold label edition of the 830..Can someone tell me the true,factual
story on the gold label ..TNX W4PQW

Yes, there was some model like that. I remember one of the local guys
yammering about it every time he was given the chance.

I don't know if there was anything to the label other than "being known
as owning the special edition version" much like car manufacturers tack
on special escutcheons in various markets.

Dale Parfitt

2009-08-03 02:30:08 UTC

Permalink

Hi Harold,
Here's some chatter I found on an eHam forum- it appears that it's all about
nothing:
Dale W4OP

Kenwood TS 830s VS Kenwood TS 830s Gold Edition? Reply
by KB2CWN on January 24, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
Can anyone tell me the difference between the 830s and 830s gold,
besides the gold logo under the VFO dial? Thank You..

RE: Kenwood TS 830s VS Kenwood TS 830s Gold Editio Reply
by N5NJ on January 26, 2001 Mail this to a friend!
The original 830 had a simple silver and black sign under the main
tuning knob. Later in it's life, it changed to the so-called "Gold Edition".
I don't believe that Kenwood marketed it that way, nor is there any
significant difference.

Steve

2009-08-03 14:14:06 UTC

Permalink

A few years ago when I decided I wanted an '830S I did
some research and discovered there is no difference.
Apparently early production had a silver emblem, later
had the gold label. The majority had the gold label from
what I've seen. And yes, I finally got one and love it!
Steve W6SSP

Steve

2009-08-03 14:17:03 UTC

Permalink

Forgot to add that advertising a TS-830S as a "rare gold label"
version is much like a used car salesman saying a car had high
compression hubcaps and 4-speed windshield washers.
Someone is bound to belive him! ;-)
Steve

2009-08-03 16:26:22 UTC

Permalink

Gold Label was the last and final model and incorporated all updates and
fixes for the line. I think it also had all the filters (a big expense).
There were some improvements made to the power supply, receiver performance
and VFO stability. I don't know of other specifics of the Gold.

PA7RG

2009-08-04 13:01:10 UTC

Permalink

Source: http://www.k4eaa.com/faq.htm
What is the difference between a TS-830S and a TS-830S "Gold Edition" or
"Gold Label?"

At some point Kenwood introduced the "Gold" version of the 830S. It came
from the factory with all four filters installed, 2 for CW and 2 for SSB.
The 830S had a VBT control, which required overlapping of the 2 sets of
filters, by varying the heterodyne frequencies, to achieve a variable
bandpass. The standard 830S had only the 2 SSB filters factory installed,
with the CW filters optional. The VBT with the standard filters varied the
bandpass from about 800Hz to 2.4KHz. Adding either CW filter will allow a
500Hz CW bandwidth, but the inclusion of BOTH filters allowed the VBT to
adjust from 0 to 500Hz BW - A very nice improvement. The "Gold" series came
with all 4 filters installed. Be advised that many Gold 830S's today have
had their CW filters removed and sold separately..

UPDATE: I continue to occasionally hear from people that dispute the
Gold/Full-Filter statement. After looking at over 100 TS-830S's I still
have yet to find a Gold that didn't either have the filters installed, or
show positive signs of filter removal. This issue will probably remain in
limbo, however, until someone finds a brochure or sales flyer touting this
"Full Boat" transceiver. People have seen them, bought 830's as a
consequence, but no one has any real proof.

BREAKING NEWS: Joe Kenwood called me yesterday from Tokyo Japan, and
confirmed that "Golds" were delivered with all 4 filters factory installed.
This should put to rest any controversy, and prove my point once and for
all! Thanks, Joe! 8^D

MoiInAust

2009-08-04 21:09:30 UTC

Permalink

Post by PA7RG

Source: http://www.k4eaa.com/faq.htm
What is the difference between a TS-830S and a TS-830S "Gold Edition" or
"Gold Label?"
At some point Kenwood introduced the "Gold" version of the 830S. It came
from the factory with all four filters installed, 2 for CW and 2 for SSB.
The 830S had a VBT control, which required overlapping of the 2 sets of
filters, by varying the heterodyne frequencies, to achieve a variable
bandpass. The standard 830S had only the 2 SSB filters factory installed,
with the CW filters optional. The VBT with the standard filters varied
the bandpass from about 800Hz to 2.4KHz. Adding either CW filter will
allow a 500Hz CW bandwidth, but the inclusion of BOTH filters allowed the
VBT to adjust from 0 to 500Hz BW - A very nice improvement. The "Gold"
series came with all 4 filters installed. Be advised that many Gold
830S's today have had their CW filters removed and sold separately..
UPDATE: I continue to occasionally hear from people that dispute the
Gold/Full-Filter statement. After looking at over 100 TS-830S's I still
have yet to find a Gold that didn't either have the filters installed, or
show positive signs of filter removal. This issue will probably remain in
limbo, however, until someone finds a brochure or sales flyer touting this
"Full Boat" transceiver. People have seen them, bought 830's as a
consequence, but no one has any real proof.
BREAKING NEWS: Joe Kenwood called me yesterday from Tokyo Japan, and
confirmed that "Golds" were delivered with all 4 filters factory
installed. This should put to rest any controversy, and prove my point
once and for all! Thanks, Joe! 8^D

Joe Kenwood eh? From the horse's mouth. Very impressive. Now I would like
to hear from the designer of the RCA AR88, but as that was in 1939 and his
minimum age at design time cannot have been < 20 that would make him
(scratches head and reaches for calculator) 90. Not too bad, I suppose..

Geoffrey S. Mendelson

2009-08-04 21:54:04 UTC

Permalink

Post by MoiInAust
Joe Kenwood eh? From the horse's mouth. Very impressive.

I've always wondered why Trio chose that name. Kenwood, which by then was a
very popular food mixer Europe got their name because the inventor of the
device/owner of the company was named Kenneth Wood. I wonder if they just took
the name because it sounded good, or there was some other reason.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel ***@mendelson.com N3OWJ/4X1GM

mrhaney

2009-08-05 12:17:50 UTC

Permalink

Post by Geoffrey S. Mendelson

Joe Kenwood eh? From the horse's mouth. Very impressive.

At the Kenwood seminars the spokesman always mentioned that the name
KENWOOD was chosen because it is a name that is common in Japanese and
English language..W4PQW

graffzepp

2009-08-04 21:56:27 UTC

Permalink

Post by MoiInAust

Post by PA7RG
At some point Kenwood introduced the "Gold" version of the 830S. It came
from the factory with all four filters installed, 2 for CW and 2 for SSB.
The 830S had a VBT control, which required overlapping of the 2 sets of
filters, by varying the heterodyne frequencies, to achieve a variable
bandpass. The standard 830S had only the 2 SSB filters factory installed,
with the CW filters optional. The VBT with the standard filters varied
the bandpass from about 800Hz to 2.4KHz. Adding either CW filter will
allow a 500Hz CW bandwidth, but the inclusion of BOTH filters allowed the
VBT to adjust from 0 to 500Hz BW - A very nice improvement. The "Gold"
series came with all 4 filters installed. Be advised that many Gold
830S's today have had their CW filters removed and sold separately..
UPDATE: I continue to occasionally hear from people that dispute the
Gold/Full-Filter statement. After looking at over 100 TS-830S's I still
have yet to find a Gold that didn't either have the filters installed, or
show positive signs of filter removal. This issue will probably remain in
limbo, however, until someone finds a brochure or sales flyer touting this
"Full Boat" transceiver. People have seen them, bought 830's as a
consequence, but no one has any real proof.
BREAKING NEWS: Joe Kenwood called me yesterday from Tokyo Japan, and
confirmed that "Golds" were delivered with all 4 filters factory
installed. This should put to rest any controversy, and prove my point
once and for all! Thanks, Joe! 8^D

That's nothing. My first cousin is Yomi Yaesu and he said don't ever
buy any of Tommy's junk.

I'll be fishing with my good friend Isomi Icom this weekend. He never
liked Tommy's gold crap either.

Anyone hear from Twinkie Ten-Tec?

Joe Watson

2009-08-21 04:32:49 UTC

Permalink

My recollection is that the gold label version was produced as an
anniversary promo. I used to own one of these.

Joe
W5WBR

j***@gmail.com

2019-12-25 19:04:09 UTC

Permalink

=====
Is it possible that a TS-830s could be manufactured with a 13.8 volt input as compared with most TS-830s setup with a 120v line power input?

Scott Dorsey

2019-12-26 18:33:50 UTC

Permalink

Post by j***@gmail.com

Is it possible that a TS-830s could be manufactured with a 13.8 volt input as compared with most TS-830s setup with a 120v line power input?

It would be a pain in the neck, you'd pretty much have to swap out the whole
power supply. If you had a lot of money or time you could rewind the power
transformer to have two 12V primary windings instead of the two 120V primary
windings... which would be a massive pain since the primary winding is at
the center so you'd have to redo all the other windings in the process.
Once you had that you could add a couple big external transistors with a big
heatsink to make a simple flyback using the existing transformers.

I wouldn't want to try it, but someone out there may have many years ago.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."