Very nicely done review. Very articulate. You've convinced me that I need one of these, the only problem is that I can't afford one. Seriously though, you can teach the rest of the people on RUclips a thing or two about how a product review should be conducted. Absolutely hands down the best review I've ever watched.
Now you've done it! My wife is going to kill me (figuratively of course) because I think I have to have one of these radios. Seriously, excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to be so thorough. I have been thinking about this little HT for a few months and you have convinced me.
I used to have a TH-F6A and I loved it but like an idiot I sold it for only God knows what but I sure loved that little radio and it worked really well and you get a full 5 watts RF output on all three bands. For being such a tiny receiver it did pretty good on HF - plus it has SSB receive that works quite well. It's no HF rig mind you but it *does* work pretty damn good for what it is and if you have 222 MHz activity in your area it's one great tri-bander portable :) Receiving and opening a new radio like this is always like being a kid on Christmas morning!
One thing you can't do with this radio is plug in the battery charger while the wall-wart charger is plugged into the wall. They tell you to make sure you plug in the charger to the radio and *then* plug the charger into the wall outlet. I made the mistake of doing just the opposite and had to send the radio to Kenwood for repair (fortunately under warranty). If you plug the charger into the radio while the wall-wart is already plugged into the outlet it pops something inside the radio and it won't turn on afterward and must be sent in to have a tiny SMT part replaced. It's a dumb design but as long as you follow their charging recommendation things will work properly - otherwise, off to Kenwood it will go. By the way, this repair took only ONE WEEK. From the day I shipped it out to the day I got it back was only seven days, which is damn good for a warranty repair (Kenwood Service Center East).
There is nothing on the market that does what this HT does. I have had this radio for a long time and during that time I have also owned and sold many other HT's, but this is the one I keep coming back to, it's a keeper. Simply a great radio, yes it is not perfect but damn close.
very informative video. just received my F6A today and its charging right now (takes a long time, 6.5 to 8 hours). learned a lot watching your video. best one on youtube for this radio by far. N5XTC
Thank you for the really good video. I found a 1-day sale online for $210, so I grabbed 2. Looks like I'm really going to like this HT! I can't believe how well it receives HF SSB. Amazing for a little handheld.
Maybe the best radio review I've ever seen. Nicely done. I can't wait for mine to arrive. I think I'm going to order a battery case and one of those SRH-320 antennas in anticipation. ;)
Very well done, unlike otner videos i have seen. Just received mine from ebay, Best fifty one dollar deal ever. I do have to get a better antenna as it didn't come with one.
Awesome review! I have the TH-F6A and just bought some new PB-42LH batteries and a drop in charger for it. It's the exact same charger you have but my batteries actually have 2 charging contacts on the bottom. I don't think yours did. Either way, those contacts on the bottom don't line up with the charger. It seems the only way to use that drop in charger is to take the battery off the radio and turn it upside down and use the 2 contacts that normally make contact with the radio. Most drop in chargers use separate contacts on the bottom or back of the battery allowing you to keep the battery attached to the radio while charging. Is what I described above what you found? Thanks for any comments in advance.
Sweet radio! Excellent demo. I am going to buy one today. It does everything that I want and nothing that I don't want. I certainly do not need GPS! JMC
Is that Anthony Michael Hall doing the review?? :-) Seriously, tho, DUDE!!! You Sir are a friggin ham radio review MASTER!!!! I already wanted a TH-F6A but U made me want it more! Ur flawless, attentive and detailed review style is top notch and deserves an award!!! Always a cleared throat, always proper enunciation and very articulate, and very easy to understand, even for the layman. Very methodical! Some ppl dont like long videos but U hav out done urself!! I dont think anyone could find one thing about this radio that U DIDNT mention!! Very, very, VERY well done!!! BTW, for those that didnt get the Anthony Michael Hall ref, think Sixteen Candles/Breakfast Club. And dont worry Ben, it wasnt an insult, it was a complimant. He's one of my favorite 80's actors!!
young man you did a great presentation on the Kenwood sideband radio I had is about 8-9 years ago I thought it was a fantastic little radio I think I needed some money and I think I sold it I think that was a big mistake but thank you so much for your presentation and you have a happy new year I think I might pick one up now you did a great job even sit there talking about a belt clip for 30 minutes I actually got right into the radio the beef of the we appreciate it sir you have a happy new year 73 from N2HGL
+Joseph Framo I bought it in 2001 as it just came out for something around $450; returned it in one week for full refund. Simply couldn't afford it at that time. Now, just bought a used one on eBay several days ago :) Whatever goes around comes around.
Thanks for posting, I just ordered one today along with the Diamond antenna, can't wait for it to arrive. I watched your video because I wasn't sure what type of charger it came with cradle type, or wall charger....
Excellent review. I been trying to decide what HT I want to get but after your review I have decided on the TH-F6A. Hard decision to make so many great HT now days.
I bought one of these Kenwoods I have all Kenwood radios, HF, Mobile, and HT... You now can buy those belt clips that fit over the 4000 mah battery, I've seen them on Ebay it appears to be a similar clip with spacers and longer screws. You can remove those screws in the clip simply unscrew the screw and use something like a plastic tool to push on the screw as you unscrew it and it will come out. I also would like to get the soft case for it because the aftermarket cases don't fit properly.
I have you used any other brands of ht's? All of my radios are Yaesu and I'm thinking of getting this kenwood. I love my ft-60r but am planning on giving it to my son got his first radio. I've been eyeballing this radio for a while, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
the thing that i didn't like about the radio, was that the 2m sensitivity was fine, but it lacked on 440 mhz, now they may have improved it. I bought and sold the 2 that i had a few years ago/
This is a great video. Why is it receiving 15 and 20 meters OK when the display clearly reads LSB? Sideband should be USB on every band above 10mHz. 73 W2GTX
This truly is a great radio! I have the Th-F7E European version of this radio, but the functionality remains the same. Thanks for sharing this extensive and detailed demonstration. Any recommendations on USB data connection leads to use Kenwood's programming software in Windows 7?
I can solve your problem really easy just by the carrying case by the Kenwood dust cover case and it comes with it outside clip on it when you don't have to put the clip on the radio now solve your problem
This is one of the best review/demo videos I have ever seen for an HT ham radio. Great work!
Very nicely done review. Very articulate. You've convinced me that I need one of these, the only problem is that I can't afford one. Seriously though, you can teach the rest of the people on RUclips a thing or two about how a product review should be conducted. Absolutely hands down the best review I've ever watched.
Now you've done it! My wife is going to kill me (figuratively of course) because I think I have to have one of these radios.
Seriously, excellent review. Thanks for taking the time to be so thorough. I have been thinking about this little HT for a few months and you have convinced me.
I used to have a TH-F6A and I loved it but like an idiot I sold it for only God knows what but I sure loved that little radio and it worked really well and you get a full 5 watts RF output on all three bands. For being such a tiny receiver it did pretty good on HF - plus it has SSB receive that works quite well. It's no HF rig mind you but it *does* work pretty damn good for what it is and if you have 222 MHz activity in your area it's one great tri-bander portable :)
Receiving and opening a new radio like this is always like being a kid on Christmas morning!
One thing you can't do with this radio is plug in the battery charger while the wall-wart charger is plugged into the wall. They tell you to make sure you plug in the charger to the radio and *then* plug the charger into the wall outlet. I made the mistake of doing just the opposite and had to send the radio to Kenwood for repair (fortunately under warranty).
If you plug the charger into the radio while the wall-wart is already plugged into the outlet it pops something inside the radio and it won't turn on afterward and must be sent in to have a tiny SMT part replaced. It's a dumb design but as long as you follow their charging recommendation things will work properly - otherwise, off to Kenwood it will go. By the way, this repair took only ONE WEEK. From the day I shipped it out to the day I got it back was only seven days, which is damn good for a warranty repair (Kenwood Service Center East).
There is nothing on the market that does what this HT does. I have had this radio
for a long time and during that time I have also owned and sold many other HT's,
but this is the one I keep coming back to, it's a keeper. Simply a great radio, yes
it is not perfect but damn close.
very informative video. just received my F6A today and its charging right now (takes a long time, 6.5 to 8 hours). learned a lot watching your video. best one on youtube for this radio by far. N5XTC
Thank you for the really good video. I found a 1-day sale online for $210, so I grabbed 2. Looks like I'm really going to like this HT! I can't believe how well it receives HF SSB. Amazing for a little handheld.
marsradio what kind of antenna are you using to pick up HF?
In my th-f7, I see a little difference (3khz) on the SSB USB. So it's not very centered... Do you know how to calibrate the Usb (if we can)?
Maybe the best radio review I've ever seen. Nicely done. I can't wait for mine to arrive. I think I'm going to order a battery case and one of those SRH-320 antennas in anticipation. ;)
Very well done, unlike otner videos i have seen. Just received mine from ebay, Best fifty one dollar deal ever. I do have to get a better antenna as it didn't come with one.
I bought the radio about one month ago, and I really love it. Thanks for the video. JMC
Awesome review! I have the TH-F6A and just bought some new PB-42LH batteries and a drop in charger for it. It's the exact same charger you have but my batteries actually have 2 charging contacts on the bottom. I don't think yours did. Either way, those contacts on the bottom don't line up with the charger. It seems the only way to use that drop in charger is to take the battery off the radio and turn it upside down and use the 2 contacts that normally make contact with the radio. Most drop in chargers use separate contacts on the bottom or back of the battery allowing you to keep the battery attached to the radio while charging. Is what I described above what you found? Thanks for any comments in advance.
Sweet radio! Excellent demo. I am going to buy one today. It does everything that I want and nothing that I don't want. I certainly do not need GPS! JMC
Is that Anthony Michael Hall doing the review?? :-) Seriously, tho, DUDE!!! You Sir are a friggin ham radio review MASTER!!!! I already wanted a TH-F6A but U made me want it more! Ur flawless, attentive and detailed review style is top notch and deserves an award!!! Always a cleared throat, always proper enunciation and very articulate, and very easy to understand, even for the layman. Very methodical! Some ppl dont like long videos but U hav out done urself!! I dont think anyone could find one thing about this radio that U DIDNT mention!! Very, very, VERY well done!!! BTW, for those that didnt get the Anthony Michael Hall ref, think Sixteen Candles/Breakfast Club. And dont worry Ben, it wasnt an insult, it was a complimant. He's one of my favorite 80's actors!!
young man you did a great presentation on the Kenwood sideband radio I had is about 8-9 years ago I thought it was a fantastic little radio I think I needed some money and I think I sold it I think that was a big mistake but thank you so much for your presentation and you have a happy new year I think I might pick one up now you did a great job even sit there talking about a belt clip for 30 minutes I actually got right into the radio the beef of the we appreciate it sir you have a happy new year 73 from N2HGL
+Joseph Framo I bought it in 2001 as it just came out for something around $450;
returned it in one week for full refund. Simply couldn't afford it at that time. Now, just bought
a used one on eBay several days ago :) Whatever goes around comes around.
Thanks for posting, I just ordered one today along with the Diamond antenna, can't wait for it to arrive. I watched your video because I wasn't sure what type of charger it came with cradle type, or wall charger....
Excellent review. I been trying to decide what HT I want to get but after your review I have decided on the TH-F6A. Hard decision to make so many great HT now days.
Well done. Thanks for the video.
Ive had a lot of radios but kenwood th6 is my favorite along with the yaesu ft 60r
I bought one of these Kenwoods I have all Kenwood radios, HF, Mobile, and HT... You now can buy those belt clips that fit over the 4000 mah battery, I've seen them on Ebay it appears to be a similar clip with spacers and longer screws. You can remove those screws in the clip simply unscrew the screw and use something like a plastic tool to push on the screw as you unscrew it and it will come out. I also would like to get the soft case for it because the aftermarket cases don't fit properly.
NEED A RUBBER PTT BUTTON FOR THIS UNIT ANYONE HELP ? ALSO WHAT TYPE OF SMALL DC PLUG DO I NEED IN MM TO RESOILDER ON AS REPLACEMENT END
Ebay
I have you used any other brands of ht's? All of my radios are Yaesu and I'm thinking of getting this kenwood. I love my ft-60r but am planning on giving it to my son got his first radio. I've been eyeballing this radio for a while, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
great review， what a big battery！
the thing that i didn't like about the radio, was that the 2m sensitivity was fine, but it lacked on 440 mhz, now they may have improved it. I bought and sold the 2 that i had a few years ago/
you can use bolt extensions for the clip. They use it in pc towers as well.
Hi, does it have back lit keys ? regards from Patagonia CE-8-EYS
What is the antenna setup you rigged for HF?
Hi brilliant video and a good introduction to this radio. I have just bought one, could you recommend any programming software for use on a laptop?
Great review, i just bought a other one.
This is a great video. Why is it receiving 15 and 20 meters OK when the display clearly reads LSB? Sideband should be USB on every band above 10mHz.
73 W2GTX
+Doug Bower haha, you noticed it too
Parabéns muito bom
bom dia.....Ql saytes compra de?
@@alfredomagno8028 bom dia no mercado livre
This truly is a great radio! I have the Th-F7E European version of this radio, but the functionality remains the same. Thanks for sharing this extensive and detailed demonstration.
Any recommendations on USB data connection leads to use Kenwood's programming software in Windows 7?
Wonder if those screws would fit the computer stand off fasteners typically found on VGA connectors?
excellent review, i think I will start saving up for this one...you should work for Kenwood.
your review sold.me so I bought one. ty 73 de k6dea
I see you had selected LSB for 14 and 21 ... worked as good?
USB is better
Got mine today too, also charging.....tick tock tick tock...
I can solve your problem really easy just by the carrying case by the Kenwood dust cover case and it comes with it outside clip on it when you don't have to put the clip on the radio now solve your problem
super radio
I used to have this radio and I left on top of my dads car and he drove off and it broke and I might buy a new one
Great video. I'm really interested in this.
73 KD8JMX