KENWOOD TM-261A IS A 5- 10- 50-WATT, SINGLE-BAND 2-METER FM TRANSCEIVER, WIDE BAND FM AND AM AIR BAND RECEIVE, FOR MOBILE USE OR BASE OPERATION (WITH A 12-VOLT POWER SUPPLY). IT HAS 62 MEMORY CHANNELS PLUS ONE CALL CHANNEL, EACH OF WHICH WILL STORE FREQUENCY, OFFSET, TONE, AND ALPHANUMERIC NAME. THERE ARE 10 DTMF MEMORIES FOR MAKING AUTO PATCH CALLS AND AN EASY-TO-READ BACKLIT DISPLAY THAT ALLOWS DIRECT FREQUENCY IN PUT OR STORED MEMORY RECALL. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL SCANNING OPTIONS. THE POWER CONTROL. MEDIUM AND LOW POWER HAVE ONE TONE WHEN YOU SWITCH TO THEM; HIGH POWER HAS A DIFFERENT ONE. THESE VARYING BEEP TONES ALLOW SOME EXTENT OF "EYES-FREE" OPERATING, LETTING YOU CHANGE MEMORIES OR POWER LEVELS WITHOUT TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD. (IT'S ALSO A GREAT HELP FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED HAM.) THE RADIO REVIEWED HERE IS OWNED BY A VISUALLY IMPAIRED HAM, ( KB0TTO ), BRUCE PETERSON OF OMAHA. BRUCE USES THIS RADIO TO CALL A WEEKLY NET. THE HANDICAP ABLE HAM NET.

The factory-default settings of a 600-kHz feature called automatic repeater offset. Using this feature, the radio will automatically pick the offset direct (plus, minus, or simplex).

Programming changes ARE easy.  To store a memory channel, you just dial up or keypad enter the receive frequency you want, then press the F key and turn the main dial to the number of the memory in which you want to store this frequency. Next, press MR (for Memory Recall) and hold it in for a second. A "+/-" appears on the screen and you can then dial in the transmit frequency. Finally, press MR again and all of your information is stored.

The radio has a mic button labeled PF. It stands for Programmable Function, and you can pick one of several options for what it will do. If the VFO and memory recall functions don't suit your needs, you CAN reprogram these keys to do a variety of other things, SEE the KENWOOD manual for details. DOWNLOAD IT FROM OUR K0SWI WEBSITE, JUST CLICK AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.

You can choose 5, 12.5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 kHz per click tuning. Some areas use 15-kHz, others use 20-kHz spacing. repeater spacing on 2 meters, some radios will not do both. My favorites features are alphanumeric labeling of memory channels, it lets you program in a club name or repeater location. a variety of scanning options. auto dialer memories let you make auto patch calls while driving down the highway.

 MOST ALL PHOTOS WITH HP CAMERA, BY JIM BAUDO.  EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS, OR YOUR REVIEW TO JIMBAUDO@YAHOO.COM    HAM RADIO CALL N0UQZ

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KENWOOD RADIO'S AND ACCESSORY REVIEWS