Kenwood TK-349 Two Way Radio

The Kenwood TK-349 (TK 349, TK349 However you choose to write it) Is a fantastic piece of kit. Simply I Love these radios, As serious PMR user these are my main radios. although Not all bought through eBay most were and sadly was taken for a ride on my last 2 purchases of them.

..But Please don’t be put off by any thing bad I write about the radio and please continue reading as it has so many good points I’m just trying to be fair and honest.

First I’m going to point out the Not-So-Good bits. Like 80 percent of all radio equipment on eBay they are older synthesized radios. This means that most radios selling on eBay today were made during the late 80’s up to the mid 90’s. Examples of these would include some of the Motorola GP series eg. The GP-300 and other Kenwood TK series radios eg. The TK-350.

The Kenwood Tk-349 was originally manufactured in early 1990’s and I think production stopped around 1995/6 (Happy to be corrected).
One major problem because of this is that whilst general spares such as Chargers, Batteries and other Accessories like antennas are readily available if something internal goes wrong your only chance is finding another radio to cannibalize for that spare circuit you require. But that’s about all.

With a 5 character alphanumeric display, 4 Watts TX power output giving up-to 15 miles open range, Half a Watt of clean audio power and Capable of over 250 Channels covering 443.0000 -470.000 MHz, CTCSS and DCS coding means this radio can match up to almost all the other radios frequently on ebay, Obviously bar the most very recent models.

A bit long but about the same size of a GP-300/ HT-600, with its Solid aluminium back and bottom attached battery it can certainly withstand a few high and heavy falls with minimum or indeed any damage.
The TK-349 Can also be modified to go out of range an into the 70cm HAM band, and although Specified for UK general. And It's Perfect for naughty High Power PMR 446 Making this Rig is s good all-rounder.

REPAIRS/ PROGRAMMING– With all radios programming can be a problem if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you require help regarding programming Please feel free to contact me and I will reply ASAP.
As said REPAIRING can also be a problem most radio repair shops/ sites won't or can’t take these radios because of the availability of parts- I have good experience with these radios and can offer a limited repair service. Again for more info Please feel free to contact me and I will reply ASAP.

**GENERAL NEED TO KNOW POINTS**
Make sure you buy from a person who knows what there on about and not just cut and pasted specs from ‘RADIOSWAP’ or any other eBay radio shop, if the formatting suddenly changes from one type of text to another chances it’s a copy. Too often I see this and things like ‘What more can I say’- And buyers are left disappointed.

DON’T, DON’T GO by the picture go by the description, ASK if you are not sure and PLEASE ask and make sure of the model No. on the back is correct- It should say something like ‘KENWOOD TK-349(e) UHF TRANSCEIVER’
From One of my recent bad experiences I had some one sell me a TK-340 [A completely different radio] NOT a TK-349 even though he said it was because I quote ‘It looked the same’.

A good honest seller should know what there on about should certainly have no problem with even answering the simplest of questions. Although may do so rudely.

For Advice and General Help I’m happy to be contacted!