FW: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood Repeater

[Steve Helton]

Capt. Steve Helton Communications Supervisor Emergency Support Services Federal Emergency Management Agency Cincinnati CERT Task Force [EMAIL PROTECTED]   From: Lt. Steve Helton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 16:38 To: 'Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com' Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood Repeater As a FORMER Kenwood repeater owner I can only WARN you in the strongest terms that Kenwood is NOT at all responsive to customer problems. We purchased a NEW Kenwood repeater and it went out within hours of the time we installed it. New antenna, New Andrews heliax, New Polyphaser equipment complete with battery backup. Over the next 14 months the repeater was back to Kenwood seven times and within hours of the time we would get it back each time it was dead again. Kenwood consistently refused to replace the unit with another one even though we knew that the one we kept getting was a lemon. Only after we finally threatened Kenwood with legal action did they finally send a new unit. Over the 14 months we actually owed the unit it spent a grand total of 2.5 hours on the air.   I am the trustee of an Emergency Services group that had purchased the repeater and we needed it to work for more than just chit chat and you see the type of response we received from Kenwood.   I can only say buyer beware when buying anything where you may need Kenwood to fix it or stand behind their warranty. The attitude we received was "It's yours now, you are on your own".   It may help to point out that we have several members of our team who have years of experience with commercial two way. We have all of the appropriate equipment and operate a number of other repeaters in the Greater Cincinnati area on Amateur, commercial, Public Safety and GMRS. Needless to say we no longer own anything Kenwood since we need things we can rely on and a manufacturer that we can rely on to honor their warranty. Kenwood does not do fit that criteria.   Capt. Steve Helton Communications Division Emergency Support Services Federal Emergency Management Agency Cincinnati CERT Task Force [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Joel Mele [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 7:15 To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Kenwood Repeater Thanks to all who have responded to my inquiry about a Kenwood TKR-750 repeater.  As usual the information was extremely helpful   Thanks again.   Joel W4SLH             Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/   To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.