Kenwood · HF transceiver · 1980–1988
Kenwood's TS-830S arrived in 1980 as a hybrid, solid state everywhere except a 12BY7A driver and a pair of 6146B finals. It covers 160 m to 10 m on SSB and CW, including the new WARC bands, though as shipped it only received on 30, 17 and 12 m until a small wiring change was made. The receiver has VBT, IF shift and a 455 kHz notch, and the analog VFO reads on both a dial and a digital counter. The AC supply is inside, with a heater switch to save the tubes while you listen. 73 Magazine reviewed it in May 1981, and a 2002 owners' Survival Guide collects its fixes, from VFO warm-up drift to cracked band-switch couplings. The guide calls its transmit signal remarkably clean, and notes it can't work split at typical spacings.
Bench check
Should come with it
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
The Survival Guide lists VFO drift during warm-up, frequency jumps from a dirty FIX switch, and no output on most bands from a cracked plastic band-switch coupling. Output that sags with the key held down usually means tired 6146Bs.
New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers power out, receive, the finals and the display, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.
Buying guide
We'd buy 50hokester's TS-830S titled tested at $534 delivered, right at the median, since the three cheaper ones are titled powers on and untested at $394 to $495. There are at least 7 for sale, asking $394 to $1,136 delivered, and the AC supply is built in, so the radio and a 4-pin mic make a station. Ask for power out into a dummy load on 80, 20 and 10 m that holds steady with the key down, since output that sags points at tired 6146Bs, and ask whether every band works with the band switch rocked. The two Japan listings at $770 and $1,136 use the same photo, so ask both for photos of the radio itself and what voltage it's set to.
$533.80est. delivered
The cheapest TS-830S titled tested, at $534 delivered, while the three below it are titled powers on and untested. Ask for power out into a dummy load on 80, 20 and 10 m after tune-up, and plan on a 4-pin mic like Kenwood's MC-50.
Kenwood Gold Badge TS-830S HF Transceiver Tested
$533.80est. delivered
Right at the $534 median from a 100% seller, with the only US test claim on the page. The supply is built in, so this radio and a mic make a station.
Kenwood Gold Badge TS-830S HF Transceiver Tested
$394.39est. delivered
Titled powers on and untested at $394 delivered, $140 under the median, and the photo shows the display lit. Treat the transmitter as unknown, since tired 6146Bs and a cracked band-switch coupling are the usual faults.
Kenwood TS-830S HF Transceiver — Powers On (untested)
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$533.80est. delivered
$459.99 + $73.81 shipping
Buy It Now$459.99
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Good buy
Titled tested. No mic titled, and the photo shows it switched off.
Seller: 50hokester
100% positive
For parts$394.39est. delivered
$298.00 + $96.39 shipping
Buy It Now$298.00
Project piece
Titled powers on, untested. Photo shows the display lit.
Seller: humro_34
100% positive
For parts$444.37est. delivered
$349.87 + $94.50 shipping
Buy It Now$349.87
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Titled power up only, untested.
Seller: brizzycollectibles
100% positive
For parts$495.00est. delivered
$375.00 + $120.00 shipping
Buy It Now$375.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
Titled powers on, untested, as is. Photo shows the readout lit.
Seller: iispickle0
100% positive
Used$516.46est. delivered
$435.00 + $81.46 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 4d 12h
Our take
Auction at $435 with no bids, so it will climb. No test claim.
Seller: sajmbm
100% positive
Used$769.99est. delivered
$589.99 + $180.00 shipping
Buy It Now$589.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Titled 100W working, from Japan. Same photo as joouji's listing, and the seller is at 97.3%.
Seller: tokyo_ham_radio
97.3% positive
Serviced$1,136.49est. delivered
$1,016.49 + $120.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,016.49
Priced high
Titled serviced and tested working, from Japan, at about 2.1 times the median. Same photo as tokyo_ham_radio's listing.
Seller: joouji
100% positive
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