Kenwood TS-120S
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| Frequency | TX/RX: 80–10 m (+ WWV 15 MHz RX) |
| TX power | 100 W |
| Modes | USB, LSB, CW |
| Weight | 6 kg (13.2 lb) |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 1979 |
| key | 1/4 inch phone |
| antenna | SO-239 |
| dc in | 13.8VDC fused power cable |
| power req | 13.8VDC |
One of Kenwood's first all-solid-state HF transceivers. No tubes anywhere. Compact and light enough for mobile use. 100W output (200W PEP input) on 80-10m SSB/CW, plus WWV 15 MHz receive. The TS-120S bridged Kenwood's hybrid designs and the fully modern TS-430S.
SSB and CW only; no AM or FM. Receiver performance is adequate but shows its age. No general coverage. The finals can be damaged by high SWR. Limited filtering options.
Kenwood's solid-state coming of age. The TS-120S proved that Kenwood could build a competitive all-solid-state HF transceiver. A stepping stone to the TS-130S and TS-430S that followed.
The Kenwood TS-120S is the compact, all-solid-state successor to the company's hybrid transceivers, a fully transistorized HF radio from 1979 that dispensed with the tube final entirely, bringing instant-on operation and smaller size to the popular Kenwood formula. It covers the 80 through 10 meter amateur bands (plus WWV reception at 15 MHz) in SSB and CW, rated at 200 watts PEP input on sideband (160 watts DC on CW) for roughly 100 watts of output.
Going solid-state meant no warm-up, no plate-and-load tuning, and a lighter, more compact package, making the TS-120S a convenient and capable station or mobile radio. It carried Kenwood's reputation for clean audio and good receivers into the transistor era at an accessible price. Reliable and easy to live with, the TS-120S was a popular choice when new and remains a practical, no-fuss vintage HF transceiver.
It is a discontinued classic. See the hybrid TS-520 and the later compact TS-130S.