Kenwood TS-480SAT vs Yaesu FT-891
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Kenwood TS-480SAT or Yaesu FT-891? I put both radios side by side: data from the manufacturers’ spec sheets and photos at the same scale. Kenwood TS-480SAT comes out ahead: antenna tuner and transmit current draw; Yaesu FT-891: AM power, spectrum and waterfall, weight and memory channels.
KenwoodTS-480SAT
HF · 6 m100 Wtuner3.7 kgdiscontinued
YaesuFT-891
HF · 6 m100 Wtuner1.9 kg
Specs side by side
| KenwoodTS-480SAT▲ 2 | YaesuFT-891▲ 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bands and modes | ||
| Transmit bands | HF 1.8–29.7 MHz50–52 MHz | HF 1.8–29.7 MHz50–52 MHz |
| Receive range | 0.05–60 MHz | 0.03–56 MHz |
| Modes | SSBCWAMFMRTTY | SSBCWAMFMRTTY |
| Transmit power | ||
| HF | 100 W | 100 W |
| 50 MHz (6 m) | 100 W | 100 W |
| AM | 25 W | 40 W ▲ |
| Receiver | ||
| Construction | superheterodyne, double conversion (FM: triple conversion) + audio DSP | superheterodyne, triple conversion |
| Second receiver | — | — |
| Spectrum and waterfall | — | swept spectrum scope (no waterfall) |
| Features | ||
| Antenna tuner | HF + 6 m, 16.7–150 Ω | none — optional FC-50 |
| Display | monochrome LCD; panel always separate | dot-matrix LCD, monochrome; detachable panel |
| LAN / remote operation | via PC with ARCP-480 + ARHP-10 | — |
| USB | none — RS-232C (DB-9) | USB-B: CAT (audio via the DATA socket) |
| SD card | — | — |
| Antenna connectors | 2× SO-239 | 1× SO-239 |
| Power and case | ||
| Power | 13.8 V DC, external power supply | 13.8 V DC, external power supply |
| Transmit current draw | 20.5 A ▲ | 23 A |
| Dimensions | 180 × 75 × 37 mmpanel; main unit 179 × 61 × 258 mm | 155 × 52 × 218 mmwidth × height × depth |
| Weight | 3.7 kgmain unit 3.2 kg + panel 0.5 kg | 1.9 kg ▲ |
| Other | ||
| Memory channels | 90 | 99 ▲ |
| Release | 2004discontinued | 2016 |
Data: manufacturers’ spec sheets and manuals · as of 31.10.2026
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