Also known as: TS-940S, TS-940, TS-940S AT
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The Kenwood TS-940S was Kenwood’s flagship from 1985 to about 1991 and it still earns its bench space: a triple-conversion analog superheterodyne whose receiver owners describe as silky, superb transmit and receive audio, a heavy cast chassis, and a built-in AC supply — no external 13.8 V brick, just a power cord.1 It has been out of production for over three decades: the used market — eBay, hamfests, QRZ swapmeet — is where it lives, at roughly $400–800.
Key takeaways The classic-Kenwood station centerpiece — buy it serviced or budget to service it. Silky analog receiver with VBT/Slope Tune IF shaping, 100 W+, built-in AC supply, ~18 kg of 1985 flagship build. Used only, ~$400–800 (a TS-940S AT sold for $574 in July 2026). Known faults are the whole buying game: aging power-supply electrolytics, the “dots display” PLL fault, dial drift, and AT-tuner issues — all well documented, all fixable. Part 97 license to transmit; none to listen. Where it ranks: best ham radio base stations.
Overview
In 1985 the TS-940S was the radio the others were measured against, and the things that made it flagship-grade are the things that survive: conservative ratings (100 W+ output), Kenwood’s VBT and Slope Tune analog IF shaping that lets you carve a passband by feel, optional crystal filters, a fluorescent display flanked by real meters, and a chassis built like a transformer vault. The AT version adds a built-in antenna tuner. There is no computer interface as shipped (an optional IF-10 kit added vintage serial control), no scope, and no DSP — this is deliberate, tactile, analog operating.
Superseded by the TS-950 around 1991, it’s been used-market-only ever since. No dealer sells it new; parts are hobbyist and aftermarket (eBay capacitor kits are literally a cottage industry). That’s not a warning against buying one — it’s the frame for how to buy one, below.
Don’t expect modern conveniences: there’s no scope, no DSP, and computer control exists only through the optional IF-10 serial kit, so logging and digital modes mean audio cables and manual frequency entry. Owners who love this radio love it because of that — operating one is all knobs, meters, and receiver — and it pairs naturally with a modern SDR doing the watching (more on that below).
License note: transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum, General for most HF privileges). Listening requires none.
Bands, modes & power
- TX: 160–10 m, 100 W+ (rated conservatively; 40 W AM).
- RX: 150 kHz–30 MHz general coverage.
- Modes: SSB, CW, AM, FM, FSK.
- Receiver: triple-conversion analog superhet, VBT/Slope Tune IF shaping, optional filters.
- Power: built-in AC supply — no external 13.8 V needed. Weight ~18 kg.
Buying used: what to check
This is the section that matters. The TS-940S’s aging faults are unusually well documented — the W3AFC troubleshooting guide is excellent — and they cluster in four places:2
- Internal power supply / electrolytics. Forty-year-old capacitors are the number-one issue; recap kits are widely sold, and some owners swap in modern switching supplies. Ask whether a recap has been done, by whom, and when.
- The “dots display” fault. A row of dots instead of a frequency readout means the PLL has unlocked — the signature TS-940 ailment, traced to the PLL/VCO boards, failing connectors, and cold solder joints. The standard fix is a connector reflow/resolder and VCO re-peak.
- Dial drift or erratic frequency — the same PLL/VCO and board-connector roots as the dots fault, same fixes.
- The AT tuner on AT versions — exercise it across bands before money changes hands.
Pricing follows service history: a TS-940S AT sold on eBay for $574 in July 2026; asking prices run to ~$800 for serviced units with accessories (EU sales €650–1,000). A “recapped, reflowed, serviced by a known tech” example is worth the top of the range; an unserviced attic unit should be priced with a recap and reflow already subtracted. Working against you: no factory support. Working for you: through-hole construction, superb documentation, and a community that has fixed all of this a thousand times.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it can’t transmit — so it’s no substitute for a TS-940S, but it’s the ideal sidekick to one. A ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk shows you what’s active locally — and records and logs it — before you hunt the used market, and afterward it gives your analog classic the one thing it never had: a modern waterfall view of the band beside it. Start with best SDR for GopherTrunk or, for HF listening, best HF SDR.
Who it’s for
- Buy the TS-940S if you want a classic-station centerpiece with a silky analog receiver and you’re comfortable owning (or commissioning) vintage service work. Find on eBay →
- Buy the FT-1000MP instead if your classic leanings run to contest iron with dual receive, or the modern TS-590SG for today’s Kenwood receiver in a supported radio.
- Not a project person? A used IC-7300 costs similar money serviced-equivalent and just works. Full rankings: best ham radio base stations.
Sources
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Kenwood TS-940S — RigPix — specifications: bands, modes, power, receiver architecture, built-in AC supply, and the AT tuner variant. ↩
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TS-940 Troubleshooting Hints and Updated Adjustment Procedures (W3AFC, v8.00) — the standard service reference for the power supply/recap work, the “dots display” PLL fault, and drift/connector repairs. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kenwood TS-940S still a good radio?
As a classic-station centerpiece, yes — the analog receiver is still praised as silky, the audio is superb, and the build is battleship-grade. As your only radio it’s a project: expect to deal with (or pay for) recapping and connector reflow on a 40-year-old flagship.
What is the TS-940S 'dots display' problem?
The signature TS-940 fault: the frequency display shows a row of dots instead of digits, meaning the PLL has unlocked. It traces to the PLL/VCO boards, failing board connectors, and cold solder joints; the standard fix is a resolder and VCO re-peak, and it’s well documented in the W3AFC troubleshooting guide.
How much should I pay for a TS-940S?
Roughly $400–800 depending on condition and whether it’s the AT (internal tuner) version — a TS-940S AT sold on eBay for $574 in July 2026, and serviced units with accessories ask around $800. Pay the top of the range only for a recapped, serviced example from a known tech.
What should I check before buying a TS-940S?
Power supply health (aging electrolytics — recap kits are a cottage industry), the dots display/PLL fault, dial drift or erratic frequency (same PLL/VCO and connector issues), and the internal tuner on AT units. Assume an unserviced unit needs a recap and connector reflow, and price accordingly.
Do I need a license to use a TS-940S?
To transmit, yes — an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum; General for most HF phone). Listening on its 150 kHz–30 MHz general-coverage receiver requires no license.