Public Service Announcement:
We regularly receive Kenwood mobile radios in our refurbishing center. We are finding that a disproportionately high percentage of these radios have damaged circuitry from shorts in their microphone ports. The problem has become so common, that we’re seeing this single issue in a double-digit percentage of used Kenwood mobiles we evaluate.
Our technicians believe the cause is worn insulation and tears on microphone cords. As shown in the picture, these tears leave critical wires exposed, and can cause a short in the radio. While the radio’s microphone might transmit perfectly, programming functionality can be damaged, unbeknownst to the radio’s owner.
We encourage that all Kenwood radio owners make sure their palm mic cables are properly insulated and without tears. If a tear occurs, we strongly encourage the owner to replace the mic’s cord or the entire microphone. Failure to do so might result in the radio becoming damaged.
The cost of replacing the Palm mic, or it’s cord, it’s far less than fixing the radio. We’ve seen these cords sell for as little as $10 each. So, when you see a tear, play it safe and take quick action to remedy the issue.
