I have compiled statistics from input that was sent to me about the reliability
of the Kenwood TM721/TM621 dual-band radios. The message I send asked for the
following data:  Number of radios owned; Time owned; Number of failures; Time
owned before failure. Here is the compilation of that data. This is data only;
reach your own conclusions. Also, if anyone wants a copy of the raw survey,
let me know with your address and I'll send it out....Mark KC9C

TOTAL NUMBER OF RADIOS OWNED:  16
AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME OWNED:  21.2 months
TOTAL NUMBER OF FAILURES:       3
AVERAGE TIME TO FAILURE:       15.3 months

CALCULATED MTBF*:             113 months (9.4 years)

FAILURE MECHANISMS: 1 microphone input circuit; 1 low output power; 1 unknown

*MTBF = Mean Time Between Failures. For empirical data (such as this survey),
it is equal to:   [(Number of units) x (avg. operating time)]/(no. of failures)


73, Mark KC9C@KG6XX