Re: Kenwood SM-230 Station Monitor
David, Very nice! I had one years ago and wish I had another. It was nice with my 850. Maybe some day I'll have another. Bob W4JFA?
I have tested the SM-230 and it seems to be working just fine. Below are screen captures on the two tone generator input to the oscilloscope function. First is the 1000 hz tone, then the 1575 hz tone with the third showing them combined. The fourth shot is a capture in monitor mode showing the SSB envelope. I'm still learning my way around the scope. Last time I touched a scope was the vintage boat anchor EICO's in high school. Earlier in my ham life I did pick up one of those from a show and I gotta say there's just something about a glowing tube staring at you that gives a warm feeling. It just can't be duplicated in today's LED displays. 73,
David WU3J
Hi, David,
?
Congrats on a very useful acquisition!? I went thru this same exercise last year- my unit worked as soon as powered up, but I noted 5 gray electrolytic capacitors on the board with splits and slight leakage.? Yellow replacements from an E-bay dealer were specifically recommended as replacements.? Easy, cheap fix!? If you look for this before you power up, would you please post or DM? me a pic of the interior of your unit in the area of those 5 capacitors?? I? pulled a blue wire loose and cannot figure out where it goes.? (It comes from the BS-8 unit.)
?
Good luck!
?
73,
?
Tom ai4th
|
Re: Kenwood SM-230 Station Monitor
I have tested the SM-230 and it seems to be working just fine. Below are screen captures on the two tone generator input to the oscilloscope function. First is the 1000 hz tone, then the 1575 hz tone with the third showing them combined. The fourth shot is a capture in monitor mode showing the SSB envelope. I'm still learning my way around the scope. Last time I touched a scope was the vintage boat anchor EICO's in high school. Earlier in my ham life I did pick up one of those from a show and I gotta say there's just something about a glowing tube staring at you that gives a warm feeling. It just can't be duplicated in today's LED displays. 73,
David WU3J
Hi, David,
?
Congrats on a very useful acquisition!? I went thru this same exercise last year- my unit worked as soon as powered up, but I noted 5 gray electrolytic capacitors on the board with splits and slight leakage.? Yellow replacements from an E-bay dealer were specifically recommended as replacements.? Easy, cheap fix!? If you look for this before you power up, would you please post or DM? me a pic of the interior of your unit in the area of those 5 capacitors?? I? pulled a blue wire loose and cannot figure out where it goes.? (It comes from the BS-8 unit.)
?
Good luck!
?
73,
?
Tom ai4th
|
Re: Kenwood SM-230 Station Monitor
Hi, David,
?
Congrats on a very useful acquisition!? I went thru this same exercise last year- my unit worked as soon as powered up, but I noted 5 gray electrolytic capacitors on the board with splits and slight leakage.? Yellow replacements from an E-bay dealer were specifically recommended as replacements.? Easy, cheap fix!? If you look for this before you power up, would you please post or DM? me a pic of the interior of your unit in the area of those 5 capacitors?? I? pulled a blue wire loose and cannot figure out where it goes.? (It comes from the BS-8 unit.)
?
Good luck!
?
73,
?
Tom ai4th
|
Re: Kenwood SM-230 Station Monitor
I have unboxed the SM-230 and plugged it in. It seems to be functioning, but I just have to obtain / make up cables to connect with my TS-850s. The manual refers to the TS-950, but i assume this can be used with the TS-850. What functionality besides monitoring the output and the band scope can I expect with the 850? Also for monitoring the transmissions should I have the SM-230 before or after the Alpha 87A? The specifications refer to a 5 minute limit at maximum attenuation. When the SM-230 is off OR the selector switch to any other function (i.e. band scope) will the RF pass through the SM-230 without overloading it? I would like to be able to monitor my waveform at legal limit for brief periods as necessary, but don’t want to blow up the SM-230.
73,
?
David, WU3J
|
Re: FS: Kenwood TS2000 HF/VHF/UHF satellite all mode with Rigblaster interface
Your reason for selling, please, as well as date of manufacture?
Does sub-menu 61B state "Off"?
On 3/16/25 13:15, John Geiger AF5CC via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I
have for sale a Kenwood TS2000 HF/VHF/UHF all mode radio,
which does 100 watts on HF, 6, and 2m, and 50 watts on 70cm.
It also will do full duplex for satellite operation. Has a
AM/FM subreceiver and will do dual receive so you can listen
to the local repeaters while operating HF or 6 meters. It
also has a built in autotuner, 2 antenna jacks for HF/6m
plus a receive antenna jack, built in CW memory keyer, TCXO,
IF DSP for noise reduction and narrow filters, and most
other features you would expect in an HF rig, plus you also
get these features on 2m and 70cm!
It
comes with a Rigblaster soundcard interface, the CAT control
cable with gender changer, and USB soundcard so you are
ready to go on the digital modes from 160 to 70cm. It has
been MARS modded so it will work on 60 meters also.
It
is in great operating condition. The bottom of the case has
some white marks on it. The top, sides, and face look good.
Has power cord and mic.
Asking
$825 shipped for all. Paypal/MO
?
73
John AF5CC
|
FS: Kenwood TS2000 HF/VHF/UHF satellite all mode with Rigblaster interface
I have for sale a Kenwood TS2000 HF/VHF/UHF all mode radio, which does 100 watts on HF, 6, and 2m, and 50 watts on 70cm. It also will do full duplex for satellite operation. Has a AM/FM subreceiver and will do dual receive so you can listen to the local repeaters while operating HF or 6 meters. It also has a built in autotuner, 2 antenna jacks for HF/6m plus a receive antenna jack, built in CW memory keyer, TCXO, IF DSP for noise reduction and narrow filters, and most other features you would expect in an HF rig, plus you also get these features on 2m and 70cm!
It comes with a Rigblaster soundcard interface, the CAT control cable with gender changer, and USB soundcard so you are ready to go on the digital modes from 160 to 70cm. It has been MARS modded so it will work on 60 meters also.
It is in great operating condition. The bottom of the case has some white marks on it. The top, sides, and face look good. Has power cord and mic.
Asking $825 shipped for all. Paypal/MO
?
73 John AF5CC
|
FS: Rigblaster Plus wired for Kenwood radios
I have a Westmountain Radio Rigblaster Plus soundcard interface to do digital modes from your computer with your rig.? Great for FT8/FT4, PSK31, and other soundcard modes.? It comes with the the usual Rigblaster cables to interface with the radio and soundcard-and the DB-9 to DB-9 to use for PTT switching if you need it. Has two of the round mic to RJ45 cables to interface your radio with the rigblaster as well.? I will also include a parts unit Rigblaster which doesn't power on, and some of the cables that come with it.
-
This package will need a power cord or wall-wort as I don't have one for the Rigblaster plus.? It is currently wired for Kenwood radios but you can wire it for any model radio just by changing some of the jumpers in the rigblaster.? I will include an extra RJ45 cable so you can interface the rigblaster between it and a radio using a RJ45 mic connector, and then use a 8 pin round mic thru the rigblaster, if you like.
-
It also comes with a homebrew audio switching box which probably contains some good parts in it for projects as well.
-
I am asking $33 shipped in the US and can take paypal/check/MO.?
-
73 John AF5CC
|
On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 08:29 PM, Jordan wrote:
Mike, if you can't provoke the symptom by probing around the connector and it's leads, and you can't produce the problem by prodding the board itself, I'd be taking a good long look at the connector and socket.
?
Is there maybe a small switch in the connector assembly that disconnects the internal PTT control line when a plug is in ACC2...?
?
73...Jordan...
I don't think so because in the fault condition SEND and AT TUNE don't work either.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
Re: TS-450S BCB sensitivity
?
Well, I replaced the diodes and it didn't make any
difference...Time to make some dinner...73...Jordan...
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:27
PM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-450S BCB sensitivity
Ooops...it should read "...which formed part of
the BCB attenuator..."
?
73...Jordan...
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:23
PM
Subject: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-450S BCB sensitivity
Hi group..
?
I have a 450S which has served me very well for
~30 years now. Long ago, I jumpered the resistors which formed part of the
BCB, effectively removing the attenuator. It was fine for years like that,
but a few months back I noticed a drop in BCB sensitivity.
?
All other bands are fine...
?
I checked everything I could, replaced the
jumpers and verified the ckt, to no avail.
I checked the control line for that?band
at the 74LS245 and found what I thought was the problem, so this morning I
replaced that IC.
?
It didn't solve the problem. The only other
thing I can think of is that one of the 2 RLS135 diodes for that band might
be flaky so I checked them as diodes and they test fine.
?
Is it possible that these diodes might operate
fine for DC but not for RF...?
?
I think I'll replace those two diodes and check
again, but this has me a little stumped...
?
73...Jordan VE6ZT
|
?
Mike, if you can't provoke the symptom by probing
around the connector and it's leads, and you can't produce the problem by
prodding the board itself, I'd be taking a good long look at the connector and
socket.
?
Is there maybe a small switch in the connector
assembly that disconnects the internal PTT control line when a plug is in
ACC2...?
?
73...Jordan...
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 10:17
AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-870S no TX
No the cable wasn't plugged into anything else.
?
When the fault is present none of the PTT functions works (MIC, ACC2,
SEND, AT TUNE).
?
I presume it's a standard 13 pin DIN socket so the cable plug should fit,
but I can't tell if the problem lies with the pins or the shroud.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
Re: TS-450S BCB sensitivity
?
Ooops...it should read "...which formed part of the
BCB attenuator..."
?
73...Jordan...
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 2:23
PM
Subject: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio] TS-450S
BCB sensitivity
Hi group..
?
I have a 450S which has served me very well for
~30 years now. Long ago, I jumpered the resistors which formed part of the
BCB, effectively removing the attenuator. It was fine for years like that, but
a few months back I noticed a drop in BCB sensitivity.
?
All other bands are fine...
?
I checked everything I could, replaced the
jumpers and verified the ckt, to no avail.
I checked the control line for that?band at
the 74LS245 and found what I thought was the problem, so this morning I
replaced that IC.
?
It didn't solve the problem. The only other thing
I can think of is that one of the 2 RLS135 diodes for that band might be flaky
so I checked them as diodes and they test fine.
?
Is it possible that these diodes might operate
fine for DC but not for RF...?
?
I think I'll replace those two diodes and check
again, but this has me a little stumped...
?
73...Jordan VE6ZT
|
?
Hi group..
?
I have a 450S which has served me very well for ~30
years now. Long ago, I jumpered the resistors which formed part of the BCB,
effectively removing the attenuator. It was fine for years like that, but a few
months back I noticed a drop in BCB sensitivity.
?
All other bands are fine...
?
I checked everything I could, replaced the jumpers
and verified the ckt, to no avail.
I checked the control line for that?band at
the 74LS245 and found what I thought was the problem, so this morning I replaced
that IC.
?
It didn't solve the problem. The only other thing I
can think of is that one of the 2 RLS135 diodes for that band might be flaky so
I checked them as diodes and they test fine.
?
Is it possible that these diodes might operate fine
for DC but not for RF...?
?
I think I'll replace those two diodes and check
again, but this has me a little stumped...
?
73...Jordan VE6ZT
|
On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM, Gary Cook wrote:
After allowing radio to warm up (let sit for 15 minutes turned on), take a #2 type pencil (with a new eraser), and press down on every component on the board (or boards), while the radio is in the mode that is malfunctioning. Watch your meter or indicators closely, that show intermittent problem. This method is great for finding breaks in components and solder traces. Take your time, not getting in a hurry.
Gary
?
Thanks Gary, I will try that next time it fails.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
?
|
No the cable wasn't plugged into anything else.
?
When the fault is present none of the PTT functions works (MIC, ACC2, SEND, AT TUNE).
?
I presume it's a standard 13 pin DIN socket so the cable plug should fit, but I can't tell if the problem lies with the pins or the shroud.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
?
P.S....that cable should plug in quite easily...are
you sure it has the right pin spacing..?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 7:51
AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-870S no TX
On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM, Jordan wrote:
Is there anything
connected to the ACC2 cable, or is it just the plug...?
?
Jordan
VE6ZT
?
Jordan, it was a DIN cable with plugs at both ends. I did check that
there were no shorts between the pins.
?
The cable appears to be of good quality but the plug required a lot of
effort to mate with the ACC2 socket. I tried it with another socket and it was
much easier.
?
When I bought the radio it had the original Kenwood silver sticker over
the ACC2 socket so I'm guessing it has never been used before.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
?
Mike, is that cable plugged into another
device..?? If not, there is a?PTT connection from the ACC2
connection?for that cable. What happens if you ground the PTT
connection...?
?
I've never seen a sticker covering any of the rear
panel connections in any Kenwood I've seen, but I haven't owned or worked on an
870. Lots of 850s and 450s, but no 870s...It sounds more like an ACC2 connction
problem than a rig problem...
?
73...Jordan
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 7:51
AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-870S no TX
On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM, Jordan wrote:
Is there anything
connected to the ACC2 cable, or is it just the plug...?
?
Jordan
VE6ZT
?
Jordan, it was a DIN cable with plugs at both ends. I did check that
there were no shorts between the pins.
?
The cable appears to be of good quality but the plug required a lot of
effort to mate with the ACC2 socket. I tried it with another socket and it was
much easier.
?
When I bought the radio it had the original Kenwood silver sticker over
the ACC2 socket so I'm guessing it has never been used before.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM, Jordan wrote:
Is there anything connected to the ACC2 cable, or is it just the plug...?
?
Jordan VE6ZT
?
Jordan, it was a DIN cable with plugs at both ends. I did check that there were no shorts between the pins.
?
The cable appears to be of good quality but the plug required a lot of effort to mate with the ACC2 socket. I tried it with another socket and it was much easier.
?
When I bought the radio it had the original Kenwood silver sticker over the ACC2 socket so I'm guessing it has never been used before.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
?
Is there anything connected to the ACC2 cable, or
is it just the plug...?
?
Jordan VE6ZT
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 6:27
AM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood-Amateur-Radio]
TS-870S no TX
After allowing radio to warm up (let sit for 15 minutes turned on), take a
#2 type pencil (with a new eraser), and press down on every component on the
board (or boards), while the radio is in the mode that is malfunctioning.
Watch your meter or indicators closely, that show intermittent problem. This
method is great for finding breaks in components and solder traces. Take your
time, not getting in a hurry.
Gary
On 3/14/2025 7:17 AM, Mike via groups.io
wrote:
I managed to get the fault to return by inserting a plug into the ACC2
socket, which was a tight fit and required a lot of effort. When I removed
the DIN cable normal operation returned.
?
Something on that board is obviously intermittent.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
After allowing radio to warm up (let sit for 15 minutes turned
on), take a #2 type pencil (with a new eraser), and press down on
every component on the board (or boards), while the radio is in
the mode that is malfunctioning. Watch your meter or indicators
closely, that show intermittent problem. This method is great for
finding breaks in components and solder traces. Take your time,
not getting in a hurry.
Gary
On 3/14/2025 7:17 AM, Mike via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I managed to get the fault to return by inserting a plug into
the ACC2 socket, which was a tight fit and required a lot of
effort. When I removed the DIN cable normal operation returned.
?
Something on that board is obviously intermittent.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
I managed to get the fault to return by inserting a plug into the ACC2 socket, which was a tight fit and required a lot of effort. When I removed the DIN cable normal operation returned.
?
Something on that board is obviously intermittent.
?
--
Mike G8GYW
|
Bob
Tom ai4th