[Elecraft] Re： New Kenwood TS0-590

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Looks like I missed a few other "tricks" (not treats) in the TS-590.

I refer the reader to Kenwood's own brochure for the TS-590 at:
<http://www.kenwoodusa.com/UserFiles/File/UnitedStates/Communications/AMA/Brochures/TS-590.pdf> 
  and their ad on the rear cover of QST for
November 2010.

The brochure and the manual are at odds about "down-conversion"
on 60 meters.  The manual (Specifications, pg 82) says the 5 MHz
band uses down-conversion, the brochure (pg 3) omits 60 Meters
in the list of bands that use down-conversion.  Both sources and
the ad are clear that down-conversion is not used when the receive
bandwidth is more than 2.7 KHz (can you say ESSB), in AM or FM.
Instead the rig switches to the "conventional" up-convert to VHF
system.

The brochure also makes another strange claim ... the TS-590 uses
a "bare" DDS to drive the down-conversion mixer (pg 3) and claims
that architecture is "cleaner" with less reciprocal mixing than a
conventional PLL/VCO synthesizer.   The brochure shows a picture
of an Analog Devices AD9951 DDS ... I haven't checked recently but
last I heard the Analog Devices and similar DDS products had some
serious close-in spurs which resulted in poor wideband SFDR and
*MORE* reciprocal mixing than a well designed PLL/VCO synthesizer,
not less.

Taken with the lack of a sub-receiver, no input for a separate
receive antenna, no wideband IF for a panadapter, a 12V power
amplifier, etc.  the TS-590 is looking more and more like a warmed
over TS-2000 with a "gimmicky" (partial) amateur bands only front
end and not the serious, higher performance transceiver it was made
out to be.

When the serious testing begins, I hope independent engineers like
Rob Sherwood, Peter Hart and the ARRL Labs will compare performance
on 20 vs. 17 meters and check other issues like reciprocal mixing
and IMDDR3 for *both* "front ends."

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


> On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 10:52 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV<lists at subich.com>  wrote:
>>
>>   >  Believe me or not.  The designer of TS590 also a K3 owner.
>>
>> He sure made some very questionable choices if he had a K3 to
>> copy from!
>>
>> The TS-590 only uses the down conversion/roofing filter system
>> on the 160, 80, 60, 40, 20 and 15 meter amateur bands!  Outside
>> those bands and above 21 MHz it is a conventional up conversion
>> design.  Why he chose to do what amounts to a complete second
>> receiver from the antenna to the 24 KHz DSP last IF/demodulator
>> is complete mystery.  For essentially the same parts cost he
>> could have included a second, lower performance receiver like
>> the FT-5000.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>     ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>> On 10/18/2010 10:11 AM, Johnny Siu wrote:
>>> Believe me or not.  The designer of TS590 also a K3 owner.  I met him in Aug
>>> 2010 in Tokyo.
>>>
>>> cheers,
>>>
>>> Johnny VR2XMC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> 寄件人﹕ "w7aqk at cox.net"<w7aqk at cox.net>
>>> 收件人﹕ elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>>> 傳送日期﹕ 2010/10/18 (一) 10:05:40 PM
>>> 主題： [Elecraft] New Kenwood TS0-590
>>>
>>> I finally got a chance to see the new Kenwood rig at HRO in Portland
>>> last Saturday.  Didn't get to play with it for very long as there were
>>> too many others who wanted to play with it too.  Anyway, it seems like a
>>> nice radio--sounded good--looks good--but still missing lots of things
>>> we get with a K3.  It does seem like an obvious attempt to compete
>>> somewhat with the K3, but it's NOT a true contender for a lot of
>>> reasons.
>>>
>>> The ergonomics were fairly good, and unlike Yaesu, for example, they
>>> don't bury everything deep in a menu system.  But you still have to push
>>> buttons a few extra times.  For example, setting power level and keyer
>>> speed takes a couple of extra pushes of buttons vs. the K3.  Like I said
>>> above, I didn't really get to play with it very long, but I'm certain
>>> you would be giving up a lot if you opted for this vs. a K3.
>>>
>>> The folks at Pacificon probably got a better chance to look at the new
>>> Kenwood.  At least it shows that Kenwood is still in the amateur radio
>>> business, which I think is a good thing.
>>>
>>> Dave W7AQK
>>>