[Kenwood] Some questions on the TS-830S

Wed, 07 Aug 2002 18:54:49 -0400

Hans,

The 830 had VBT, Variable Bandwidth Tuning.  The claim was, that with just 
an SSB filter installed, you could narrow the bandwidth of the SSB filter 
to the point where CW operation was possible without a CW filter.  In 
actual practice, the stock filters were pretty lossy and when you tried 
that stunt the CWsignal was attenuated roughly 8 db.

Fox Tango came along with a line of 3rd party filters and made the claim 
that with their SSB filters installed, you could in fact narrow the SSB 
filter down to a fairly narrow bandwidth and get acceptable CW performance, 
without the loss injected by the stock filters.  That claim was pretty much 
true, in my experience.

I purchased the Fox Tango SSB filters and installed them.  Basically you 
were installing a set of narrow SSB filters with steep skirts.  This caused 
the transmit audio to suffer.  One option was to continue to use one of the 
stock SSB filters on transmit to improve the audio somewhat.  I used that 
option and frankly I'm not prepared to say that it helped the transmit 
audio significantly.  Everyone who knows me and hears the 830 complains 
about the tinny audio.  You can set the carrier oscillators for low 
frequencies or high frequencies, but not both.

The installation of the Fox Tango filters was a big improvement on receive. 
 The sharp skirts really helped during crowded band conditions.  For the 
casual CW operator, you probably could get away without buying a CW filter. 
 I doubt a serious CW operator would be satisfied with just the Fox Tango 
SSB filter narrowed down for CW.  A friend with a stock 830 put my rig 
along side his and was amazed at the difference.

I'm certain that some of the members on this list can give you advice on 
what type of CW filters to purchase.  Unless you're a hard core contester, 
I'd leave the stock SSB filters in the radio and find a good CW filter to 
install.

There were a few mods to the 830.  One had to do with washers to ground one 
of the circuit boards.  There was also a power supply mod that was supposed 
to lessen the amount of drift.  My 830 drifts down in frequency for about 
an hour, then it stabilizes.  It does it with the internal or the external 
VFO.  A friend of mine has one and his also drifts, but I think his drifts 
up in frequency.

One nice addition is the KB-1 tuning knob if you can find one.  It is a 
heavy aluminum knob that replaces the standard plastic knob.  I have one on 
both VFO's and I wouldn't part with them.  Don't know if you could find one 
on the used market.

The speech processor in the 830 works very well, and the VOX controls are 
on the front of the radio where they belong.  There is no provision for FSK 
or AM if that's an issue for you.  No full break in with this radio.  Don't 
know if anyone ever came up with a mod for that or not.  The T/R relay is 
no longer supplied by Kenwood, and I believe is no longer available from 
Omron, the manufacturer.

I still own my 830 and it still has the original finals.  In 20 years I've 
replaced 1 or 2 driver tubes, and had the rig aligned.  The alignment 
wasn't really necessary, mind you, it just made me feel better.  My 830 has 
never left me down.  It worked when my 850 croaked on several occasions.  I 
continue to use it as a backup rig.

Good luck, de Rick, KN3C

----------
From: 	[email protected][SMTP:[email protected]]
Reply To: 	[email protected]
Sent: 	Wednesday, August 07, 2002 16:03
To: 	[email protected]
Subject: 	[Kenwood] Some questions on the TS-830S

Dear Kenwood experts!

I'm planning to buy a TS-830S from a HAM in Germany and I have some
questions about the rig.

What filters can be installed? Do you have any suggestions? I use both CW
and SSB.

What means TS-830S Gold or Goldline?

Are there certain things I have to be careful for, when I buy a used
TS-830S? In other words: are there any known weaknesses?

Many thanks in advance and 73!
Hans Remeeus.

Ham Radio:
PA1HR

Sites:
www.remeeus.nl
www.qsl.net/pa1hr

e-mail:
[email protected]

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