[Kenwood] TS-570 filter for use with CW

[Thomas Beltran]

I would certainly agree, with you Ted (and your explaination was very clear
btw).  I also considered the IC-746, but already having another rig, I just
didn't want to invest that much more.  What I wanted was to upgrade my
TS-520 with a smaller, no-tune, digital read-out rig - at $ 979.95, the 570
sure fit the bill!

For CW, I still use my old Drake C line.  The R4C has all the Sherwood mods,
including the 600hz first IF.  When I select that narrow first IF, and the
500hz Second IF filter, I cannot hear anyone but the station I want - I've
never needed the 250 hz second IF filter so I sold it.  In spite of the old
analog dial, having to warm it up, noisy relay, and all, for me, on CW, I
still think it is the best.

But the CW is much better on the 570 than on my old TS-520, even with the
520's optional CW filter.   So for casual operating, the stock options are
fine.

SSB on the Drake is sort of a pain, compared with these new no-tune rigs,
considering having to tune up both tx and rx.  And there is no warm-up
period.  Many times, I've called CQ for a long time with no response, only
to have someone call back and say "hey OM, you are on the wrong side-band."
I would have the rx on the proper side-band, but not the tx.  And I'm too
young for a senior moment.  I usually just left the Drake on 20 CW, and then
used the 520 for phone and casual CW.

But I do agree with you about the pumping, and it sure can be annoying.  But
I think the 570 has more options for CW than SSB.  Notwithstanding the
pumping, you have more options regarding the DSP with the stock 570 on CW
than on SSB.  So, my point, was that the SSB may need a bit more help to
equalize it's options by adding the additional filter.  Of course, there may
not be much difference between the stock, I think, 2.4 and the optional 1.8.
Does anyone have the optional SSB filter?

As far as the AGC, on my Drake there are five positions as well as off (3
stock, 5 with the Sherwood mods).  Usually I run it on the slowest position.
But, if the agc pumping is an issue, I noticed that there is a web page for
the 570 by a Kenwood engineer, that has a mod to replace the ATT button with
an AGC OFF button.  I wonder if anyone has tried that?  Tom W6EIJ