[Kenwood] Re: T599/R599 Transceive Interconnection Cable

[Joe LeKostaj]

Hello. If you need the interconnection cable, you might try the 
homebrew instructions below. A substitute connector is made from a 
bit of printed circuit board stock and solid copper wire. Send me an 
email for a PDF showing the connector pinout. If you come up with any 
other ideas, please post them here!

73,
Joe K9LY


Homebrew interconnect cable for Kenwood T599/R599

You will need the following to make a 2-foot interconnect cable:
1)	some copper-clad 1/16 inch glass epoxy printed circuit board 
material (single or double sided copper both OK)
2)	about a foot of 14 gauge solid copper wire
3)	about 8 feet of hookup wire (22 gauge stranded suggested)
4)	about 10 feet of RG-174 coax cable
5)	X-Acto knife or Dremel toool with grinding bit
6)	wiring diagram (send email for diagram)



1) Cut out two pieces of printed circuit board material which are 
about the same size as the connector on the back of the T599/R599.

2) Drill holes in the board with the same spacing as the connector 
pins. Make the holes a snug fit for 14 gauge solid copper wire. 
Connection is made to only 10 of the 16 connector pins, so only 10 
holes need to be drilled. However, it's easy to simply drill all 16 
holes and be sure you've got all the ones you need.

3) Using an X-Acto knife or Dremel tool, cut away a small strip of 
copper foil between each hole in order to make isolated pads. If the 
board has copper on both sides, make isolated pads on both sides.

4) Insert a 1/2 inch length of copper wire into each hole which needs 
a connector pin (see wiring diagram) and solder it to the copper 
foil. Leave about 1/8 inch exposed on one side and 5/16 inch on the 
other. If the board has copper on both sides, solder on both sides 
for added strength. Use your judgment to determine how long the wires 
must be to enter the connectors on the T599/R599.

5) Solder the hookup wire and coax cable to the 1/8 inch end of the 
homemade header connectors according to the accompanying drawing.

6) Double-check your wiring before connecting the cable to your 
equipment. Make sure there are no solder shorts between the isolated 
copper pads. Check for continuity from end-to-end.


Good luck!

73,
Joe  K9LY