[Kenwood] TS-520SE: Distorted audio/low SSB power out

Tue, 19 Aug 2003 17:30:19 -0400

You're better off sliding a toilet paper roll (empty or full depending on
your coolness) over the barrel of the MC-50. Same result, except you
don't have to deal with electrical tape residue if you ever decide to
sell it. Longer rolls, plastic rolls, or rolls with various holes punched
in them, will alter the characteristics of your MC-50 audio.

Pete, WA2CWA

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 15:16:04 -0400 "mark kenward" <[email protected]>
writes:
> Another trick is to wrap the barrell of the MC-50 with electrical 
> tape...has
> worked for me since 1976...K8VF
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter A Markavage" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 12:38 PM
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS-520SE: Distorted audio/low SSB power out
> 
> 
> > There are a number of feature and component differences between 
> the
> > original TS-520 and the later TS-520SE. The MC-50 mike is both 
> high and
> > low impedance. Have you tried reversing the 4 pin plug on the back 
> of the
> > mike to change the impedance? Connect a 100 watt lamp bulb to the 
> antenna
> > terminal; tune the transmitter as per the manual instructions; 
> and
> > observe the lamp brilliance on voice and CW. Also the MC-50 is 
> "mellow"
> > sounding mike. It does not have "talk-power" output. If you want
> > "talk-power", get an amplified D-104 to use with the 520SE.
> >
> > Pete, WA2CWA
> >
> > On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 06:25:17 -0000 "N4EKV" <[email protected]> 
> writes:
> > > I just purchased a TS-520SE and it is producing gravelly, 
> distorted
> > > audio on
> > > SSB and voice peaks are only reaching 10-15 watts.  I'm using 
> the
> > > MC-50 mic.
> > > The rig outputs 100 watts on CW and otherwise works fine.  I've
> > > already
> > > treated all pots and switches with Deoxit.
> > >
> > > I came across Trio-Kenwood Communication, inc. Service bulletin 
> no.
> > > 21
> > > (21-10-1977) in a Google search that references common TX and 
> RX
> > > problems on
> > > the 520 including "Item 25. Low mic gain: Q1 2SC1000 on Gen 
> unit."
> > > Could
> > > that be it?  Q1 is not a 2SC1000 according to my 520SE manual.
> > >
> > > Or perhaps it's something else entirely.  Please advise.
> > >
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Adam N.
> > > Martinez, California
> > > www.n4ekv.com