[Kenwood] TS-950 SDX

[Fern Rivard]

HI Vince:
    I suspect that your antenna is running right over your ham shack. If
that is the case, then don't blame the radio as this is a very common
problem. MOVE THE antenna so that it doesn't go over your ham shack and
all will be fine.  73 from Fern  been there and done that!



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vince Shirley" <vince at blackboy1.fsnet.co.uk>
To: "Kenwood" <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:54 PM
Subject: [Kenwood] TS-950 SDX


> Hi all,
>
> For those that remember a couple of weeks ago I asked for readers
views on
> the merits of a 950SDX as against a new 870 or a used 756 PRO2.
>
> Well, my experiences with the 850 and the views expressed on here was
enough
> and I had the 950 which was delivered a couple of days ago, and I had
the
> good fortune yesterday to have a day free from work where I could get
used
> to it.
>
> I concur wholeheartedly with the views expressed on here in respect of
the
> receiver which is all I expected it to be.  I really need a while to
get the
> best out of it but the noise floor is very low and very easy to
isolate weak
> CW signals from the crud with the used of the filtering and the AF/IF
VBT.
>
> On transmission I had an immediate problem - RF in both the audio and
the CW
> on all bands (raspy auroral note to the CW and audio, erratic
behaviour of
> the ALC, erratic power levels etc...).  The antenna I used was a
Carolina
> Windom (at 35 feet), used successfully with the 850 and a 1000MP on
all
> bands.   After removal of all "inputs" to the 950 (external speaker
leads,
> key, headphones, RS232 lead etc.,) was done but the problem persisted.
>
> Some work on the antenna, changing feeders back from Aircell 50 back
to
> RG58, insertion of a RF choke into the feed line and repositioning the
> TS950SDX inside the shack, a thorough check (and changing a few) of
the
> patch leads and antenna switch in the shack has reduced the problem to
24
> MHz and (occasionally) 28 MHz.
>
> I've taken the antenna down and I can't see any problem around the
balun or
> the choke on the vertical radiator and as night was falling that's
where I
> left it.  This morning, having slept on the problem, I check it before
going
> to work and initially there was no problem on 24mHz but it returned
after a
> couple of minutes. There was plenty of RF around in the shack too, the
PC
> objected strongly to it and the ELCB blew out sraightaway - and that
was at
> 20 watts !
>
> Both the 850 and the 1000MP don't seem to have a problem with it
although
> when I crank up the power to 200 on the 1000MP there is a little RF in
the
> shack.
>
> Repositioning the antenna is impossible (I have a long narrow
garden) - does
> the 950 have a known issue with being susceptible to RF and can anyone
> suggest anything else I could to alleviate it. I would like to stick
with
> the Carolina Windom as its been very successful for me and due to the
joke
> that is the "planning consent" regulations in the UK I can't get a
tower or
> mast up.  Or rather I can have a mast, but I can't put any antennas on
it
> !!
>
> Vince G0ORC
>
>
>
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