[Kenwood] TS-600 help

[Peter Markavage]

Any real difference with background noise with antenna connected verses
antenna disconnected? The 600 is optimized to perform well on receive and
transmit from 50 to 54 MHz. Previous owner may have tried to optimized
performance only at the low end of the band. Rig is almost 30 years old,
so some part deterioration is not uncommon, which could contribute to
noise generation. You might also want to hang a scope on various power
supply output DC leads to make sure the power supply is not contributing
to the noise generation. You might also check the front end and IF
section board components to make sure they weren't diddled with over the
years. My TS-600 is still an active part of my station since I bought it
around 1978 even though I have more "modern" 6 meter rigs.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Thu, 4 Oct 2007 20:32:14 -0500 "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
writes:
> Greetings,
> 
> I'm new to 6 meters and the proud owner of a very nice vintage 
> TS-600 6m 
> transceiver.  I have heard many good things about this older base 
> rig that I 
> decided to try to find one.  Now that I have it I am curious about 
> it 
> receiver performance.
> 
> It seems to be very sensitive...almost to the point of concerning me 
> that it 
> has a problem.  It appears to have a very high internal noise level. 
>  The 
> audio gain control cannot be turned up much beyond about 9 o'clock 
> without 
> the background noise being almost too much to bear.  It's minimum 
> discernable signal level seems quite low at the bottom of what my 
> HP-8640B 
> generator will generate but even S-7 to S-9 signal are as much white 
> noise 
> as intelligible signal.
> 
> My concern is whether there is something I need to go looking for in 
> the 
> radio that's in trouble or whether this is just business as usual 
> for the 
> TS-600.
> 
> I have heard these are good radio's for weak signal work but I can't 
> imagine 
> how with the signal to noise ratio I seem to be experiencing.
> 
> Other than that it is built like all classic Kenwood radio's 
> were...like a 
> tank.
> 
> I would be interested in any info from users of this radio or those 
> that 
> have technical experience with these that might shed some light on 
> what I am 
> experiencing.
> 
> Antenna is a Create 50-1200 Mhz Log temporary at roof top level fed 
> with 
> about 40' of RG-8 feedline.
> 
> Thanks in advance for any help you can provide...
> 
> Cecil
> K5DL