[Kenwood] TS-530S low RX on 40m

Tue Dec 29 21:02:00 EST 2020

Wondering if theres any 530S owners out there that experience "S-meter slam"
on powerup on their rigg?

If so, I am wondering if you ge the slam when the AGC is set to either the 
fast or slow setting?

--
Steve Hearns
KA2PTE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve H" <teknoskillz at comcast.net>
To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2020 7:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS-530S low RX on 40m

> Update on this issue, I bought a new L41, D2 and a dual gate FET from 
> KD7DNY
> and the rx is greatly improved. Likely an alignment will put the final 
> touches on it.
>
> I also bought the new Elcon VFO stabilizer and finished installing it just 
> now. After 45 mins,
> NO VFO drift indicated on the display. Much better than the K4DPK I was 
> trying in there
> so will stick with the Elcon.
>
> https://shop.elcon.ch/yaesu/universal-fll-vfo-stabilizer-el-34-2.htm
>
> Also treated her to a full bandswitch cleaning, new Sylvania 6146B tubes 
> and a neutralization,
> as well as an IF board mod to improve the audio and a better cooling fan 
> for the finals.
>
> After many long transmissions, the cover for the final cage barely is warm 
> and I have good audio reports.
>
> Very happy with the results reviving these Hybrids back to life. One day I 
> may advertise a repair service for them.
>
>
> Steve KA2PTE
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve H" <teknoskillz at comcast.net>
> To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 1:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS-530S low RX on 40m
>
>
>> Thought about it and noticed the IF board is using the same Omron 
>> obsolete relay as the TS-830S uses
>> and its been known to cause rx issues.
>>
>> So I set about removing the IF board and giving it a good cleaning on the 
>> component side, which I accomplished,
>> and also I am very adept at resolving issues with the relays used in 
>> these Hybrids where I restore their operation,
>> so while I was at it I took care of the relay on this board.
>>
>> When all was said and done, I powered up the radio and the S-meter read a 
>> steady 9 no matter what. The RF gain
>> made it bounce a little when rotated, but no audio.
>>
>> I realized I didnt finish defluxing the foil side of the pcb as intended, 
>> and recalled it had alot of niccotine film on it, and
>> I likely worsened it with what I did, so I removed the board again, this 
>> time removed all the flux and niccotine. Also went and cleaned the 
>> trimmer
>> potenitometers, after taking a photo of the board to note their original 
>> positions.
>>
>> As I installed the board I realized there are (2) connectors exactly the 
>> same that will fit into different locations on the board, and I had these 
>> reversed.
>> After installing it again, with the connectors in their right locations, 
>> the S meter was no longer reading a 9, it was 0, but still no audio.
>>
>> As I juggled one of these connectors, the S-meter began to read something 
>> because I had the RF gain pot half way up. I further wiggled the cables 
>> and could start to hear some faint audio in the headphones. Tuns out one 
>> connector near the very bottom has loose pins because I can move it and 
>> hear
>> rx pretty well in the headphones, so thats my next job - to again remove 
>> the board, and resolder all the connectors pads on it, which will 
>> hopefully
>> get things working again.
>>
>> Makes me wonder if any of the Hybrid experts out there had seen this 
>> before.
>>
>> Its pretty much a standard in design these days to not use 2 connectors 
>> with the same style for boards in any consumer electronics product. I 
>> guess the stuff designed in the 80's didnt adpot this standard yet.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Steve Hearns
>> KA2PTE
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Richard Knoppow" <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
>> To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 6:08 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS-530S low RX on 40m
>>
>>
>>> I don't like that. I don't know if tobacco residue would be conductive 
>>> but whatever caused it I would be concerned something didn't burn out. I 
>>> have a TS-520S, not a 530 and don't know how much difference there is. 
>>> Might be completely different. You might do a very careful visual 
>>> inspection of the band switch to spot anything that look burned. Since 
>>> it is not working on only one band the problem is already fairly 
>>> isolated. If the set is anything like a Drake, with which I am familar, 
>>> the crystal band oscillator may be weak or at least its injection to the 
>>> mixer may be low.
>>>  If it was working OK before its not likely something went out of tune 
>>> suddenly unless a coil burned up or a capacitor went bad. Worth looking 
>>> at. I can only suggest tracing the signal path. Again, I don't like the 
>>> sizzle.
>>>
>>> On 5/14/2020 2:57 PM, Steve H wrote:
>>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>> Yes, forgot to mention I wound up cleaning the bandswitch quite a few 
>>>> times with deox-it. Theres some improvement
>>>> but it appears theres still issues.
>>>>
>>>> I ran into a video regarding "peaking" the coils on the RF board that I 
>>>> wonder if its worth a try.
>>>>
>>>> This radio was owned by a a heavy smoker, so when I cleaned the band 
>>>> switch, and powered up the radio,
>>>> some sizzling and sparking came out monentarily, as I guess the 
>>>> niccotine coating blended with the deox-it
>>>> and took longer to dry than I expected. Luckily no noticable damage 
>>>> took place as I immediately removed power
>>>> and let it dry fully before further tests.
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>> Steve Hearns
>>>> KA2PTE
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Sutfin" <stephoto at mind.net>
>>>> To: "Steve H" <teknoskillz at comcast.net>
>>>> Cc: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 4:52 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Kenwood] TS-530S low RX on 40m
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Steve,
>>>>> One thing that comes to mind about hybrids is that besides having 
>>>>> mechanical switches and buttons ( my FT-901 has a bunch ) they still 
>>>>> use the old fashioned band switch. I clean and 'work' the switches/ 
>>>>> buttons frequently as maintenance but If your issue is not on all 
>>>>> bands cleaning the band switch contacts is the first place I would 
>>>>> start.
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Steve k7dna
>>>>>
>>>>> On May 14, 2020, at 1:32 PM, Steve H wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I have a condition where rx on this band seems very low. Sort of 
>>>>>> present on 20m at times too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The S meter barely moves at all, theres no noise level but I can hear 
>>>>>> stations.
>>>>>> The drive knob kind of behaves like a really wide tuner where the 
>>>>>> signals get higher
>>>>>> as you move it fully ccw.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When I put the cal signal on, I can hear it but theres no s meter 
>>>>>> level at
>>>>>> all.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Other bands seem to have noise levels and the drive / tune function
>>>>>> resonates properly, but overall
>>>>>> I think the rx gain seems sort of lacking "robust" is the best way to
>>>>>> describe it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I posted about this in a Kenwood hybrid group and I think they said 
>>>>>> its a common problem in most of some of the
>>>>>> hybrids, but cannot recall what they said actually is going on 
>>>>>> causing it. I remember they said the cal signal ought to be
>>>>>> alot stronger than what I reported.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I caught alof of flack from them for not "reading the manuals" first 
>>>>>> before posting for help, then somehow what I said as a reply was
>>>>>> studied by the mods, and deemed as "threatening" so I left, and 
>>>>>> thought I would try here.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> Steve Hearns
>>>>>> KA2PTE
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Richard Knoppow
>>> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
>>> WB6KBL
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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>
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