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

Sat May 16 13:30:14 EDT 2020

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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>
> -- 
> Richard Knoppow
> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
> WB6KBL
>
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