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

Thu Sep 3 20:45:56 EDT 2020

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