[TCARC-NTX] Radio Modification: Lesson Learned

[David Johnson KB5YLG]

I finally got to sit down this weekend and do
something just for fun:  I opened up my Kenwood TS-50 
to do some adjustments a debugging.  It sure was
satisfying to get to do that.  I cleaned up some stick
face plate switches, and learned where the dead
lithium battery is hidden (got a new one ordered). 
About 5 or 6 years ago when I bought this rig I was
involved in Army MARS so modified the rig back then to
transmit on the MARS frequencies; that was no big
deal, just snipping a particular diode.  Back then I
was also experimenting in QRP so I had modified the
low power setting (factory 10 Watts) down to just
under 5 Watts to be QRP legal.  Little did I know,
this was the reason my matching AT-50 automatic tuner
had quit working.  It uses the low power to tune, and
needs at least about 8 Watts output to function
correctly.  Lesson learned.  Re-tweaked to factory
settings on the power-out levels and all is well.  I
also checked the resonant frequency on a couple of ham
sticks using my analyzer.  My investment in the
"service manuals" has been a good one.

By the way, thanks to Fred N5WLA, got the rotator
cable, will try to start implementing it this week. 
That requires understanding the cable head pin outs,
related to the controller's connectors, good thing I
retained the manual for the rotator.

I'm slowly prepping my tower to install some VHF/UHF
beams and a triband HF beam later this year.  After
outfitting the rotator my next step will be to improve
my grounding system.  After that, I'll reassemble the
beam on saw-horses (plus miscellaneous assembly parts
to replace), and test out the traps and work out a
plan on getting it back to the top of the tower.  Look
for a tower party in the late fall, it'll take me at
least that long to get ready.

David KB5YLG

--- automatic signature follows...

David Johnson
MCP,MCSE,MCSD,MCDBA,CWS
david at justcalldavid.com
kb5ylg at yahoo.com

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Emergency and public service communications,
a hobby of myriad facets, an enhancement to any
other hobby:  The Amateur Radio Service.

Find out more at http://www.arrl.org


		
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