[amsat-bb] Kenwood TS790E, Ham Radio Deluxe CAT issues. General fumbling by old timer !

[Mike Meadows]

Hi to all. A long first post here.....

I am just starting out with hamsatts @ age 72 !

I bought a 1990 Kenwood TS 790e  (no ctcss board(s) in European model..
On  the basis of reports on receiver(s) being excellent. As a user of HRD
for psk since 2011.
I am a registered user of latest version. Was hoping to use package for
frequency control, doppler and az/el rotator control,satellite pass display.
I built the G6LVB PC to Yaesu Rotator controller,as kit from Amsat UK. I am
a member.That works fine.

All done to help reduce operating workload.

When I engage HRD , 790 jumps from Tx to Rx every second or so.On any
mode.Also when under CAT control, audio is muted at a repetitive rate ( I
am assuming that is CAT polling rate) This is confirmed by unchecking rx
CAT control, in a pass. With TX control disabled, no jumping, of course...
IE no CAT, full manual use of independent receiver and TX.
790 is a full duplex radio. I have tried a number of settings for the
controlling serial port.With no solution.


Having programmed HRD for frequency split of transponder, beacons ( I found
satellite frequency data files, within software to be dated around 2008.) I
have checked, edited all active satellite data against n2yo,heavens-above ,
and individual bird websites .Presently listening to as many "birds" as I
can. No qso's , yet....
I understand from last but one HRD newsletter, various parts of satellite
and rotor control are finally being addressed.With a dedicated developer
assigned to each of these tasks.

What software works with with 790 ?
When used for manually tuning for full duplex,locked tracking Vfo's . (Has
any bb member found a workable solution, as the instructions in manual does
not give a straight forward procedure.)
Surely you don't have to hold SAT button down while moving VFO. A two
handed operation 🤔🤔 DOH !!

Do I give up, sell 790 and buy a couple s/h FT817's ?
Or one 817 and sdr rx ?

Comments about solid combination of CAT control , radios etc, ease of use,
appreciated.
What about Icom IC910 or IC9100 ? Under HRD control ?

Help appreciated and please don't flame me.
Remember all so called experts where once novices.
Confused @ G4GUG.
73 Mike G4GUG.