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

[A. Kevin Arber]

Mike,
The TS-790 works well as a satellite radio.  It does have a few kinks that
you may need to work out.  I have been using one since the 90's.
Assume that you have the radio under computer control.  If not you need to
build an interface unit between the computer com port and the radio 6-pin
interface.  I use the control interface by XQ2FOD and it works.

The radio was designed to mute as it corrects for Doppler.  It will mute at
the switch between the UHF and VHF vfos as it corrects the up/down
frequencies.  It was a really bad feature to design into the radio.  There
is a fix for this which entails modification of the IF board by shorting Q4
emitter to collector and cutting a trace.  Take a look here at JR1EDE's
page:

http://www.kvindesland.no/la9iha/mods/mts790.htm

Another way around this is to use the rear data port (ACC2) taking your
audio from there.  I tried this and it works also but you lose the ability
to control the volume.

I also had the dial lights burn out.  This was fixed by replace them with
diode lights for both displays and the meter.  Mine has a ctcss, but you
can add a ctcss board to yours fairly easily.

There is lots of info on this radio on the internet that can be of help.

Hope this helps.
73
Kevin/W3DAD



On Thu, Mar 22, 2018 at 7:37 PM, Mike Meadows <g4gug161 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
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