K1KAA

The improvements this year had to do with the radios. The Kenwoods are getting old, but they're still tanks, and they've been modified enough times to no longer be classified as the same TS440. This year, another round of modifications go in.

ACC-1 Serial Interface

It was time to re-wire the interface cables. They were starting to get a little ratty, and they weren't built well to begin with. Here is the ACC-1 serial interface for a TS440... (using a 6-pin din)

Signal (pin)

• ground (1)
• data from (2)
• data to (3)
• cts to radio (4)
• cts to computer (5)
• none (6)

Commands

• AIn; Auto Information
• DMnnnn; Display memory
• DN; Down
• FA; FB; VFOA/VFOB change
• FAggmmmkkkhhh; VFOA frequency select (FB for VFOB)
• FNn; Function select
• ID; Identify model
• IF; Read info
• LKn; Lock knob
• MCxmm; Memory channel select
• MDn; Mode
• MRnxrr; Memory Read
• RC; Clear RIT/XIT
• RD: RIT/XIT down
• RU; RIT/XIT up

Usual Adjustments

There were a few usual complaints the past season. The beep would sometimes set off the VOX, and I wasn't about the change the level (it is set just right for my voice, and most of the operators), the squelch threshold needed work, and the S-meter wasn't exactly zero'ed out.

• S-meter zero (IF-VR2)
• S-meter high/S9 (IF-VR3)
• Squelch threshold (IF-VR4)
• Beep tone (IF-VR10)

Audio Modifications

Decreased C51 to .01uF. This helps with HF response. The low frequencies would have been an increase in C60 to .47uF, but the audio on 40, 80, and 160 was much better, so I didn't play with it. I removed R263, per request, to make the audio richer. Sounds the same to me, though.

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