CW Question

[W3WN]

The TS-430S is a good rig, for it's day. So is the TS-140S. Avoid the TS-440S; they have a known problem with the heat sink compound that is used on the CPU, and when it fails, the rig goes into conniptions.

If you don't need the WARC bands, the older TS-520 & 820 hybrids, or 120 & 180 solid state Kenwood rigs, can often be picked up inexpensively. But if you like hybrids, and want to go that route, try to find a TS-530 or -830S; they not only have the WARC bands, which was the biggest reason behind the upgrades, but some other functional and technical improvements and upgrades.

Also keep your eyes open for some of the Ten-Tec rigs -- Triton IV, Argosy (be wary, the finals are made of Unobtanium, so if they blow...), Paragon, Omni's, and my favorite, the Corsair... some real nice bargains out there.

Regardless of the rig, try to get one with a 500 Hz narrow CW filter -- or find one from other sources. It will pay of on CW reception, especially on a crowded band.

GL!

73

[N8YX]

The TS-430S is a good rig, for it's day. So is the TS-140S. Avoid the TS-440S; they have a known problem with the heat sink compound that is used on the CPU, and when it fails, the rig goes into conniptions.

You're talking about the potting compound which is used to microphonically stabilize VCO #5, correct? The stuff is hygroscopic and will lead to corrosion of the underlying parts.

It can be removed...any bad components replaced...and the rig made good as "new". Partstore still carries everything one needs in the way of components needed to fix the rig.

Bulletins detailing the procedure can be found on a lot of 'Net sites, including Kenwood's.

I've repaired several of the TS-440S/R-5000 series rigs' VCO circuitry over the past few years, and it isn't hard to do at all.

Clif at Aavid Electronics will also service a '440 if so desired.

[W9PSK]

Guys, thanks for all the advice. So far I have downloaded HRD which includes a program for decoding digital modes and CW. Really, when I think about it, CW strikes me as a primitive type of digital communication. Anyway, I gave the program a try (can't remember the name of it right now-I am at the bedroom computer), and it did a really good job of decoding PSK. There's a contest going on this weekend so the waterfall was loaded! I didn't have much luck finding any CW though. I heard some very faint copy, but my DX-160 just couldn't pull it out. My guess is that that is why I need a radio with a good CW filter.

The good news is that my wife is totally behind me on this. She doesn't care if I get a new rig or an old one. We are right at the end of settling an insurance claim and she is fixin to get some moolah. She's gonna be my very own personal sugar momma! Yeeeeehaaaa! Whatever I put on the charge card she's promised to pay it off. It don't get no bettern dat!

[W9PSK]

Dudes, I just went to Ebay to check on an auction I was bidding on. I have been working on my homework for the last four or five hours, so I forgot it was fixin to end. It turns out that I am the proud owner of a used ICOM IC-735 including the power supply, a key thingamahopper, and an antenna! Wowsers! I didn't think I would win that auction, but I did! Here's everything that was said in the ad:

This is a ICOM IC-735 HF All Band Transceiver with a Astron RS-20A Power Supply. Also included are power cords, an Antenna with around 50' of Coax cable, Instruction and Service Manual, ICOM HM-12 Mic with tuner controls on the mic, and external speaker. This was my father-in-laws tranceiver and I belive there is an electronic keyer unit inside, but I don't know for sure. The unit powers up fine and going through the manual, everything seems to be working great. I was able to pick up broadcast and able to transmit.

The ICOM IC-735 is a compact, easy to use HF radio covering 160 through 10 meters with 100 watts. Modes include SSB, CW, FM and AM. Enhancements include: dual digital VFOs, 12 memories, full QSK, RIT, speech compressor, and noise blanker. The 735 has a general coverage receiver covering 100 kHz to 30 MHz with 105dB dynamic range. The advanced, triple conversion receiver section includes pass band tuning, notch, preamp and attenuator.

A translucent cover protects the slide controls that adjust: NB Level, RF Gain, RF Power, VOX Gain, VOX Delay and speed for optional keyer. Mic included.

Features include:

* All Mode

* Analog S/RF Meter

* RIT

* VOX Function

* IF Notch

* 100 Hz LCD Display

* Dual Digital VFOs

* Optional Keyer

* 12 Memories

* Scanning

* General Coverage Receive

* PBT

* Noise Blanker

* Preamp

I got the whole thing for under $400 including the shipping. Did I do good?

[n0iu]

Sounds like you did great! The only thing I would change is the power supply. A 20 amp power supply is just barely adequate for a 100 watt rig. Astron makes a 35 amp supply that will do a much better job for you. There will be more than enough power for the HF rig and plenty to spare for other accessory items you may want to add in the future without pushing it to the limit. While there certainly are other brands of power supplies out there, Astron pretty much sets the gold standard. I have been using my Astron RS-35A for nearly 20 years and the only issue with it is that the little light in the power switch burnt out a few years ago. I guess I should replace it... one day... maybe... when I get around to it.

Another word of caution is using the FM mode. The only band you can use FM on is 10 meters. Although the rig is capable of running FM at 100 watts, I wouldn't transmit any more than 50 watts. FM is full duty cycle and you will literally cook the final transistors in only a few minutes at full power. At 50 watts, you can pretty much run FM all day with no issues. Trust me on this one. This is the voice of experience talking!

BTW, the "IU" in my callsign is in recognition of my college where this guy used to coach:



I wouldn't give bad advice to a fellow Hoosier! And since you are not that far away, make sure to visit The Ham Station in Evansville. I have purchased from these guys before at hamfests and have always gotten a good deal from them. You are lucky you have a place like them so close. I live in St. Louis and we don't even have a full line amateur radio dealer in town. http://www.hamstation.com/

If the users manual isn't included, you can get a PDF scan of one here for free: http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instr ... /IC-735-_E

Just click on this icon: It will take you to a screen with a 4 question survey about the radio (just make something up!) and another screen where you enter a 4 digit security code. Yeah, its a lot of hoops to jump through, but it is free! If for some reason it doesn't work, I can email it to you.

Congratulations!

[X-Rated]

The faster the CW, the better the computer copies. If you are going at 20+ WPM, that would be best. By the time you get to 45WPM, the programs are nearly flawless.

The slower speeds are more difficult for the programs to copy. 5WPM under usual band conditions will render the CW program almost worthless. Do a lot of practicing the copying before getting on to see what your computer can copy.

CW Get, like was mentioned earlier, is real good at being flexible to copy these transmissions. There are a multitude of adjustments as well as Automatic Gain settings.

[w0aew]

Really, when I think about it, CW strikes me as a primitive type of digital communication.

True that, but it's the only one most of us can decode without a computer! When I was a novice, back when the dinosaurs stalked the earth, I hated being restricted to CW and couldn't wait to upgrade my license so I could use 'phone. But it wasn't too long before I fell back into CW. It's like music to me...very relaxing.

These days I operate CW and a bit of Olivia and WSPR (for testing antennas mainly). I'd operate SSB if I had a regular sked with a bunch of guys like the ones here on the Island.

By the way, I've never had much luck with cw decoders. However, I do enjoy using MixW for sending CW.

[suddenseer]

Sounds like you got a great deal. I will second the dont go full needle on fm. When the band is up you only need 5-10 watts. I run mine at 5 watts. I had a qso on the reapeter in VI. and Puerto Rico the other day.

I learned cw the old way I quess. I was elmered in by a now silent key. He started me with the 'dit' letters e, i,s,h. The Dah latters t, m, o.Once I mastered those, he added the rest of the letters, and his homninims i,e h .... sounds like 'mississippi' f ..-. 'getahaircut. stuff like that. There were paper tape machines with varible speed. I was told that my fcc test would be with that type of machine. Tangent alert- Mr Cotton W8DX used a new fangled cassette deck. I was so flustered. You had to send back then as well on a straight key. I was already using a semi automatic Vibroplex bug. I thought I failed, he called my name and told me "congratulations, call yourself WN8YUD/DT until your license arrives". I was giddy.

That method worked for me. e,i,s,h,t,m,o. Master those then a,n,w,g, and the rest. Then numerals, and punctuation later. If you get the soundblaster software, and listen to on air qsos. The w1aw is good. I would take the earlier advise and look for a good fist. You can get a good taste fo how most cw qso's are structured. You will get to really use the q' signals, and abbreviations, om, yl, xyl, ttfn hi hi.

I have found most cw operators are much less clickish than phone. I have had the pleasure of being about 100 first time qso contacts. It is alot of fun. I must say I like the new method of cw operators because they want to, not have to.

Have too much fun!
Tim