Some tips and tricks for the Kenwood TS-590S

• If you need very low TX output for modes like WSPR you can use the  DRV output. Push the DRV button and for TX the DRV output will be used and that is about 1 mW depending on the TX power setting. For RX the normal antenna will be used.
  
  
• Listening to AM broadcast stations you can set the bandwidth control up to 5 kHz wide but beware this is per sideband so in AM the bandwidth is actually twice that wide. Normally a broadcast in AM is 9 kHz wide so the 10 kHz available is more than enough.
  
  
• The option to buy a TXCO from Kenwood is expensive. A cheap Chinese TCXO works too and only costs about 12 euro. Search for them on eBay or AliExpress. The cheap price has the disadvantage that this cheap TCXO introduces extra noise to the receiver especially on 50 MHz. 

  

  Cheap Chinese TCXO

  
  
• The power output varies according to the voltage given by the power supply. The manual states that 13.8 Volts of power is needed. On 12 Volts the rig only gives a maximum of 50 Watts. Full power of  100 Watt output is reached with a power supply of 14 Volts.
  
  
• Remember that as the manual states the on-board power meter gives an average power reading in SSB.
  
  
• To send recorded audio messages without touching the PTT or send button, set the VOX to On and VOX level to 0.
  
  
• To expand the transmit range of the transceiver remove resistor R900. The expanded transmit  range is 0 to 30 MHz. There is no TX between 30 and 48 MHz. 

Radio Batavia taken off the air by the navy (With audio)

Every now and then I scan the airwaves with my Kenwood TS-590S for some chill music and this last sunday I stumbled upon 5890 kHz AM where radio Batavia was playing its oldie tunes.

The DJ was a dutchmen telling us he was transmitting from his big ship on a very harsh North Sea.
Just after explaining how proud he was of his new huge antenna system that reached the whole of Europe, (and it has to be big on 5890 kHz!) he reported an unknown ship on the horizon.
Binoculars scanned the horizon revealing it was the navy and it headed their way fast. A radio contact with the approaching ship confirmed the navy was coming their way to board the ship.
A light panic became audible in his voice.

I started the recording at that moment.

Radio Batavia taken off the air (recording).

After a while the music stopped , the DJ stated he would be back in the future and the signal was off the air.

The airwaves are as exciting as ever.

How to expand the transmit frequencies on a Kenwood TM-D710GE (aka Mars cap)

The Kenwood TM-D710GE originally comes with a large receive range of 118 MHz all the way up to 1300 MHz. (Interrupted from 524 MHz to 800 MHz) It has a small transmit range of 144 to 146 MHz and 430 to 440 MHz.
To expand the transmit range from 136 to 174 MHz and from 400 to 470 MHz you will have to turn off the radio, then open the set with 8 screws and remove the resistor labeled W601.
With the front of the radio facing you it is on the lower left hand corner. Closest to the control head on the left hand side of the radio.

The green wire in older radios

In the popular youtube videos doing this mod on older versions of the radio this is a green wire.

After removing the resistor and turning the transceiver on it will reset to the default settings so it is a good idea to save all settings and memory banks beforehand to a file. This can be done with both MCP-6A or CHIRP.

Here are some more hints and tricks concerning this radio.