How to Setup your Ham Radio Transceiver for Optimal Performance (ft. Kenwood TS-590SG & FT-818ND)
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- Опубліковано 27 кві 2019
- In this follow up video, Jarrad VK3BL demonstrates how to get the best Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) out of a traditional superhet transceiver.
The transceiver used for the video is the classic and current production Kenwood TS-590SG, and the Yaesu FT-818ND is briefly shown to indicate the advice is consistent across superhet transceivers.
We hope you enjoy the video and advice despite the low light video - we recorded this in our new shack (VK3AGA) and it isn't finished yet.
73, Jarrad VK3BL - Наука та технологія
Not enough people explain this to new hams. When someone showed me this years ago, my head almost exploded...so many hours of listening to needless noise level LOL. Nice job explaining and demonstrating it all.
Thanks for the demonstration on the 590 SG. I just purchased one and really appreciated the instructions. Bouncing from radio to radio it’s been a little confusing. I’m hopeful that I really love this little radio.
Very well explained, nice video. I do not own a 590 yet. My 940 works the same way, never gave it much thought, things become automatic after using the same radio for so long. I mostly let my brain do the processing and tune the rig for whats best to my ears. Thank you for your video.
Very nice informative video, first time my Rf gain concept cleared...thanx
You're most welcome :) There are so many features on transceivers in this day and age that the manual doesn't adequately explain, we try our best to put them in plain english for our viewers :) Thanks for the lovely comment, best 73 Jarrad VK3BL :)
Great vid as always!
Dear Danny, thanks very much for the fine words! 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
Thank you! very helpful - I had one occassion where proper adjustment changed misery into joy :-)
I found this video quite helpful; thank you!
Cheers from New Braunfels, Texas
W5HLM
Thanx for useful video!
The Kenwood 590SG seems to be a great rig. I'm thinking about one; with an SDR on a TFT for the band scope.
Very cool - I never knew this, thanks!!
Dear Travis, you're most welcome :) 73 Jarrad VK3BL :)
Danke für das tolle Video.73,de Jozef OE1CJG.Meine TS 590S,eine super Radio.😊😊😊
pulling the RF gain back on my Yaesu FT-707 makes a huge difference to the receive audio quality.
Its amazing the difference it makes to old rigs isn’t it? I learn’t the technique DXing on my old FT-101E whist chasing my first 100 barefoot and with a vertical! 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
Is there a way to program both the input and output frequencies into one memory channel on the KENWOOD 590 SG? Thank you for all your hard work! I am totally blind so thees videos are easier than trying to make voiceover read the manual on my phone! Thanks again for whatever answers you can give me!
Thank you for this. Any chance you can do one on the transmit audio settings ? I have this and struggle with it .
Good idea! I seem to have a hum in my TX!
Hi, Jarod.
Nice and simple video how to use RF gain. The feature which is forgotten by some of hams.
My friend has the rig, and use it for SWL, especially on LF and MF/AM bands. With suitable RX antenna such as Low Noise Verticle (LNV) and beverage antennas, he ables to RX NBD/LF broadcast station 15k km away
At fractions of his antenna system, I also able to RX LF broadcast station, 11k km away from my base, using IC-7300. RF gain is very helpful to reduce band noise. .. But, I still admire his antenna system.
BTW, there is a new Yaesu rig, FT-DX101D .. and what is your thoughts about it.? :)
...
Thank you, and looking forward for your next video..
Bahathir 9W2GNU, 73.
How is it for CW use?
Hope you can get your hands on a TS-890 soon. Really want your opinion on that.
I would love to however they are not being sold in VK believe it or not. I kind of want one as 'the last great superhet' however they are quite pricey AND with IF DSP they are not all analogue anyway. In a lot of ways the FT-818ND is the most recent 'last all analogue' radio! 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
Icom IC-718 also all analogue Radio can buy new
There are a few left but I think the FT-818ND is the latest one in terms of a "new release" even though it was little more than a spec bump due to component obsolescence in the FT-817ND design. 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
@@RateMyRadio
Ya, I saw your 817/818 comparison, very good. Was leaning that way or the other but neither of those made it to Indonesia. So peculiar who gets to have what.
what is AGC setting slow /fast? TIA thank for video 👍
Good question :). Slow/Fast changes how quickly the AGC ‘recovers’ or sets RF Gain back to normal after a strong peak. Slow or Medium is best for phone (AM or SSB) work. Fast may be useful for other modes; try and see what works for you rig :). 73, Jarrad VK3BL
@@RateMyRadio I think he was asking what did you have the AGC set to. Slow or fast?
5959 I can not hear it anymore!
Thats why I do FT-8.
73 Mark
The rf gain is kind of like a noise squelch?
No its the sensitivity of the receiver. But using it helps reduce noise. Thus helping the signal to noise ratio. Everyone talks about signals. Which is fine but what matters is S/N ratio.
If a signal is strong but the noise is too and you can't understand them then S units are pointless! I run with my Attenuator on all the time. I could do the same with the RF Gain but I think mine is 10dB which puts my noise floor about 1/2 to 1 S unit. By just a push of a button. Plus I have some local noise that sometimes is horrendous and follows incoming signals depending on signal strength. Sort of like Intermod. So reducing receive sensitivity helps tremendously!
Most HF receivers are very sensitive. Atmospheric and man made noise can easily over load and over whelm an incoming signal. If the AGC kicks in while you are listening it can disrupt their audio. Normally its best to adjust the receiver sensitivity so the noise floor is low. Most receivers can get muddy or pull in so much noise its hard to understand stations with the RF Gain at maximum. Especially weak signals. Then adjust the volume to balance signal to noise. Plus Taylor the audio to suit your preference.
WW5RM
@@WW5RM Thank you!
The two things to avoid activating are AGC and ALC.
Indeed :). ALC should be adjusted for peaks within the safe range not always hitting the edge. 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
keep the rf gain low is an old rule of thumb!
Rule of thumb for HF especially for CW has always been keep the RF gain low. I couldn't tolerate a radio that didn't have an RF gain control!
What about ftdx3000
Follow the same procedure as here if the S meter behaves the same, else set the rf gain so the S meter reads just above 0 on peaks. 73, Jarrad VK3BL :)
S meters accuracy + - 50% at best