[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Kenwood TS2000 ACC2 power out

[Brian Dickman]

The rampup issue only affected very early units (definitely years 2000 and
2001, although I don't know exactly when the fix cutoff happened). It's in
the fixed DSP logic, so the only remedy is a manufacturer's swap of the DSP
or board if you can convince Kenwood to do the work in the first place.

A local operator who has a few of the faulty units reported that it also
only affects the rear ACC2 connector, not the front mic input, and was easy
to observe: "when you key up, the ALC and power out are both ZERO and then
over 5 seconds the power ramps up ALC action finally kicks in". He also saw
this doesn't cause much of a problem for "long over" modes like JT65/9, but
completely prevents function on the short over modes such as FT8/4.

I span the gap, using a 2008-era TS2000, which may have the flaw, but
probably not. However I drive it through the mic port for digital modes and
have no issues with FT8.

John, it should be easy to observe but seems most likely that it was
resolved by 2012.

Bob, you could try using the mic input?

--
Brian NR7Y

On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 11:35 AM Bob Fischer <bobw2sj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi John,
>
> I also have this problem with My-TS-2000X and will be watching here for any
> solutions. It's one of the older units and has never had any firmware
> updates. I talked to SignaLink about it, and their thoughts were to check
> the audio set-up in the computer for proper settings. I also have used the
> SignaLink with an IC-746 Pro and it did the same thing. If I hook it up to
> my Yaesu FT-450 it works fine. This all certainly adds to the confusion if
> it's the radio/radios, or just a setting as Signalink suggested.
>
> All that being said, I have made many FT8 & MSK144 contacts with the power
> ramping up in the first couple seconds of transmit, no matter if the signal
> strengths are strong or weak between the stations I have worked.
>
> GL es 73!
> Bob W2SJ
>
> On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 1:05 PM John Geiger via VHF <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
> >
> wrote:
>
> > I wonder if anyone has come across this issue when using the Kenwood
> TS2000
> > on 6m FT8 or VHF meteor scatter.
> >
> > I recently purchased a used Kenwood TS2000, made in January 2012.  I am
> > looking at getting it on FT8 and other digital modes, but have found a
> few
> > old postings on the internet stating that when using the ACC2 jack for
> > audio in on the digital modes, it takes 3 to 4 seconds to reach full
> power
> > on transmit.  I have had a TS2000 in the past and used it with a
> Signalink
> > USB interface and can't remember if this was a problem with it or not.
> >
> > Is that a common problem for all TS2000s?  Did they fix it at some point
> > and does anyone know the serial number range or firmware version where
> this
> > issue was fixed?
> >
> > 73 John AF5CC
> > _______________________________________________
> > VHF mailing list
> > VHF at w6yx.stanford.edu
> > https://w6yx.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/vhf
> >
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>