Intermittent Loss Of Audio; Final Tubes Replacement And Neutralization; Low Power Output On 160 M Only - Kenwood TS-830 Survival Manual

expect some razz on that last comment by die-hard DXers and contest fanatics, but in truth I
have had just as much fun operating 20 m CW with a 5W OHR 400, although DXCC takes
longer than a weekend!) Best bet for a cheap and easy 2-3 Db boost is to improve your antenna.
Check out the "double-extended zepp" type dipole, or consider one of the new mini-beams if the
$ is there. (NZ5L)
7.15

Intermittent loss of audio

Problem: Unit transmits, and tunes up. I can tell from the meter that it is receiving a signal. I
just loose the audio. Sometimes when I turn it on it works for a while. Sometimes if I smack it
with my fist it works. Sometimes if I rock the On-Off switch it comes on. And yes I have tried
the headphone jack and external speaker jack...(Lance KC0KBL)
Answer: Before you send it off - take the covers off and snug down all the pc board mounting
screws. Don't put the hurt on them, just a tenth of a turn more than finger tight is about right.
Unless you have extra strong fingers, in which case finger tight will do. Several of my friends
with Kenwoods have fixed baffling intermittent problems that way. (Pete AC5E)
7.16

Final tubes replacement and neutralization

Question: My manual is a little vague on the topic of replacing finals and neutralization. Does
this unit accept 6146A's as well as 6146B final tubes? Can anyone give me detailed steps in
neutralization without an RF voltmeter? The manual suggests that when tuned up to 28.5 MHz
"if an RF voltmeter is not available, tune for minimum S-meter reading." I am unclear about
MODE and METER setting when this is attempted. (Michael KN6JQ)
Answer: 6146A's or 6146B's (as well as 6146W's and S2001's) will all work, but tube changing
does require re-neutralizing. The "tune for minimum S meter reading" requires a second
receiver, it's not referring to the S meter in the TS-830S. MODE should be TUNE or CW (key
closed), filaments must be ON, but screen voltage should be OFF (rear panel selection). I've
never found the "S meter" thing to work very well, the signal can be way too strong on any kind
of reasonably sensitive receiver in the same room.
In lieu of an RF voltmeter, any VTVM or FETVM with an RF detector probe will work, and an
RF probe can be home brewed for a couple of dollars (diode, resistor, capacitor). Also an
oscilloscope having response in the HF region (30 MHz) works fine in lieu of the RF voltmeter.
Lacking any of the above, I'd find a local Elmer who has such instrumentation and get help. It's
an adjustment that only needs to be made when changing tubes, which with any luck is maybe
once every ten years, and it's worth the effort to get it right. (Steve WB2WIK/6)
7.17

Low power output on 160 m only

Question: I have a Kenwood TS-830S which puts out 100 W plus on all bands except 160, this
is into a dummy load. Does any one have an answer to my problem? I haven't check out the
tubes yet thought I would see if there was a reason out there, other then the tubes on this band
with the TS-830S?
Answer 1: Do a calibration as outlined in the TS-830S manual. This should peak the power up
on 160 m. (VE3NYZ)
Answer 2: It wouldn't be the "tubes" causing this problem, ever. It's likely someone has diddled
with the alignment and loused it up, or possibly (less likely) a component failure. You didn't say
how much "less" output you have on 160 m. Is it 90 W? 50 W? 10 W? Normally, with factory
alignment and all good parts, the TS-830S actually has its "most" output on 160 m. I used to get
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